April 1939

Why Bridge Was a “Beacon”

A thin bright line of lights would have given “enemy” aircraft a tell-tale warning during Dundee’s big black-out on Monday night.

For the Tay Bridge, important Tayside landmark, continued to twinkle it’s message – “Here’s Dundee!” – In no uncertain fashion.

The reason why the lights of the bridge remained lit?
Just this….The 42 lights guiding the up river shipping through the navigation channel could be extinguished in five minutes. But it would take many hours, perhaps days, to relight them!

The Tay Bridge, lit as it is by gas, presents difficulties which, in view of the experimental nature of the black-out, it was not considered worth the trouble or expense to overcome.

Five miles of piping supplies the gas in the lights, fourteen of which burn continuously night and day.

The remaining 28, placed on the high girders of the bridge, are regulated by time clocks, and lit nightly by tiny bypass flames. Once turned off the lamps would be relit one by one, and the clocks readjusted. This job alone would take several hours to complete at considerable expense.

In the case of the fourteen lamps situated on the lower pillars of the old bridge, a boat would be needed to take the bridge men out to relight the burners.

Here the weather is an important factor. It is impossible to approach the bridge in safety in stormy weather. The result might mean a delay of several days, with the consequent disorganisation of shipping.

But, if a real emergency should arise, Tayside folk need have no fears that the Tay Bridge will let them down.

Already arrangements have been made for the darkening of the bridge. Indeed, as happened during the last war, the lights would remain out for the duration of hostilities. Shipping past the bridge would be restricted to between dawn and dusk.

Huge Holiday Camp

A huge holiday-cum-evacuation camp for use by Dundee school children is to be constructed on a site between Aylth and Meigle.

The site has been definitely chosen, but its exact location has not yet been announced.

The main building will be on brick and will have accommodation for 350 beds. It is expected to be ready for occupation in the spring.

The present plans are that from September till June the camp will be used as a “health” school, where debilitated Dundee children will stay for such periods that are necessary to restore them to physical fitness. At least one teacher will be resident at the camp during this period.

From June to September the place will be turned into a holiday camp for Dundee children.

The construction, it is understood, will be about £20,000.

The camp is one of seven to be erected around Scotland, and that in the Meigle area has been allocated to Dundee.

In the event of a national emergency arising the camp will be immediately taken over by the Government for evacuation purposes.

Music in City Parks

Arrangements have been made for 123 concerts in Dundee parks during the summer at a total of £493. Twenty will be Sunday afternoon or evening concerts and the others will be given on Wednesday evenings.

Visiting bands this year are to be Kirkcaldy and District, Glasgow Concertina, Forfar Instrumental and Dysart Colliery Silver Philharmonic Orchestra.

Local bands to perform will be:- Trades Silver, St Margaret’s Old Silver, Dundee Military, R.N.V.R, Dundee Philharmonic, Salvation Army Central, Caledonian Pipe and Mackenzie Pipe.

Parks sub-committee on Thursday approved of the recommendations of Mr Robert A. Brown, parks superintendent. The bands will again receive £4 per concert, while the visiting bands will also be allowed to take a collection.

This year concerts are to be given at Magdalene Green.

Now Enrolling

Dundee Sports Pavilion
William Lane, Dundee
Club membership cards now on sale.
Joining fee, 1/-; and 6d per week thereafter.
Active members can have use of hot and cold sprays and baths.
Recreations: Table Tennis, Darts, Boxing, Wrestling and various other pastimes.
Non-active members can join for a fee of 5/- yearly.
Club will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Alhambra Theatre

Bellfield Street
Once Nightly at 7.30
Matinees Wednesday & Saturday
At 2.30 p.m.
Harold V. Neilson presents a
Shakespearean Festival

Second week programme :–
Monday – Twelfth Night
Tuesday – King John
Wednesday – Julius Caesar
Thursday – Merchant of Venice
Friday – Richard the Second
Saturday – MacBeth
Wednesday Matinee – As You Like It

Prices 3/6 (limited number), 2/6, 1/6, 1/-, 6d.
Booking at Alhambra and Methven Simpson’s Reform Street.

Typewriters

Bought, sold, exchanged, repaired.
Guaranteed machines from £4 10/-
Or 5/- weekly.
Free specimen writings and details of
Hire Purchase Scheme
Sparks,
91½, Commercial Street,
Dundee.

Dundee Wants Seven A.R.P Depots

Dundee is to press the Home Office for the provision of seven A.R.P. depots for the city. The question was discussed on Thursday by departmental chiefs, who met under Bailie Drummond, A.R.P. convener, in the City Chambers.

Depots will be located at Broughty Ferry old gas works, Craigie Quarryk, Foundry Lane, Miln Street, Loons Road, Fairmuir district and at a site to be found in the west end of the city.

Bailie Drummond said the Home Office officials who were in Dundee a week ago maintained five depots were sufficient.

Depots are to contain accommodation for first-aid parties, decontamination squads, rescue parties, repair squads, depot staff, ambulance drivers and women motor car drivers. There will also be cleaning facilities and lockers for protective clothing and gum boots.

A provisional scheme decided on provided for depots being established to accommodate workers as follow:-

Broughty Ferry, 80 men and 46 women; Foundry Lane, 144 men and 38 women; Craigie Quarry, 80 men and 38 women; Miln Street, 170 men and 56 women; West (site to be fixed) 80 men and 38 women; Lochee (Loons Road), 93 men and 32 women; Fairmuir, 70 men and 32 women.

Ramsay’s

Now Open
Henry Ramsay
Fish and Poultry Mart
21, Barrack Street, Dundee
Roasting and boiling fowls.
Chickens, Rabbits,
Eggs and all other farm produce.
All kinds of fresh fish in season
Quality only at keenest prices
Shop at
Ramsay’s
Fish and Poultry Mart
21, Barrack Street, Dundee.
Telephone No. 3709.

What the “Black-Out” Proved to Me

Dear Editor,
“I stayed at home during the black-out”.
We put our kiddies to bed, and my wife and I sat by the fireside. We had extinguished all the lights.

After a while I got up and peered through the window. A few lights could be seen glaring from house windows – evident that some people had apparently not thought it worth while to do the little they were asked, to co-operate with those in authority, so that in the event of a real air-raid they would be at least prepared, having learned by experience just exactly what conditions would be like.

But it gladdened my heart to know that most people thought it worth while to put up with a little inconvenience.

On the whole, the “black-out” proved that the calmness of our people in times of trouble is still with us. When an emergency arises they can always be depended upon to do their duty efficiently and without fuss.

And in these times of international upheavals it is indeed an encouraging thought.

No matter what has been said, the heart of the people in this country is still sound.
Their nation still comes first. – V.M’N. H.

Baked Eggs in Rolls

“These are delicious” says Miss Alice Strachan, Dundee.
Take 1 round dinner roll and one egg per person, for two persons use 1oz butter, creamed, 1oz chopped ham, cheese or fish, 1 tablespoonful tomato pulp, little chopped parsley. Cut lids off the rolls, scoop out the centre and spread the butter mixture inside. Break an egg into each one. Put a slice of tomato and a nut of butter on each. Bake in a hot oven for 10 minutes and serve hot and crisp.