THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

While Miss Mary Seath, Cross Keys, Auchtertool, was driving a party in her motor car from Kirkcaldy Station to Auchtertool, they collided with a Kirkcaldy Corporation tram car at the corner of Abbotshall Bridge with such violence that the motor was driven backwards 10 yards and badly smashed. The front of the tramcar was also damaged. Miss Seath and Miss Ping, a school teacher, who was seated beside her, were thrown out on to the street and severely injured.

50 years ago

Unless there is a last-minute miracle, 300 workers at AEI, Kirkcaldy, will be laid off – probably for some time. Workers were given the news that there would be a third of their number without work unless a dispute at the firm’s Woolwich factory could be sorted out. That factory is due to close sometime later this year and workers there are refusing to handle parts for the Scottish factories. Because the exchange equipment parts aren’t arriving in Kirkcaldy, there is no work.

25 years ago

Timex Electronics management said yesterday that no statement would be made over whether or not they would be willing to accept job applications from the 343-plus former employees now that 90 days have elapsed since their sacking. The significance of that period is that after that time a company can be selective about any sacked worker who re-applies. Before that period is up, if they take on just one ex-worker legislation lays down that the firm must take back all the sacked workers.

One year ago

A £10 million bid to revive a dated Perth retail park and create scores of new jobs has been unveiled. Developers say they want to breathe fresh life into the old B&Q building at St Catherine’s, on the edge of the city centre. The fire-hit block would be torn down to make way for five new stores and a restaurant. Well-known retailers are in talks to move into the site. A spokesman for site owners Episo Boxes said that the plan would significantly improve the shopping experience.