FROM THE ARCHIVES

25 YEARS AGO The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Norman Lamont, is being criticised increasingly by Tory MPs for announcing an economic recovery of which they can see few, if any, signs in their constituencies. Made more nervous about losing the next election by a six-point Labour lead in the most recent opinion poll, the MPs have been calling on Mr Lamont to take further action to revive the economy. 50 YEARS AGO Scotland magazine has contrived to squeeze through the turnstile into Hampden Park and find out a little of what happens behind the bowl. But it has discovered that the 10-man general committee who operate Queen’s Park Football Club make something of a fetish of keeping private facts private. The committee meet on Mondays once a month for high tea and sometimes a six-hour stint. Hampden wives call it “the one o’clock night” but even they are told little of what goes on. 100 YEARS AGO It is officially stated that all semiskilled or unskilled munition workers in Government establishments are to be released if under 31 years of age and passed for general service. This agreement has been arrived at by the Admiralty, the Ministry of Munitions, and the Army Council. No man who is debadged or decertificated will be called to the colours unless he is passed for general service. 150 YEARS AGO The Shetland Islands still retain a good deal of primitive simplicity. There are neither public houses nor milestones, but the rights of hospitality are well understood.

The humblest people will provide eggs, oatcake, and buttermilk, and a trifle in the baby’s hand at parting will send you away with a blessing. And, except when the Channel Fleet comes, and raises the price of everything, provisions are cheap.

A goose may be bought for 1s 6d, a good fat hen for 6d, and a ewe for7s.