From the archives

25 YEARS AGO COATBRIDGE has staged its last world indoor bowls championship. The World Indoor Bowls Council issued a statement today that brought to an end the tenure of the championship at the Lanarkshire club. The official statement read: “At a general meeting of the World Indoor Bowls Council held in Bournemouth on Monday, March 30, it was agreed that in future years the Embassy world indoor singles championship will not be held in an indoor club due to the lack of facilities currently available in a club environment. The council also unanimously agreed that the tournament director David Harrison be authorised to proceed with negotiations to secure the Alexandra Palace (London) for staging the world indoor bowls singles championship from March 5 to 13, 1988, and in future years.” 50 YEARS AGO FEW amateur dramatic clubs in the South-west of Scotland have a record like the Milngavie Players. They are 50 years old. The club was formed in 1912 “to promote an interest in dramatic art and to raise funds for local organisations,” and except for a period during and immediately after the First World War, their activity has been continuous. They celebrate their jubilee this week, appropriately, with a production of “The Edwardians,” by Ronald Gow, which is being presented in the new Milngavie Town Hall on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The club were the first winners of the S.C.D.A. Glasgow district full-length play festival. Known for their preference for good-quality theatre, they have several first performances by amateurs to their credit, and claim that their production of “The Edwardians” is the first by amateurs in Scotland. 100 YEARS AGO LADY Mcinnes Shaw last night gave her annual treat to Glasgow newsboys and boy messengers in the hall, 76 Oswald Street. A number of ladies and gentlemen interested in the work of the Glasgow Newsboys’ League were present. The boys numbered about 200. Lady Mcinnes Shaw in the course of a brief address encouraged the newsboys to aspire to become members of the Boy Messenger Brigade. She complimented the members of the Brigade on their smart appearance, and spoke of the many messages she had received from ladies and gentlemen during the time of the Scottish National Exhibition regarding the satisfactory manner in which the boy messengers had discharged their duties there. 150 YEARS AGO HAMILTON – A troop of Scots Greys, which had been stationed at Hamilton for above a year, left this morning for Edinburgh. The remaining troop, which still lies here, we believe, is also to proceed to Edinburgh on Thursday first. The men belonging to both of these troops, since their arrival in Hamilton, have conducted themselves in a quiet and sober manner. Throughout the town officers and men were generally well liked. They are to be replaced by two troops from Edinburgh. 200 YEARS AGO Edinburgh – We understand eight of the young men confined in the new prison under the North Bridge, for being engaged in the new year’s day riots, were on Monday out on board the receiving ship in Leith Roads. It is to be hoped that the discipline and restraint to which they will now be subjected will have the salutary effect of reclaiming them from their former vicious habits, and of rendering them, in future, better members of society. There are still 40 in custody for the same offence.