From our archives
5 years ago
A rare 17th-century map of the world, found stuffed up a chimney to help stop draughts, has been saved following intricate conservation work. The antique produced by Dutch engraver Gerald Valck was found during the renovation of a house in Aberdeen. It was destined for the skip before someone had second thoughts and gifted it to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. It is understood there are only two other known copies.
10 years ago
More than 100 firefighters tackled flames of up to 100ft high as a blaze ripped through a derelict building in Glasgow. Hundreds of residents and office workers were forced to flee as the fire smothered the city’s Tradeston area in thick smoke and burning embers. Flames and smoke from the former Co-op Funeral Service building, located just south of the River Clyde, dominated the night skyline after the fire began at around 2pm.
25 years ago
Maryhill-born, Garnethill-resident Glasgow artist Douglas Gordon (pictured) was last night awarded the £20,000 Turner Prize, following Rachel Whitehead’s controversial House and Damien Hirst’s equally contentious piece of dead cow. Mr Gordon, 29, has made his reputation with the re-use of old film footage as well as his own video work. He was the rank outsider in the betting according to bookmaker William Hill.
50 years ago
Kirkcaldy’s new £465,000 swimming pool was officially opened on Saturday – and to help make it a gala event a new Scottish record was set. Diane Walker, (16) of Thistle Ladies, Aberdeen, returned a time of 5 min. 31.5 sec. for the medley to beat by 1.1sec. the Scottish ladies’ record which she set up at Blackpool earlier this year. The pool was opened by Provost H. A. Nicholson, who said it was a great day for the town and its people.
100 years ago
There was a crowded audience at St Andrew’s Hall, Glasgow, to welcome M. Jan Kubelik on his reappearance here after an absence of eight years. The occasion was the third International Celebrity Concert of the present series. The violinist was associated with Stella Power, the soprano. International celebrities are very often found to make their chief appeal on the side of virtuosity, and these two are no exception to the rule.