THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

In the course of a six hour sitting of the Fife Education Authority yesterday at Kirkcaldy, the past medical inspection of schools was condemned by Bailie Smail, who stated he could not consider Dr G. Pratt Yule, the county medical officer, capable of drawing up a report on school medical inspection. The chairman considered that that work should be under the National Board of Health. Rev Henry Sclater said it was absolutely necessary to have medical inspection at Rosyth schools, as the children’s lives were in danger.

50 years ago

Miners at the Frances Colliery, Kirkcaldy, are to be asked by their NUM branch committee to take strike action as from Sunday first. Mr George Black, secretary of the NUM branch committee at the colliery , issued a statement saying: “The branch committee has arrived at the decision to hold pithead meetings tomorrow morning, at dinner time and tomorrow night.” Officials are to talk to their members to decide whether or not their mining colleagues in the Yorkshire coalfield should receive their support.

25 years ago

Europe was facing up to a new surplus yesterday – diaries, blotters and desk sets. After the beef and butter mountains, it emerged that more than 20,000 of the items were surplus to requirements after a leather-bound diary and desk set was sent to every member of the European Parliament. The stockpile also contains 1,500 leather pocket diaries, 18,000 plastic pocket diaries and 1,200 matching blotter sets. A £190,000 bulk purchase from Italy included more than enough supplies for the 567 members.

One year ago

Ministry of Defence Police have been pulled into a probe into bullets found at the bottom of an Angus pond, The Courier has learned. The cache of live ammunition was discovered in Keptie Pond in Arbroath earlier this month by a member of the public. The rounds appear to be 5.56mm Nato standard type used in the SA80, the standard issue service rifle used by the British armed forces since 1987. They were discovered just two miles from RM Condor, home to 45 Commando Royal Marines and 3 Commando Brigade.