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June 2009 Looking Back articles

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

From our issue of June 5, 2009

100 years ago

AT a meeting of Musselburgh School Board, one application for exemption from attending on the grounds of poverty was granted. The clerk read a long lists of defaulters, and it was agreed to have a special meeting to deal with these. Some very bad cases were reported. One boy, twelve years of age, had, owing to his suffering from a skin disease, never been able to attend a school. In regard to the teaching of cooking and carpentry at Fisherrow School, Bailie Kelt asked if the Board were absolutely compelled to continue the teaching of these subjects. The chairman said the teaching of these subjects was compulsory. Mr Meldrum pointed out that in any case if the classes were stopped it would mean a loss of 100.

THE football season which closed on Monday last was one of unusual interest to followers of the game in Musselburgh simply because they had a junior eleven in the town worthy of the name. An energetic committee with Mr Wm Hickie, as secretary, was formed, and in a short time the Musselburgh Athletic took the field.

50 years ago

A CIVIC reception was given to Mr Robert Scarlett last week by Provost James Lannan and Musselburgh magistrates to mark his great contribution to horticulture throughout Britain. Among the guests were Lady Elphinstone, Lord Stratheden and Campbell, Mr Scarlett's friendly rival in the market gardening business; Mr David Lowe and many enthusiastic horticulturists. Recently Mr Scarlett received the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society of England. As only 63 of these exist at any one time, the Victoria Medal is considered the greatest horticultural honour in the world. Mr Scarlett was, said the Provost, the third generation of his family to carry on the business of market gardening which his grandfather founded at Sweethope, Inveresk, in 1841.

SIXTY-NINE taxi cabs drove through Musselburgh with balloons bobbing and flags flying as sick and crippled children from Edinburgh were being taken on their annual outing by the taxi drivers to Gullane.

25 years ago

ABBEY Church, North Berwick, was packed on Sunday for the final service of Rev James Lees who retired this week after 40 years in the ministry. Mr Lees was joined in conducting the family service by his wife, Lena, who has been an office-bearer of the Woman's Guild in Dundee, Edinburgh and East Lothian; their elder son Grahame, vice-convener of the Practice and Procedure Board of the Church of Scotland and a member of its Judicial Commission; and their younger son Andrew, assistant minister at Peebles Old Church.

THE go-ahead has been given for a Macmerry man to carry out car repairs seven days a week, 12 hours a day. Mr R Kinross was granted permission to use the Smiddy, Main Road, Macmerry, as a workshop. Councillor Tom Wilson (Gladsmuir) said it was the "most difficult" planning application he had had to deal with in Macmerry. He believed the main objection was the number of cars at the premises.

10 years ago

COMMUNITY councillors in North Berwick fear a delay in upgrading the old outdoor swimming pool site at the harbour could mar the opening of the new Scottish Seabird Centre in April and endanger the facility's first season in business. Chairman Norman Hall said there had been discussion with Peter Collins, East Lothian's head of planning and development, on the subject of the harbour area and a possible start date for redevelopment of the former pool which was to be filled in.

THE state of the paving slabs in Tranent High Street has been criticised by community leaders. Community councillor Dave Palmer, who recently undertook a walk of the High Street and counted more than 100 cracked and broken slabs, said the situation was getting worse, and commented that many of the flagstones were unstable and were rocking when people walked on them. Ian Manson described the state of the pavements as "absolutely shocking" and said the contractors who laid the slabs should be brought back.

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 June 12, 2009

100 years ago

AT Musselburgh Town Council, Provost Simpson said the first item of business was one of considerable interest to the public and to themselves, viz the presentation of a public clock by Mr A D M Black WS. A few months ago notice of motion was given by Councillor Gibb that the council consider the advisability of erecting a public clock on or near the Hayweights. Mr Black, of Mountjoy, Musselburgh, wrote to the Provost on May 18, 1909: "A public clock is very much required at the junction of Bridge Street with Fisherrow. Over the Weighhouse is, I think the proper place. I shall be glad to supply an efficient clock if you will accept it. There are hallowed associations stretching over a lengthened past which bind Mrs Black and myself to the old town. My proposal gives practical expression to our feelings." The Provost said Mr Black was a prominent man in public life long before he came to the burgh 35 years ago, and in many capacities he had done excellent work in the interests of the community.

50 years ago

COUNCILLOR Mrs Jessie Burns spoke against Bailie Robert Waugh's recommendation that Musselburgh Town Council should subscribe 10 to the Scottish Tourist Board at a meeting of the finance committee. Mrs Burns moved that the council should not give the Scottish Tourist Board a subscription of over 5. She was supported in this recommendation by the sole Independent member, Councillor Dr T Wright. Mrs Burns believed that local authorities should not need to subscribe to the Scottish Tourist Board as it was the Government's responsibility. "You don't have an English Tourist Board," said Mrs Burns, "and I feel the longer we support the Scottish Tourist Board, the longer they will accept our support." By three votes to two, the finance committee recommended that 10 should be donated.

DELEGATES from the recently formed Musselburgh branch of the Women's Gas Federation were present at the first Scottish conference in Edinburgh, which included a visit to Holyroodhouse.

25 years ago

THE National Coal Board have refused to confirm or deny reports that Monktonhall Colliery, which employs about 700 East Lothian miners, is scheduled for closure within the next 12 months. Secret NCB documents allegedly in the possession of Scottish miners' leader Mick McGahey forecast the phasing out of Monktonhall, which employs about 2,000 men, by June next year. Projections show manpower in the Scottish coalfield falling from nearly 13,000 to about 9,500 over the next two years, according to Mr McGahey. MP John Home Robertson said: "If the worst did happen, it would be catastrophic for East Lothian. We already have 20 per cent unemployment in the west of the district."

MACMERRY Primary School faces classroom chaos and an uncertain future because of education cuts. The number of staff is being reduced from five to four and the school is likely to start the session without a head teacher — Mr David Robertson is moving to Tranent Primary.

10 years ago

THE Honest Toun was left reeling this week by the publication of a damning report which exposed an undercurrent of violence at Musselburgh Grammar School. As the glare of the national media focused on the town, the community began to rally in a bid to hit back against negative press coverage and rebuild its battered reputation. Regarded as one of the worst ever reports compiled on a Scottish school, it contains the findings of inspectors who paid a surprise visit to the school earlier this year to evaluate the care and welfare of its 600 pupils. Head teacher Terry Christie condemned the inspectors' comments as unfair and overly negative. He said a concerted effort was now needed to tackle the "deep-seated" problem of territorial gang rivalry which had dogged the school for more than three years.

REGISTRAR Sadie Wilkie is finally signing off after more than 25 years in the Musselburgh office. Sadie, who made history when she became the burgh's first female registrar in 1975, has decided to take early retirement on the advice of her doctor.

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 June 19, 2009

100 years ago

ON Wednesday afternoon next the Grammar School playground will be the scene of a most interesting and historical occasion. On that day the flag which was subscribed by the children of Musselburgh, New Zealand, a daughter town of our own Musselburgh, will be presented to the children here by Mr Mark Cohen, who is at present in London on state business. Along with him it is expected there will be several important men from New Zealand who are in London to attend a Conference on Imperial Defence. All the children of Musselburgh cannot, of course, be present but each school is sending a representative contingent. The rest of the playground will be open to the public. Colonel Whitelaw, chairman of the Board, will introduce Mr Cohen, who will then hand over the flag which will be hoisted on the flagstaff of the Grammar School, and the children will sing the "National Anthem." At the close of the proceedings, the School Board will entertain their visiting friends to tea in the handsome new laboratory of the Grammar School.

50 years ago

MR and Mrs J Brodie took a party of concert artistes to entertain the patients and staff of East Fortune Hospital on Tuesday evening. The team of country dancers was composed of Mr and Mrs Howie and Mr and Mrs McCran, from Prestonpans, Mrs W Stephen, Miss I Dickson, Miss Grier and Mr James Stake, from Musselburgh, and Mr and Mrs MacDonald from Portobello. The dance band which accompanied the dancers was made up of James and George Riding of Tranent, Egon Meissner from Wallyford and Miss Wilma Boyle from Musselburgh.

THE General Purposes Committee has recommended that Musselburgh Town Council should turn down a request by the General Poster and Publicity Company for permission to extend the bill hoarding at Musselburgh fire station. "I do object to hoardings in the town," said Provost Lannan. "Musselburgh is a beautiful place, and we should try to keep it so, not deface it with ugly hoardings."

25 years ago

A SUPERMARKET is to be built for Templetons at the former maltings site in Prestonpans High Street. R Rollo & Sons/Argyll Stores (Properties) Ltd were granted permission by East Lothian planning committee. But the committee are to send a "strong" letter to Mr Rollo for proceeding with demolition work without first obtaining planning consent. Work will start immediately on the erection of the supermarket and should be completed about November. Shopfitting will delay the opening until March next year.

W REID & Son are to be allowed to convert the former North Berwick Gasworks into a coal storage depot, providing they adhere to conditions, East Lothian planning committee agreed. Local councillor John Macnair reminded the committee the coal merchant had been relocated to the side from the station yard. He said five householders were affected by the coal dust which could be completely eliminated. " It would just cost more and take time to perfect," he said.

10 years ago

FOUR East Lothian men, including the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, Roy Cameron, have been included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. The Chief Constable, who lives in Haddington, receives a knighthood while former North Berwick provost John Macnair has received an MBE. Professor Fred Last of Longniddry said he was delighted to be awarded an OBE. The other recipient of an OBE is Professor Michael Anderson of Longniddry, Vice-Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

AN investigation is being carried out into an accident in which a 39-year-old man was buried alive under several tonnes of coal at Blindwells opencast mine near Tranent on Monday. Robert Thomson, a contract worker from Dunfermline, was standing in a container above a coal crushing machine when a pile of coal fell on top of him. Fire fighters from Tranent, who arrived on the scene in minutes, feared a further slip and had to use their bare hands to rescue Mr Thomson. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary and discharged the following day.

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 June 26, 2009

100 years ago

ON Tuesday forenoon last, an accident took place at Prestongrange Brickworks, which resulted in the death of a workman named Colin Kinghorn. Kinghorn had been engaged at his ordinary work when a quantity of clay, weighing about seven tons, fell upon him and fractured his spine. The unfortunate man, who was thirty-nine years of age, was removed to the Royal Infirmary where he succumbed to his injuries early in the afternoon. A fellow worker who was on the same job fortunately escaped injury.

YESTERDAY, we understand, no less than eight picnics of a public nature left Musselburgh on the occasion of the annual June holiday. This is invariably the day selected by the choirs of the various churches for their outing. The High UF Church choir spent the day at Archerfield. The choir of St Michael's Parish Church went back to Carlops while North Esk Parish Church choir went to Edgelaw where the principal sport was boating in the loch.

50 years ago

WHEN Mr J Bennett added a travel agency to the tobacconist business which he owns at 69 High Street, Musselburgh, he believed that he was introducing an altogether new idea into the town. Only when ripping up the floorboards in the back office did he discover an old travel poster, advising people to make their bookings with the former proprietor, Mr A Ronald. Here was irrefutable evidence that the premises had served as a travel agency since 1911. The old documents included a travel poster which advertised a trip with the Anchor Line from Glasgow to New York.

THE two Musselburgh men, Mr Robert Fairnie BEM, 29 Promenade, and Chief Petty Officer J Bruce Leishman, 79 Hercus Loan, whose services were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, were both born and brought up in Musselburgh, and both are men who have sailor's blood in their veins. Mr Fairnie has been a fisherman for almost 47 years and Mr Leishman receives his BEM for fishery protection duty.

25 years ago

AN Irish pedigree greyhound making her first trial at the Wallyford dog track never even got to the trap before she made a bid for freedom. She ran away from her prospective owner and was last seen in Tranent, still running. The brindle greyhound bitch which has striped markings is a two- year-old who was making a first trial at the local racetrack after arriving from Ireland. The dog fled as Mr Robert Archibald of Loanhead, who took her to the track on Sunday morning, opened his car door. Despite a chase across the fields, the greyhound was more than a match for her pursuers and she quickly made off.

THE family business of James Brodie and Sons will consolidate over this summer and eventually cease trading in furnishing and fitments. It is the latest move in a series of steps taken by the Musselburgh business, established 60 years ago, who have ceased selling clothing, electrical and hardware goods.

10 years ago

SUPPORT is growing for a mass protest to the Scottish Office over the recent HM Inspectors report on Musselburgh Grammar School. The campaign is being led by ex-provost Bill Caird and former Grammar School pupil Tom Renouf who have condemned the report — and the resulting media coverage — as "unfair, inaccurate and bordering on irresponsible."

MORE than 7 million is to be spent on housing improvements by East Lothian Council, including the completion of the major programme to have double glazing in all council houses by the year 2000. Housing chairman Willie Innes said: "We have the best maintained houses in Scotland."

INSPECTOR Alex Armstrong has retired as Haddington inspector after a 35-year police career. He served with Coatbridge Burgh Police, the Vancouver City Police, the Edinburgh City Police and Lothian and Borders Police. He will now be able to spend more time at home in Longniddry with wife Anne and with his hobby as a pigeon fancier.

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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