THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

A daring case of highway robbery is engaging the attention of Dundee police. A lady living in Barnhill was proceeding down Abercromby Street in the evening towards the car when she was accosted by a woman in the darkest part of the thoroughfare. The latter had a companion who, it transpired, was a man. They asked her a question before the man seized hold of her handbag. She held on tightly but the man produced a knife and cut the handle. The couple then ran off.

50 years ago

Two of the best-known men in the Tayport Spinning Co. have retired. One of the last official duties of managing director Mr John Mechan was to hand over a wallet and contents to the secretary, Bob Ingram, as a retirement gift from the Jute Industries Group. Then Mr Mechan moved into the recipient’s position to accept a small gift from the company which was handed over by Mr Charles Hutton. He paid tribute to the good work done by both men for the company.

25 years ago

There was no doubt who was the real Dalai Lama at Madame Tussaud’s yesterday – the one who could not stop giggling. It was his contagious laughter that could be heard long before he appeared. And there was another burst when he set eyes on his mirror-image at the London waxworks. He touched it, just to make sure it was not real, bent down to look at the feet and then examined the stubble of the crewcut – and then he giggled again. “It’s quite similar,” the Dalai Lama said.

One year ago

Some of Fife’s vulnerable residents are facing a bleak winter after council bosses revealed they were putting the brakes on a lifeline bus service. Charles Lister, chairman of Disabilities Fife, said the decision to halt the scheme, known as Ring and Ride or Dial-A-Ride, at weekends could leave disabled people stranded. Fife Council says it has been forced to call a temporary halt to the on-demand scheme because of driver holidays and illness. Normal service may not resume until the new year.