August 1982
Day Without Ambulances
Dundee and District will be without ambulances for 24 hours, starting tomorrow at 7a.m. The one day stoppage decision, taken last night in support of health service workers, reflects a harder stance being adopted by the 50 ambulancemen at Dundee and Monifieth depots. The crews had for the past eight to ten weeks restricted their support for industrial action to two-hour strikes.Announcing the decision after a lengthy and noisy meeting at the School Road depot in Dundee, Mr Fred Boylen, Transport and General Workers' Union shop stewards' convener for Tayside, emphasised his men would not be providing emergency cover. He claimed the attitude of Scottish Ambulance Service management had "forced" 24-hour strike action as opposed to the two-hour stoppage. "Their intransigence on this matter has forced us into stopping for 24 hours. Otherwise we would have restricted action to two-hour shifts".
Although a few non-union ambulancemen are expected to report to work as normal tomorrow, it is certain police will be required to deal with accidents and emergencies in Dundee and district. A Tayside police spokesman confirmed last night they would be standing by to respond to any request for assistance from the ambulance service. "Police vehicles fitted out with stretcher and simple medical equipment will be ready to answer calls for assistance in emergency cases," the spokesman said. "But we must stress the police are not an alternative service. We will attend emergencies when requested to do so by ambulance control. The public should still telephone the ambulance service and not come straight to the police.
No ambulance service management spokesman was available for comment last night.
Dundonians Roll Up To Roll Up
Hundreds of Dundonians rolled up their sleeves yesterday - not to start work after the holiday fortnight but to help replenish depleted blood stocks. Despite the reduction in operations during the health unions' industrial action, it's at this time of year that donors are most needed since blood supplies are considerably reduced after the holidays.
Donors old and new fulfilled the confidence Mrs Sally Smith, organising secretary of the East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service, who turned up at the Marryat Hall to give a pint of blood but although this will boost stocks, Mrs Smith was quick to point out that blood is still desperately needed, "This will set us back on our feet but much of it will be used almost immediately" she said. "Ours is an emergency service, for which there is always a need. The blood is used not so much in routine work but in emergencies, which are always occurring."
The Marryat Hall all-day sessions are held on the second Tuesday of every month.
Bright Tips
Fine Flavour:- Keep scones moist by grating an apple into the mixture. This gives a lovely flavour - Miss Mabel Mustard.
With Ham:- Dip peach halves into beaten egg then breadcrumbs. Pan fry and serve with fried ham. - Mrs Hutcheon.
I.T.V Preview
Coronation Street, Wednesday 11th August - With Annie Walker due back from holiday any moment, Fred is still trying to recover her car from the bookie in order to meet her at the station. Alf Roberts want to ban a blue film from being screened at a local cinema. Meanwhile a mystery man is asking questions about Eddie Yeats' fiancee, Marion Willis, in the Rovers Return.
Summer Leisure
Rollerama, North Lindsay Street, Dundee.
Come and enjoy your leisure hour's rollerskating in Scotland's most luxurious roller-disco.
Come and see us soon - we're open everyday of the year. Monday to Sunday 11an to 1.30pn, 2.30pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm.
Pool Hall, Snooker, Video Games, Amusements and of course our rollercafe.
French Children in the City
Councillor Mrs Helen Wright, deputising for Lord Provost James Gowans, welcomed yesterday a party of French children to Dundee City Chambers to mark the start of an official educational exchange visit between the city and Orleans. Last month another group of French children spent a week in the city as guests of Dundee families. The exchange visits are co-ordinated by the European Students' Travel Organisation.
Dundee Family Make TV Quiz Appearance
The McGovern family of Dundee will be watching the popular TV Quiz Show "Family Fortunes" closer than most on Saturday as they are taking part. Although she is not revealing whether or not they won a fortune, Mrs Betty McGovern does say the whole family thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the studios.
"The recording was made a year ago this month but its a memory I dont' think any of us will forget" said Mrs McGovern, 13, Ballindean Terrace. "Bob Monkhouse could not have been nicer and the TV company were very good to us. We stayed at a top class hotel for two days while the show was being filmes and were invited to a cocktail party after. We never had a chance to see the recording so we will all be glued to our sets on Saturday. The McGovern family team was made up of Betty, her husban Mike (a taxi driver), sons Derek (18), Kevin (20) and Stephen (21), a standby was sister-in-law Mrs Eileen Connelly.
George Will Be the Star Attraction
Former football superstar George Best will be the star attraction of a big cabaret night at Whitfield Labour Club Dundee on Tuesday August 24. George will do a Michael Parkinson-style chat with his Manager for 45 minutes and spend another 45 minutes answering questions from the audience. A video film of the Manchester United - Benfica European Cup final will be shown.
Tay Road Bridge Anniversary
Today is the 16th anniversary of the opening of the Tay Road Bridge - a time span which has seen some 65 million vehicles travel across the river. Average daily crossings on the bridge, which was opened by the Queen Mother on August 18th, 1966 are estimated at 14,000 vehicles.
The opening of the Friarton Bridge at Perth has made no difference to the number of vehicles crossing over the Tay, what did make a difference was the opening of the section of the M90 which by-passed Glenfarg. At that time figures dropped considerably but have since levelled off and are now experiencing a slight increase.
Tolls have increased only once, earlier this year when they when they went up to 20p for cars from the original 12½p, with corresponding increases for other vehicle types.