From our archives

5 years ago

Contactless payments via mobile phones will outstrip cash within a decade, according to a bank. The Co-operative said customers currently used cash for 65 per cent of all transactions, but contactless payments had trebled in a year as more bank cards with the technology came into use, as well as the launch of mobile payments such as Apple Pay. It predicts that same proportion of all transactions will be by mobile phone by 2025.

10 years ago

A special school assembly has been held to mark the death of Sophie Taylor, 16, who was shot dead by her gamekeeper boyfriend in an apparent firearms accident. Pupils gathered on the first day of the new term at Speyside High School in Aberlour, Moray, to remember Ms Taylor, pictured, who died at an estate cottage on the outskirts of Tomintoul last Tuesday. Calum Murray, 18, who also died, is thought to have turned the gun on himself.

25 years ago

The doors of Glasgow City Chambers were firmly locked against all-comers yesterday for what many believe was the first time since the infamous Black Friday in 1919, when tens of thousands of striking workers filled George Square. Yesterday the danger came in the less potent form of around 60 mums, dads and their children protesting against the possible closure of a school in the north-east of the city.

50 years ago

Jackie Stewart, pictured, driving a Tyrell-ford, today won the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix. Jackie Ickx, of Belgium, driving a Ferrari, finished second. Chris Amon, of New Zealand, in a Matra-simca, was third. Stewart overtook Ickx in the seventh lap and dominated the remainder of the 75-lap event.

Stewart and Ickx treated the 50,000 crowd to a demonstration of superb cornering on the testing 2.33-mile circuit.

100 years ago

Yesterday was observed in Edinburgh as the Spring Holiday, and, as the first of a general character since the new year, it was almost universally taken advantage of. Shops, offices, and places of business were everywhere shut, and in spite of the restricted train services large numbers of citizens journeyed into the country on Saturday. Football matches at Tynecastle and Easter Road were largely attended.