THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The prime minister will devote a considerable part of his speech in the House of Commons today to labour questions. He is not yet in a position to announce the whole,policy of the government regarding labour unrest, but he will indicate it as far as can be done without causing dissensions in the coalition. He is not prepared to concede nationalisation of the mines at present, but he will not definitely “turn it down”. He will outline proposals for securing more efficient public control of the mines.

50 years ago

South African golfer Gary Player had a soft drink thrown in his face and was jostled and continually heckled while playing in the third round of the Professional Golfers’ Association tournament at Dayton, Ohio. Player and his partner Jack Nicklaus were the target of a group demonstrating against poverty in Dayton who claim that money spent on the tournament should be used in poverty programmes. Police arrested 10 people during the day. Player and Nicklaus were visibly upset by the incidents.

25 years ago

The most bizarre wedding rehearsal of the year took place on a deserted beach skirting the North Sea. The bridesmaids, wearing nothing but gleaming gold collars, dutifully went through their paces at the side of the bride-to-be. Then, their duties completed, they raced off down the beach and galloped into the waves. The “attendants” are four Great Danes and a Chihuahua, belonging to Lisa Brady, a charity co-ordinator, who is marrying marine Nick Taylor in an open-air ceremony at the Seaforth Hotel, Arbroath.

One year ago

A Perthshire school is at the centre of a safety probe after part of its roof collapsed during a night of high winds. Police were called to seal off the “iconic” Hill Primary building in Blairgowrie. Construction firm Corryard was due to begin work on a transformation of the well-known 19th Century property, creating 18 flats. The company said it was not working on the building at the time of the damage, and stressed that no one was hurt. The incident was described as a “terrible tragedy” for the town.