THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday – before Sheriff Wilson – the Earl of Ancaster pleaded guilty to having used a motor car from Drummond Castle to St James’s Episcopal Church, Muthill, to attend church worship contrary to the Motor Spirits Restriction Order. His Lordship said he was extremely sorry that he had broken the regulations but that it had been done in entire ignorance. He believed at the time he was acting perfectly legally in taking the motor to church.

50 years ago

British Rail (Scotland) have announced that they propose to discontinue passenger services between Thornton Junction and Leven from January 6, 1969. It is also proposed to discontinue calls made by all trains at Sinclairtown, Dysart and Thornton Junction stations. This will involve the closure of Sinclairtown, Dysart, Thornton Junction, Cameron Bridge and Leven stations. British Rail say alternative transport will be available at Kirkcaldy, Cardenden and Markinch.

25 years ago

Britain’s most expensive footballer, Rangers and Scotland star Duncan Ferguson, was warned by a sheriff that he was considering “all the options” after finding him guilty of assault. Ferguson will reappear at Cupar Sheriff court in three weeks’ time. The 21-year-old former Dundee United player was convicted of assaulting another man in an East Neuk hotel after a row about football escalated into violence. The sheriff said he felt Ferguson was not telling “the entire truth”.

One year ago

Major engineering works to transform the heart of Kirkcaldy are to begin within months, The Courier can reveal. The town’s Esplanade will be torn up and reduced to a single lane roadway as part of a project to improve connections between the waterfront and the town centre. There are hopes the regeneration will tie in with the opening of a new cinema and the revamped Kings Theatre to completely reshape the area and attract thousands of visitors.