THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

A boating disaster in the Inverness Firth resulted in three persons being drowned. Dr MacDonald, Bridge of Weir Sanatorium, who came north to act as locum tenens at Munlochy, Ross-shire; Mr Andrew Grant, secretary to Dowager Lady Burton; and his brother, Liet. Duncan Grant of the Artillery set out in a punt to hunt seals on Redcastle Banks in the Firth. There was a great swell in the Firth, but the puntsters were well on their way when difficulties arose. Unfortunately there was no boat nearer than three miles distant.

50 years ago

Children taken to the Caledon Shipyard to see the latest Dundeebuilt ship slide into the Tay were disappointed. The flags were flying at the yard. But the 3,695-ton deadweight Thai tanker Suvarnabhumi was launched with the minimum of attention. Members of the public are usually allowed into the Caledon to watch a launch. But not yesterday. The group of disappointed children – and adults – had to be content with a view from the Eastern Wharf. The owners plan celebrations on the ship’s arrival at Bangkok.

25 years ago

Coastguard officials have issued a warning on the dangers of people using small inflatable dinghies in the sea after two teenage girls had to be rescued by an inshore lifeboat after getting into difficulties about a kilometre off the north-east Fife coast. The Cupar teenagers – wearing only swimsuits and T-shirts – were with a party of friends visiting Kinshaldy Beach, near Tayport, when strong winds drove them out to sea in their flimsy inflatable dinghy. Horrified onlookers raised the alarm. The girls were picked up off St Andrews Bay.

One year ago

A national shortage of psychiatrists threatens the sustainability of mental health services in Tayside, a major new report has warned. NHS Tayside ordered an independent inquiry into its mental health services earlier this year after grieving families blamed a series of suicides on a lack of suitable care. But a report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has revealed its inspectors were told the mental health services management team has concerns about staff numbers.