THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Superintendent Hugh Gunn, who retired from the Dundee Police Force yesterday after 32 years’ service, was the recipient of a gold albert, suitable inscribed, for himself and a gold brooch for Mrs Gunn from the members of the police force. Chief Constable Carmichael, in handing over the gifts, said that Superintendent Gunn for a long time had been responsible for the management and preparation of the material for the Court, and the work, which was of a professional nature, could not have been done better.

50 years ago

The man thumbing a lift northwards on the Perth-Edinburgh road near the Forth Road Bridge yesterday seemed pleasant enough, so the driver of a van pulled up to give him a lift. At Milnathort the “Good Samaritan” got out of the vehicle for a couple of minutes to make a phone call. He glanced back towards the van just in time to see it take off at high speed. And, as a result, Perth and Kinross Police were last night searching for the van, registration TGU 620F. Road blocks were also set up, but there has still been no sign of it.

25 years ago

Claire Smith (14), from Dalkeith, has been selected from over 11,000 youngsters to receive the SSPCA’s most prestigious award for young people, the Junior Member of the Year Award. It is given to the SSPCA junior member who has made the most outstanding contribution to animal welfare throughout the year. Claire was chosen primarily because of her dedication to her pets – two cats, 17 fish and a budgie. Both cats were rescued from animal centres and Claire uses her own money to pay for veterinary treatment.

One year ago

Multi-million-pound plans to transform Perth City Hall into a major arts venue have been approved. Officials rubber-stamped the longawaited proposals for the historic city centre venue after more than a decade of protracted negotiations. The move paves the way for the Fair City’s equivalent of the V&A, expected to draw 160,000 visitors a year and creating about 200 direct and indirect jobs. Council leader Murray Lyle said the key milestone meant it was “full steam ahead” for the long-awaited project.