From our archives
5 years ago
First it conquered the globe, now it’s on a mission to extend its reach into outer space. A slice of cloth decorated in the distinctive Paisley design has blasted off onboard a rocket bound for the International Space Station where it will orbit the planet at speeds in excess of 17,000mph. The cloth has been cut from a shawl held at Paisley Museum as part of a special reserve to the main collection set aside specifically for research.
10 years ago
The curtain came down on a 100-year legacy of military aviation when the Government announced the closure of RAF Leuchars. Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox, pictured, confirmed yesterday that the Fife base will be turned into a barracks housing 1,300 British troops returning from Germany as the Army north of the Border doubles in number to 6,500. RAF Lossiemouth in Moray will be retained as Scotland’s only Air Force base.
25 years ago
Glasgow’s disused docklands could become one of Scotland’s top tourist attractions if an ambitious £15m plan to establish a museum to Clyde shipbuilding gets backing. Centrepiece of the new attraction would be the Royal Yacht Britannia, which the group of businessmen behind the plan hopes to buy when the vessel is decommissioned next year. The consortium hopes to get the bulk of the money needed from the Lottery Heritage Fund.
50 years ago
A grandmother, her daughter and her grandchild – a baby girl – are being treated or typhoid fever at Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow. A fourth typhoid patient at the hospital is a nurse. All belong to the Kirkintilloch district. The nurse was attached to Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, and was in contact with the baby when she was a patient there. The nurse’s home is at Lenzie, near Kirkintilloch, and the outbreak is being investigated.
100 years ago
With the solemnity befitting the occasion, and in the presence of an exceptionally large number of people, the funeral took place yesterday of Mr Harry Hawkers, the famous aviator, who met his death under tragic circumstances last week. The body was interred in Hook Churchyard, in a special plot by the war memorial. Many of the numerous floral emblems took a form in keeping with the occupation in which Mr Hawker had served out so brilliant a career.