Delve into the past with a look through the columns of the East Lothian News and Musselburgh News
From our edition of November 6, 2009100 years agoTHE employees at Wallyford Colliery held a meeting in the Central Hall, High Street, Musselburgh, when Mr Wm Wood presided over an attendance of 150 miners, who were a
dmitted to the hall by showing their Federation members' tickets. From the attitude of the men it was at once seen that the meeting was to be a stormy one. The first business was in regard to the employment of non-union men at the colliery. Mr Wood reported that there were still some 30 non-union men employed, and after discussion it was agreed by a large majority to come out on the following Wednesday if the men did not join the union on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.
THE "Vale of the Esk" Lodge of Free Gardeners, Musselburgh, has now been in existence for 21 years, and to celebrate the interesting event a soiree and concert took place in the Town Hall. Twenty-one years ago the membership was 36 while in 1909, the present year, the total number of benefit members was 412.
50 years agoDr John Riddell, medical officer of health for Midlothian, gave his annual report to a meeting of Musselburgh public health committee. Anxiety was shown by Dr Riddell regarding Midlothian's stillbirth and infant death rates. In Musselburgh there were 36 still births and infant deaths. Dr Riddell thought that the association of heavy smoking with lung cancer could not possibly be ignored. The habits of the public (all sections) did not, he said, seem to be changing in this respect. In Musselburgh, he reported, the percentage of deaths from cancer of the lung was higher than in other areas of Midlothian. In Musselburgh, out of 26 deaths from malignancy, 12 (or 46 per cent) were from cancer of the lung. Dr Riddell did not believe that there was much use putting up posters until members of the public were prepared to give up smoking. It was not, he said, going to help much putting up posters if children passed teachers' staff rooms which were clouded with cigarette smoke. Musselburgh also had a particularly high incidence of tuberculosis.
25 years agoA DUNBAR man has been promoted to the post of inspector with Hertfordshire Police. The Chief Constable of Hertfordshire has announced the promotion to inspector of Sergeant Alexander Preston with effect from October 1. Mr Preston was born in Dunbar and educated at the local grammar school. In 1972 he transferred from Edinburgh City Police to the Hertfordshire Constabulary and was promoted sergeant in 1975.
CONSERVATIVE Regional Councillor David Thomson will vote against his group's proposals to close primary schools at Humbie, Dirleton and Saltoun. But both Councillor Thomson and his colleague Councillor Dan Buchanan are likely to toe the Tory line on the proposed closure of Whitekirk Primary. The four schools are earmarked for closure at the end of the 84/85 season. A final decision will be taken by the regional council in March after consultation with parents and school groups. Councillor Thomson has held public meetings in Humbie, Saltoun and Dirleton.
10 years agoPEOPLE living near to the site of a new housing development in Tranent were left flabbergasted when a former farm and steadings were razed to the ground. Residents were also dismayed to see a row of mature trees felled to make way for the 42-property homes. Barrat the builders were granted consent for the construction of 24 houses and 18 flats at the Windygoul Farm site. Local resident Fiona McArthur said she and other local people had not been aware that the farm and steadings were to be demolished and that they had believed they were listed buildings. Windygoul Farm had previously been converted into a restaurant but the venture had not been successful and the business had eventually closed down.
ONCE again the weather was kind to the youngsters of Cockenzie and Port Seton who, together with their mothers and fathers, turned out in force to plant daffodils and crocuses around the village. Next spring the residents of the sheltered housing at Osborne Court will be able to enjoy the crocuses planted there.
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 edition of November 13, 2009100 years agoTHE quarterly meeting of Inveresk Combination Poorhouse Committee was held, Mr R C Menzies presiding in the absence of Colonel Cadell, VC, over an attendance of 16 members. The works committee reported on the bathroom accommodation, and it appeared there were only two baths provided for over 120 inmates. The committee recommended that two additional baths and a range of basins be installed.
MANY of our readers will be interested to learn that Musselburgh Rugby FC has only recently been wound up. It had to suspend playing in October 1904 owing to difficulty in procuring a field. A meeting was held when the funds on hand were distributed. A beautiful wreath has been obtained as a memorial of the members' sympathy for the late George V Gibson; five pounds have been given to the Sick Nursing Association; and the balance of one pound 16 shillings to the Grammar School FP Cricket Club.
50 years agoTHE staff of the Woodside Hotel, Musselburgh, and friends, 80 in all, were entertained by Mr and Mrs Richards at the annual dance on Tuesday evening. Among the guests, who enjoyed themselves thoroughly, were Chief Constable William Merrilees and Chic Murray, comedian. During the evening a beauty contest was staged to discover the "Belle of the Woodside 1959" and the choice of the judges — Detective Chief Inspector Smail and Superintendent Russell — fell on Mrs Martha Arnott, a waitress employed at the hotel. A prize was presented to her by Chic Murray after a few appropriate words.
THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD John Keenan, Kilwinning Terrace, Musselburgh, was working beside an apprentice at Prestongrange Colliery on Tuesday when he was struck on the head. The apprentice was swinging a long-handled hammer and when Keenan stepped back he was hit. He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.
25 years agoTHOUSANDS of pounds of damage was caused to KC's bar in Poldrate, Haddington, during torrential rain and gale force winds over the weekend. And pub owner Keith Craig angrily blames delays in emergency procedure for the disaster that has shut his premises for weeks. "I asked for sandbags right away but received no response from any council department," he said.
A WEEK-LONG Traidcraft Shop will be held in Prestongrange Church Hall, East Loan, Prestonpans, from November 12-17. This is a new venture for the support group and local voluntary representative, Mrs Carol Morton.
TWENTY-ONE members of East Lothian Constituency Labour Party attended last weekend's annual school at the Queen's Hotel in Perth. Britain's energy problems and solutions were debated on the Saturday afternoon with guests including Eric Clark of the NUM. Shadow Secretary of State Donald Dewar participated on Sunday.
10 years agoHEARTS boss Jim Jefferies was able to celebrate a winning match at the weekend, despite his team's 1-1 draw with Motherwell at Tynecastle. His parents, James and Helen, gave the whole family something to cheer about by achieving their own special goal of 50 years of happy marriage. Married at Musselburgh Registry Office on November 4, 1949, the couple, from Albert Place, Wallyford, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Sunday with a party for close family and friends at the Sweethope Hotel.
HERDMANFLAT Hospital in Haddington could be sold and psychiatric services moved to the Roodlands Hospital site as part of a major review of health provision in East Lothian. Upgrading is also planned at Belhaven Hospital, Dunbar, and Edington Hospital, North Berwick.
LOCAL commuters who travel on the A1 daily were celebrating this week following the Scottish Executive announcement that the section between Haddington and Dunbar is to be upgraded.
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 edition of November 20, 2009100 years agoLAST night at Cossar's Yard, Millhill, Musselburgh, Mr Millar, a public entertainment caterer of repute, opened a cinematograph show, which he has rightly described as "a picture palace." A roomy erection has been established in the yard, and the programme submitted is one which should draw crowds. The pictures, we understand, are to be changed bi-weekly, and every effort will be made to give satisfaction. One of the best firms is supplying the films, and we have no doubt many will take the opportunity afforded of spending a pleasant few hours. Meanwhile, at the Town Hall, at a cinematograph display there, when the first series of pictures were about to be thrown on the screen the film went on fire, the cause not being readily explained. There was, of course, no immediate danger but the audience, seeing the flames, made a rush for the exits. In the crush, the machine, which occupied a position between the exits, was turned over and this made matters considerably worse, another spool of pictures taking fire. Fortunately, there was water at hand and the flames were got under control.
50 years agoA PORTRAIT of John Rennie (1761-1821), famous Scottish bridge builder, was gifted to the citizens of Musselburgh by a local family, and is believed to be a Raeburn, valued at several hundred pounds. The portrait was one of several oil paintings which the Town Council had recently restored and revarnished. At a meeting of the general purposes committee, councillors differed widely as to whether the picture should or should not be sold. John Rennie was the civil engineer who designed the bridge carrying the main road over the Esk at Musselburgh. He was particularly distinguished for his bridges of which those of Waterloo (demolished 1934-37), Southwark (rebuilt 1921) and London (widened 1903-04) over the Thames are perhaps the finest examples of his designs.
THERE will be no grounds for complaint concerning the deposit in the Cleansing Department's yard in James Street, Musselburgh, of kitchen waste for pig feeding as the collection is to be discontinued.
25 years agoA COACH taking 14 working miners to Bilston Glen on Tuesday morning was stoned as it collected men in Tranent. And 60 pickets gathered without incident outside the town's police station as four miners waited for the pit bus. The Dunsmuir bus had left Ormiston about 5.30am to uplift any working miners in Elphinstone and Tranent. As it was being driven along Caponhall Road, a middle offside window was smashed by a missile opposite the entrance to Ross High School. Further along the road, at the Kings Road/ Blawearie Road junction, a brick was thrown at the front of the bus shattering the windscreen. Coach owner Mr John Smith said it would cost £370 to replace the broken windows. The driver was uninjured. Mr Smith said he had a contract with the NCB to transport men to the pit. "We don't know who are miners and who are safety men." East Lothian MP John Home Robertson feared this week that things would become more unpleasant because of the attitude of the Government and National Coal Board to sit the strike out.
10 years agoRESIDENTS of Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig united on Sunday for a moving tribute to the communities' war dead. Hundreds of people, including a large contingent of veterans, lined the banks of the River Esk to witness the historic unveiling and dedication of Musselburgh's long awaited war memorial. Conducted in the presence of Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian, the ceremony symbolised the end of a 54-year campaign for an official memorial to the 214 sons of Musselburgh and district who gave their lives during the Second World War. It was a momentous occasion for members of the Musselburgh War Memorial Remembrance Committee, who brought about the £58,000 restoration and conversion of the Old Fountain at the Rennie Bridge, with the support of local residents and East Lothian Council.
EAST Lothian miners attended a meeting in Tranent this week to support a controversial plan for an opencast mine at Harry's Burn near Elphinstone — 80 attended.
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 edition of November 27, 2009100 years agoLAST Sunday, in celebration of the jubilee of North Esk, Musselburgh, into a quoad sacra parish, special services were held in the church morning and evening. Out of the 16 original trustees, only two are still alive, and both were present, Right Hon Sir Charles Dalrymple, Bart, of Newhailes, and Mr John Legat, Trafalgar House, Musselburgh. Rev Mr Stott said: "It is my privilege to speak to you tonight on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of our parish. It is 50 years this week since the first Communion was celebrated in the newly-erected parish. The Communion token bears the date November 24, 1859. It also bears the minister's name, John Falconer, and although confined to a sick bed I am glad to tell you that I saw Mr Falconer on Thursday, found him much interested still in Musselburgh, and carried off with me from him a very kind wish to you all. It is his jubilee as a minister as well as the jubilee year of this parish." The church had been built 70 years ago. Twenty years afterwards it was formed into a parochial charge.
50 years agoIT was emphasised at a meeting of Musselburgh housing committee that until 50 per cent of the houses in Rothesay Place were declared unfit for human habitation by the county medical officer of health, Musselburgh Town Council will be unable to proceed with any demolition project. Treasurer Peter Hamilton stated the council agreed as to the insanitary condition of some of the houses. Councillor Dr T Wright said he had been shocked at some of the primitive conditions under which some people lived, where an outside lavatory served two families.
PLANS are now going ahead to build Scotland's first motel at Wallyford on the site of the old school. The motel, based on the American idea of a motorists' hotel, may include a petrol filling station and a cafeteria with parking or garage space. Councillors were told that the reconstruction of the present Crookston School buildings would not materially alter their appearance.
25 years ago FULL support to the miners in their nine month struggle has been pledged by East Lothian Constituency Labour Party. The CLP general committee passed a resolution affirming the party's full support for the campaign. "We pledge to support the National Union of Mineworkers in every way possible to secure the victory that is vital for the whole Labour and trade union movement," the resolution stated. Meanwhile, half the Bilston Glen miners have now reported for work. According to NCB figures, 755 men have reported for duty and the pit is now producing 1,000 tons a day on two coal production shifts. At Monktonhall Colliery, 160 miners have crossed picket lines.
THE district council are to build 20 houses at Riverside Drive, Haddington. The new development will house 82 people in two, three and four apartment terraced homes. The four apartment homes are to be two storeys high and similar to those at Ormiston Road, Tranent. Councillor Alistair Watson (Haddington) said he welcomed the project.
10 years ago WELL-KNOWN local author Nigel Tranter has celebrated his 90th birthday with the publication of his biography. The story of 'Scotland's Storyteller' has been written by Ray Bradfield OBE, who has worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as political advisor to British ambassadors. The book covers Mr Tranter's childhood in Glasgow and Edinburgh, his marriage at Athelstaneford, family life at Quarry House, Aberlady, and his writing career for which he drew much inspiration from walking along the Aberlady and Gullane coastline. On Sunday he attended a party at Ballencrieff Castle, near Aberlady, which he was instrumental in helping to restore. The toast was proposed by Ian Hamilton QC.
LONGNIDDRY Library now has a computer freely available for public use. The computer has a number of programs available including a word processor, database and spreadsheet. The library is also involved in the BBC Webwise campaign and is providing free crash courses for beginners to the Internet.
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
