Phil McCusker, who featured in the 100th edition of the LOCAL NEWS because he gained his Karate Black Belt at the age of 77 got two nice surprises as a result of the publicity.

‘I received a letter a few days after the paper had been published from a lady who had read the article. It turns out that she is related to me,’ said a delighted Phil. ‘Her mother was my father’s sister. I got in touch with her and a meeting has been arranged.’

The second surprise for Phil shows how far the LOCAL NEWS can travel. His success at Karate was read by a lady in Bearsden. She posted a copy to her brother in Salisbury who turned out to be an old army buddy of Phil’s and contacted him. So another meeting might be arranged!