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April 2010 Looking Back articles

Delve into the past with a look through the columns of the East Lothian News and Musselburgh News

From our files of April 2, 2010

100 years ago

A SPECIAL summons meeting of the Musselburgh Irish National Foresters was held in the Schoolroom, Newbigging, Bro James Rooney, SCR, presiding. The minutes of the last meeting were adopted on the motion of Bro James Quinn, seconded by Bro John Lannan, and the quarterly report was adopted on the motion of Bro John McCann, seconded by Bro John Roddin. It was agreed, on the motion of Bro Charles McCann, seconded by Bro P Devlin, to hold a golf tournament in aid of the Banner Fund.

THE usual monthly meeting of Musselburgh School Board was held in the Grammar School. Colonel Whitelaw occupied the chair, and there was a full attendance of members. An application was submitted by the clerk for an additional cleaner at Newbigging School. After some discussion it was agreed to appoint a cleaner at a wage of 12 per annum. A number of defaulting cases were submitted by the clerk.

50 years ago

MILL girls have been blamed for much of the litter that is scattered about the Mall in Musselburgh. The state of the roadway was a disgrace, said Bailie R Arthur, convener of the Public Health Committee. He suggested that litter bins should be placed near the mill. Treasurer Peter Hamilton agreed that scarcity of litter bins tended to make people forget that there was a Litter Act and that fines of up to 10 could be imposed on offenders.

PROVOST James Lannan unveiled a mural in the Randolph Room of the Woodside Hotel, Musselburgh, on Tuesday evening. The mural depicts Randolph, Earl of Moray and Regent of Scotland, as he is brought into Musselburgh on a litter, after having taken ill not far from the East Gate of Musselburgh, now known as Pinkie Pillars. Mr and Mrs R F Richards, of the Woodside Hotel, engaged Mr George Innes to design the mural.

MUSSELBURGH Women's Citizens Association celebrated its 25th anniversary in the Woodside Hotel.

25 years ago

ALDERSTON House, Haddington, may become a wartime headquarters.The building has been chosen because it is considered suitable to cope with radiation fall-out. Government officials and the armed forces could be based there in the event of a nuclear attack. But the proposal has come under fire from East Lothian MP John Home Robertson and local district councillors. Mr Home Robertson said: "I hope it has got good heating because it is going to be freezing for six months in the nuclear winter of a major conflict. If anyone survives in Alderston House I don't know what they are going to find when they come out. No doubt some of the local population will survive. But I think the lucky ones will be those who will already be dead."

RESIDENTS of North Berwick opposed to the possibility of pedestrianisation of the town centre have handed in a petition to the district council. The document bears more than 900 signatures of people opposed to the suggestion.

10 years ago

ONE of Musselburgh's Old Provost's Lampposts has been given a new home in the newly-upgraded Lewisvale Park. Situated at the main entrance to the park, the lamppost is one of a set of two and has been lying in storage in the old town hall since the 1970s. Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council has campaigned to have it put back on public display as an important part of the town's heritage.

ONE of Scotland's most celebrated entertainers will visit Haddington on April 9. Jimmy Logan will present his one-man show "It's a funny life!" in St Mary's Parish Church. Jimmy will also show film clips of his life in show business including scenes of Harry Lauder.

FORMER Tranent resident Esther Cole was awarded the MBE by Prince Charles for services to the community. Esther, who formerly resided at Carlaverock Drive, was accompanied to Buckingham Palace by husband Frank and son Leon. Esther was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

strong>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

From our files of April 9, 2010

100 years ago

AT Musselburgh Police Court, 11 young men, chiefly miners, belonging to Fisherrow, named Septimus Roberts, Robert Thorburn, Alex Falconer, John Holland, Thos Waugh, Daniel Clelland, Thos Gordon, Ed White, John Gibson, Martin Geachern and Archibald Thorburn were all charged with having, on Sunday the 13th March, engaged in a game of pitch and toss near the quay at Fisherrow Harbour. The accused all pleaded guilty. Two police constables watched the accused from behind the wall of the mill at the harbour. They stated the crowd began to gather about 11 o'clock. Six were fined 1 with the alternative of 10 days' imprisonment and the others 12s 6d.

IN Dowell's Rooms, Edinburgh, on Monday, the public house known as the Auld Brig Tavern, situated at Eskside, Musselburgh, the assessed rent of which is 75, but which is let on lease until Martinmas next at a rent of 38 per annum, was sold at the upset price of 1200.

50 years ago

AS Red House Home for Boys is an old building which does not conform to present day standards of accommodation for children as laid down by the government, the governors of the home, in an effort to find other more suitable premises, made enquiries concerning a vacant property in Musselburgh. They discovered, however, that the local authority had plans for using the site and, moreover, that the cost of adapting the building was estimated at a figure far beyond the means of the home. The governors, therefore, decided to carry out certain alterations and improvements in the existing building at Red House. In December 1959 there were 33 boys in Red House Home, and 22 had been placed there by local authorities.

MIDLOTHIAN County Council have agreed in principle to make available the present sites of the Musselburgh Burgh School and branch library to the Town Council when the replacements to the school and library are provided at the Inveresk Manse and Bridge Street sites respectively.

25 years ago

A LIFETIME of work with cards, letters and parcels came to an end last week when John Renton handled his last set of stamps, pensions and giros. An amazing 48 years of service to the Post Office is what Mr Renton, of 44 Caponflat Crescent, Haddington, can look back on in his retirement. From his lowly beginnings, he steadily worked his way up the postal ladder to end up as Inspector at Haddington Post Office. Last week his colleagues were at Haddington Golf Club to say farewell to one of the Post Office's most loyal employees.

THE campaign by Prestonpans Community Council to get eight Prestonpans miners their jobs back is expected to move up a gear within the next few days. All eight were convicted of breach of the peace during the year-long strike. None of the cases involve violence of intimidation. The 'Pans men sacked were David Costello, Walter Stevenson, Billy Davidson, Stuart Shepherd, Victor Shelly, George Fraser, T Clelland and Derek McLeod.

10 years ago

WORK on Ormiston's new 500,000 public library will start early next month. East Lothian councillors have agreed that the new building will be known as the Andrew Purves Memorial Library, in honour of the former councillor who represented Ormiston for 37 years until he retired due to ill health in 1989. The 305 sq m building will occupy a site at Ormiston park and will include library facilities, a meeting room, a computer suite, a housing interview room, toilets and a car park.

EAST Lothian Council's recent budget has come under heavy fire from East Lothian SNP's local government group. Longniddry convener and council candidate Peter MacKenzie said: "What are local people to think? Our roads are falling apart, charges for sports facilities are rising faster than inflation, there's never any money for needy projects, the social work budget is breaking the bank and there's blood on the carpet as heads roll at John Muir House. Yet the only solution the ruling Labour group can think of is to jack up the council tax."

strong>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

From our files of April 16, 2010

100 years ago

AT Musselburgh Town Council, Councillor Young gave notice of a motion "to consider the necessity of dealing with the housing of the working classes in this burgh." Councillor Young said this was a way of showing a practical sympathy with the people living in these unhealthy houses, and he urged that the municipality could undertake the building of houses far more cheaply than speculative builders, and it could be done without increasing the rates. There were hundreds of houses in the burgh that ought to be condemned, and there were members of the Town Council who did not know what the houses in the town were like. If they would, when they were canvassing at November, visit the pends and closes and see where some of the people were staying they would at once be taking their stand along with him in moving that the council erect houses for them. The rents in Musselburgh had been going up enormously lately. They had risen from 1 to 3. In his election campaign he had made this his principal question. He was simply carrying out part of his programme.

50 years ago

TO mark her retiral after working for 47 years with J & W Stuart Ltd, of Esk Mills, Musselburgh, Miss I Philip has been the recipient of various gifts. Miss Philip, who has been in indifferent health recently, was spared the strain of formal presentation ceremonies but nevertheless received from the girls in the department of which she was forewoman and her many friends throughout the works a walnut bookcase and a camera for taking colour films. The staff made her a gift of an electric fire.

COUNCILLOR Dr Thomas Wright, retired schoolmaster, of 7 Maitland Park Road, returned to Musselburgh Town Council after a four-month leave of absence to San Francisco, California. Councillor Wright remains the sole opponent to the policy of Musselburgh Labour-controlled Town Council — but through the years he has gradually grown more and more friendly with the Labour councillors. Provost James Lannan bid Dr Wright welcome.

25 years ago

THEY'VE done it! Amid scenes of tremendous excitement on Saturday, Preston Lodge clinched their place amongst Scotland's rugby elite with a fine win over Jordanhill in Glasgow. It is the first time the Prestonpans team have reached the first division and the triumph caps a steady rise from the fifth division, where the team started its league career in 1973. Captain Stan Love and coach Bobby Davidson were chaired from the field on Saturday after the team's comfortable 22-0 victory. A huge following of fans, estimated at more than 500, voiced their approval.

THE children at Algrade School at Humbie had a smashing time last week when they cracked open a specially manufactured giant Easter egg. The egg was presented to the school by Mr Peter Jackson, manager of the Musselburgh branch of Woolworth's. He and his wife Paula, along with sales assistants Linda Forsythe and May Kerr, handed over the egg, which was duly smashed open and shared among the 60 children.

10 years ago

THE state of a riverside maltings site in Haddington, described as a "total eyesore," is getting up local residents' noses. It was claimed that the Pure Malt Products plant, which is next to the local graveyard, is causing a stink, and a nearby field has turned into a bog after being sprayed with effluent from the production operation. A spokesman for Pure Malt Products said the company was conscious of its position in the community and would always listen to any concerns.

NORTH Berwick's own Marathon Man, Ken Macaulay, is about to embark on a major personal challenge. The ex-second row rugby player for Gala, Heriot's and North Berwick is about to try and run five marathons this year, starting with the Boston Marathon.

PUPILS with mobile phones have been disrupting classes at Ross High School in Tranent. The problem is highlighted in the school's latest newsletter. Head teacher Helen O'Rawe explained that the number of mobile phones being brought to school had increased.

strong>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

From our files of April 23, 2010

100 years ago

THE dispute between the masters and men at Carberry as to the employment on non-union men came to a head on Monday when some 600 workmen came out on strike as a protest against the employment of non-union workers in the pits. A daily output of a thousand tons of coal was stopped. Since the movement began 115 non-unionists had joined the union, but there were over 20 still out who defied the union. Robert Brown, Scottish Miners' Federation secretary, said workers owed all the legislation that had been passed in their favour to trades unionism, and non-unionists were a drag on the wheels of progress. It was agreed to call on the non-unionists and persuade them.

IT has been apparent for many years past that the grandstand, offices and reserved paddocks at Musselburgh have been wholly inadequate for the officials entrusted with the proper carrying through of the races, and for the comfort and safety of spectators. Lothians Racing Club have agreed to new erections costing an estimated 10,000.

50 years ago

MR Ian Milliken, manager of Woolworth's, Musselburgh, will be leaving the town on Tuesday. He has received the important appointment as manager of one of the firm's larger stores in England, at Morecambe. Mr Milliken came to Musselburgh some three years ago to control the new Woolworth store in the town, and he has seen the business grow at a quick pace. The Musselburgh Woolworth's was one of the firm's first self-service stores.

WHEN the Edinburgh Corporation Planning Committee met last week they decided to tell Midlothian County Council that they had no objection to the former Crookston School at Wallyford being turned into a motel. Part of the school gardens were being retained and the lovely landscape character would be preserved by planting bushes and trees. The motel will include a cafeteria, petrol filling station and parking space.

25 years ago

AN almost unprecedented outcry against a controversial planning proposal in North Berwick has forced the district council to bow to public opinion. The district's planning committee this week agreed to stage a site visit, inviting the objectors and the applicant to consider the plans. The application which has provoked replies from 290 people — 230 in a petition — and from eight local bodies, is to convert the town's Harbour Pavilion into an amusement centre with function hall and lounge.

TWO Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau volunteers have stepped down after seven years of providing advice and counselling. Sir Desmond King and Jean Lawson, two of the founder members of the bureau, announced they were to retire at the end of last month. Organiser Mrs Jean Brunton said: "We would like to thank them for their years of loyal service."

10 years ago

AN old Second World War diesel tank — booby-trapped to blow up Nazi invaders — is thought to have polluted the Glen Burn at North Berwick. This week concerns were raised that it could affect wildlife in the area. The fuel was discovered during a recent clean-up of the area by members of Friends of the Law and Glen (FLAG) and the North Berwick Colts. John Wilson, a member of FLAG, said they were collecting rubbish from the Glen when they smelled the diesel which they found when they kicked the dead leaves in the burn and saw a sheen on the surface of the water. He later spoke to former Burgh Surveyor Jimmy Dalgleish who said that during the war there was a road block at that location. Mr Wilson added that in the interests of defence, a sunken tank of diesel was put in the ground at that corner of the Glen. He explained that it was connected to a pipe with holes in it which could spray the fuel out which could be ignited and set on fire in the event of German tanks invading the area.

strong>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

From our files of April 30, 2010

100 years ago

EDINBURGH Electric Light Committee have had before them an application by the inventor of wireless telephony to be allowed, for the purposes of experiment, to obtain a supply of electricity from the Musselburgh company, and have agreed to recommend that the request be granted. Meanwhile, Mr Andrew Henderson, Portobello, has introduced the first two 18 horse power motor taxicabs.

ON Tuesday forenoon, while Wm Lawson, vanman to Mr Abram Clark, grocer and wine merchant, Musselburgh, was unyoking the pony at the stable some boys fired squibs in the near vicinity, with the result that the horse took fright, and becoming obstreperous, knocked Lawson down. The unfortunate youth sustained severe injuries about the head, while his arms and other parts of his body were very much bruised. It would be interesting to ascertain where the boys in question purchased the squibs. Vendors are only at liberty to sell fireworks on Victoria Day.

50 years ago

THE Cinema Ball, in aid of world refugees, has been described as "Musselburgh's event of the year." Almost 300 people from the Honest Toun attended the ball, held in Musselburgh Community Centre, Stoneyhill, and 300 was raised for the local World Refugee Fund. The tombola, which was organised by Mrs G A Henderson and Mrs J A Dougall, proved a wonderful success and tickets were quickly sold as couples realised the many magnificent prizes which were to be won. Miss Elena Di Rollo afterwards announced that 150 had been realised by tombola alone. Mr J Kirkwood, Musselburgh butcher, won the turkey and very generously presented it to the boys of the Red House Home. The Butlin's holiday was won by four gentlemen from Glasgow (representatives of film companies) who donated the prize to an old age pensioner.

25 years ago

THE townspeople of Dunbar this week honoured their friend and retiring district nurse, Mrs Jean Wood. Mrs Wood was guest of honour at a special reception in the Corn Exchange when she received the gift of 400 in appreciation of "the work she carried out which was well beyond the course of her duty." Mrs Wood started her nursing career at the local cottage hospital in 1949. She married Douglas in 1950 but continued to work until 1953 when she left to raise a family. A few years later she returned on a part time basis until 1971 when she rejoined the full time staff.

A TRANENT woman was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary following an accident at the local creamery. Primrose Cowan (59), 42 New Row, caught her hand in the capping machine of East Lothian Co-operative Society's bottling plant in Bridge Street.

10 years ago

A FORMER eyesore in the Cockenzie and Port Seton area looks set to be transformed into a seaside garden. Until last year the Anchorage, which is an area at the east end of Port Seton, was overgrown and strewn with litter. It was surrounded by an unsightly fence. The Cockenzie and Port Seton In Bloom Group recognised its potential because it is a sunny spot with lovely views over the Forth. In May last year, East Lothian Council cleared the site and a group of local men made an anchor which is now in place. Flowers were planted last summer and the local community council used Local Priorities money to purchase two benches. It is planned that the area will be made into a seaside garden.

TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright of Two Fat Ladies fame will launch the first East Lothian Farmers' Market in Haddington tomorrow. The markets will initially take place monthly until the autumn.

strong>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

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