From the archives

1996

A GROUNDBREAKING facility which was making a difference to children all across Scotland celebrated a landmark birthday. Craighalbert Centre was five years old and had helped a total of 60 children through the pioneering methods of conductive education utilised at the Peto Institute in Hungary. A total of 80 per cent of these children were able to attend mainstream education afterwards. Centre director Lillemor Jernqvist said: “If the child cannot move his or her hand our attitude is to teach the child to move their hand instead of working round the problem.’’

CLYDE FC boss Alex Smith sensationally quit. He walked out of talks with new club chairman Billy Carmichael. Assistant boss John Brownlie also left the club. Mr Smith said that his ambitions for the team did not match the aspirations of those in charge. He had been told that the club could not afford to continue operating with a full-time squad and the highly successful soccer academy. “We could just not agree on policy,” admitted Mr Smith.

SCOTLAND’s most outrageous radio personality Scottie McClue is coming to Cumbernauld to record his first video. Locals are invited to take part in the recording at Cumbernauld Theatre.

1986

TEEN chess king Ian Mackay was on a winning streak. The Kildrum teenager came top in two events at the Chess Grand Prix tournament, scooping the Junior title and the Under 15 title. He was preparing to take on the prime movers of the royal game after turning 16.

CUMBERNAULD struck a first when the town was picked as the location of the first Gateway store in Scotland. A total of 280 new jobs would be created after the chain snapped up the former Woolco premises following negotiations with Cumbernauld Development Corporation and Norman Hogg MP. He said: “This is a real boost for the town and another first for Cumbernauld.”

ST MUNGO’S Parish Church bade farewell to their minister – who would be taking up a post at New College in Edinburgh to teach theology. Reverend David Fergusson had enjoyed a two year stint in the town with his wife Margot. Academic life had suited the minister who had done post-graduate studies in Oxford before going into the ministry. He said: “When this job was offered to me it seemed like an ideal opportunity.’’ Rev Fergusson added that he would always have fond memories of Cumbernauld. “It has been very valuable and stimulating to work with so many different types of people.’’

1976

THE COVETED medal of a World War 1 hero turned up in a Cumbernauld woman’s jewellery box. Bharti Patel from Ravenswood was given the Iron Cross by a friend for a fifth wedding anniversary present. Perplexed by its origins she sought help from the News who put local historian Hugo Miller on the case. Mr Miller said: “The cross is dated 1914 and is inscribed with oak leaves which means it was a high ranking officer, nothing less than a colonel. Mrs Patel said: “I don’t know who gave it to me as all our presents were handed in during a party and I found it among them. It is the strangest present I have ever received.’’

GREENFAULDS High School gymnastics display team could rightly claim to be going up in the world, after taking delivery of the highest vaulting table in Scotland. It had been custom-built for the school by a leading gymastics engineering company to the specifications of teacher Bill Griffin, Mr Griffin certainly had high hopes for his pupils. He wanted members to qualify for a place in the British team which would be taking part in the World Gymnastrada in Barcelona in the upcoming year and felt that the new apparatus could make the dream a reality. Meanwhile the team was training hard for a succession of tournaments in coming weeks.

1971

A TAXI driver received his most bizarre request ever – to drive from Cumbernauld to Balmoral straight away with a box of chocolates for the Queen Mother! George Taylor earned his biggest fare ever – £20 – after agreeing to take the gift up north for locally-based Cavenham Foods Ltd, which held a Royal Warrant. Seafar resident George said: “The request struck me as unusual to say the least and when I went home and told my wife she thought I was joking – but I’m not complaining!’’

NEW members were being sought for a group which had acted as a key social hub in the new town. The ‘Y’ Drama Group was back in business and were preparing to put on a three-act play callled ‘Fish Out of Water’. Previous successes had included ‘Sailor Beware’, ‘Goodnight Mrs Puffin’ and ‘Brides of March’. Locals were invited to congregate at their base at the YMCA on Wednesdays – and help make the new production live up to the performances of the past.

A DOG warden’s was appointed to deal with packs of strays running loose locally.