THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Mr Thos. Aitken, who for the past 37 years has been road surveyor for the Cupar District of Fife, died yesterday at Danchory, whither he had gone in pursuit of health last month. A brilliant student of the Engineers’ College, Edinburgh, Mr Aitken, before he entered the service of the County Council, was in the engineer’s department of the North British Railway Company. He carried out the construction of the underground passage between the platforms at the railway station at Ladybank in 1881.

50 years ago

Mrs Kay Harris, a telephone exchange operator, was last night chosen as the GPO Telephone Person of the Year and will represent Scotland in London in July. Mrs Harris (23), who joined the Montrose exchange in January, married Royal Bank of Scotland accountant Mr Tom Harris last year. She received a cheque for £25 from Mr HJ Revell, director of GPO Tele-communications Headquarters, Scotland, who announced the winner from 14 finalists from all over Scotland.

25 years ago

Nine personnel aboard an RAF C130 Hercules aircraft died when it crashed into a remote wooded hillside in northern Perthshire late yesterday afternoon. Late last night an RAF spokesman confirmed that the bodies of five crew members had been recovered before the search was called off in failing light. The search for the remaining four crewmen is to resume at first light this morning. Wreckage was scattered over a 200-metre area of Glen Tilt, 14 miles north of Blair Atholl.

One year ago

A world-renowned chocolate guru influenced by his Fife granny’s baking, has made a triumphant and mouthwatering homecoming. William Curley, patissier and expert in all things chocolate, returned to Levenmouth to share his knowledge by hosting a chocolate showcase. Methil-born William, 45, now based in London, has been more familiar in recent years with creating desserts for the famous as well as featuring on TV show Made In Chelsea where his shops are a popular haunt.