THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Describing the conditions of the blind people as a disgrace to the country, Mr H. Beaumont proposed to the Bradford Board of Guardians that the Government be urged to press for the issue of the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Blind. He said that out of 12,000 trained blind workers it was only possible to find employment for 3,000 and the rest had to eke out an existence as best they could. The average wages of blind workers pre-war were 12s 6d for men and 7s 6d for women.

50 years ago

annual Glenrothes Festival, planned for June, is off. This announcement was made by the Festival Society and it follows months of speculation about the future of the event which began in 1963. A statement, signed by the six members of the society’s executive committee, including the chairman Mrs Janet McNamee, outlined the reasons behind the cancellation, the major one being lack of funds. Only a quarter of the minimum amount required has been received so far.

25 years ago

The McRae family continued to dominate the British rally scene when UK champion Colin McRae drove his Subaru to victory in the Vauxhall Sport Rally, the first round of this year’s Mobil 1 Top Gear British rally championship. His brother Alister, the youngest of the sons of former five-times British Champion Jimmy McRae, finished fourth overall in his Shellbacked Ford Sierra Cosworth to win the Group N showroom category by one second from fellow Scot Robbie Head.

One year ago

Two world champions squared up on a night of celebration as Arbroath and District Indoor Bowling Club turned 50. Darren Burnett and Alex “Tattie” Marshall took part in an exhibition match during an evening to celebrate the milestone. Mr Burnett, a club member, started bowling when he was seven and has become one of the most successful Scottish players. The club was opened in 1966 by the late Scottish entertainer Andy Stewart whose wife Sheila and daughter Tara attended the event.