Down Memory Lane

50 YEARS AGO

* A bookmaker was fined 35 and disqualified for 18 months for driving under the influence of drink. He was also fined 5.

* An explosion ripped through the kitchen of St Athanasius Primary. No-one was injured but the blast, caused by a hot water storage tank bursting, blew out windows and doors.

* Local doctor Eric Paterson spoke to the St John's Youth Fellowship on the breakdown of family life. Dr Paterson said various factors were the cause of this 'ill health'.

* Prime Minister Harold MacMillan visited Clydesdale as a guest of Foreign Secretary Lord Home. The PM was stopped by an unsuspecting porter at Carstairs Railway Station and asked for his ticket before heading south.

* Three people from Forth were hurt when a bus and a train collided in Mount Vernon.

* Businessmen in Biggar were buying their stamps and postal orders from another post office six miles away after a dispute with the Biggar postmaster. The matter was taken up with local MP Judith Hart.

100 YEARS AGO

* At a meeting of the EU Congregational Church in Lanark, Henry Murphy

announced his decision to resign as president. He was replaced by Mr William Lightbody.

* A man was charged by the Parish Council of Lesmahagow with having deserted his children. The man pled guilty to the charge and the judge sentenced him to 60 days imprisonment.

* A planning application was submitted to the public health committee to build a slaughterhouse between Kirkfieldbank and Crossford. It was submitted by Messrs Cranston and Hamilton.

* In Law Mrs Catherine Hozier was presented with a gold key in recognition of the service she provided with the Law and District St Andrews Ambulance Corps.

* A Carluke man suffered serious injuries after a cycling accident in Kirkton Street. The man was attended to by Dr Barr who found that he had suffered a severe fracture to the jaw.

* A concert was held in the Wilson Hall in Law under the auspices of the Law Volunteers FC.