Down Memory Lane

TEN YEARS AGO

* IT was reported that BAE Systems and Lloyds TSB had offered financial help to potentially save the controversial Airborne Initiative. The project for persistent offenders, based at Braidwood House, had been stripped of its funding the previous week after the Scottish Executive refused an application for money.

* primary seven pupil Lynsey Muir was the overall winner of High Mill Primary School’s annual Burns Competition, at which competing youngsters all had a go at reciting a poem. The finalists were watched by their parents, with all competing children getting a certificate.

* COUNCIL taxpayers in South Lanarkshire had been handed a modest council tax rise of just 3.5 per cent – one of the lowest in Scotland.

* A £400 million plan to transform South Lanarkshire’s primary schools was ratified by councillors. Over the next 15 years, 66 new primary schools would be built to replace those coming to the end of their lifespan, with another 38 getting major refurbishments and 17 minor refurbishment.

* it was reported that small primary schools could end up “sharing” a head teacher under a management structure being brought in by the council. Among those to be affected could be Carmichael and Kirkfieldbank Primary Schools.

* the giant windfarm planned for Black Law near Forth was given the go-ahead by the Scottish Executive. With 62 turbines, it was the largest on-shore windfarm approved in the UK so far.

* around 500 spectators attended Kingshill Park to see Forth Wanderers earn a creditable 1-1 draw against Tayport in the OVD Scottish Junior Cup fifth round. The goal, which earned Forth a replay, was scored by Vinny Weightman.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

* CARLUKE Gala committee members were worried that the 1989 staging of the event could be the last, unless new volunteers were found. Gala committee chairman Charlie Reader revealed that many in the 10-strong committee had intimated that they would be standing down after that year’s gala. He said: “It is heartbreaking to think that an event the size of our gala day will come to an end but it has happened in Larkhall and Bothwell this year so what are the chances for Carluke next year?”

* clydesdale firm Bardrec, the oldest and largest workers’ co-operative in Scotland, called in the receiver. The future of the engineering firm was in jeopardy after more than 13 years. A spokesman said: “We have been running at a loss for the last year and a half and we felt we could not carry on.”

* it looked like Lanark’s Winston Barracks could be the scene of a MASH type set-up in the event of a war. For United States forces intended spending $15 million in 1990 upgrading Fleet Medical Facility 14 at what was then called Royal Air Force Lanark. “Some of the existing buildings will be done away with and others will be updated and refurbished,” said a spokesman for the US forces.

* young people in Clydesdale would be £1.99 a week worse off when the poll tax was introduced in April, according to the Young Scottish Nationalists. National treasurer Neal Sillars said: “The Tories are continuing to hound and humiliate young Scots on low incomes with the introduction of the poll tax.”

* ravenstruther residents were asking MP Jimmy Hood for help in their campaign to have a 30mph speed limit for the village. The Hall Association said there had been a spate of accidents on both the Lanark and Ayr roads traversing the village and they wanted to curb speeding.

* lesmahagow Juniors qualified for the fifth round of the OVD Scottish Junior Cup with a 3-2 win at Whitburn, an achievement rated as one of ’Gow’s finest ever victories. Goals from Graeme Hamilton, Duncan Sinclair and Tommy Henderson earned ’Gow a place in the last 16 of the tournament, which would see them play another away tie at Dalry Thistle. ’Gow coach John Stewart said: “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way I felt at time up. I was so pleased for the players. I just couldn’t have asked for anything more from them. The atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards was unbelievable.”