FROM OUR ARCHIVES
5 YEARS AGO
The first full parish in the Church of Scotland’s financial heartland is to quit the Kirk over its decision to allow openly gay ministers. Holyrood Abbey Church, which began life as a mission for the poor, is the first Edinburgh congregation to publicly express anger and division over last month’s decision at the General Assembly. Other influential ministers are in talks with the Kirk’s lawyers at its administrative headquarters at nearby 121 George Street. Holyrood, based at the foot of Canongate next to the Queen’s residence, is one of three main evangelical congregations – along with the Tron in Glasgow and Gilcomston South in Aberdeen – to have left acrimoniously.
10 YEARS AGO
THE UK Government is to relax immigration rules in order to fill jobs in the nuclear power industry, it emerged last night. The Home Office claimed that adding the jobs to the so-called “national shortage list” would help the country get the
“right skills”. It will mean some 27 employment categories can be filled by workers from anywhere in the world. Ministers, intent on building a new generation of nuclear power stations and increasing the number of plants beyond the current 10, have already indicated that some 60,000 jobs could be created within the industry, raising its workforce from the current 40,000 to 100,000.
25 YEARS AGO
Comedy genius Les Dawson, pictured, died suddenly yesterday, plunging the showbusiness world into mourning. Dawson, 59, had gone to a Manchester Bupa hospital for a check-up but collapsed and died shortly after arriving. Dawson was multi-talented, not just as one of the greatest stand-up comedians but also as an accomplished pianist and writer, with several published books. His big break came in 1967 with an appearance on Opportunity Knocks. When he replaced Terry Wogan as host of Blankety Blank, TV chiefs knew it was a risk but he doubled the audience with his brilliant brand of self-mockery and mournful stories.
50 YEARS AGO
Yesterday Scotland had its hottest day of the year. An official at Glasgow Weather Centre predicted last night that the heatwave would last for at least two days more and possibly longer. Though the heat was welcomed in most places – Galashiels had a local holiday coinciding with a temperature of 77˚F., which equalled the Glasgow maximum – it caused annoyance in others. Blue trains from Glasgow to Dumbarton and Craigendoran were delayed when expansion of the track caused short circuit failure in the signalling system. There was a 34-minute hold-up to the 1.30pm passenger diesel from Edinburgh to Glasgow at Winchburgh Junction.