THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

John Gall, 27, South Brown Street, and William Gall, 18, Fisher Street, both Broughty Ferry, were drowned in the Tay. The deceased had gone out on a fishing expedition and had got in the way of the Tay Ferry steamer Newport, and thinking that they were to be run down, jumped into the water. The Galls, who were uncle and nephew, left the Ferry with the flood tide in a small boat with drift nets for the purpose of herring fishing. They were at work near the Chequer Buoy.

50 years ago

Oil pollution in the Tay reached serious proportions yesterday. The Norwegian tanker, Tank Duchess, anchored in the river waiting to discharge crude oil, has an eightfoot crack in her hull following a rough Atlantic passage. The crack was discovered on Thursday and the tanker’s master immediately radioed the shore and adjusted his vessel’s water ballast to give her a 12-degree list to port and bring the tank nearest the hull crack above the waterline. Wedges were inserted in the crack.

25 years ago

Detectives in Dundee launced a major investigation last night after armed raiders smashed their way into a lock-up garage repair business in Downfield and robbed the proprietor. Two men wearing blue boilersuits and motorcycle crash helmets forced open the up-and-over metal door at the Strathmartine Road garage around 8pm. Police say one of the raiders brandished what may have been a shotgun at the owner, Mr Garry Millar, and demanded he hand over his takings.

One year ago

More than £130,000 has been spent by NHS Tayside on dealing with insect infestations and animal invasions in its hospitals. Infestations of ants, pigeons and seagulls have added to the costs for the cash-strapped health authority. It adds up to an average monthly spend of almost £2,200 on pest control in the last five years. A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “All reports are dealt with as a matter of urgency... This ensures there is little or no impact on clinical services.”