THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Captain George Baxter, Dundee, who was recently mentioned in despatches for his work in Russia, has been promoted to the rank of major in the Royal Engineers, and has received the Russian Order of St Anns. Major Baxter took a leading part under Major Murdoch in collecting and forming the 250th Engineering Company, which went from Dundee early in the war. He was wounded on the Somme in August 1916, and has been in Russia for about a year. Major Baxter is a civil engineer by profession.

50 years ago

Oldmeldrum Town Council yesterday marked the 102nd birthday of one of their residents by presenting him with a gift – a huge tin of chocolates and candies. Mr Alexander Pirie received a pile of telegrams, greetings cards and gifts. But the one that pleased him most was the town council’s for the sprightly ex-dominie is a nonsmoker and teetotaller with a sweet tooth. Mr Pirie, the oldest living graduate of Aberdeen University, retired 37 years ago. He has spent a very active retirement, walking round the town every day.

25 years ago

Golfers from across Tayside raised around £6,000 yesterday when they played in the Caring for Kids charity golf tournament. Forty teams of golfers teed off at Ashludie Golf Course, Monifieth. By that time the event had already raised more than £3,000 with 18 local companies and individuals sponsoring a hole each. Radio Tay presenter Ken MacLeod, who organised the event, admitted to being surprised at the extent of support of Tayside businesses. “People have been so generous over the years,” he said.

One year ago

Recycling rates in Perth and Kinross are being hampered by a lack of residential facilities, it has been claimed. Thousands of homes in Perth and Kinross have no recycling bins and hundreds have no bins at all. It means there is no scope for many households to separate rubbish, with recyclable materials sent straight to landfill sites. Those without bins have to leave sacks of rubbish on the street. More than 4,000 houses and flats in the region have only general waste facilities, 3,165 of them in Perth.