THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The secret is in the ballot box and until it is revealed there will be suspense in many quarters. The new Parliament will consist of 707 members. Of that total 107 were returned unopposed; consequently 600 had to be elected by vote. The death of a candidate necessitated the postponement of the election in one constituency, while there are 15 university seats in which voting is a protracted affair. Therefore, some 584 members were elected by vote. Their names will be forthcoming in a fortnight.

50 years ago

The damp and derelict shell of an abandoned wool mill has been transformed into one of Scotland’s most spacious and well-equipped sports and recreation clubs. Clubs and organisations in Glenrothes took over the building on Saturday. At a cost of only £14,000, the joint efforts and imagination of Glenrothes District Council and the new town’s Development Coporation have provided 16,500 square feet of space which allocates separate parts of the building for different activities.

25 years ago

The regeneration and redevelopment of Whitfield in Dundee could be honoured by the United Nations as part of an awards scheme to mark the organisation’s 50th anniversary. Whitfield has been nominated for one of 50 community awards being given internationally by the UN to mark their Golden Jubilee in October 1995. Whitfield’s nomination, in the name of Lord Provost Tom McDonald, will be faxed to the UN building in New York today with a supporting video being sent later.

One year ago

Questions have been raised about safety in Fife’s schools following the fire which ravaged one of the region’s primary schools. Parents of children at Cairneyhill Primary are demanding to know why the school was not fitted with smoke alarms and why the blaze was only discovered after a security alarm – and not a fire alarm – was triggered, prompting the evacuation of around 200 children and staff. Pupils watched from the gala field as the junior building went up in flames.