THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

His friends in Broughty Ferry will learn with deep regret of the death in hospital in England as the result of an accident of Captain Harry A. McDonald. Deceased served his apprenticeship in the Royal Bank of Scotland and was afterwards transferred to the London office of that bank. He afterwards received an appointment to the Bank of Canada in London. He went to France with the London Scottish and was wounded in action. Captain McDonald was 31 years of age and was only recently married.

50 years ago

Seventy-seven people were killed on the roads in Scotland in November, the first full month of the breathalyser tests, 44 fewer than November of the previous year. The number of people seriously injured was 800, 42 more than November 1966, but 14 fewer than October last year. The total for Britain was down by 13% in those killed or injured, compared with November 1966. On Saturdays and Sundays, between 10pm and midnight, the reduction was nearly 60%.

25 years ago

A Dundee brother and sister have become national champions in the juvenile section of the British Premier Rock-Boogie-Swing Dance Championships. Gary Cruickshank (11) and his sister Paula (10), who live in Balmerino Place, Douglas, won the title in Birmingham, beating competitiors from all over the UK, as well as contestants from Germany, Poland and Holland. The Powrie Primary School pupils have been dancing together for five years and are trained by Bob and Betty Barty.

One year ago

Nicola Sturgeon’s army of civil servants has been told to ready itself for a second independence referendum. It is understood government workers have received notice that the First Minister is poised to demand the legal right to another constitutional vote. It follows this newspaper’s revelation that Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing for a request to rerun September 2014 in August 2018. A Scottish Government source said: “An independence referendum is on the table as an option.”