THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

FRANCE – Shortly before dawn this morning, after heavy artillery preparation, the enemy delivered a strong local attack on a front of over a mile south of Houthoulst Forest. On the greater part of this front his attack broke down under the fire of our troops. At one point however, the left of our line, where the attack was pressed with great determination and supported by flammenwerfer, the troops holding some of our advanced posts were compelled to fall back a short distance of about 500 yards.

50 years ago

Freddie “Fingers” Lee, pianist with a rock group called At Last the 1958 Rock and Roll Show, was taken to hospital early yesterday after ending the group’s act by standing on his head on the piano keyboard during a performance at Harlow (Essex) Youth Centre. He banged his right foot against a metal strut above the stage and broke a toe. He was taken to hospital and the toe will remain in plaster for a month. Sometimes Freddie’s fingers are reinforced in his playing by his toes.

25 years ago

The long-term plan for landscaping the area of Riverside between the Tay Bridge and Invergowrie Bay would require a contribution of £100,000 each year for the next five to seven years from Dundee District Council, a report before a meeting of the cleansing committee revealed. However, the report from chief engineer Mr Jim Hutcheon adds that commitment of funds to the programme will depend on council approval of the report and subsequent acceptance of the scheme.

One year ago

The streets of Dundee and Perth and Kinross are becoming dirtier, according to a spending watchdog. Accounts Commission figures reveal nearly every council in the country has cut the amount spent on street cleaning in the face of reduced Scottish Government funding. While significant savings have been made, in many cases the cuts have led to a reduction in cleanliness. Dundee has seen its street cleanliness score fall by 1.6% over the past six years, while Perth’s score has fallen by 1.3%.