THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Sheriff Fleming, KC, presided at a long sederunt of the Appeal Tribunal for Fife and Kinross at Kirkcaldy yesterday, which disposed of 38 claims. In the great majority of the cases the men were ordered to join the colours after temporary exemption of one to three months. There were four appeals by conscientious objectors – John Hastie, Thomas Reilly, William R. Dick, and John Paton, all from Methil. Hastie said he belonged to the Assembly of Christians, and was under the providence of God.

50 years ago

A 19-year-old sixth-former at Hove County Grammar School, Sussex, said yesterday that shortly before he was due to take A level exams, the headmaster sat him in a chair and gave him a haircut. Tony Andrews said: “I had earlier been told to get a haircut because my hair did not conform to the school rule that it should be above the collar. The headmaster snipped hair from the back of my head. I did not object because I thought I might not be allowed to take the exam if I did.”

25 years ago

A young Forfar dancer took her first steps back on stage last week following a serious car crash last year. Joanna Bell, 15, is one of the stars of the Sandra Wright School of Dancing who are taking part in the Breath of Scotland shows currently running in Pitlochry. Joanna fractured her back and, after a spell in hospital, was forced to have a metal plate inserted. After the slow process of learning to walk again, the Forfar Academy pupil was determined to get her life back to normal as soon as possible.

One year ago

More than 600 potentially dangerous phone and tablet chargers have been seized in Dundee, avoiding a potential “catastrophe”. After testing it was found that the chargers breached safety regulations because of poor soldering between the circuits, inadequate labelling and incorrect plug pin size. The goods, which could have caused a fire or given an electric shock, were imported from China by an unnamed business in the city. The 630 devices are now being destroyed.