THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Bristol Food Control Committee resolved to inform the Ministry of Food that if, after Wednesday next, tradesmen sell excess quantities of bacon, it will not prosecute. It was stated that huge quantities of bacon for supplying the west of England were stored at Bristol, but were going bad and large portions had been destroyed. The committee had, in vain, appealed to the Food Ministry to permit a freer sale in order to avoid waste. The chairman said he was sick and tired of the whole business.

50 years ago

The British rugby Lions’s manager David Brooks hit back last night at reports of rowdiness and misbehaviour by his team. He called reports of riotous conduct “irresponsible” and said they damaged rugby as well as the reputation of the Britons. Headlines in South African Sunday newspapers had reported bad conduct on the part of the Lions in East London and Bloemfontein. The players were blamed for breaking glasses, insulting girls and leaving liquor bills unpaid.

25 years ago

A British woman accused of attempted heroin smuggling in Thailand was distraught yesterday after the charge against her was altered to one which could mean the death penalty. Being led away, Sandra Gregory, 28, from West Yorkshire, angrily criticised her Thai lawyer for not contesting the charge that she was carrying 102 grams of heroin. She said she had only 98 grams of the drug. Under Thai law, conviction for trafficking more than 100g carries a death sentence.

One year ago

A brazen buzzard has turned a large part of an Angus town into a no-go area after carrying out a series of attacks on people entering its territory. Several runners have reported the bird of prey swoops so close they feel its wings on their heads and it has even drawn blood as people make their way down the path which runs at the back of Shanwell Cemetery. One Carnoustie woman described her encounter with the buzzard earlier this week as one of the worst experiences of her life.