100 YEARS AGO

From the files of 'The Forres Gazette' of Wednesday, October 25, 1911.

Appointment - Mr Alexander Grant, foreman printer in the Gazette Office, Forres, has been appointed overseer of the printing department of the Elgin Courant Office. Mr Grant served his apprenticeship in the Gazette Office, where he has been employed for twenty-two years.

Celebrations - On Saturday Trafalgar Day was celebrated throughout the Empire more generally than usual. At Forres the town's flags floated from the Nelson Monument at Cluny Hill, from the public buildings and from the flagstaff at Roysvale Park. A number of flags were also displayed by private individuals.

50 YEARS AGO

From the files of 'The Forres Gazette' of Wednesday, October 25, 1961.

Theft - On the night of Thursday

Friday, the Abbey Inn, Kinloss, belonging to Mr Kenneth M'Lennan, Forres, was broken into and a quantity of goods and a sum of money stolen from the premises. Police investigation is in progress. The same night, shop windows in Tolbooth Street were smashed but nothing was taken. The premises involved were the Gift Shop (proprietor, Mr A. H. Forbes) and Handerson's plumbers (Mr J. Duncan).

YMCA - Mr John Mackenzie, Market Street, presided at Sunday's meeting, at which members of Forres Toastmasters' Club formed a "Matter of Opinion" panel. Varied interesting topics were discussed.

Good start - The Academy Literary Club's new session got off to a fine start on Wednesday evening, there being a gratifyingly large attendance despite counter attractions. Mr D. Marshall Sloan's oral description of the Swiss wine festival which takes place only once in 25 years, together with the many colourful slides shown, gave a vivid impression of the scene - one of the most brilliant festivals in Europe. The vote of thanks was moved by Mr T. T. Davidson.

25 YEARS AGO

From the files of 'The Forres Gazette' of Wednesday, October 22, 1986.

Christmas lights show will go ahead - The Forres Christmas lights display is safe and the burgh will be treated to another brilliant yuletide show this year.

On Friday, after some months of concern, a new committee was formed to take over the Christmas lights role from the original group who decided to call it a day because of the pressure generated by fund-raising.

And with the new group -simply called Forres Christmas Lights - comes an urgent call to help bring in vitally-needed cash in time to meet this year's requirements.

Chairman Mr Franny Duncan, 77 Anderson Crescent, Forres, told the 'Gazette': "Our first priority is to raise what we can for this year. We've contacted businesses and groups and things are moving, but once again we'll need everyone's support."

But early indications show a potential landslide of interest with ideas flooding in to boost funds.

The first plan is to launch a "sponsor a bulb" effort.

Refuse truck smash - Police are investigating the case of a runaway refuse truck which collided with four parked cars on a busy Forres street yesterday forenoon.

The Moray District Council vehicle, understood to be unmanned, apparently rolled off down Bridge Street on Tuesday, where it came to rest after crashing into cars parked on the north side of the busy A96.

No one was hurt in the incident but several vehicles were badly damaged.