Take a look back at the stories and photos that grabbed most attention on our website in 2010.
1Dundee FC in crisis: live updates It was a momentous day in the history of Dundee FC, and our coverage of events at Dens Park as joint administrator Bryan Jackson arrived and wielded the axe was by some distance our most-read story this year.
2 Couple lost in Glen Clova ‘lucky to survive’ Call that a mountain? Our report about a couple who got lost in Glen Clova sparked some lively debate among trans-Atlantic audiences about what exactly constitutes a mountain.
3 Man admits flooding neighbour’s home with garden hose Helped again by a good Farking, at number three is the curious case of electrician Francis McGourty.
4 From the archives: the gruesome murder of Janet Henderson At number four is an online special we put together after police revealed a gruesome Perthshire killing in 1866 is Scotland’s oldest unsolved murder. We dug into our newspaper archives to discover how the murder was reported at the time, gaining a unique insight into “one of the most atrocious and mysterious murders that has ever come within the range of criminal jurisprudence.”
5Kengo Kuma and Associates wins Dundee V&A design competition The competition to design the new V&A museum at Dundee was one of the cultural highlights of the year. Our coverage of Kengo Kuma’s victory was your fifth most-read article.
6&7 It’s not over yet: more snow forecast for Tayside and Fife/Accidents and closures as winter hits hard It’s the story that has dominated all of our lives for the last few weeks. You came to us in your thousands as Courier reporters covered one of the earliest and severest winters to hit us for decades.
8 Gordon Chisholm lifts lid on ‘manic’ days at Dundee FC – and keeping Calum Melville ‘sweet’ It’s back to Dens Park for our eighth most popular story, as sacked Dundee boss Gordon Chisholm breaks his silence to reveal events leading up to the Dark Blues’ collapse into administration.
9 Dundee ‘free hugs’ video is a real winter warmer At number nine comes a story stuffed to the brim with the feelgood factor. With the snow disrupting all of our lives, Dundee University student Andy Barratt and his girlfriend headed out to spread some much-needed cheer. Their ‘free hugs’ video put smiles on countless faces across the world.
10Roof collapse devastates car garage R G Consort If anyone was in need of a hug, it was the owners of the R G Consort car garage. The video of their roof collapsing under the weight of snow completes our top 10.PhotosAs well as showing you more of the fantastic photos taken every day by our own staff photographers, we have also brought you wonderful shots from our readers, including entries to The Courier’s Calling All Snappers competition. Here then are the galleries that grabbed most attention:
1 Treasure from the archives: the gems of Dudley D. Watkins One of our greatest pleasures is digging into DC Thomson’s rich archives to uncover the treasures it holds. Our gallery of artwork by legendary artist Dudley D. Watkins was seen by comics fans around the world.
2 St Andrews University Raisin Monday foam fight Students + foam = photo gallery. It’s a winning formula, and the stats prove it!
3 Courier country sees first snow of winter When the snow started to fall, many people’s first reaction was to grab their camera and get snapping. We asked you for your winter photos from across our area, and your response was fantastic. (See more of the winter galleries here.)
4Show of strength for Dundee FC Dundee’s first home match after entering administration was always going to be an emotional affair, and our gallery of images from the day is our fourth most-viewed gallery.
5 Rowan Gorilla VII rig dominates skyline People in Dundee and the surrounding area woke up to a new and striking fixture in the skyline on September 2, and once again you rushed to grab your cameras.
6 RAF Leuchars Airshow 2010 The Leuchars airshow is a photographer’s dream, and few enjoy snapping it more than our own Dougie Nicolson.
7 Lunar Eclipse – Dark Side of the Moon there was a lunar treat for those up early on December 21, and keen photographers made sure they were not going to miss it.
8 From you: Dundee United cup celebrations May 15 is a date that will live long in the memories of Dundee United fans and many helped us document a famous day in the club’s history.
9 Calling All Snappers: Week 24 The Calling All Snappers competition, run by our newspaper colleagues, is a popular weekly fixture. (See more entries here.)
10 From our archives: King’s Theatre, Dundee plans to buy and renovate the former King’s Theatre in Dundee inspired us to head back into the archives to explore the theatre’s heyday, resulting in a gallery that completes our top 10.
We want to thank everyone who took the time to visit our site in 2010, and hope you all have a happy and prosperous 2011.
The Courier online team.