THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

A very attractive boxing exhibition was given in the Drill Hall, Cowdenbeath, the principal event of which was the meeting of Bandsman Moodie, lightweight champion of the Grand Fleet, and Tommy Mcgurk, lightweight champion of Fife. The sailor had the better of the first two rounds, but he fell away, and after the fourth round his seconds flung in the towel. George Pratt and Mcgee, both well-known pugilists, contested the final of the 10-stone championship and Pratt won by a knock-out in the fifth.

50 years ago

The Duke of Edinburgh has upset trade unionists in Calgary, Alberta, because he poked fun at the gift of a white cowboy hat. The Calgary Labour Council voted narrowly to censure the Duke for his reaction to the city’s traditional gift to visiting dignitaries. The council accused the Duke of “insulting behaviour to Calgarians.” The Duke had said that he could use the hat to put flowers in when he got home. Asked by a photographer to wear the hat, he replied: “I’m no clown.” He has been given three of the hats over the years.

25 years ago

A fisherman plucked from bone-chilling seas off the east coast, just south of Lunan Bay, said he and his colleague owed their lives to a man who heard their desperate cries for help. He also praised the actions of a coastguard who played a big part in the rescue. Selfemployed fishermen George Pullar, 24, and Alan Third, 34, threw themselves into the waters off Red Head as their creel boat began sinking. It sank so quickly they had no time to radio a mercy mayday. Mr Pullar was in the numbing water for 40 minutes.

One year ago

The Tay Cities Deal will receive £200 million from the Scottish Government, ministers have promised. The SNP administration is stealing a march on its UK counterparts by announcing its contribution to the joint-funded deal, which is hoped will create 15,000 jobs for the area. The UK Government’s contribution for the regional package is due to be announced in Monday’s Budget. Theresa May’s officials in Scotland were last night not prepared to say whether they would match the SNP’S figures.