IT was the year man walked on the Moon, The Beatles played on roof in London, Richard Nixon became president of the USA and Muammar Gaddafi came to power in Libya.
The year 1969 is almost ancient history to us but thanks to the foresight of the builders of a sports centre at Stirling University we now have a snapshot of what was happening 50 years ago.
Back then, several sporting items, a bottle of whisky, old photographs and newspapers were placed in a time capsule at the Gannochy Sports Centre.
The casket was discovered during a £20 million redevelopment project at the centre. It was opened by the university’s senior deputy principal, Professor Malcolm MacLeod, at a special ceremony attended by Olympian and Commonwealth Games star Duncan Scott, who is on the university’s swimming team.
The time capsule is inscribed with the words: “Placed by WG Farquharson MC CA, Chairman of The Gannochy Trust. 18th June 1969.”
Among the items inside were a bottle of Bell’s whisky; cricket, tennis and squash balls; a shuttlecock; plans and elevations of the building; a copy of the university’s 1970-71 prospectus; a selection of currency; a 1969 exam paper; and copies of the Stirling Observer and The National’s sister paper Glasgow Herald. MacLeod said: “It is an honour to open this time capsule. The contents are in remarkably good condition and provide an intriguing snapshot of campus life in the early years of this university, and Scotland as a whole in the late 1960s.”
Scott, last year’s Scottish sportsperson of the year, said: “It’s amazing to see the items contained within the time capsule, to look back at the creation of the Gannochy Sports Pavilion and think about the opportunities it has offered.”
The university said it will add contemporary items to the time capsule before sealing it within the new building, due to be completed next summer.
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