THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Sheriff Dudley Stuart at Cupar yesterday, after hearing four witnesses for Mr Hunter and counsel on the evidence, made avizandum in the cross actions brought by Messrs Thomas Walker and Charles Hunter for damages in respect of the repair of their motor cars after a collision at Loftybank crossroads, Ladybank. Each side blamed the other for the crash. Mrs McCann, of Loftybank Cottages, said she only heard one horn sounded just before the crash took place. It belonged to Mr Hunter.

50 years ago

The skirl of the bagpipes rent the air at the American Independence Day celebrations held at the US Navy base at RAF Edzell. The celebrations were being held a fortnight late because it was thought most of the families at the base preferred to have a private party on July 4. Despite dark skies and a cold wind, Captain EW Thomas welcomed thousands of visitors. With the entertainments and exhibitions spread over a wide area, it wasn’t surprising that thousands of hot dogs were sold to the shivering spectators.

A young Dundee joiner escaped death by a matter of millimetres yesterday after a bizarre accident left a six-inch chisel embedded in his chest. David Henderson, 22, underwent emergency surgery in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s specialist chest unit to remove the blade, which just missed his heart. Mr Henderson was working on the roof of a house at Kirkton of Auchterhouse when he slipped and fell 12 feet from a ladder. As he fell, the chisel flew out of his tool pouch and plunged into his chest when he hit the ground.

One year ago

A doctor who works in Perth out-of-hours GP services has lost half of his family home as the victim of alleged property fraud. Half ownership of Dr Babar Akbar’s house in Dunfermline has been awarded to a stranger – the estranged wife of the man who sold it to him. Less than a year after the purchase he was stunned to learn the property had been sold to him without the knowledge of the woman who used to live in it. A court concluded her signature had been forged on a legal document. Police are investigating alleged fraud.