THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

From letters received from local seamen berthed during the weekend at Granton, it is learned that George Lindsay, youngest son of Thomas Lindsay, fisherman, of East Shore, Pittenweem, was drowned in the harbour on Sunday. No authentic information as to how the fatality occurred has yet to come to hand, it being only ascertained that between 7 and 8am the crew were summoned on deck to moor a trawler on which Lindssay served as a deck-hand.He was 22 years of age.

50 years ago

A plaque at the Aberdeen College of Commerce has been lowered to grant a Royal wish. When the Queen Mother officially opened the college in October, she commented that the plaque seemed “rather high”. Lord Provost Norman Hogg agreed that he could hardly read the inscription. Schools’ architect, Mr David Ross, who explained that the height of the plaque was related to that of the hall, agreed to shift the plaque. It has now been lowered by about four feet.

25 years ago

A contra-flow system near Longforgan on the A85 Dundee to Perth dual carriageway is causing some of the longest tailbacks in Tayside with hundreds of cars being brought to a standstill almost every night. Rush hour traffic heading towards Perth forms a mile-long queue all the way from the Bullionfield filling station back to the Swallow Hotel roundabout and on to Kingsway and the Invergowrie bypass. The hold ups can add as much as 30 minutes to the journey time of a Perth commuter.

One year ago

Leuchars will lose out to Lincolnshire with the RAF now extremely unlikely to return to Fife. A major UK Government defence review will announce the addition of nine new Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft to the Ministry of Defence’s arsenal. Despite speculation that could mean aircraft once again being stationed locally, reports suggested they will be based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire in a move slammed by Scottish politicians.