Delve into the past with a look through the columns of the East Lothian News and Musselburgh News.
From our issue of April 3100 years agoWITH a view to encouraging the pupils attending the schools under the Inveresk School Board to take an interest in horticulture, Miss Dalrymple, New Hailes House, kindly presente
d the children in each school with bulbs in the autumn of last year, and gave them instructions how to grow them. Needless to say, the experiment has been a great success, for the children have taken a great interest in the growing of the bulbs. Miss Dalrymple offered prizes for the best-grown specimens. The presentations took place last week. Crookston School — Senior Section — 1, George Fraser; 2, Andrew Kidd. Junior Section — 1, David Kidd; 2, Jane Gilroy. Wallyford School — 1, David Penman.
COUNCILLOR Gibb tabled the following motion at a meeting of Musselburgh School Board: "That, seeing the Town Council desire a site for the proposed Public Library and Recreation Rooms, this Board at next meeting consider the question of handing over or offering the Grammar School house and site for such a purpose."
50 years agoA SOLDIER with Musselburgh connections, who saw service in Cyprus during the "trouble," is Private John Primrose, whose parents and sister Ruth live at 33 Whitecraig Road. John attended Musselburgh Grammar School before he got a job as a ham-curer, but he saw brighter prospects for himself in the Army and he enlisted on a regular engagement in August 1956. He is now in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and has been in the 1st Batt. in Cyprus for about a year.
DANNY Ferguson, 19-year-old right back, who was transferred last week from Hamilton Academicals to Hearts, along with left-half Bobby Walker, for a fee of £7500, began his career with Musselburgh Windsor. After leaving school he played for them in seasons 1954-55 and 1955-56. He formed a strong defence with Brian Brown, now with Loanhead Mayflower, at left back, and Walter Gilroy, centre half, now with Haddington Athletic. Both these lads are attracting senior clubs.
25 years agoA SOUP kitchen has been set up in Prestonpans to feed the children of striking miners. About 40 youngsters were fed at the town's Labour Club on Wednesday lunchtime. Each child received a bowl of lentil soup, a couple of slices of bread, a glass of orange, a packet of crisps and a scone or hot cross bun. "We have no other option, the region are not allowing our children to get free school meals," said Mr Johnny Russell, chairman of the local strike committee. Around 380 miners from the Prestonpans, Cockenzie/Port Seton area are on strike.
THE Forth Tavern, Prestonpans, could play a major role in the development of Scotland's national mining museum. For the pub, known locally as "The Goth," has historic links with the town's mining community. Now East Lothian District Council are taking steps to safeguard the pub's historic past. The council's bid to have the pub listed as a historic building was welcomed by licensee Mr George Ross.
10 years agoEAST Lothian Council leader Norman Murray has conceded that demolition is no longer an option for closure-threatened Fisherrow School. Jubilant campaigners, who have been fighting for years to secure the school's future as a base for Fisherrow Community Centre, have now been given the go-ahead to pursue an ambitious redevelopment plan for the building.
EAST Lothian's Scottish Seabird Centre got off to a flying start when Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and chairman of the Millennium Commission presented a cheque for £1m to the project. Work officially started on site on Wednesday as it was announced that the Scottish Construction Division of Gleeson's had clinched the £1.24m contract to project manage the building of the state-of-the-art centre at North Berwick harbour. It is scheduled to open next May.
MUSSELBURGH'S proposed Dolls Museum looks set to open within the next few months at the former High Church.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our issue of April 10100 years agoON Tuesday afternoon, a Leith grocer's van, while proceeding along the road near Windsor Gardens, Linkfield, Musselburgh, collided violently with a coal cart. The van was running at a good speed on the car lines. The driver thought, however, that before reaching the coal cart in front he would clear the car rails, but this he failed to do, with the result that the horse and van crashed into the cart in front. Both occupants of the van were thrown to the ground, but fortunately escaped with trifling injuries. Both the shafts of the vehicle were broken.
THE first meeting of the recently formed Inveresk School Board was held, with Mr Scarlett re-elected as chairman. He said he would do his best to merit the confidence shown in him and also in the interests of the ratepayers. The attendance report for the month at the various schools was given: Cowpits, 74 on roll (28.1 per cent absent); Crookston, 306 (15.6), New Craighall, 195 (12.7), Old Craighall, 42 (10.8), Wallyford 167 (10.3).
50 years agoTHE film which was banned by Edinburgh magistrates, "Femmes de Paris," will be shown in Musselburgh's Central Cinema at the beginning of next week. When the censor decided against granting the film a certificate, it was left to individual town councils to decide whether the film should be shown in their town. Described as "a real French Revue of sex, spectacle and spice," the film has been shown mainly in English towns. Although it was banned by Edinburgh Town Council, Glasgow Town Council agreed to the showing. When Musselburgh General Purposes Committee discussed an application from the Mondial Film Company asking for permission to show the film in Musselburgh, they decided "to emulate Glasgow's adventurous spirit" and grant permission.
THE annual general meeting of St Michael's Players took place in Inveresk Lesser Kirk Hall when Mr D Walker, retiring president, was re-elected to office, and with him as vice-president, Mrs Lilian Yeoman.
25 years agoTHE National Coal Board were accused this week of "restricting the supply of coal for pensioners and young families." East Lothian MP John Home Robertson is demanding answers from Mr Albert Wheeler, the NCB's Scottish Area Director. Mr Home Robertson said he was "disturbed" to read that two local coal merchants had been refused domestic coal by the NCB. This was "in spite of the fact that the NUM approved these supplies and were willing to handle the coal."
LOCAL residents can look forward to sampling the delights of a new wine bar and restaurant. Mr I Ruthven has been given the go-ahead to create the development at 1-5 Waterside, Haddington, provided he gives the planning committee further details.
CONCERN has been expressed at the lack of interest being shown in the fact that East Lothian has lost more than a third of its woodland cover since the end of the Second World War.
10 years agoHELEN McIntyre, a clerical assistant with Lothian and Borders Police for more than 20 years, has had her loyal service officially recognised. Chief Constable Roy Cameron, along with Helen's past and present colleagues from E Division, gathered at Tranent Police Station for a special presentation. Helen, who has worked at Tranent since July 1987, joined West Yorkshire Police in 1973. She moved to Lothian and Borders Police in April 1976, and started at work at Haddington as clerical assistant. She later moved to Dunbar then Musselburgh before taking up a post in Tranent.
A HADDINGTONIAN has received a top honour in the county he has made his home for the past 30 years. Alistair Spowage (49), a former Knox Academy pupil, has been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in Clackmannanshire, supporting the area's Lord Lieutenant in public duties and representing The Queen at civic events. Alistair, who lives in Menstrie, is a physical education instructor at a Falkirk school.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our issue of April 17100 years agoAT Musselburgh Town Council, Councillor Gibb said there were a great many complaints made about the condition of the water closets and urinals. They wanted to make the town attractive to visitors, and they were all aware these places were not in a sanitary condition. He wanted it remitted to the Public Health Committee to make these places cleaner and tidier and also to consider the advisability of providing others in various other centres. Bailie Hogg said the condition of the public urinals and water closets were a disgrace to the town.
THE half-yearly Licensing Court was held in the Town Hall, Musselburgh. Inspector Fraser reported that during the year the police had made altogether 1040 visits to the public houses within the burgh, all of which were found to be conducted in a satisfactory manner. One publican was charged with supplying liquor to a drunk man but the charge was found not proven. There were in the burgh two hotels with six days' licences and 20 public houses licensed.
50 years agoTHE traditional "greetin' meeting" of Musselburgh Town Council was held when the Provost thanked retiring councillors for their hard work on the council. Provost Lannan surveyed his fellow councillors and remarked ruminatively: "We have come to a journey's end in another municipal year. Let Musselburgh go forward, onward and upward for the benefit and happiness of the ratepayers of the town."
AN unusual traffic roundabout incorporating two railway bridges will be provided at Wallyford Toll when works estimated to cost about £83,000 have been carried out. At this junction the Edinburgh-London A1 trunk road is carried over the main east coast railway line on a tunnel about 100 yards long. The tunnel does not provide sufficient headroom for future requirements and is not strong enough to carry the maximum loads which use the A1. The present road junction will be converted into a roundabout. The contractors selected are James Miller & Sons, Edinburgh.
25 years agoTHE construction of Torness nuclear power station is on schedule and, in some places, slightly ahead of programme. A progress report on the work was given by the station's deputy manager Jim Clementson at a meeting of the Torness joint consultative committee. He added that employment was now at its peak and unlikely to exceed 4,000. The current total is 3,934, including 1,710 from East Lothian, the Borders and Edinburgh. About 27 per cent of the workforce comes from East Lothian.
LOTHIAN Presbytery voted overwhelmingly at its meeting in Musselburgh in favour of a motion by Rev Colin Day to express disapproval to the Church's Board of Education about their proposed closure of Carberry Tower training and leadership centre. Rev George Charlton compared Carberry's influence to that of Coventry Cathedral in England and the Kirchentag movement in Germany — contacting the world and helping it see what Christianity is all about.
10 years agoCOMMUNITY leaders in Prestonpans have chosen Polwarth Park as the preferred site for the town's new swimming pool. Four potential sites in the town had been identified by East Lothian Council for the proposed new facility. They were Preston Lodge High School, two sites at the Community Centre, and Polwarth Park. Community council chairman Gerald O'Brien said: "I am delighted there is going to be a pool in Prestonpans at long last."
A LOCAL community councillor has been astounded by what has been appearing from an overflowing drain recently. Mary Johnstone was left dumbstruck when she noticed small fish appearing from an overflowing drain near her home in the McNeill Walk area of Tranent. Mrs Johnstone said: "There is a problem with certain drains in the town. They seem to get blocked up. There is one near me that often overflows and I have seen small fish coming out of it." Councillors agreed to write to East Lothian Council about the problem areas such as Lindores Drive and Ormiston Road.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our issue of April 24100 years agoON Monday morning last, a start was made with the construction of the track for the extension of the Musselburgh Tramways from Levenhall to Port Seton. The work is expected to be completed by the end of August. The length of the extension is four miles, and for the greater part of the distance the line will be single, with passing loops the same as between Loretto and Levenhall at the present time. The car ride from Waterloo Place to Port Seton, along the coast, should prove a most popular one during the summer months.
IN the autumn of last year a meeting of the inhabitants of Wallyford was held for the purpose of considering the advisability of making an effort to secure a public hall for the village. A site at a nominal rent has been granted by Lord Wemyss, and the committee hope in a very short time to be able to make a start with the hall. The site is the vacant piece of ground adjoining the Post Office. The hall will be a great acquisition to the mining village.
50 years agoA MUSSELBURGH soldier — a member of the pipe band of the Seaforth Highlanders — will be taking part in the Anglo Portugese Tattoo in Lisbon. The tattoo will coincide with the British Trade Fair to be held in Portugal this year. Included in the pipers' section of the band, which will appear in the massed pipes and drums with the Scots Guards and Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, is Piper Andrew Reid, whose home is at 70 Pinkie Terrace, Musselburgh.
MUSSELBURGH Athletic have attractive visitors in Falkirk FC on Monday evening. Falkirk will probably field their local stars Slater, Moran and the White brothers, John and Eddie. It is hoped that Willie Ormond, Hibs, and Sammy Stewart, East Fife, will act as linesmen.
ON Monday all roads led to the races — and to Musselburgh where 15 Scottish Provosts were entertained to a lunch given by the Town Council for the Convention of Royal Burghs.
25 years agoA DOCTOR explained this week why no sick lines are being issued to enable the ill to receive priority coal supplies during the present miners' strike. Dr Gilbert Kennedy, head of the Tranent group practice, said signing the lines was "an unnecessary burden" on appointment and doctors' times. But Tranent miners, through the central Dalkeith strike committee, are to take the matter up with the British Medical Association. Councillor Tom Ferguson explained that pensioners, the handicapped, the sick, pregnant women and families with children under five quality for priority coal. "The Coal Board will not let it out until the priority is proved. In order to get that priority, a doctor's line is needed. The official policy of the practice is not to give lines," he said.
CASTLE Rock Housing Association's £970,000 sheltered housing development at Dirleton Court, North Berwick, was officially opened on Tuesday. The development of 46 units for the elderly took 19 months to complete.
10 years agoHOTEL tycoon Sir Rocco Forte's company has lodged a planning application for a luxury £60 million golfing development at Archerfield estate near Dirleton. RF Hotels Ltd is hoping to obtain outline consent to restore historic Archerfield House in conjunction with the creation of a 180-bedroom hotel and three golf courses which could create in the region of 250 jobs. An outline planning application has also been lodged by Caledonian Heritable for two golf courses, a clubhouse, restoration of Archerfield House, 80 holiday cottages and 20 serviced plots.
HADDINGTON will ring out once more to the sound of church bells — 450 years after bells from the historic kirk of St Mary's were taken south by the English during a siege of the town. The peal of eight bronze bells were installed in the church tower on Monday. A massive crane, measuring 223 feet, was on the site to lift the 12 steel girder supports and bells, weighing 5cwt to 12cwt, into the tower. Cost of the installation was about £70,000.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East Lothian
