THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Dundee Harbour was late last night the scene of a plucky rescue from drowning. Mrs Webster (39), 3 Charles Street, wife of an engineman on the SS Perth, berthed in Victoria Dock, visited the vessel last night and brought her husband his supper. Just as she was in the act of turning on the gangway to bid him goodnight, she missed her footing and fell into the dock between the vessel and the quayside. Alexander Gray, hutchman on the vessel, promptly jumped into the water and effected a plucky and timely rescue.

50 years ago

Dundee High School fees are to be raised to £28 per quarter for all classes. This is an increase of approximately £7 per quarter. It was reported to the school directors yesterday that the new fees have been approved by the Scottish Education Department and will take effect forthwith. Mrs A.T. Miller, convener of the dining hall committee, reported on delays which have affected the opening of the new premises. It was proposed to open the new dining hall on Monday.

25 years ago

Dundee has enjoyed its best tourist season of the decade with thousands flocking to the city during the summer heatwave. Tourist manager Paul Buchanan said his department’s figures showed that July was their busiest on record. “Considering some of the good months we have had, that’s very impressive,” he said. He added that some of his department’s marketing plans had “paid off handsomely”, adding that if people visited the city in good weather, they were likely to return in the future.

One year ago

Fife endured a day of travel chaos after the rail line over the Forth Bridge was closed. Emergency services were forced to shut the line at 10am after reports a man was on the bridge. As trains backed up and services were cancelled, the track remained closed for around four hours, with further disruption for hours afterwards. More than 50 trains were cancelled in the two hours between 11am and 1pm. Negotiators were eventually successful in managing to remove the man, unharmed.