THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

From British Headquarters: Our operations have been continued energetically, in spite of heavy snowstorms and generally unfavourable weather. We have reached the outskirts of Monchyle-Preux, five miles east of Arras. Hard fighting took place again this afternoon on the northern end of the Vimy Ridge, in which we gained further important positions and took a number of prisoners and machine guns. Such counterattacks as the enemy has attempted have met with no success.

50 years ago

The four-man crew of the Anstruther fishing boat Plough won a desperate race against time to save their sinking ship after it struck a reef in the Sound of Kererra yesterday. For half an hour as water poured through a hole in the hull it steamed at full speed for Oban, where they succeeded in beaching the vessel. The crew were taken off by another fishing boat. Their damaged craft was later covered by the rising tide. Skipper David Gardner said they had been on their way to fishing grounds.

25 years ago

Dundee University’s first rector, man of many parts Sir Peter Ustinov, was treading the boards of an unfamiliar stage as he officially opened the West Park Centre, off Perth Road. Onetime down-at-heel tennis courts which served the residence have made way for what Sir Peter described as “a modern, yet human” conference facility which significantly enhances Dundee’s rapidly growing reputation in this market. The £1 million centre has been designed with high specification for the disabled.

One year ago

The parents of a toddler who died suddenly have watched her name fly high after she captured the hearts of tens of thousands of people. Just weeks after her death, two-year-old Edie Murphy won a competition to have a Boeing 787 named after her. The aircraft took off on its maiden flight from Manchester Airport bound for Mexico, watched by Edie’s parents Cheryl and Tom and nine-month-old sister Annie. More than 130,000 people voted for Edie, from Kirkcaldy, in the competition.