THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Prominently displayed over the main entrance of the County Buildings, Cupar, yesterday was the proud boast that “Fife Leads in the Army and Fife Leads in the Navy, and the appeal “Let Fife Lead in the Lending by Patronising ‘Julian’, the Tank Bank”. Provost Stark, who opened the bank in the County Hall, said all his past appeals had been nobly responded to and he felt sure that that splendid opportunity for investment would be taken full advantage of.

50 years ago

A piper from the Royal Scots Greys paced the deck and played HMS Resolution, Britain’s first Polaris submarine, into port at Cape Kennedy yesterday when she arrived for test missile firings off the Florida coast later this month. Lance-Corporal David Cairns, in full dress uniform, played Scotland the Brave and Hielan’ Laddie. He made the trip from Scotland with the Resolution’s crew. Normally he is stationed in West Germany and drives a tank. It was his first submarine voyage.

25 years ago

Romantics were dealt a blow when Dundee’s cinema managers confirmed there would be no return of the “chummy seats”. The news that cinemas across the country were to reintroduce the double seats frequented by courting couples no doubt inspired tales of evenings spent on the “golden divans”. But Dundee’s present young lovers will never be cheek-to-cheek in comfort. “We will not be putting chummy seats in here,” said the manager of the Canon cinema.

One year ago

Teachers could walk out of a troubled Fife school unless steps are taken to tackle its disruptive pupils, a union has warned. The EIS says that industrial action remains an option for its members at Levenmouth Academy, following crunch talks with education chiefs. The flagship school – which only opened its doors last summer – has been plagued by violence and vandalism involving pupils, with Fife Council pledging to provide further support to staff.