THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

During the year 1917 274 cases of heroism were reported to the Carnegie Hero Fund Trustees and 46 remained over for consideration from the previous year. Of these, 269 were investigated and adjudicated upon, leaving 51 still in process of investigation. Of these investigated, 135 were found to be within the scope of the fund and 134 were rejected. In some of the recognised cases more than one rescuer took part, with the result that 191 names have been added to the role of heroes.

50 years ago

Lightning struck twice – on British Overseas Airways Corporation jets – within an hour. The planes were hit while flying at 20,000 feet from London and Manchester to Prestwick. A BOAC official at Prestwick said: “This is a chance in a million. We have had an aircraft hit by lightning before, but never two within such a short space of time. Fortunately we were lucky and no damage was done and no one was injured.” Both planes landed safely at Prestwick and continued across the Atlantic.

25 years ago

The Queen is to open Buckingham Palace to the paying public this summer to help meet the cost of rebuilding the fire-blackened ruins of Windsor Castle. The unexpected decision to allow thousands of visitors into the magnificent state rooms and Picture Gallery is certain to catapult the palace into the top rank of tourist attractions. It also enabled the Queen to silence her critics by agreeing to lift most of the Windsor repair costs, estimated at up to £40 million, from the taxpayer.

One year ago

NHS Tayside had to cancel almost two operations a day last year because patients failed to show up. More than 650 operations were ditched and the health service has been texting people to remind them of their appointments. Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said the issue was a “massive strain” on the health service. There were 3,969 cancelled appointments throughout Dundee, Perth and Angus in 2016, 658 of which were as a result of patients not turning up.