Down Memory Lane

Find out what was making the news in past decades
World Tour...from the Celia Orr dancers in the Memorial Hall, LanarkWorld Tour...from the Celia Orr dancers in the Memorial Hall, Lanark
World Tour...from the Celia Orr dancers in the Memorial Hall, Lanark

TEN YEARS AGO

* The campaign to save Carluke Gala Day was stepped up after Carluke Community Council received a letter from a dad looking to restart the tradition. Craig Carlyle wanted to form a new committee after members had resigned two months previously.

* South of Scotland MSP David Mundell hit out at Scottish Water for its lack of consultation with the people of Elsrickle over a new water supply for the village. Most of the villagers were furious that Scottish Water was to replace its existing fresh water supply with a new chlorinated system.

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* Members of Lanark’s Lord Cornet’s Club were on hand to present a cheque to the Lanimer Committee to help with the costs of staging the 2004 spectacular. Club vice-president Lindsay Craig officially presented the cheque to Lanimer Committee chairman Ernie Romer.

* Councillors approved a Compulsory Purchase Order for land in Lanark’s North Vennel to allow the next phase of improvements to begin. South Lanarkshire Council had already carried out the first phase of work.

* Pupils from the Celia Orr School of Dance in Lanark took part in their annual show, entitled World Tour 2004 at Lanark Memorial Hall.

* In 2004 a man in Clydesdale could expect to live to just over 74 while the average woman could live a further four years. The figures were contained in a new report issued jointly by NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Executive.

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* Biggar Rugby Club strengthened their promotion push with a convincing 44-8 victory over Haddington at Hartreemill. A victory against Gala on April 3 was essential if Biggar were to seal promotion to Premier One and a big crowd was expected to cheer the team on.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

* Schools across Clydesdale pulled out all the stops to celebrate Comic Relief Day. The largest total in Carluke was raised by the town’s high school which raised £1600 thanks in no small part to a huge raffle which included a gold disc of Deacon Blue album Raintown, generously donated by the band.

* Crimes and offences had increased in Clydesdale over the past year although it was still third lowest in a table of all 19 Strathclyde districts. The only other places that were safer to live were Argyll and Bute and Bearsden and Milngavie.

* Law Tenants Association was set to go ahead with its plans for environmental improvements, despite the plans getting almost no support at its AGM. Despite being well advertised, only a handful of people bothered to attend the meeting from the 400-plus houses.

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* Clydesdale councillors were to seek a meeting with researchers over a controversial TV documentary which pinpointed radiation “hotspots” in the district. The Scottish Eye programme, which had been broadcast on Channel 4, claimed that an aerial exercise in Scotland had found high levels of radiation in the area around Tinto Hill and Carstairs.

* Colleagues marked the retirement of parks superintendent Thomas Dunbar with a presentation at Lanark Thistle Bowling Club. Clydesdale parks and cemeteries officer Colin Jeffcott handed over a wallet and cash to Mr Dunbar who had 21 years service.

* President Hugh Mathie was joined by other members and guests at Lanark Rugby Club’s annual dinner in the Crown Tavern. Meanwhile, Scotland rugby international Finlay Calder was the guest of honour at Biggar Rugby Club’s dinner at the town’s Elphinstone Hotel.

* The directors of a company planning an ambitious £1.75 million project to build 40 luxury sheltered flats at Old Bridgend, Carluke, were to offer shares in the scheme to the public. Mansebridge Care Home plc planned a development adjacent to Woodhurst Nursing Home and work was expected to start in a matter of weeks.

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* Entry forms were available for anyone wishing to enter the 1989 Carluke Gala Day procession. The forms had to be completed by March 31.

* Lanark United eased their relegation fears with a 2-0 victory over Stonehouse Violet . Davy Jackson’s goal settled any United nerves.