THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Newport’s wartime record of freedom from crime, marred some weeks ago by minor depredation at the High Street shops, had a more serious blemish when the mansion-house of Balmore was burglariously entered and booty of various kinds removed. Long occupied by the late ex-provost Robertson, Balmore is one of the beauty spots of the west end and had just been put into perfect order without and within, prior to the new proprietor Mr Daniel Lawson taking up residence. Nothing of great value had been taken.

50 years ago

Two unconnected cases of oil pollution in the Tay estuary were under investigation by a Board of Trade surveyor from Dundee yesterday. A thick treacly discharge which affected beaches at Broughty Ferry, Monifieth, Tayport, Newport and Balmerino was traced to a Dundee sewer. Industrial premises discharging into the sewer were being checked by the surveyor. This leakage has no connection with an oil slick 2½ miles long and 200 yards wide spotted by a Carnoustie coastguard yesterday forenoon.

25 years ago

Perthshire Tourist Board is expecting thousands of inquiries from all over the UK following this week’s Wish You Were Here programme on ITV. John Carter will be presenting a film made last summer in Perth and Kinross, and for six or seven minutes the district will receive prime time evening TV viewing in England. “This is publicity that money couldn’t buy,” said depute director Patrick Laughlin. “We know they had good weather when they were filming here last summer.”

One year ago

The operators of Mossmorran have been slated for snubbing a public meeting on the impact of flaring on residents near the petrochemical plant. Mossmorran Action Group said Exxonmobil’s refusal of an invitation to its public meeting was the “height of corporate irresponsibility”. Local people endured days of noise, light and vibration caused by flaring, described as the worst ever experienced. Action group chairman James Glen said: “There could be no clearer statement of their total lack of commitment to Fife.”

550

The number of migrants to have reached Britain since lockdown began.

They have arrived in small boats. Many more have been stopped by the French authorities.

750,000

The number of tons of potatoes that Belgian farmers have as surplus.