From our files:

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

June 14 1991

Naval review follows sinking of trawler THE MINISTRY of Defence has accepted full responsibility for the loss of the Carradale trawler ‘Antares’ and her four crew.

The board of inquiry found that the trawler was sunk as a direct result of the submarine ‘Trenchant’ running into her nets.

The incident on November 22 has prompted the Royal Navy to review inshore safety measures for submarine operations. Liaison with trawlers over submarine movements in the Firth of Clyde, begun on December 17, may now be extended into other waters.

The ministry has taken the unprecedented step of publishing a summary of the findings of the board of inquiry into the incident and in this the board ‘considers that there were some procedural and personal failings on board HMS Trenchant’.

Individual culpability is still being considered by the Command-in-Chief Fleet.

FIFTY YEARS AGO June 16 1966

Think twice, young man ... WOLVES beware! Start directing those whistles at a certain 18-year-old lovely and you could end up with a few broken bones. The girl in question is a shapely machinist Maria Miller, who was chosen ‘Miss Campbeltown, 1966’ out of a total of 10 finalists at the Victoria Hall on Friday night.

She will represent the ‘wee toon’ in the finals of the beauty queen competition promoted by the Campbeltown Caledonia Athletic Football Club to find ‘Miss Argyll and Bute.’

The warning to wolves stems from a secret ambition Maria dearly wants to fulfil. After winning the ‘Miss Campbeltown’ title she revealed quite matter-of-factly: ‘I want to be able to protect myself – and the best way to do this is learn karate.’

It’s enough to make those gallant knights turn in their graves.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO June 10 1916

Co-operative Society picnic THE ANNUAL picnic under the auspices of the Campbeltown Co-operative Society, Ltd, took place on Wednesday – Victoria Day – at Machrihanish Farm (Mrs Armour’s).

A company numbering between 600 and 700 availed themselves of the holiday and the opportunity afforded by what has come to be a yearly outing to spend a day in the fields.

The journey to the chosen destination was made by train, the greater part of the picnickers leaving Hall Street at 9.30am.

The morning did not promise well, the sky being overcast and the weather cold, but luckily as the day advanced the weather improved, and the outdoor programme arranged for the occasion was carried out under favourable circumstances.

After a liberal supply of refreshments, served on the green sward, the events on the sports list were begun.