March 1961

What a Racket the Leather Bag Kicked Up

Arbroath RoadWhat sounded like a strident motor horn started blowing inside a factory at Dundee industrial estate. And it went on for 15 minutes. Some worker thought it was a civil defence alarm. Others wondered if it was a new signal for knocking-off. But the racket came from a leather bag. It's the latest in containers designed to foil the bank-money thief. The bag contains an inside metal box. It's equipped with battery and klaxon alarm. There are three special locks and a strong leather wrist-band.Security men at the factory were instructed in the workings of the bag. They were told that the alarm should not be set until the wrist-band was secure. But one of them set the alarm, then fastened the band. That started the noise.

And it went on for 15 minutes because it was that long before a technician could be found with the know-how to switch off. The alarm is normally set to operate for 45 minutes.

FOOTNOTE: The noisy bag was empty at the time. The security men were going to the bank to collect.

Dundee's No Aerial Telly

Tenants of 126 houses in Denhead Crescent and Myrekirk Terrace, Kingsway West are the first in Dundee to get piped television.
And their verdict?
"Excellent! No interference worth speaking about"
And that applies to both channels.

Each house is wired to suit any channel changes which may come within the next 20 years - including coloured television. Only feature which may confuse those moving into the new houses is that STV is to be found on channel 1 instead of channel 10. "We find we can get a better picture on Channel 1," said a representative of Dundee and Angus Television Aerial Service which made the installation.

Cost per house for the service is £7 down and 1s 6d a week.

Dundee's Safety Margin

The relegation battle is really on.
Ayr's victory over Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers' success at Aberdeen have set things alight, and clubs in the bottom section have been given cause for alarm. Now even Clyde - and they're in a bad way - can't be ruled out. Should they beat Dundee United today they'll be back with a challenge.

Dundee and Hearts are on the fringe battle, but fortunately have two games in hand, but they must cash in on them. A few weeks ago Dundee would have been a home banker against Dunfermline and St Mirren. But those teams are now in devastating form. The Fifers walloped Aberdeen 6-3 in the Scottish Cup at Pittodrie and St Mirren whacked Third Lanark 8-0 at Cathkin. There's a clear warning there for the Dark Blues.
We must get an all-out effort from Bobby Cox and his mates. Victories over Dunfermline and St Mirren will see Dundee reach safety. The Dens Park fans can help the club reach their goal. It's up to them to give the players every encouragement.

West End Palais

Well Road
Saturday Night
Dancing
For Young People
Commencing Saturday first
7.30-10.30........3/-
Dave Matheson and His Band
(Direct from Kidd's Rooms)
No Admission after 8.30.

Bright Tips

Beads are the Answer - When knitting with two wools, slip a fairly large bead over each end before commencing to knit and you will find the strands do not become tangled. Miss Milne, Fraserburgh,

Never Fails - To loosen any type of screw top, turn upside down in very hot water for a few minutes. I have never seen this fail. Mrs Johnston, Aberdeenshire.

From "Slum" School to Super School

After the Easter holidays the 815 pupils and 45 teachers of St Johns School don't return to the antiquated building in Park Place that's often been described as a |"slum" school. Instead they all report to their new £300,000 super school at Balfield. The "flitting" has already started. It doesn't involve much furniture - only a few cupboards are worth shifting. But the teachers have been working late sorting and packing thousands of text, plus science equipment and pots and pans, dishes and cutlery from the domestic science section.

They are likely to be up at the new school during the last few days of the Easter holidays, making sure that everything is ready for the pupils.

The Morning After the Gale

Telephones at Dundee City Factor's Department "went like a fair" following Sunday's gale. Mr Charles M. MacDonald, city factor, said there were 128 calls reports of chimney cans and slates blown off corporation houses and other council property, and there were three chimney heads blown down - two in the Charleston scheme.

Two trees were casualties at the Beechwood scheme, sixteen panes of glass were shattered in various parts of the city and three fences were wrecked. Many TV aerials suffered, though they are not corporation responsibility.

G.P.O telephones said that the gale damage to lines was not so serious as it had first feared. In the Dundee telephone area only about 100 subscribers' lines were damaged. Only two exchanges, Meiklour and Essendy, were cut off for part of Monday.

Work went on all Sunday night on a fault in the main Perth-Dundee phone cables outside Blackness Library, Dundee. The trouble here was not cause by the wind.

Lord Hughes Resigns

Lord Hughes of Hawkhill, who was recently elevated to a Life Peerage, has intimated his resignation from Dundee Town Council. Lord Hughes, who has been a member of the council for over 26 years said he was satisfied he could not guarantee to be a fully effective member in the future.

He was intimating his resignation now so the vacancy could be filled at the forth coming municipal elections without the need for a by-election.

Immersion Heaters-Circulators

Complete installations from £11
H.P. facilities available.
G.R. & R.Ross
Plumber and Electricians
76, Victoria Road, Dundee.

Broughty Ferry Film Society

in Regal Cinema
Tomorrow (Sunday)
at 7.30 p.m.
"The Ladykillers"
Alec Guinness, Peter Sellars.