From our archives
5 years ago
Archaeologists believe they have uncovered the remains of the medieval kirk where Sir William Wallace was appointed Guardian of Scotland over 700 years ago. Wallace defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and a ceremony took place in front of nobles and clergy in the Kirk o’the Forest, in Selkirk. The scene was in Mel Gibson’s Oscar-winning film Braveheart, but the building itself was demolished.
10 years ago
The woman famed for gifting Pollok Estate to Glasgow has died aged 104. Dame Anne Maxwell Macdonald, who gave away her birthright when she donated Pollok Estate, died peacefully at her home in Tayinloan in Argyll. The only child and heir to her father, Sir John Stirling Maxwell of Pollok, she gave Pollok House, her art collection, library and 361 acres of surrounding land to Glasgow in 1966, following her father’s death.
25 years ago
Rangers won their eighth successive premier division title at Ibrox yesterday after a virtuosic display from their enfante terrible, Paul Gascoigne. Those who doubted manager Walter Smith’s wisdom in signing the often errant England player should now apologise to the Ibrox chief. Gascoigne scored a hat trick to consign Aberdeen to defeat and place himself among the many Ibrox legends who have preceded him in the history of the club.
50 years ago
Stirling Moss, pictured, the former racing driver, yesterday had his driving licence suspended after he was alleged to have made a “two-fingered gesture” at an off-duty policeman while overtaking him. Moss, aged 41, was disqualified for six months by magistrates at Thame, Oxfordshire, after being found guilty of two motoring offences. Moss gave immediate notice of appeal and was able to drive away from the court.
100 years ago
At Forfar Sheriff Court yesterday Sheriff Gordon ruled that there must be a conviction against the Caledonian Railway Company. The complaint against the company was that they, being proprietors of the railway line and bridge which crosses the Old Montrose Road at Hillside, parish of Montrose, did during the months of December, 1920, and January, 1921, allow water to run or flow into or upon the public road from the bridge.