THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Subscribers to the Newport and Forgan War Memorial Fund met in the Small Blyth Hall, Newport, last night, when the decision was made regarding the designs submitted by the sculptor Mr G. Macdougald. Subscribers gave their ideas, both upon the designs and the proposed new sire at the top of Kilnburn Steps, one in every way more suitable for the Cenotaph most favoured. Provost Forrest stated that the Kilnburn Steps scheme would cost £1,300, without foundations. The fund still requires subscriptions.

50 years ago

The tone of singers competing at the Perthshire Music Festival is much better than that of their English counterparts. That was the opinion of Dr Allan W. Bunney, the festival choral adjudicator, after listening to more secondary school choirs yesterday. “Perhaps it is something to do with the weather,” he said. “There is a tang in the air here which we don’t have in the south-east of England and I thinks this adds a sharpness to the voice. In Perth, where the weather is crisp, the voices I hear have a clear ring.”

25 years ago

A six-week-old girl is in “a serious condition” in intensive care after being attacked by her great grandfather’s Jack Russell terrier, police said. Little Laura McKellar was asleep in her pram outside her great grandfather’s home in Johnstone when the dog was discovered attacking her head. Laura’s grandmother was bitten as she pulled the dog off when she went to check on the baby at around 3.30pm. She did not need treatment. The baby was taken to hospital suffering from cuts to the head and a fractured skull.

One year ago

An independent review could be held into the controversial closure of a specialist school in Perthshire. Parents and council officials are working together to set up the review into the New School at Butterstone. It closed in November citing financial difficulties, though it later emerged an internal report had recommended immediate closure due to failures around processes to safeguard children. Staff deny these allegations and many parents believe their children were well supported at the school.