36 YEARS AGO

A new group courted controversy with their chosen topic of discussion back in 1983.

The Monklands Debate Forum picked a subject involving whether women should be“barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen”for its much-anticipated first meeting.

Opening the fiery debate were reporters Charles Graham and Rosemary Long.

The forum also received its first sponsorship when the Leeds Building Society presented a shield for members to compete for annually.

Delighted forum chairman Patrick Rolink accepted the shield from the building society’s manager Colin Cant.

Airdrie man Patrick, now a beloved comedian, said:“It’s a brilliant thing for the forum to team up with a sponsor as big as Leeds Building Society this early into its existence.”