1960 - 1964

1960 The 'Switches', the forerunner of 'Pleasureland' is a prime entertainment spot. 1960 St Vigeans Pictish & Mediaeval Stone Museum opens, containing 34 early Christian sculpted stones including the Drosten Stone. 1960 The fishing boat 'Endeavour' (AH38) is launched, Brian Bruce amongst the crew. 1960 (approx) Willie Murdoch produces a silent colour 1:07 film of Smokie preparation at Swankie & Smith fishmongers, High Street. The film is held by the National Library of Scotland. 1960 Yule Newsagents open a shop at 256 High Street, this branch operating for about 40 years. 1960 Edmund Laskowski opens the Golden Lion Garage on Montrose Road. 1960 AGR Automation open Arbroath premises. 1960 A total of 9 bungalows are built during this year on East Muirlands Road & Gallowden Road (the site of Gallowden Farm & before that a place of execution). 1960 A row of cottages on Fisheracre is replaced by shops. 1960 (Oct 1) The Arbroath Flower Centre is opened in Fisheracre by Jim & Bill McGugan. 1960 A Royal Marines Band is formed at HMS Condor where it will remain for 10 years. 'in the 1960s': In James Street could be found Williamson's Bakery (on the corner) & Pop Allan's pawnbroker's shop (nos. 3-5). The street is named after James Watson of Towerbank House. From the 60s William Teviotdale (marine engineering) occupies the old lifeboat shed in East Grimsby. 1961 (Jan) Fergus Young, at the New Palace Theatre, introduces the new roller skating craze Mon, Tues & Thursdays. 1961 (Feb) Production begins at the Metal Box Factory, Elliot. 1961 (Mar) The harbour to Arbroath Station railway line is closed. It's path is indicated by the lane known as 'The Linies'. 1961 'The Arbroath Affair', an account by Ian N. Fraser of his success in building a garden railway & engine shed within the grounds of his home in Viewfield Road despite Council opposition, is published. 1961 Extensions are made to the nature path from Victoria Park. 1961 The construction of Westway begins. 1961 The fishing boat 'June Rose' (AH45) is launched. 1961 (?) A shelter in Victoria Park, by St. Ninians Well, is built. 1961 (Jun 7) The New Palace Theatre, introduces bingo sessions under the name 'Palais Bingo'. Films are still shown. 1961 (Jun) Hugh Nelson of Hunter & Nelson's bus company (Victoria Garage, Union Street East), sells his 18 buses to Tom D. Alexander (trading as Greyhound Luxury Coaches). 1961 (Jun 19) The 'Portcullis' public house opens at 4 Conan Terrace. 1961 (Jul 8) Children's boats are introduced at Keptie Pond. 1961 Alex Pert's 'wet fish' shop opens at 244 High Street. 1961 (Sep 24) Inverbrothock Free Church at Hamilton Green is rededicated 'St Andrews Church'. 1961 (Sep 26) The Maternity Wing of Arbroath Infirmary is opened by the Queen Mother. 1961 (Sep 30) Grampian Television begin broadcasting to Arbroath. 1961 (Nov) Rocker Gene Vincent performs at the 'Palais de Danse'. 1961 (Nov) Demolition begins in Millgate Loan to accomodate the new telephone exchange. 1961 (Nov) The Webster Hall features it's first 'Black & White Minstrels' show. 1962 (Apr 12) Lipton, grocers, open at 226 High Street. 1962 The 'Exchange Bar' at 12 Market Place closes when landlord Samuel Jack decides not to renew his licence. 1962 Westway, linking Dundee Road to Keptie Road, is completed during the summer. 1962 (end Jun) The National Commercial Bank's new premises opens on Brothock Bridge. 1962 (Sep) The new Angus Technical College on Elliot Place accepts it's first pupils. 1962 (Oct 12) The Red Lion Bar is demolished. 1962 (Oct 25) Wm. Low open at 162-164 High Street. 1963 (Spring) Arbroath TC consider a 3 lane inner relief road, as a a dualled road would cause excessive demolition. (See 1973). 1963 (May) A Pitch 'n' Putt course opens in Springfield Park. It will cease to be used in late 1990s. 1963 Abbey Theatre is founded. 1963 (Jul 4) 'Mace' open at 27-29 Montrose Road. 1963 (Oct ) The Palace Cinema is taken over by JB Milne. 1963 An upgrade of the A92 Dundee-Arbroath road to dual-carriageway is considered. See 2003 ! 1963 An 11 minute colour film 'Lifeboat Coming', by William Guild, Dept. of Agric., Univ. of Edinburgh, is produced. It demonstrates a rescue from the Abertay Lightship, the Lifeboat's coxwain being Hew Smith. Film held by NLS - click here : 1963 Houses now fill the triangle of roads comprising Westway, Arbirlot Road & Emislaw Drive. Immediately west, just across Westway, the streets also in place include Fraser Path, Newton Avenue, Rosefield Place, Newbigging Drive & Spitalfield Place. 1963 Arbroath Town Council are planning to build 105 houses at East Muirlands: 32 of 4 apmt 2 storey terraced, 15 of 2 apmt 1 storey cottages, 32 of 3 apmt 2 storey, 12 of 3 apmt 2 storey cottages & 14 of 4 apmt 2 storey cottages, between Bloomfield House, E. Muirlands Road & Arbirlot Road West. 1963 Some houses at Hamilton Green are being demolished. 1963 A major imrovement scheme for Brothock Bridge commences during which the granite fountain (which had been donated to the town by William Gibson of Maulesbank) is removed. The Sea Cadet Hall (previously the Good Templar Hall) at the corner of Hume Street & Arrott Street is demolished. 1963 (-1964) Arbroath FC finish 3rd in the 2nd Division. 1964 (Jan 4) Abbey Theatre's first performance: "The Four Poster". 1964 (Jan 22) Coopers shop opens at 207 High Street. 1964 New lighting mechanism installed & living quarters improved on Bell Rock Lighthouse. 1964 (Apr 6) In Brothockbank House, Gourley McBain is formed when two firms of lawyers,'J & W MacDonald Gourley' and 'McBain & Anderson' are amalgamated. 1964 The gas works chimney is demolished. 1964 Lowdens open at 281 High Street. 1964 The Viewfield Hotel receives it's full hotel licence. 1964 The Wardmill Bleachfield closes after being operational since 1807. 1964 Niall Benvie is born in Arbroath. He will become a respected landscape & wildlife photographer & writer. 1964 George Grove opens his florist business at 78 Marketgate. 1964 (-1973) Robert Ritchie Spink is Arbroath's 13th Provost. 1964 The 'Harbour to Station' railway line (closed in 1961) is uplifted. 1964 Peter Rowling meets Anne Volant on a train journey from London to a military posting in Arbroath. Their daughter will be be JK Rowling of 'Harry Potter' fame.

The houses behind David Paterson in Hamilton Green have now given way to the Abbey Visitor Centre

Arbroath Academy under construction 1960-61

Bella Paterson, Airlie Crescent, July 1963

This 1951 AEC Regal bus spent much of the 50s & 60s on Arbroath's routes. It will be restored in 2007