THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

An egg used to be considered dear if it exceeded a penny. Nowadays when they are in the region of fivepence each “eggs is eggs” with a vengeance, and a meeting of the Grocers’ Sub-Committee of Dundee Food Control Committee last night egg producers were numbered amongst the profiteers. It had been suggested that the price of eggs should be fixed, but the Ministry had advised against it, saying it would be unwise at the present. They were buying eggs on a large scale for the winter months.

50 years ago

Nearly all Dundee Corporation buses came to a halt last night as bus crews, disgruntled at the Government’s ban on their pay agreement with Dundee Corporation, went on strike. Late shift workers and cinema and bingo goers were taken by surprise. Many bingo players from the Playhouse made for the taxi ranks. There was a big demand and all taxi-men were out on the streets. But hundreds of people had to walk home. No statement has yet been issued by the busmen.

25 years ago

Two Scottish climbers were on top of the world last night after completing the first ever non-stop crossing of the Alps with no mechanical aid. An exhausted Simon Jenkins from Aberdour and Martin Moran from Lochcarron, conquered the final peak in the French Alps and came down to a hero’s welcome from their families and supporters. They had climbed the final mountain – the 4,102metre Barre des Ecrins – after just three hours sleep. Mr Moran said: “We are very tired.”

One year ago

Two youths have been charged in connection with a fire that caused extensive damage to a Fife school just days before the start of term. A toilet block and staff room at Torbain Primary School, Kirkcaldy, were gutted by fire. The blaze ripped through part of the infant building and caused smoke and water damage to the nursery. Parents of pupils in primaries one and two, which are accommodated in the infant building, are waiting to hear if their children can start school on Wednesday.