Your memories: The night comedian Jack was 'kidnapped'

CHRISTINA Barber was working as a secretary the night the well-known Scots comedian Jack Anthony was "kidnapped" in Dunbar.

It was the evening of April 12, 1961 and there they were in his room at the Roxburghe Hotel, one of the finest establishments in the town, he dictating letters, she dutifully noting them down.

Before she knew it, four money-hunting students rushed in and heaved him out into a waiting car - all for a 5 ransom.

"I was working in the hotel reception and part of my duties were to take dictation," explains Christina, who still lives in Dunbar with her husband. "I remember well that night as I was recruited to advise the press of the 'kidnap'."

Jack Anthony was staying at the Roxburghe with his wife when the group of students, led by Sandy Cowan, son of the rector of Dunbar High School, made contact threatening to kidnap him if a donation of 5 was not forthcoming. Later that evening they stayed true to their word.

"It was all a joke and in good humour though," explains Christina, who was in her late 20s at the time. "Jack Anthony really enjoyed it too - he thought it was great.

"He was not away for very long either.

"Having had a career on the stage, he loved being centre of attention and I think, owing to his age, he thought he was fading away from all of that.

"I can scarcely believe it was 50 years since then. At the time the Roxburghe Hotel, with Miss Ricardo, the manageress, and Mr Marcel the chef, was a very popular hotel (we even had our own wedding reception there in 1954), but it is sadly no longer there, having been replaced by luxury flats."