March 1962
New Library for Camperdown
Dundee’s eighth district library at Camperdown was opened yesterday afternoon (Friday) by Lord Provost M. McManus.The library which is situated in a converted shop is to provide lending facilities for the adults and juveniles in the Camperdown and Charleston areas.
It has been well publicised in the area and the rent collectors have delivered forms about it to the 2564 houses in the scheme.
This branch, with a staff of two, is the first step in a scheme to provide all the new housing schemes with branch libraries. Under consideration for libraries are the Menzieshill and Ardler areas, but no definite plan has yet been decided.
Lord Provost McManus, who opened the library, was presented with the book “The History of Dundee” by chairwoman Bailie Holway.
Kiosk for the Square
An information kiosk for City Square is to be erected by the Direct Labour Building Department at a cost of £500.
The information centre will be a sectional timber building 15 feet long and 10 feet deep, with a veranda on two sides. It will front High Street, and will be available for use elsewhere, such as in one of the public parks, when not required in City Square.
Game of the Season
The game of the season is due at Dens Park on Wednesday night, when Rangers meet Dundee. This is a make-or-break game for the Dark Blues. Rangers are at Kilmarnock today in the Scottish Cup. If this game is drawn the Dens Park game will have to be postponed.
Hour After Hour They’ll Go On Twisting
Dundee’s twist marathon begins at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the J.M. Ballroom. The British and world record stands at 96 hours and 31 minutes and should any of the challengers have a crack at it, they’ll be dancing until around 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Up to yesterday 70 had asked for entry forms. The entry is expected to be around 50. Several employers have given contestants leave of absence for as long as they can keep going. No one under 16 is allowed to enter. There will be a five minute break every hour and a 20 minute rest and refreshment period every four hours. Free milk is being supplied, and the manufacturers of glucose and soft drinks have also given stocks to see the competitors through. Sandwiches are being provided by the J.M. management.
There is a prize of £50 for the competitor who keeps going for over 45 hours and a £1 an hour bonus after that. So if there is a new world record the winner could earn himself £102.
The competitors will dance to recorded music, but on Monday night the J.M. band will play to relieve the possible monotony. Should the twisters keep going on Tuesday and Wednesday the contest will not interfere with the scheduled dancing sessions. The competition will go on in a cordoned off area in the ballroom.
Members of the public will be allowed in to watch the marathon and a comforting thought for the competitors, members of St Andrew’s Ambulance Association will be in attendance.
Now for the Final Twist
The four dancers who kept the floor longest in the Dundee twist contest are being invited to the Olympia Ballroom, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, to take part in the Scottish finals.
The are Bob Cannon, Ballinluig; Harry Marlborough, Newburgh; Catherine Connelly, Dundee and Isobell Yorke, Dundee.
Twisters who reached the last four in Aberdeen are also being asked to take part. The contest starts on Monday evening April 9.
Unicorn is “essential”
The future of H.M.S. Unicorn, Dundee, the oldest naval ship afloat, and home of Tay Division R.N.R., was discussed on Scottish Television’s magazine programme “Here and Now”.
In an interview Commander T.A.C. Keay, executive officer, said he thought it “essential” she be preserved when the in-filling of Earl Grey Dock for the Tay Road Bridge project began.
Commander Keay had no doubt the Unicorn could be towed to another anchorage, although it would be a costly business. “She won’t fall apart if we move her” he said firmly.
“Unless we can move her, or keep her until we get a building ashore, it might mean Tay Division packing up for a period, which would be very serious”.
The Admiralty, who will have to foot the bill if the ship is moved, have until July to make a decision.
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Back on Air
Tay Taxis, one of the oldest established taxi firms in town, are back on the air. Due to increased business, with the extension of the housing schemes, the firm, now under new management, has started a 24-hour-a-day radio service from their new office in Lorimer Street.
Tay Taxis started in 1938 with a fleet of 10 Austin 12/4 cars. They now have nine hackney carriages.
Costs today are 2s per mile compared with 8d per mile in 1938.
The range of the new radio transmitters is roughly 20 miles, keeping cars in constant radio contact with the control office.
An innovation by the new management is that most drivers are shareholders. They have the added incentive of working for themselves.
With the radios and shareholder-drivers, the firm are able to put a car at their customers’ disposal in any part of the town within minutes.
Singing Star for Dundee
Man with a couple hit records to his credit is to visit the city. He is Danny Williams, whose recordings of “Moon River” and “Jeannie” put him in the star parade.
Danny is to appear at the J.M. Ballroom on Wednesday, April 25 – the night of the final holiday in Majorca competition.
Bright Tips
Painting a Chair – It’s easier to turn a chair upside down and paint the legs first. Then turn it the right way up and do the rest. Miss R. Firentini, Lochee.
Ladder Check – Fill an empty lipstick holder with soap. Carry this in your handbag and you will always be able to check a ladder in your stockings. Mrs Jamieson, Moffat.
Leather Tip – To make leather shoes last twice as long, put a thin coating of castor oil over them. They will polish up like new in a day or two. Mrs Tocher, Fraserburgh.