100 Years Ago

Gamrie driving accident - Mr John Rennie, farmer, Findon, sustained injury by a driving accident on Thursday, which fortunately was not of a serious nature.

On the return journey from Turriff, Mr Rennie, was driving in a spring cart containing seven calves, along the Kirk Road, which lies between Gamrie Parish Church and the coast road, near the farm of Afforsk.

While driving, the back strap of the saddle broke causing the shafts of the vehicle to fall to the road, with the result that he was thrown violently to the ground and sustained a large wound on the head, which bled profusely. Mr George Stephen, baker, Gardenstown, and a farm servant, who happened to be in the vicinity, ran to the assistance of the injured man.

The farm servant, who is an employe of Messrs A. & J. Gall, Cushnie, accompanied Mr Rennie home, where his injury was attended to. Although Mr Rennie's head was badly cut, his escape was miraculous, being dragged by the vehicle for a considerable distance along the road.

50 Years Ago

Bravery award for Banff boys - Two young Banff brothers are each to be presented with a testimonial on parchment from the Royal Humane Society in recognition of a brave rescue they carried out at Banff Links last August. They are Brian Corbett (16) and Robert Corbett (18) of 5 Scotstown, Banff.

The brothers swam about 80 yards to save ten-year-old Joyce Thomson, from Dumbarton, from drifting out to sea. Brian and Robert were playing football on the beach when Joyce's sister Bette dashed up to them and asked if they were good swimmers. She pointed out to where her sister was drifting out to sea supported by a rubber ring around her waist . Without hesitation the boys took off their shirts, kicked off their shoes and rushed into the water.

Robert, a marine engineer, was home on holiday from London. He reached Joyce first and grabbed the rubber ring and pulled her against the tide and a fairly strong wind to reach the shore. He reached the shallow water and from there Brian carried the girl to the beach. After the incident the lads slipped quietly away home and changed their wet clothes.

The brothers will receive their award from Provost G.O. Robertson at a ceremony in the Town House, Banff, on July 24.

25 Years Ago

Keep youngsters away from power stations - Children in Banff diced with death this week....only feet from an electricity sub-station. The children had clambered into the vicinity of the station to retrieve a football unaware of the deadly dangers they faced. Fortunately, the children were quickly given a sharp ticking off by the town's district councillor Mr James Reid. Now Councillor Reid has joined forces with the local hydro board to issue a 'playsafe' warning to all local children. Councillor Reid is a member of the consultative committee of the Hydro Board and is all too aware of the dangers taken by children - especially at this time of the school holidays. "It cannot be emphasised enough," says Mr Reid, "that children must stay clear of all electrical equipment."

The councillor says that he backs 100 per cent the appeal issued by the local Hydro Board for children to "play safe and don't take risks near electrical equipment."

Councillor Reid continued: "I have seen the results of accidents within these sub-stations and they are horrific. I would appeal not only to the local children but also to parents to be on their guard. Any adult seeing children near sub-stations or power lines should not hesitate to take action."

A Hydro Board spokesman told the 'Banffshire Journal' that it backed Councillor Reid's plea to local children. "We put our sub-stations inside fences to protect the public but, unfortunately, some youngsters look upon the station as a playground. This is certainly not the case - the stations can be extremely dangerous. We would appeal to all children in the Banffshire area to make this a happy summer holiday - and stay away from electrical equipment."