THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

After pushing his child into the door, remarking that that was all he wanted, John Moir Sutherland, who was formerly a miner, disappeared from Kirkcaldy, and his wife Elizabeth Spence was granted decree of divorce on the grounds of desertion. Pursuer (33) stated she was a linen worker. She was married in 1904 and there were two children of the marriage. Some time after the birth of the first child in 1905 her husband assaulted her. He was drinking at the time and was not working.

50 years ago

Lady Provost Mrs Alex Mackenzie spoke of the “excellent work” undertaken for the younger citizens by the Girls’ Brigade. She was making her first speech as Lady Provost at the annual meeting of the Dundee district in the YMCA. “Nowadays there appear to be many who, unless all facilities are provided for their use and entertainment, are not prepared to make the effort themselves,” she said. Stress should be placed on encouraging the participation of young people.

25 years ago

Delighted Rock start Rod Stewart said yesterday that being present at the birth of his new daughter Renee was “like seeing Scotland score a goal.” Stewart (47) finally appeared outside the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in central London, where he witnessed the birth of his 8lb 3 oz daughter 16 hours earlier. Stewart said: “It was a tremendous experience.” The birth took a couple of hours and his wife, 23-year-old Rachel Hunter was “doing very well.”

One year ago

Dundee’s Wellgate Centre has been plunged into a crisis by the closure of BHS. The anchor tenant was to play a crucial role in the planned revival of the troubled shopping centre. The redevelopment has now been thrown into turmoil by the news that BHS cannot be saved and is being wound down. The department store was to be one of two key operators strategically located to attract shoppers back to the thoroughfare. The other, Light Cinemas, was still keen to go ahead with a multiplex.