From our August 3, 2007 issue

100 years ago

ONE of the heaviest rainfalls that has been experienced in Musselburgh for some time took place on Monday. So torrential was the rainfall that in the High Street, between Shorthope Street and Pinkie Pillars, that part of the street had all the appearance of a lake. The entrances to some of the shops being practically on a level with the street, there was a good deal of flooding. In the lower parts of the town, especially in Fisherrow, similar difficulties were experienced.

MR Thomas Graham, who has been in the service of the Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company in the last nine years, latterly as undermanager in Olive Bank Pit, Musselburgh, having left to fill a similar position with the Woodhall Coal Company at Pencaitland, has been presented by the workers who were under him in Olive Bank with a handsome writing desk, bearing a suitable inscription.

50 years ago

THE culmination of a most exciting session for the 3rd (Musselburgh) Girl Guide Company is a visit to Switzerland from August 2-14. Four Guiders, Miss Lily Bevan, Miss Christine Walker, Miss Margaret Purvis and Miss Rosemary Steele, accompanied by eight Guides, Doreen Cable, Sybil Manson, Sheena Young, Anne Walker, Elizabeth Bonthron, Wendy Naysmith, Sheena Barr and Susanna Purvis will celebrate centenary year by visiting Aeschi (near Spiez on Lake Thun) in Switzerland.

THE Sashing Ceremony, the climax of the Honest Toun's Festival Week, was performed on Wednesday evening by Lord Cameron. Because of the heavy rain it was impossible to hold the ceremony out of doors at the Mall, and drenched spectators crowded into the Town Hall. Honest Lad was Sinclair Aitken and Honest Lass, Nan Archibald.

MONDAY morning saw the buses start rolling again after an eight-day strike, and Musselburgh Depot, locked and full of vehicles last week, was back to normal working. One passenger said: "They gain 11/- (55p) a week and me, and thousands like me, who have to travel to work by bus, will soon have to pay higher fares."

25 years ago

EAST Lothian Police Superintendent Jack Cornwall retires at the end of this month after more than 30 years in the force. The majority of his service has been split between Haddington and Tranent, although his first posting was in Peebles in 1951. From Peebles he spent a short spell in both Haddington and Tranent before taking up administrative duties at East Lothian HQ in Haddington. He attained his present position in 1977 upon the retiral of Superintendent Daniel Jamieson.

ALL but six of the staff employed at the new Laws supermarket in Haddington's Court Street were recruited locally through the town's jobcentre. Mr Albert Moulder, manager of the new store, which opened its doors for business on Tuesday, said the firm had been pleased to keep its promise of jobs for the area with 108 of the 114 jobs going to local people. Mr W McKenzie, general manager, said: "I was very disappointed when I heard William Low also had their eye on an outlet here but fortunately they withdrew."

A malicious rumour that Castlepark Social Club in Prestonpans has closed down is being spread across the district, club president John Black asserted.

10 years ago

AN excavation funded by Historic Scotland to the tune of £12,000 has taken place on the summit of Traprain Law, near Haddington. Traprain Law is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Scotland and seems to have served as a tribal centre for the Votadini, the Iron Age inhabitants of what is now Lothian. From around 600BC to AD400 the hilltop was defended by a series of ramparts and densely occupied with timber houses.

GULLANE's intrepid walkers, Peter Jackson, Jim Devine and Alan Vaughan, set off from Melrose Youth Hostel for their 62-mile walk along St Cuthbert's Way. The trio, who completed the cross-border trek in four days, walked from Melrose Abbey to Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island and raised around £450 to Gullane Day Centre, of which Peter is the chairman, and to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.

PARISHIONERS at Haddington's West Church heard about their new minister's violent past straight from his own mouth on Sunday. Rev Cameron Mackenzie told them the story of his life which has taken him from prison — for stabbing a man five times in a gang revenge attack — to a career in the ministry.

From our August 10, 2007 issue

100 years ago

NEVER has Musselburgh, within recent times at any rate, witnessed such scenes in connection with the tramway strike. Mr Joe Young told a gathering that not only were the drivers and conductors out on strike, but some of the stokers had also struck. These men worked 84 hours a week, and received 29s (£1.45) a week. Eighty-fours a week, he concluded, was far too long for any man to work. Men employed that day had been brought to work at 8d (3p) per hour. The directors, he believed, would pay 1s (5p) an hour if they could defeat the men. The strike's progress has been marked by incidents of a rowdy character. No excuse whatever can be found for the stone throwing and the savagery which have been indulged in. It is possible to sympathise with the strikers to some extent for a comparison with the pay of other tramwaymen proves that the Musselburgh carmen have had exceptionally low wages.

50 years ago

THE Rev David Philpott of Musselburgh, formerly an assistant minister at Inveresk Church, who is now a Church of Scotland missionary in Africa, was attacked and injured by armed Africans last week. The men broke into his home at Tumutumu, 70 miles from Nairobi, intending to rob, but were surprised by the minister's wife. Mrs Philpott called for help and as her husband ran to her he collided with the men on the verandah. He was slashed with a knife before the men made off into the darkness. Mr Philpott was taken to hospital where his condition is described as "comfortable."

TOMORROW morning, at the Hayweights Cinema Club, Musselburgh, the finals of the talent competition which has been running for several weeks will be held. Already there is evidence of a wealth of talent among the children. Four skiffle groups have sprung up.

A M Brown, the 18-year-old Musselburgh golfer who won the Musselburgh championship a few weeks ago and the boys' championship the same day, beat Jack Burnside, the Scottish internationalist, of Prestonfield, by one stroke to win the Willie Park putter at Prestongrange. He had rounds of 72 and 74.

25 years ago

EAST Lothian MP John Home Robertson turned down an invitation to attend the opening of a new ward at Belhaven Hospital — because it would have meant crossing health workers' picket lines. Mr Home Robertson is a member of the National Union of Public Employees which is in dispute with the Government over health workers' pay. The official ceremony was performed by Dr J S Milne, formerly of East Fortune and Edenhall hospitals.

LOTHIAN Health Board this week strongly denied rumours that the 24-hour casualty department at Roodlands Hospital in Haddington is to close or even be curtailed. They said so far they had received no official word on their application for hospital exemption from the new regulations governing the staffing of casualty departments — despite reports to the contrary.

THE people of Ormiston turned out in force to welcome home their own hero, 17-year-old John McLaren, the village's only resident to fight in the Falklands. John, of 17 George Crescent, flew into Brize Norton with the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards. As John's taxi reached the outskirts of the village, it was met by Scots Guard piper Ronnie McDonald and Tranent Royal Scots Cadets.

10 years ago

PRESTONPANS' Hawthorn Road Post Office has reached the finals of the 1997 Best Post Office in the Community competition. Hawthorn Road impressed judges for the efforts manageress Janette McKenzie makes for various charities and her local parish church.

NEW low-floor buses were introduced on supported routes in East Lothian this week. The initiative was officially launched by Councillor Charles Ingle, transportation spokesman, at the Aubigny Sports Centre, Haddington. The buses will operate on the 120 service between North Berwick and Dunbar, and the 123 service, Haddington, Gifford and Pencaitland circle. They are operated by Don Prentice Coaches (Haddington) and Eve Cars & Coaches (Dunbar) under contract to the council.

CONCERNED with recent developments, such as the Harry's Burn opencast mining proposal around Elphinstone and disruptions caused by flooding in the newly revamped Tranent High Street, local members of the SNP gathered at the Brig Inn, Tranent, to form a local pressure group. "We need to restate the strong local voice that the SNP once had in Tranent," said local activitist and candidate Tommy Kerr.

From our August 17, 2007 issue

100 years ago

WHAT is known as the "town's excursion," which is promoted by the Musselburgh and Fisherrow Trades Band, saw 1500 people head for Dumfries. Three special trains were run and they all left shortly after six o'clock in the morning. They arrived in Dumfries about ten. The Trades Band accompanied the excursion and contributed greatly to the delight of the visitors and the town's people by their fine playing. The Dumfries trains returned between ten and eleven o'clock in the evening.

IT is interesting to observe that part of the seawall between Fisherrow Harbour and Bush Street, which has been under construction for some time, is now practically completed. A good many open spaces have yet to be filled up with material, and once this is done a decided improvement will undoubtedly have been effected in that part of the town.

50 years ago

THE Executive Committee of Musselburgh Labour Party thoroughly enjoyed an outing to Ayr, Alloa and Girvan on Sunday afternoon. Some of the more adventurous members visited Butlin's holiday camp at Ayr, while others were content sporting with boats at Girvan. During the bus strike, the Transport Union were responsible — directly or indirectly — for the cancellation of Labour Party members' children's trip to Gifford. The trip is now being held on Thursday August 22.

THE Preston Lodge FP Rugby Club officials for the coming season are: president, M Bilsland; secretary, C Bramner, 11 Gardiner Terrace, Prestonpans; treasurer, R Hooker; captain, P Hooker; vice-captain, D Allan; captain (2nd XV), R Williamson; Committee, A Napier and R Johnstone.

LEX McLean was given a tremendous reception by the children of the Hayweights Cinema Club on Saturday morning. Lex, who has been on stage since he was 16, was the ideal person to judge Musselburgh children's talent competition. First prize went to 11-year-old Helen Mathieson, 61 Linksfield Road, who rendered "Lay Down Your Arms."

25 years ago

PENCAITLAND this week mourned the death of Jock Taylor, the local lad whose ambition and love of motorbikes brought him success and respect in the world of sidecar racing. Twenty-eight-year-old Jock, who died tragically as the result of a crash while competing in Finland on Sunday, will be remembered in Pencaitland not just for his numerous racing successes but also for his pride in being a Scot and his efforts to remain just another one of the villagers. The son of Peggy and Jackie Taylor, of Queen's Avenue, Pencaitland, Jock was educated at the local primary school and Ross High, Tranent, along with his sister Sheila.

A PLACE they can call home — that's the exciting prospect facing 10 mentally handicapped adults following the official opening of a community house at 2 Bridge Street, East Linton. The house — the former village police station — was converted at a cost of £220,000 by the Ark Housing Association Ltd.

DUNBAR'S hopes of ever getting a new indoor swimming pool now seem further away than ever. Lothian Regional Council are to withdraw all financial interest in providing a new pool, and transfer responsibility to East Lothian District Council.

10 years ago

EAST Lothian MP John Home Robertson has announced that if the electorate vote for a Scottish Parliament in next month's referendum he will stand as a candidate for the parliament. Mr Home Robertson said: "The first priority is to win the referendum on September 11."

A GROUP of nuns are set to leave the holiday home for multiple sclerosis suffereers near North Berwick which they have run for the past 26 years. The Servite Sisters, an order founded by friars in the 12th century, are preparing to withdraw from the Richard Cave Holiday Home at Leuchie in the autumn of next year.

OFFICIALS from East Lothian Council met representatives from Great North Eastern Railway last week to discuss proposals for a new station at Musselburgh. GNER is currently looking at potential sites for a parkway station for Edinburgh to serve its trains on the East Coast main line.

ST Gabriel's RC Primary School in Prestonpans will be opening its doors to staff and pupils on Tuesday for the first time in a year. The school has been closed for major repairs and maintenance work after problems with the roof.

From our August 24, 2007 issue

100 years ago

IT has just transpired that a very serious accident occurred in Musselburgh last Monday, by which the lives of two young girls are despaired. Two sisters of the name of Kilpatrick, residing in Bellfield Terrace, had been sliding down the baluster of the stair in the tenement in which they resided, when the younger one, about three years of age, overbalanced herself. Her sister, about 12 years of age, tried to catch hold of her with the result with the result that both were precipitated over the baluster and fell with great violence on to the asphalt at the foot of the stairway, a distance of about 40 feet. Both were rendered unconscious and, on Dr Horsburgh being called, were found to be suffering from concussion and internal injuries. Both were conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. It is doubtful if either of them will recover. The unfortunate affair caused a great sensation in the district.

50 years ago

WHILE the majority of people in Musselburgh will not be prepared to condemn outright the Honest Toun Festival as it is at present, there is undoubtedly a body of opinion that believes that the festival can and should be improved. Various suggestions have been made in the days that have followed Councillor Alex Lowe's suggestion that the festival should only be held every other year.

WHEN Nurse France reached her surgery door at Stuart's net works, Musselburgh, on Wednesday morning she received a surprise. Seated on the steps outside were several young children. They were not there for medical attention but to hand over to Nurse France the sum of 6s (30p). That is not a large sum but there is a big story behind the gift, for gift it was — a gift for Musselburgh Old People's Welfare Committee. On Tuesday night Ann Kelly, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Stuart Gibson and Jim, William and Brian Brockie staged a "back green concert" and 6s was the amount of the collection. Nurse France said that "it is not the size of the gift that counts but the thoughts that prompted these young children to run a concert for the Welfare. The children had walked all the way from Delta View to hand over the money.

25 years ago

GOING to school for the first time is a special day for any child. But for little Kelly Smith the start of her school life was extra special. Kelly, of 5 Summerfield Road, Dunbar, suffers from brittle bones and has to be careful not to pick up any bumps or bruises. Becuse of her condition, her mother Belinda feared she would have to attend a school for the physically handicapped in Edinburgh. But a school desk has been found for Kelly at West Barns where the headmaster Mr Hamish Henderson is delighted to welcome her.

A two-and-a-half ton van packed to the gunnels with medicine, clothing, food and other essentials left Haddington early on Tuesday morning on a second mission of mercy to strife-torn Poland. At the wheel was retired Haddington businessman Mr Stanley Godek, 5 Somnerfield Grove, making his second trip to his native country to bring badly needed relief to the people there.

THE new £120,000 extension to Haddington Royal British Legion is being officially opened by the national chairman Col G M Warack. The extension more than doubles the size of the premises to the rear of Market Street and have taken more than a year to complete.

10 years ago

A CONCENTRATED campaign is being launched in a bid to halt local authority proposals to hive off the site of Fisherrow Community Centre for private housing. The centre's management committee are calling a public meeting to test the depth of feeling for East Lothian Council's alleged plan to develop the area of prime land behind North High Street — despite a refutal by the council of any such proposal.

EAST Lothian garage owner Ian Glass was presented with a commemorative plaque on Tuesday to mark his 25th year as a Vauxhall retailer. Whilst Ian Glass has operated as an official Vauxhall franchise since 1972, he has been in the auto trade since 1958 when he set up a coach hire business in Haddington's Hope Park.

THE sports pavilion at North Berwick High School was gutted by a blaze just days before pupils returned for the new term. An estimated £20,000 of damage was caused to the building which is used to store hockey and rugby equipment. Local firefighters took about an hour to extinguish the fire which, it is believed, was caused by an electrical fault in a storage heater. A quantity of rugby gear and hockey sticks and balls were destroyed.