July 1958
They've Unearthed the Scourin' Burn
A well-preserved section of Dundee's old Scourin' Burn has been excavated under Meadowside, at the Howff. It was found by workmen of William Briggs and Sons Ltd., who are reconstructing the roadway. The burn - it is now dry - was contained in a well-built culvert. The walls were of stone and the roof of large stone slabs. Despite the traffic of decades which has trundled over the street four feet above, the culvert was in good condition. A man could with bend head, walk with ease in the five-foot high tunnel, it was three feet wide. The trench formed by the demolished culvert will be filled with hare core before the new road is laid on top. When the street at the Albert Institute was being rebuilt another stretch of the burn was unearthed.
Future Dundee
A new development plan has been prepared for the centre of Dundee. Town Councillors will spend next week studying it in detail. The plan proposed wide-scale clearance of existing buildings in the area between High Street and Overgate, Reform Street and Long Wynd and it their place it envisages:-
* Four large modern department stores and about 40 other shops.
* A new hotel in the Nethergate near Long Wynd. It would have 40-50 bedrooms.
* Garage and carparks near the existing Long Wynd - Overgate junction.
* Flatted houses between the Old Steeple and Long Wynd.
* Office space extending to about 150, 000 square feet.
The plans suggest the blocking of Lindsay Street except for pedestrians. It proposes a continuous line of buildings to Long Wynd and south of the existing Overgate. And it gives the city churched a side fringe of paths and gardens. If the towm council likes the scheme it will probably be submitted soon to the Department of Health. A public enquiry would be held. Such initial procedures might take up to 12 months.
Dundee As a Heart Centre
Little Manjit Kaur from Borneo is making excellent progress in Dundee Royal Infirmary after a "blue baby" heart operation, and is due for discharge shortly. Her journey nearly half round the world for treatment has drawn attention to the work in this highly specialised field now being carried out in the city. Nearly 1000 cases of congenital and acquired heart diseases have been investigated in the infirmary in the last six years and since cardiac surgery was introduce just over a decade ago more than 350 patients have been treated by operation.
The fact that the departments of medicine and surgery at Queen's college share a dominant interest in the problems of the circulation has been of immense value in fostering the team work, which is essential in dealing with the surgical aspects of heart disease.
The Holiday Rush That Wasn't
Dundee's expected holiday rush turned out to be a holiday hush. Saturday was the quietest holiday week departure day for years. Heavy rain most of the day dampened spirits. At the stations there were no queues. An inspector at Tay Bridge Station said it was the quietest holiday Saturday for 39 years. There were seats on trains for almost everyone and the "specials" easily coped with the extra traffic.
Two diesel trains which went to Aberdeen and Stranraer Harbour each left with seats for 100 more than the 350 passengers they carried. Special trains went to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Ayr, Stranraer, Edinburgh, Inverness and the Highlands, Crewe and Manchester.
At the new bus stance at Trades Lane the holiday traffic was over almost before it had began. Early buses to Aberdeen and Glasgow were fully booked. By early forenoon there was no sign of queues.
Taxi drivers had a busy day. All the central stances were deserted most of the day and phone bells rang unanswered.
New! 1958 Production
Chipperfields Circus, opening Riverside Park, July 28th 1958..for one week..shows daily at 3pm, 7.45pm,. Saturday 2pm, 4.45pm and 7.45pm. Book now at Larg and Sons Ltd., 16-24, Whitehall Street Dundee. Phone 1061/2.
Efficient Hair Styling
At our branch - 17-19 Tulideph Road you will find the same competence and efficiency in hair styling as from
Beatrice of Bell Street. Phone 3173.
Circus Chases Weather Blues
There is nothing like a circus, especially when it is wet. Chipperfield's gave their first show at Riverside Drive, Dundee yesterday afternoon and they must have been a godsend to hundreds of parents, who had run out of ideas for keeping their children amused indoors.
Some children arrived at he "Big Top" nearly socked to the skin but they soon forgot the weather and screamed with delight. But it was not only the children who screamed during the show. One of the most amusing acts was when a clown dressed as a very lifelike ape mingled with the crowd. As he pushed his way along rows of seats there was a scramble to get away. Many didn't realise that the ape was human until the end of the act, when he did a slide down a rope on his feet.
A big thrill was when a "troupe of African lions" entered. They roared, growled, tried to pounce on their trainer's cane and made as if to jump on him, but the trainer, Roger Debille, seemed to hypnotise them into silence and obedience before they went through their routine.
Chipperfield's, which puts most of the emphasis on animals, presented a tremendous variety of beasts - camels, llamas, Harry the hippopotamus, a giraffe, snakes and brown bears were just a few of them. "The Cheeky Chimps" were a great success, especially with the hundreds of children. One dressed as a footballer, insisted on riding his bicycle and advancing on his companion with his leg outstretched to dislodge him from his perch. This came to an end when he lost his balance and fell off the cycle. The same scamp applauded each trick he did and encouraged the audience to keep on clapping - the audience responded magnificently.
The "Canine Review" showed just how intelligent poodles are. They did some of the most difficult tricks involving animals - jumping through hoops, walking on their hind legs and balancing on each others backs. Although animals were the main attraction, they did not overshadow the feats of the human artists. Among the most amazing was the trapeze and balancing act by "Gina - the girl on the moon". There was a tense silence as she whirled above the audience without a safety net. The other two trapeze acts were by The Massino Troupe and The Astrals, one of whose feats was being held only by a foot or by their mouths as they swung and somersaulted in space. And then there were the clowns. Eggs and flour were thrown about, they were pushed around, their trousers fell down - they were all we expect of these funny men of the circus. In one act with a fantastically old car they made it explode in all directions; balloons came out of the engine and water came from the exhaust, much to the delight of the children.
Wild West fans were in their element with "Chief Eagle Eye" a daring display of sharp shooting and knife throwing. The finale of his act was when, blindfolded, he outlined his assistant with daggers while the audience held their breath. The circus is in Dundee until the end of the week.
Two See a Tay Monster
A sea serpent was reported to have been seen on Saturday night in the Tay. The report was made to Fife police by Mr Ronald Avery, bus driver, 3, Milton Crescent, Anstruther and was confirmed by the conductress Miss Betty Kay, Cellardyke. Yesterday Mr Avery said "The bus was standing at the Newport-on-Tay terminus. We were waiting for the starting time and I was standing on the step of the bus looking over the water. It was misty, but about five minutes to eight I was distinctly, about a mile out from Newport Pier, a strange creature moving in the water. Three humps were visible and although it was difficult to tell their colouring I thought they were dark. They were movinh towards the Tay Bridge. They disappeared, and then came to the surface again in exactly the same manner a short distance forward. I drew the attention of Betty Kay and together we watched the creature moving towards the Tay Bridge. We must have seen it disappear and surface eighty or nine times, it made a circle towards some boats near the opposite bank. Then it was time for us to move, but I was so impressed that I reported it to the police. I would say it was a sea snake or serpent, about 15 to 20 feet in length. I don't think the object I saw was porpoises or seals. I've seen sharks and whales in the Indian Ocean but this was the strangest thing I have ever seen in the water.