From our archives

5 years ago

An expert panel set up to help ministers improve Scotland’s education system meets for the first time today. The Scottish Government has recruited specialists from across the globe to be part of its International Council of Education Advisers. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Deputy, John Swinney, pictured, will be present. The panel includes members from the US, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Malaysia, Australia and the UK.

10 years ago

A grandmother has taken legal action against a domino league which has banned her from competing because she is female. Alison Agnew, 44, and two friends were told they could not join a team at the Frew Bar in Dundee because of rules put in place by the Dundee Licensed Trade Domino League. Mrs Agnew said: “The publican of Frew’s Bar is more than happy to sign us up to play in the team as are the rest of the team members.”

25 years ago

An attempt by Bell’s whisky and Barr’s Irn-bru to “rejuvenate” the Scotch whisky market was condemned last night by the Church of Scotland. It comes at a time of major concern in Scotland about the level of under-age drinking. Bell’s and the makers of Scotland’s “other national drink” have got together to produce a mixture of eight-year-old Scotch and the soft drink “made from girders”. The new drink is around 5.4% alcohol by volume.

50 years ago

Mr Alexander Pirie, of Prenton, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, gave up shooting and fishing after his 100th birthday. On Saturday he celebrated his 104th birthday, and yesterday he took up flying. After a 10-minute flight around Aberdeen Airport in a light aircraft, Mr Pirie said: “I wish I had started sooner.” Mr Pirie, although still remarkably agile, had a little difficulty climbing into the tiny two-seater aeroplane. But once in he said he was perfectly at ease.

100 years ago

At the Justiciary Buildings, Glasgow, yesterday William Brown, a young man, was charged with having written and transmitted by post to a young woman in Glasgow, a letter, the contents of which placed her in a state of bodily fear and alarm. The letter began: “Dollie – Sending you this letter to inform you that I am going up to Glasgow purposely for to deal with you. I may say you have led me on too far when you were going with me.”