THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The man who stated that he was an American jockey, and who made early morning trials at Newmarket, was found guilty yesterday on two charges of false pretences. He obtained £300 from Mrs Vera Cubitt, a well-to-do war widow, who said she believed his statement that he had been engaged by a Captain Lowther as his jockey at £1,500 a year. The widow and accused, Edgar Frank Smith, 30, had gone about a good deal together and Smith suggested the money given him by Mrs Cubitt was for their joint expenses.

50 years ago

A big poster on a high building near the centre of Glasgow says: “Ralph Loves Etty” and has a picture of two hearts and Cupid’s arrow. It is not a joke or publicity stunt, but the idea of Mr Ralph del Monte to let his wife know how he feels after 27 years of happy married life. Mr Del Monte said he had arranged for the sign to be put up on the wall in London Road near Glasgow Cross for his wife on their 27th wedding anniversary. “When she saw it she was astonished,” he said. “She was a little embarrassed at first.”

25 years ago

There was joy as four Venture Scout teenagers were found safe and well yesterday, after a big air and land search in Britain’s loneliest corner. The two boys and two girls failed to turn up at Loch Coire, the only human settlement in 600-square miles of wilderness in the heart of Sutherland, having set off on a hike. The foursome had been on a gruelling 16-mile trek through the boggy peatlands and rough hill country for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. They were spotted by a rescue helicopter.

One year ago

A mountain rescue base was forced to close after life-saving medication was stolen in a “shameful” theft. Police are trying to trace a man and woman in relation to the break-in at Tayside Mountain Rescue Team’s Aberfeldy base. Fortunately there were no call-outs while the base was out of action. Team leader Stuart Johnston said: “If we had a call-out during that time it would have impacted how quickly we could get life-saving equipment to someone in an emergency. It’s shameful behaviour.”