Festival Of Sport

Jim Howie of Broughty Ferry sent in the photograph of the programme on the right and says: “The Festival Of Sport was held in Dundee-Angus Ice Rink for a week in June 1951 and featured experts in different sports, who gave coaching to local children.

“Some of the sportspersons appearing were – Helen Elliot (world table tennis champion), Cathie Gibson (British Empire swimming representative), George Young (Rangers and Scotland football captain), Bobby Boland (Dundee’s contender for the British Bantamweight Championship), Mrs R. T. Ellis (ranked world No 1 in 1947 and British hard court and USA champion), Mr J. O’Brien (Scottish individual gymnastic champion), Vic Garland (International table tennis and lawn tennis champion, Peter Mackay (Dundee United centre forward who was Scotland’s highest goal scorer), Elspeth Hay (Scottish Ladies 100-yards champion) and Miss K. Buchanan (world champion Highland dancer).

“The week ended with a Sportsman’s Ball with cabaret. Music was provided by The Black-Out Scandals Band. Tickets for dancers cost 2/6d and, for spectators, one shilling.” witches was marched to Abernethy Hill to be burned to death.

“As a child, I remember regularly walking the Castle Law paths and visiting the Witches Cave where it was assumed the coven convened, or maybe met their fate. The photograph, taken in the 1950s, shows the cave, with Eileen and Jean Henderson posing for the camera.”

Historic vehicles

The Spotlight on Craigtoun Park feature prompted reader Ian Turnbull to get in touch. “For many years, a Historic Vehicle Show took place in the park,” he says. “On May 30 1993, I entered my newly refurbished 1961 Ariel Leader motorcycle at the show.

“It was its first outing and no similar bikes had been shown at any of the shows I had been at. I rode it into the park and was putting it on its stand when an Ariel Arrow came alongside and parked next to me. Its owner introduced himself as Mel Ednie and it was his first showing of his bike. I pointed to the registration plate on my bike which showed four numbers and the letters M and E. We have still got our bikes.

“I got the award for farthest driven at the show, which is still displayed in my cabinet. Unfortunately, the show is no longer in the park.”

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