January 1984
Dundee Store to Axe 26 Jobs
McGill Brothers, Ltd., the Dundee retail company, are to make 26 people redundant 
as part of a rationalisation of their credit facilities. In a statement yesterday the directors of the company said a new credit system is to be introduced very soon. "We will be issuing our customers with a McGill's charge card which we expect will give them many advantages," said the directors. "This will include increased credit limits, more repayments, lower service charges, no-deposit terms and low cost insurance in the event of unemployment or illness. This means our outside collecting staff will be made redundant over a period"
The directors said that 26 men, all full-time employees would go over six months. The trade union, U.S.D.A.W., are being notified of the situation and the affected members of staff have been told.
The new credit system brings McGill's into line with most of their competitors. They are one of only a few companies left to operate the collector/saleman system.
New Library in Monifieth
The new branch library in Monifieth will be open to the public in March. Dundee District Council's cultural services committee heard last night the new building should be completed by mid-February.
The committee was told it would take about three weeks for the stock to be transferred. It was also agreed to accept tenders for furniture and accessories for the new library which totalled £8686.
Opening hours for the new library will remain as at present. An amnesty for people holding books for the former Fintry branch library was also agreed.
The branch itself was closed in December 1982, and a mobile library service has been in operation since that time. A new branch library is to be opened and the amnesty will be in force from four weeks from that date.
Thrill for Jazz Fans
Jazz musician Warren Vache is appearing at the Bonar Hall Dundee on Monday as part of his first trip to Scotland. A cornet and trumpet player in the traditional mainstream jazz style, Warren had a seven year stint playing with the great Benny Goodman.
He has recently been working with Woody Herman and Rosemary Clooney and has toured the USA, Europe and Japan with the Concord All-Stars.
Warren will be backed in Dundee by Alex Shaw (piano), Ronnie Rae (bass) and Tony McLennan (drums).
Refreshing Portraits
An exhibition of the work of Dundee painter Margaret Milne opened last night at Dundee Rep.
Margaret, who is currently artist in residence at the Crawford Centre, St Andrews, is exhibiting a collection of portraits painted over the past few years, interspersed with a few still-lifes. She as a refreshingly bold style and directness in her work, which in many ways follows the tradition of Scottish portraiture but is not afraid to bring in much of the artist's work. The exhibition runs until February 4.
Further Help for Dundee Homeless
The work of the Cyrenians in Dundee was extended with the formal opening of three flats by Lord Provost Gowans at the weekend.
At 5, West Bell Street, they are next door to the night shelter operated by the organisation dedicated to the care of the single homeless.
Convener of the night shelter committee, Mr Tony Black, told guests at the opening, "A great number of single homeless have drifted into a lifestyle they did not want so rehabilitation is what is needed"
Under the supervision of care assistants, and the night shelter executive, the 12 residents of the flats will relearn the basics of house management.
Library Visit
A party of ladies from Dundee Townswomen's Guild paid a visit to the Wellgate Centre library yesterday afternoon. They were shown around by librarians Miss M.H. Dick and Miss J. Easton. Mrs W. Wann proposed thanks.
Extension to University Sports Hall
Dundee University is planning a £200,000 extension to its existing sports facility centre at Old Hawkhill. The University Court has applied to the District Council for planning permission for Phase III of the centre, which presently incorporates an eight badminton court sized hall, physical fitness area, office and administration rooms, in addition to changing facilities.
The new extension would provide another hall, to accommodate small sports such as karate and judo. There will also be additional changing rooms.
The contract is or 12 months and, should planning permission be granted, be completed by Easter 1985.
Take-over May Lead To New Jobs
A spokesman for Ferranti's said yesterday that the recent take-over of a firm based near Heathrow Airport, London, could in the long term, lead to further job opportunities in Dundee.
Ferranti has taken control of Astron Developments Ltd., of Hounslow, who employ 25 in the design and manufacture of a wide rang of mirrors and diffraction gratings which have a variety of uses as components in astronomy and x-ray microscopy.
The company spokesman said the acquisition would "further strengthen" its capacity in electro-optics technology and of optical products offered by the professional components department in Dundee.