THE ARCHIVES

A case reported to the Fife Disablements Committee at Cupar proved to demonstrate, said Mr B. Cox, the inadequacy of hospital facilities in Fife. In the case of a discharged soldier, who was suffering from active tubercular disease of the left hip and also acute tuberculosis of the lung, the treatment recommended was surgical. Several hospitals had been contacted, but had refused him access because of the tuberculosis of the lungs. He was taken to Edinburgh, but there had been a lack of motor ambulances. When the ladies’ section of an Angus bowling club raised £250 at an evening function they might have expected praise from the male members of the club. But instead, say the women, their fees were raised, they were refused permission to have afternoon tea and finally they were banned from the club. Now a battle of the sexes is raging at Monifieth Bowling Club, and both sides have taken legal advice on the dispute. President Mr Raymond Ross described the “battle” as a storm in a teacup. Sir David Steel, the former Liberal leader and a prominent figure in the historic merger of his party with the Social Democrats, is to retire from the Commons at the next general election after 30 years as an MP, he announced last night. One reason for his decision was to quit when he was young enough to contemplate “doing something equally constructive and challenging in the remaining decades of my working life.” Sir David (56) is probably the most outstanding “third party” MP for the past two decades. Tourism and political leaders have expressed fears after drinks giant Edrington called time on a popular whisky visitor centre. The Famous Grouse Experience, which welcomes tens of thousands of whisky enthusiasts to Crieff each year, may only have months left to operate after Edrington said it was selling the Glenturret Distillery site on which it stands. The new owners will have the opportunity to open their own attraction themed around Glenturret, but the Famous Grouse whisky is to remain with Edrington.