THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The death took place yesterday in Dundee, of Mr Alexander Rough, the last of the city’s Crimean veterans. Mr Rough, who was 87 years of age, was born in Hilltown. He enlisted in the 93rd Highlanders in 1854, when that battalion was stationed at Dudhope Castle, and after a few months’ training he volunteered and went out to the Crimea with a draft of 50 men. He was in the Crimea for 18 months and was at the siege and the fall of Sebastopol. He was under the care of Florence Nightingale when he became ill with typhus fever.

50 years ago

A Welshman has complained to the Race Relations Board about the children’s nursery rhyme “Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief...” Aberystwyth-born Mr John Davies of Wolverhampton, thinks the rhyme could offend some Welshmen– but his main reason for complaining is to protest at some of the more bizarre cases which have arisen under the 1968 Race Relations Act. A spokesman for the board said the complaint had been received and would be investigated in the normal way.

25 years ago

A hole-in-one is a rare highlight for any golfer and many never achieve that in a lifetime’s play. That makes Dunfermline golfer John McLean’s feat of holing his tee shot on consecutive holes something of a minor miracle. A 14-handicapper, John, 58, was playing in a competition at Dunfermline Golf Club. When he came to the 145-yard fifth, John was delighted to see his 8-iron shot disappearing into the can. It was only when they got to the green on the 6th that he and his partners discovered he had holed it too.

One year ago

The top decommissioning firms in Dundee have formed an alliance in a bid to deliver contracts and jobs to the city. Tay & Forth Decommissioning members have vowed to work together to offer decom solutions for oil and gas firms. The group, which includes Port of Dundee owner Forth Ports and Dundee City Council, has also commissioned a feasibility study into carrying out deep water work at a ‘virtual’ port in the Firth of Forth. Council leader John Alexander said: “We are taking our ambition to the next level.”