THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

An action which has aroused considerable interest has been raised in Elgin Sheriff Court by Margaret Watson, who claims £250 damages from Jas. Dawson, butcher, Elgin, for injuries sustained by her by being knocked down and trampled on by a cow belonging to the defender. As a result of the mishap, the woman’s right leg was broken in two places, four of her ribs were broken and she suffered bruising. The cow was being driven from the mart to the slaughterhouse when the accident occurred.

50 years ago

When Mr George Thomson, owner of the GMT coach fleet, arrived at his yard in Don’s Road, Dundee, to begin servicing one of his buses, he discovered a blackbird’s nest, complete with four eggs and a blackbird. The discovery was made about two weeks ago when the bus was in for a routine overhaul. All four eggs hatched yesterday. Mr Thomson said: “The nest is woven into lacing at the back of the luggage rack. I’m losing a bit of money on the hiring of the bus, but I would rather wait until the birds fly.”

25 years ago

When the Victorians discarded the butter crocks and cream jars of the day it would not have crossed their minds that a century on, those same items would have people travelling miles to see and buy them. The Bridge of Earn Institute saw hundreds of collectors crowding the aisles around the trestle tables in the hall. While some of the cream pots and glass bottles cost just a few pounds, the show also saw a butter crock sold for a staggering £1,500 – the Lothian Dairy Butter Crock – made by AW Buchan of Portobello.

One year ago

Vandals slashed tyres on three buses used to transport disabled children to school. Fifteen youngsters were in danger of being stuck at home after the wheelchair-adapted minibuses were targeted by knife-wielding thugs. The vehicles, owned by A1 Minibus and Coach Services, had been parked in two separate locations in Methil and no other cars were damaged, suggesting it was a deliberate attack. Seven tyres were destroyed in total, leaving the family-owned firm hundreds of pounds out of pocket.