THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The Secretary of the War Office makes this announcement regarding the operation in East Africa: “In Portuguese East Africa our columns are converging on the main German force, reported to be established in the vicinity of Nanungo, 150 miles due south of the Rovuma and Lujenda Rivers, and 190 miles inland from Port Amelia. The German detached forces which were opposing our advance from Port Amelia have fallen back fighting rearguard actions.”

50 years ago

The Queen Mother arrived on Deeside at the end of her cruise round the west and north coast of Scotland. She is to spend a short fishing holiday at Birkhall, her Deeside residence. The royal yacht Britannia arrived in Aberdeen harbour at about five o’clock yesterday morning. Later, a crowd watched as she motored along the harbour on her way out of the city. However, before she had gone very far she decided to do some impromptu shopping at the antique shop of John Bell.

25 years ago

An urgent investigation was announced last night into the horrifying case of “Angel of Death” Beverley Allitt, the nurse convicted of murdering four babies in her care and attempting to murder others. Grieving parents want to know why Grantham Hospital officials failed to react sooner to the mysterious deaths and illnesses on Allitt’s ward. They were shocked to discover at the end of the three-month trial that Allitt suffered from a dangerous personality disorder.

One year ago

Angus motorists have been warned they would have been hammered by wardens in the days after parking fines returned to the county’s streets. The extent of the parking problem has been laid bare after wardens slapped more than £11,000 of dummy tickets on poorly-parked cars. The council chose to issue warnings instead of fines in the first three days of its enforcement of decriminalised parking. Officials are concerned drivers will be hit hard when the system goes “live”.