THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

“Venice had a ghostly aspect when I entered it in bright moonlight,” says a correspondent, “for the city seemed almost wholly deserted. As a matter of fact, two-thirds of the population has already left the city with the assistance of the authorities, who are anxious to diminish as far as possible the number of useless mouths. The exodus now averages 1,000 daily. Those remaining form queues outside the offices which register applications for permission to stay in Mediterranean coast towns.”

50 years ago

A family connection of 120 years with the Dundee textile firm of Malcolm, Ogilvie & Co., Constable Works, ended with the retiral of Mr David T. Hutcheson, factory office manager. Mr Hutcheson has served 38 years with the company, with which his late father also worked for 52 years as manager. Other members of the family made up the remaining 30 years of service. A native of Dundee, Mr Hutcheson was educated at Morgan Academy. He was also well known as a church organist.

25 years ago

Four new contracts exceeding £4 million have been awarded to Babcock Thorn, Rosyth Dockyard’s commercial managers. The yard’s commercial projects division has secured a substantial order to manufacture six high performance Schilling rudders for Hamworthy Industramar. Four of the units will go to the Kvaerner Govan shipyard in Glasgow and the others to the Kvaerner Kleven yard in Norway. Delivery of the first rudder is due in the first quarter of next year.

One year ago

Police are investigating reports of youths stealing Remembrance Day poppy wreaths in Kirriemuir – with one boy seen wearing a wreath around his neck. Their actions have been condemned by community leaders as it emerged that at least three wreaths are missing from the town’s War Memorial. Two boys were spotted passing wreaths to each other near Kirriemuir Cemetery. Kirriemuir councillor Ronnie Proctor said: “They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”