Extracts from the files of the East Lothian News and the Musselburgh News

From our January 5, 2007, issue

100 years ago

THE new Dogs Act, which has now come into force, will surely have a good effect in the Honest Toun. This is the Act which requires that all dogs should wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed upon it, and which empowers the police to seize dogs found at large without such a distinguishing badge.

50 years ago

JOHN White, the Musselburgh boy who played for the Union and Bonnyrigg Rose before signing for Alloa Athletic, was back in the team on Wednesday after having missed a couple of games.

THE Christmas Eve dance in the Labour Hall, Musselburgh, was a great success. Music was provided by the ever popular dance band, led by Charlie Horne.

25 years ago

A "TIRELESS worker" for Prestonpans was presented with the Lothian Award at a ceremony in Lothian Regional Council chambers last week. Community councillor Peter Forbes, of 11 Burnside, received his medal along with four other awardees. A former major in the army, Peter has worked full-time for the community since his retiral from the insurance business in 1974. He is deputy organiser of the town's CAB and has just been appointed chairman of Prestonpans Community Centre, due to be opened later this month.

HADDINGTON District Councillor David Thomson faces competition from his branch chairman Douglas Heatlie in the contest to win the Conservative nomination for the Garleton seat at next year's Regional Council elections. Both have put their names forward to be chosen as successor to Councillor George Gray, who is not seeking re-election.

AN East Lothian firm, Hugh Baird & Sons Ltd of Pencaitland, has been awarded a £100,000 grant from the Common Market. "A splendid Christmas present from the EEC," was the reaction of South of Scotland Euro-MP Alasdair Hutton.

10 years ago

THE New Year Honours List brought recognition to East Lothian. North Berwick man Owen Clarke was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his service as Controller of the Board of Inland Revenue in Scotland while well known Tranent man Walter Ross was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services as conductor of Penston Silver Band. Gladsmuir resident William Stewart was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of his long service as head warden at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

STAFF and pupils at St Gabriel's RC Primary School in Prestonpans should be able to return to their classrooms by August. The school has remained closed since last summer after substantial roof damage was discovered. During routine maintenance work it was found water penetration had occurred, causing substantial damage.

ORGANISERS are hoping both objectors and supporters will attend a public meeting in Haddington to discuss Tesco's plans to extend its local supermarket. The proposals include enlarging the store's retail space and creation of a cafe. A vacant building behind McKay's is to be knocked down.

From our January 12, 2007, issue

100 years ago

A GOOD deal of alarm was caused in the High Street, Musselburgh, on Tuesday afternoon when what is known as a fuse-tin in a manhole of the electric light supply, situated opposite the Town Hall, exploded with a loud report.The manhole cover in the pavement was blown out with great force.

50 years ago

THE St Gabriel's Players pantomime, "Arabian Nights," has proved very popular with Prestonpans audiences. A cast of 40 is led by John Dennison as the Caliph, Dominic O'Brien as the Grand Vizier, Nancy McGuire as Aurora and Margaret Lumsden as Ali Hassan. The traditional Dame is magnificently played by Lachlan Shelley. Mention must be made of the funny antics of Gerald O'Brien as the Governor, and the clowning Michael Boyle and James Gunn.

25 years ago

EAST Lothian greeted the New Year under siege from Arctic weather conditions.Torrential rain followed by blizzards brought chaos to the district with rivers threatening to burst their banks and many roads being closed. Heavy rain on Sunday brought the first of the problems with the River Tyne in Haddington rising seven feet above normal level overnight while the River Esk in Musselburgh also threatened to burst its banks.

A PROPOSED £2m development at Glasclune and St Baldred's Tower, North Berwick, has come under fire from the town's community council. They fear that a five storey block of 40 flats on part of the site overlooking the Castle Hill could well be out of keeping with the character of the area.

THE function room extension to Castlepark Bowling Club, which was completed in November, was officially opened last week. Costing more than £50,000, the extension promises to provide a welcome addition to the entertainment in the club. It will seat 100 people. Plans for the extension were drawn up at the AGM of the club back in February 1981. Every member was asked to donate £20 to the cost, so they started with £7,500 in the kitty.

10 years ago

CAMPAIGNERS this week heralded another victory in the continuing fight to prevent opencast mining in the Elphinstone and Ormiston area. In the face of overwhelming local opposition, East Lothian Council's environment committee agreed to refuse planning permission to William Grant (Mining) Ltd for an opencast development at South Elphinstone Farm, between Ormiston and Elphinstone.

NORTH Berwick weaver Donald Fraser was able to spin a right royal yarn when he met Prince Charles earlier this week. Donald, who has his own business in Forth Street, met the Prince when he officially opened the Scottish Tartans Museum, at The Scotch House, Edinburgh, on Monday.

COMPLAINTS about slippery pavements in Tranent High Street are being monitored by East Lothian Council. However, despite reports of local residents falling and being injured on the slippery surface, the council claims the new paving slabs, part of the current town centre improvement scheme, are up to standard.

THE New Year has seen a new head teacher take over the reins at Preston Lodge High School, Joe Smith (44).

From our January 19, 2007, issue

100 years ago

A NUMBER of employees of Olive Bank Colliery, Musselburgh, met together in Baxter's Hall to do honour to Mr Matheson Purdie, oversman, who is leaving for West Africa. Mr John M Martin made the presentation. The gifts consisted of a travelling bag, dressing case, writing desk and smoker's cabinet with inscription.

50 years ago

MUSSELBURGH councillors decided that, before they reached any decision concerning the granting of an application by a Musselburgh cinema proprietor for permission to show the uncertified film, "The Wild One," starring Marlon Brando, it would be advisable for them to have a preview of this film. The film was given no certificate, as the "wicked" triumphed in the end. Councillors will view the film on Sunday January 27.

25 years ago

THE cost of the big freeze in East Lothian is expected to run into millions of pounds. The problems have been particularly acute for farmers. The district's cabbage crop is thought to have been completely destroyed by the frost, at a cost of £1 million. Probably the only people welcoming the cold weather have been schoolchildren, hundreds of whom have been sent home as most of the schools had problems with burst pipes or lack of heating.

THE quality of stone from Markle Mains Quarry has again been questioned by Regional Councillor Norman Hall (Traprain). He claims surface dressing of roads in East Lothian where Markle stone has been used is now lifting "to a serious extent." He said: "The position is very serious and calls in question the suitability of the Markle Mains stone for this particular problem."

DUNBAR open air swimming pool may have seen its last summer season. For little hope is being held out that it will be open to bathers in 1982. A decision to close the pool was taken by East Lothian District Council in 1978 but this was later withdrawn when Dunbar Traders' Association volunteered to take charge.

10 years ago

CAMPAIGNERS this week heralded another victory in their continuing fight to prevent opencast mining in the Elphinstone and Ormiston area. In the face of overwhelming local opposition, East Lothian Council's environment committee agreed to refuse planning permission to William Grant (Mining) Ltd for opencast development at South Elphinstone Farm, between Ormiston and Elphinstone. It is the second such decision by the committee, following a similar application last year by James Fenton for a site at Tynemount Farm near Ormiston.

POPULAR janitor Michael Guiry celebrated 30 years at St Mary's RC Primary in Haddington with a surprise presentation from staff, pupils and parents during a concert. The 60-year-old former jockey received a bronze horse and rider to mark his long service at the school.

A MAJOR long awaited leisure and housing development at Dunbar has been put on hold following legal action by Blue Circle Industries. East Lothian Council's environment committee had agreed in December to grant planning permission for the residential, commercial and leisure development at Hallhill/Lochend. Councillors had welcomed the proposed development.

From our January 26, 2007, issue

100 years ago

IT is many years since such a keen frost was experienced in Musselburgh as that of yesterday, 15 degrees being registered at Drummore. In some places on the River Esk the ice was about an inch thick, and the Links had such a covering of hoar frost during the day that golfers had to use red balls. It was intensely cold all day.

50 years ago

LAST Tuesday was a happy day for Mr Peter Roberts, SMT inspector in the Musselburgh area for 30 years. Not only was it his 65th birthday, but he retired from the bus service. At the Battle of the Somme, he was detailed to play the Last Post at the funeral of Captain Lauder, son of Sir Harry Lauder. In 1919 Mr Roberts joined the SMT as a bus conductor. Mr Roberts was presented with a wireless set from his fellow inspectors.

25 years ago

REPERCUSSIONS of the closure of the Invergordon aluminium smelter may be felt in East Lothian. With a massive surplus of electricity now available to the SSEB, the need for Torness nuclear power station has been thrown in doubt. There are also fears that Cockenzie's coal-fired power station may have its working life reduced, threatening the jobs of hundreds of station workers and local miners.

THE appointment of Mr Peter Hunt as the new manager of North Berwick Sports Centre was formally announced to members of the centre's management committee on Monday evening. Mr Eric Smith, the district's recreation officer, said the appointment had been made following the resignation, through ill health, of Mr Bill Bruce.

ALTHOUGH it can't be confirmed until after the next regional council meeting, there is now a "strong possibility" the day centre for the handicapped earmarked for Prestonpans will be built later this year. Plans for the £130,000 development face only the formality of confirmation. The news coincides with the opening of Prestonpans Community Centre.

10 years ago

MINDLESS vandals who struck at Prestonpans Cemetery this week, knocking over some 20 headstones, have been roundly condemned. A spokesman for East Lothian Council said they were still investigating the damage, but added the council was very disappointed by such an act of "senseless vandalism." It is hoped undamaged stones will be able to be put back into place.

THE New Year brought a new start at Pencaitland Primary School with the arrival of a new head teacher. Taking over the top post at the school is Freda Ross, while Jane Ritchie, who had been acting head teacher since the early retirement of head Jim Marshall, returns to her former post of acting depute head and will also have responsibility for the P4 class.

THE annual general meeting of Tranent Labour Party was held on January 14 when local businessman Alex Finlayson was elected as chairman. Rachel Purves was elected vice-chairman, with Councillor Bishop Shepherd as membership secretary. Sam Wallace was elected secretary and Katie Steele treasurer.