Delve into the past with a look through the columns of the East Lothian News and Musselburgh News.
From our issue of November 7, 2008100 years agoTHE Musselburgh police effected a smart capture of a "bookie" at the Fisherrow Promenade, near Beach Lane. It is well known that it is no easy matter for the police to c
atch a bookmaker in the very act of conducting his calling, because the bookmakers have usually scouts at the corners of the various streets approaching the spot where they are working. Constables Noble and Sutherland dressed themselves in the guise of tramps, and proceeded to the Promenade, where it was known a bookmaker, Robert Marshall, had been in the habit of taking slips. As usual the scouts were on the warpath, but on this occasion the police outwitted them, getting quite close to Marshall before they observed they were officers of the law. Marshall was caught in the act of receiving betting slips from several men, and when arrested a large number of slips were found in his possession, besides a considerable sum of money. Marshall appeared at Musselburgh Police Court, pleaded guilty and was fined £10.
50 years agoTHE Musselburgh Congregational Church, with a lovely light decor of pastel shades, is a far cry from the church which was founded in a stable in 1798, and is one of the oldest Congregational Churches in Scotland. "When I told someone that we were celebrating our 160th anniversary, they did not believe that there was such a thing as a Congregational Church which had been established for that length of time," said the Rev Jean M Robertson, as she welcomed members of the church to the anniversary social.
FOUR long serving employees of the South of Scotland Electricity Board received certificates and gifts in recognition of each having 35 years' service, at a ceremony in the showroom at 24 High Street, Musselburgh. The men were W C Moore, linesman, 36 Lammermuir Terrace, Tranent; Charles Hogg, linesman, 5 Redburn Road, Prestonpans; H McCormack, foreman, 28 Windsor Park, Musselburgh; and Alexander Brown, 15 Stoneybank Gardens, Musselburgh.
25 years agoIT was back to work on Monday for miners at Monktonhall Colliery after a strike lasting more than seven weeks. And the return took place on the firm understanding that the NCB remained committed to the future of the pit, local MP John Home Robertson told the Commons. He pointed out 13 UK pits have closed and four pairs merged in the last year and demanded increased investment to safeguard the future of Monktonhall.
A 20-year-old document confirming Roodlands Hospital casualty unit should not be used to treat serious injuries has resulted in a publicity campaign warning of the limited service available and a reminder to the district's ambulance fleet and doctors that all serious injuries should be taken straight to Edinburgh.
AFTER its first month in operation, the cash cafeteria system for school dinners at Law Primary School, North Berwick, is working well with an average of 100 extra children taking school meals daily.
10 years agoPLANS to restore the fountain in High Street as an official memorial to Musselburgh's war dead received an unexpected boost. A brass lion's head, which had been missing for some time, turned up in perfect condition to complete the set of four which decorate the fountain. The lion's head was handed to former provost Bill Caird by a local resident who wished to remain anonymous. It was handed over to George Montgomery, chairman of the Musselburgh War Memorial Committee.
MUSSELBURGH Racecourse has appointed Bill Farnsworth as new general manager and clerk of the course, with the new appointee promising to make the facility "the best in the country." Mr Farnsworth (30), a business studies graduate currently working at Hamilton Park Racecourse, started his career in horse racing while at university. Working part-time for the family business of racecourse trainer MW Easterby, he went on to join Hamilton Park as a trainee before working his way up to clerk of course and chief executive's assistant.
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 November 14, 2008100 years agoA MEETING of Musselburgh Town Council as the Old-Age Pensions Committee was held, Provost Simpson presiding, when 28 applications for old-age pensions were considered — 16 females and 12 males. Of these seven were continued for further consideration, and 21 were granted at full rate of pension, viz 5s (25p) per week, to commence on 1st January. Among the applicants were three aged couples. There are sure to be more applications before the New Year.
IT was reported to Musselburgh Town Council that a water motor had been discovered in the Ship Inn, which had been there for five and a half years without the knowledge of the Town Council, which was estimated to be using about 100,000 gallons of water per year. The motor had been used for pumping water out of the cellar. The council agreed to charge the trustees of on the late Mr Sneddon's estate to the amount of £5 per year.
50 years agoCOUNCILLOR J H T Reid, who has sold his drapery and outfitting business in Musselburgh, has resigned from the Town Council. Mr Reid resides in Portobello and is not now a ratepayer in the Honest Toun, so he decided to retire. Some years ago when the Independents gained control of the council, Mr Reid was elected Provost, but when Labour returned to power one of the first things they did was to vote him out of the chair and appoint one of their own party.
THIS week Provost James Lannan received an official centennial booklet of British Columbia from the Mayor of Vancouver, Mr F J Hume, who also sent greetings to the people of Musselburgh. Earlier in the year, Provost Lannan's best wishes, on behalf of the people of the Honest Toun, had been conveyed to the Mayor of Vancouver by Mr Alex Houston, of Vancouver. Mr Houston visited Musselburgh while on a trip to Cardiff to participate in the British Empire Games bowling competition. Provost Lannan was thrilled with the centennial booklet.
25 years agoLOTHIAN Health Board have said they hope to expand services in hospitals throughout their area, including Roodlands at Haddington. A report said the board intend to upgrade Roodlands if a study of it and other Lothian hospitals shows feasibility. A board spokesman said, however, upgrading was already under way on a small scale and a new extension of 20 beds was to be added to Ward Three in 1985. The spokesman denied reports that upgrading would have any serious effects on East Fortune Hospital, still considered valuable for its treatment of geriatrics, although all mentally handicapped patients would, through time, be treated in Haddington or in half-way house type centres where, with supervision, the patients could care for themselves.
THE 10,000 sq ft extension now under construction at Mitsubishi Electric in Haddington has been greeted with enthusiasm by East Lothian District Council. At present the factory employs nearly 250 people and is working to capacity to satisfy demand for colour televisions.
10 years agoPUPILS at Prestonpans Primary School are now dining in style. The school's new dining hall was officially opened by Councillor Pat O'Brien, convener of East Lothian Council. The hall has been named the Cantino Supremo — a suggestion made by P7 pupil Mark Howie, which was voted the best name by fellow pupils. The new dining hall is the result of major refurbishment work carried out at the school and has been welcomed by many pupils.
THE new wheelchair accessible Postbus service was officially launched in Haddington. Services to benefit from extra funding include the 128 Haddington to Eastern General Hospital service, which will operate with a new, easier access low floor bus and the 142 Humbie to Dallkeith route which will now run a weekend evening service. The 153 Haddington to Garvald Postbus has been extended to include Stenton. In addition, two new services have been introduced, the C3 New Winton to Edinburgh commuter service and the 157 Haddington to Humbie Postbus.
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 November 21, 2008100 years agoMUSSELBURGH Town Council held a special meeting to consider the question of taking a plebiscite in connection with the proposed free library and institute as asked by the committee of ratepayers at the conference held some time ago. Provost Simpson read a letter from Rev Thos. Hannan, convener of the Ratepayers' Committee, intimating that he had been in communication with Dr Hew Morrison, who had received a letter from Dr Carnegie, through his secretary, stating that he would provide a building for Musselburgh if the authorities asked him to do so and they agreed to levy the penny rate. Bailie Tomlinson said he was not afraid to say that he was against the public library. He had recently visited libraries in three different towns in England and these were only taken advantage of by a few of the unemployed. Councillor Aitken declared he was not in favour of a library being erected. He stated there had been a library at one time in Bridge Street which had not been taken advantage of. It had to be shut up. Nobody read the books.
50 years agoFISHERROW Choir visited the International Club held in the Rainy Hall, New College, Edinburgh. Mr Andrew Easton conducted the choir in a programme of Scottish songs and the Junior Section sang Hebridean songs. Solos were sung by Mrs Chalmers, Mrs Inglis, Mrs Morgan, Mrs Dickson and Mrs Waugh. Mr James Brodie introduced the various items and Mrs Shaw played the accompaniment. The Harmony Boys rendered several popular items.
CANON J Harold, Musselburgh, was one of the guests when the parishioners of Our Lady of the Waves Church, Dunbar, held a reunion with their former parish priest, Rev John McGeown, and presented him with a cheque in appreciation of his services while at Dunbar. Father McGeown is now at Cowdenbeath.
NEW chairman of Musselburgh's Honest Toun Association is 1953 Honest Lad, Derek Turner, 29 Stoneybank Avenue. Derek is physical and hygiene instructor at Penicuik Senior Secondary School.
25 years agoFIVE new elders were recently ordained at a service at St Andrew's Parish Church, North Berwick — two women and three men. Mrs Morag Turnbull, wife of Lawrence Turnbull, is one of the two new lady elders. She was born in China, the daughter of a Church of Scotland missionary. The other new lady elder is Mrs Jennifer Edmond, who is secretary of Law Primary School. Mr James Gilbert is the son of the late George Gilbert, Provost of the Royal Burgh of North Berwick in the 1950s. The others are Mr Keith Simpson and Martin Wilson, music teacher at North Berwick High School.
EXCESS heat from Tranent's indoor swimming pool is to be used to provide heating in the sheltered housing development to be built as part of the Lochside/Well Wynd improvement scheme. However, electric heating is also to be provided in the houses as back-up. Detached amenity houses which are part of the overall scheme will be heated solely by electricity. Housing chairman Councillor Tom Ferguson said he was pleased to see feature electric fires.
10 years agoTHE first steps have been taken towards filling vacant ministers' posts at two linked charges in East Lothian. On the recommendation of its parish reappraisal committee, Lothian Presbytery agreed that the linkage between the churches of Ormiston and Pencaitland should be allowed to continue and that the congregations be allowed to call a new minister without restriction. It also agreed a similar motion that the linkage between Bolton and Saltoun. Humbie and Yester be allowed to continue and that they too be allowed to call a new minister.
MUSSELBURGH ice cream makers Di Rollo have gained national recognition for the quality of their products. The company, based at 8 to 14 South Street, recently secured four diplomas in the National Ice Cream Competition.
REV Dr David Graham will be inducted next month as the new minister for Dirleton with North Berwick Abbey. Dr Graham (43) is originally from Hawick.
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 November 28, 2008100 years agoTHE formal opening of Fisherrow Public School, after having been practically reconstructed, took place when, at the invitation of the Musselburgh School Board, a large number of ratepayers were present. Fisherrow school was opened forty years ago. As time went on, however, the building was found unsuitable for the work. In many rooms two classes were being carried on at the same time, and sometimes there would be as many as 100 children in one room. Under the old system as many as 1,000 children were packed into the building. Now they could only accommodate 750, so that there were nearly 300 children too many occupying the school prior to the alterations being made. They now had accommodation for 1,240 children, and had at the present time 1,113 children on the roll. The chairman explained the new system of ventilation, whereby the rooms were cleared of vitiated air by an electric fan in a few minutes. They had an admirable headmaster and under him an equally admirable 25 teachers.
50 years agoBRUCE Oliver, a former Musselburgh journalist, whose parents Mr and Mrs William C Oliver live in Stoneybank Crescent, is to have his first novel published early next year. Called "The Square Within," it is to be published by Neville Spearman Ltd, whose publications include works by Jean Paul Sartre, Ezra Pound and J P Donleavy. Bruce was a member of the Musselburgh News reporting staff from 1947-49. He has since worked for papers in Staffordshire and is now with the Herts Advertiser in St Albans. He is 28.
IN a discussion on the National Fire-Guard Campaign, Musselburgh Town Council housing committee pointed out that unguarded fires presented a potential danger. Bailie Robert Waugh suggested to the Burgh Surveyor that all fireplaces in municipal houses should be fitted with hooks, and the Burgh Surveyor agreed to do this in future. A motion that the council should ask the SSHA to provide hooks for fireguards in their houses was defeated by the housing committee.
25 years agoEAST Lothian hotels come out well in a guide just published by the Country Gentlemen's Association, which relies on the recommendations of regulars for its entries rather that one-off visits by what the association calls "paid eaters." The Open Arms Hotel in Dirleton comes in for particularly fulsome praise — "one of the best hotels ever visited." The Harvesters Hotel in East Linton receives praise for its "excellent packed lunches" and the Green Craig Hotel near Aberlady for its wines.
EAST Lothian District Council are to help sort out problems on a private housing estate in Tranent. Carlaverock Residents Association are seeking the removal of the site compound on the East Windygoul Estate. Lothian Regional Council have told them they will not adopt Carlaverock Avenue because of the remedial work necessary to upgrade this road to an acceptable standard. But the residents association claim part of the problem is caused by heavy vehicles delivering materials to the site compound and the constant use of the road.
10 years agoMORE than 200 guests gathered at Gosford House, the family seat of the Earl of Wemyss and March, near Aberlady, for the launch of the late Frank Tindall's memoirs which will be sold in aid of the John Muir Trust. Mr Tindall, who died earlier this year, was one of the country's most colourful and popular town planners and conservationists. Entitled 'Memoirs and Confessions of a County Planning Officer,' the book gives a fascinating insight into the town and country planning system. Addresses were given by Lord Wemyss and Mr Tindall's daughter, Jemima Elliott.
EAST Lothian Council has pledged money to save Tranent's Blair Hall. Around £45,000 is needed to carry out renovation and maintenance work at the building, and East Lothian Council has pledged £11,250. The hall is owned by an independent trust which would like to see greater community use, but the deteriorating state of the hall is making the aim difficult to achieve. The hall committee has been trying to raise funds.
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
