Sponsored by

December 2008 Looking Back articles

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

From our issue of December 5, 2008

100 years ago

AT the monthly meeting of Musselburgh School Board, a letter was read from residenters in Bridge Street complaining of the black smoke which had been issuing from the chimneys of Fisherrow School. The smoke had proved a nuisance to the residenters in Bridge Street and they asked the Board to consider the advisability of heightening the chimneys and using coke instead of coal for the fires. The chairman said they were no doubt all agreed that something should be done in the mater of seeing to the stoking and the fuel used in the furnaces. They intended to use gas coke and ordinary coal in the furnaces at an early date. Agreed to.

ON the first of this week, the miners at Wallyford Colliery, of the Edinburgh Collieries Company, went on strike on account of men being employed at the pit who were not connected with the union. Fortunately the men concerned were prevailed upon to join the union, and the strike only lasted for 24 hours.

50 years ago

THE public health committee of Musselburgh Town Council approved unanimously the November report of the Sanitary Inspector Mr William Ness. There were six cases of scarlet fever and one acute primary pneumonia. Cash value of the salvage sold was 492. The following articles were salvaged. Waste paper, 43 tons, 15 cwts; waste food, 39 tons, 1 cwts; loose tins, 7 tons, 18 cwts; light scrap iron, 1 ton 14 cwts; cullet, 2 tons 15 cwts; wood wool, 9 cwts; bottles, 144 dozen.

AN exceptionally large audience attended Musselburgh Highland Association's monthly ceilidh. The president, Rev A D MacLeod, and vice-president, Mr Walter Stephen, were piped to the platform of the Town Hall by piper John Hannah. In Gaelic and in English, the Rev A D MacLeod welcomed the audience. The programme started with Gaelic singing by 14-year-old Sine (pronounced Sheena) Flemmington. Scots songs were sung by Anne MacPhail, Wallyford. John Gibson sang Scots songs and Madge Campbell-Brown sang in Gaelic.

25 years ago

BERWICK and East Lothian Constituency Labour Party wound up 45 years of comradeship with a very successful dinner-dance at the Goldenstones Hotel, Dunbar. The main speaker was the Rt Hon John Smith MP, Labour's employment spokesman. Mr Smith was supported by East Lothian MP John Home Robertson, who gave a very interesting picture of the Berwick and East Lothian constituency since 1918. Mr J J Robertson was the Labour MP in the constituency when Mr Home Robertson was born, and became a Scottish Office Minister in the Atlee Government. Robert Spence was the constituency's first Labour MP in 1923.

A PUBLIC entertainment licence has been approved for Cupids Disco at the Crown Hotel, Tranent. The application, by Mrs M Greig, was discussed at East Lothian general purposes committee. Director of Administration Malcolm Duncan said that although the firemaster and environmental health officer had no objections, the police report was "rather against it."

10 years ago

AN album of old log book cuttings was presented to retired Dunbar firefighter John Hannan, during recent celebrations to commemorate his 27 years' service to the fire brigade. A former member of the retained service in Dunbar, John (55) said he was going to miss the job terribly. Firefighters must retire at the age of 55. John was required to be on call from his full-time job as a bottle filler operator at Belhaven Brewery.

THE congregation of St Andrew's High Parish Church, Musselburgh, will bid farewell to their minister early in the New Year. Rev Douglas Stevenson, minister at the church for almost five years, will be leaving in January to take up a chaplaincy post at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

A MAJOR fund-raising campaign will be held to help raise cash to buy a new minibus for Haddington and District Day Centre. The Renault Master 12-seater vehicle is expected to cost in the region of 30,000.

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 issue of December 12, 2008

100 years ago

ON Monday night, about eleven o'clock, fire was found to have broken out in the back premises of the shop occupied by Mr Michele Arciero at 161 High Street, Musselburgh. The occupant of the house over the shop was first to observe the fire and immediately apprised the police of the fact, who in turn summoned the Fire Brigade. In less than half an hour two hoses were playing on the burning building. It was not until three o'clock in the morning that the flames were got entirely under control. The back premises, consisting of three apartments, were gutted, and the stock and fittings of the shop were destroyed. The total extent of the damage, which is covered by insurance, is about 500.

BETWEEN seven and eight o'clock last night, an explosion of gas took place in Mall House, Musselburgh, which stands at the corner of Dalrymple Loan and Mall Avenue, resulting in the large window facing the Loan being blown out and the woodwork smashed almost to matchwood. The house is used as a temperance restaurant.

50 years ago

ATTRACTIVE Mrs Margaret Clarke, of 5 The Square, Whitecraig, deputised for her husband at a unique event at the premises of Dalkeith Motors Ltd. She was the guest of the firm and received a beautiful canteen of cutlery to mark the sale of the hundredth car by the firm since they began business in Dalkeith some months ago. It was on Wednesday that Mr James Clarke called to enquire about the purchase of a car. Within a short time the deal had been completed and the car was delivered on Saturday. Mr Clarke is a miner at Smeaton Colliery.

ONE of the 20 Scottish pits to be closed down by the National Coal Board in the near future is Fleets, where 394 men are employed. The annual coal output is 91,000 tons. Ex-Provost John Robertson said that the announcement had cast a great gloom over the town of Tranent, and people were worried as to the outcome of the Board's decision. He thought that the effects were already being felt in some businesses in the town. The town was in a good position to provide alternative employment.

25 years ago

UNOCCUPIED Leven Cottage, behind Prestonpans Town Hall, is to be demolished, East Lothian District Council housing committee agreed. Housing chairman Councillor Tom Ferguson explained the environmental health department had a closing order on the property. He felt the council had three options: to demolish the cottage, to rehabilitate it, or give it to the private sector. Director of Housing Tom Bathgate said the house had been empty for two or three years. The previous tenant had to come out because the property was not up to a tolerable standard.

THE new floodlights at Meadowmill sports complex will be officially commissioned at a ceremony on Tuesday evening. The ceremony will be performed by Councillor George Wanless, chairman of East Lothian District Council's leisure, recreation and tourism committee. The 11,000 system consists of six lights floodlighting one pitch and is identical to that in operation at Fisherrow Links.

10 years ago

THE Labour Party has selected a Musselburgh woman to contest the Edinburgh East and Musselburgh seat in the Scottish Parliament elections. A former head girl of Musselburgh Grammar School, Susan Deacon (34) is a business consultant and lives in the town with her partner and 16-month-old daughter. She has been active in the Labour Party for 17 years.

SINCE her arrival in Dunbar in May, Rev Paddy Allen of St Anne's Episcopal Church has been busy getting to know her surroundings and the local community. In a special ceremony at the church, family and friends gathered for her official ordination to the priesthood by the Bishop of Edinburgh, Most Rev Richard Holloway.

A SPECIAL sub-committee of local organisations looks set to be formed to work towards restoring The Glen to its former glory and press for improvements on The Law. North Berwick Community Council and North Berwick Trust have agreed to be involved in the initiative.

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 issue of December 19, 2008

100 years ago

BAILIE Kelt told Musselburgh Town Council he wished to draw the Inspector's attention to the overcrowding of houses in the town, especially in some of the larger blocks of houses. It had been brought to his notice that a great many houses were overstocked with people. That day a person told him a room and small closet were being occupied by six of a family and two lodgers. He thought it was high time they were paying more attention to these matters. Mr Barclay, the Sanitary Inspector, stated that about 80 per cent of the complaints regarding overcrowding were groundless. There was a large influx of people coming into town from time to time, and, as they were all aware, there was a great scarcity of workmen's houses. Meanwhile, the Burgh Surveyor reported on the dangerous condition of certain parts of the tramway track. Councillor A Millar said the men had been working for a long time on the Edinburgh Road portion of the track, and thought it was time they were giving more attention to other parts.

50 years ago

MUSSELBURGH Old People's Welfare Committee are starting a laundry service at greatly reduced cost for old people in the burgh. Laundry prices would be slashed to about half of the regular prices. This has been arranged between the private laundry firm who will undertake the work and the welfare committee. Laundry vans will call for the laundry parcels in the ordinary way once a week and will return the finished articles. There will be no need to carry bundles to a shop, the van will call. Sheets, shirts, underwear, blankets, everything will be laundered at the low price. If a person is receiving National Assistance and a grant for laundry, there might be no charge for articles sent to the laundry because National Assistance would continue.

BY the death of Mr Daniel McDonald, of the Royal Scots, at 79 Hercus Loan, on December 14, Musselburgh has lost one of its few remaining Old Contemptibles. He was 85 years of age. Members of the Old Contemptibles Association were among the mourners at Seafield Crematorium.

25 years ago

THREE Tory councillors abstained as East Lothian District Council voted 9-2 to formally become an equal opportunities employer. The Conservative group's sole female member, Councillor Mrs Eileen Hamilton, was amongst those who abstained. Her colleague Councillor Harold Eggo (East Linton), seconded by Councillor Tom Main (Dunbar) moved that no action be taken. Councillor Eggo said he saw "little point" in accepting a motion on equal opportunities as such a policy was already in existence.

THREE East Lothian firms are among the eight to be invited to tender for the construction of Tranent Community Centre. The local firms are Campbell & Smith Construction Ltd of Ormiston, Hart Builders (Edinburgh) Ltd of Macmerry, and James H Russell & Co of Musselburgh.

SIXTH year Knox Academy pupil Nigel Smith was told at the weekend he had won a scholarship to Oxford University. Nigel, 25 Sidegate, will study Modern Languages at Pembroke College.

10 years ago

DIRLETON couple James and Sarah Shearer, both 86, celebrated 60 years of marriage with a diamond wedding party for family and friends in the Castle Hotel. Mr and Mrs Shearer, 4 Foreshot Terrace, met at a dance in Whitekirk and were married at Gullane Parish Church. Mr Shearer was a lorry driver and keen bowler, and his wife was employed in local hotels. Their son Stanley and his wife Elizabeth live in Middleshot Road, Gullane.

SPEAKER at Longniddry and District Rotary Club was Mrs Ann Anderson of Port Seton, who has spent many hours and days as a voluntary worker looking after the frail and housebound elderly. Her lifelong dream may well come to fruition when the purpose-built John Bellany Centre, now planned, opens in 1999 to provide a meeting place where elderly folks, some of whom seldom leave their own firesides because of their physical and mental conditions, may meet, talk and enjoy a cup of tea and a snack. The centre will be named after Port Seton's most famous son, the artist John Bellany.

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 issue of December 26, 2008

100 years ago

COUNCILLOR Robert Millar, convener of the Links Committee, suggested that 1500 yards of the 4500 yards of turf required for the north side of Musselburgh racecourse be taken from the grounds at the hospital. Councillor Constable, as convener of the Public Health Committee, protested against this until at least his committee had considered the matter. He understood a great deal of turf at the hospital had been taken away last year, and all the turf they had was absolutely necessary for the children to play on. Councillor R Millar pointed out that he did not think the hospital grounds would suffer in the least, because as soon as the turf was lifted it would be sown over again.

A GRAND concert and cinematograph entertainment took place at Musselburgh Town Hall under the auspices of the Musselburgh and Fisherrow Co-operative Society and the East of Scotland Association. An entertainment was given to mothers and children in the afternoon and another in the evening for adults.

50 years ago

REV Sidney Adamson, who has accepted the call to minister at Inveresk St Michael's Church, Musselburgh, is at present minister at the High Kirk of Rothesay, and Moderator of the Presbytery of Dunoon. He served as a chaplain in the last war, mostly in India, and retains an interest in the Territorial Army. Mrs Adamson is an experienced church worker, with a reputation for leadership in women's organisations. Mr and Mrs Adamson have one son, aged four.

MONDAY night was the annual general meeting of the Musselburgh branch of the United Nations Association, and it was also the evening on which it was decided, in view of the lack of support from people of the town, to dissolve the branch. The inaugural meeting was an enthusiastic one, but many people, as one member of the committee aptly remarked, "came along to get it started, and have never been seen since." Despite the fact the branch had to give three-quarters of all income to the parent body of the United Nations Association, the branch was left with 6 8s 8d.

25 years ago

THE South of Scotland Electricity Board have applied to East Lothian District Council for planning permission to construct a rail siding on British Rail's main east coastline at Skateraw, near Dunbar, to facilitate the movement of irradiated fuel flasks between Torness nuclear power station and Sellafield, Cumbria, where British Nuclear Fuels Ltd Process spent uranium fuel. The estimated cost of the works is some 600,000. Normally there will be two flask movements a week from Torness to the re-processing plant.

FROM old washing machines to old cars, it seems the staff of John Fitzpatrick's of Musselburgh can turn their hand to anything mechanical. To prove it, John and his team of engineers have patiently restored a rare vintage car which already has won admiring glances when it is parked outside his domestic appliance repair business in North High Street. Six months hard work during slack periods have transformed a 1933 Armstrong Siddley from a mechanical wreck into a gleaming model.

10 years ago

THE first phase of environmental improvements to the Nungate area of Haddington started at the Lammermuir Crescent and Priory Walk area. The work, which will cost 270,000, will include formation of a central public open space and equipped play area, re-introduction of private gardens, hard and soft landscaped areas and footpath realignments. The programme will be phased over three years in the area bounded by Whittingehame Drive, Lennox Road, Kirkview and Lynn Lea Avenue and includes the re-introduction of private gardens, provision of new play areas and central public open space, improved and new car parking areas and traffic safety.

PLANS to develop a new 27,500 sq ft food store and car park for 190 vehicles in Prestonpans were revealed. It is claimed that the new store would create around 250 full and part-time jobs. London-based Carter Commercial Developments is seeking outline consent to redevelop Coeval's premises at 6 High Street. News of the proposals met a mixed reaction from the community council.

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

• Email to a friend
• Print this page