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September 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 September 5, 2008

100 years ago

A SPECIAL meeting of Musselburgh Town Council was held for the purpose of making the preliminary arrangements for the local application of the Old-Age Pension Act. Provost Simpson had had some communication with Mr Neilson on the matter, and his calculation was that there were about 175 people in the burgh who were above the age of 70 years, 40 of whom were paupers, and would therefore be disqualified. He did not think that the number of persons who would be entitled to the pension would exceed 100. To be entitled to a pension, the claimant must be 70, have been for 20 years a British subject and have an income, from all sources, under 12s (60p) a week. Any person whose yearly income is under 12 — that is, nor more than 8s (40p) a week is entitled to a pension of 5s (25p) a week. The claimant must not be in receipt of poor relief, not have "habitually failed to work according to his ability, opportunity and need," not be a lunatic, and not have been convicted of an offence involving imprisonment.

50 years ago

IF Musselburgh is the Honest Toun then Edinburgh must be in the saintly class, an indignant motorist, fined for a parking offence in Musselburgh after a race meeting, remarked to Bailie James Hill. At a meeting of the magistrates, Bailie Hill said that, in some cases, he believed that Musselburgh's parking system was rather hard on motorists — especially on race days when there was a big influx of traffic. He thought that they should attempt to improve Musselburgh's parking, although he realised that it was now too late for the September meetings.

THE Town Chamberlain told Musselburgh councillors that Mr W S Russell, the eminent photographer, who had made a film of the Riding of the Marches would be prepared to dispose of it to the Town Council for 40, half the cost of making the film. Councillor Reid believed that the Town Council should accept his generous offer: "One of the disadvantages of the Town Council film was that it did not show a great deal of the turf cutting ceremony whereas Mr Russell makes it a feature in his film."

25 years ago

A ROW has flared over a planning appeal decision which has come out in favour of Scotland's premier earl, the Duke of Hamilton. Local councillors are furious approval has been given for external alterations at the Duke's stately home, Lennoxlove House, near Haddington. East Lothian planning committee chairman Councillor Pat O'Brien (Prestonpans) said he was "amazed" by the appeal decision. Councillor John Macnair (North Berwick) remarked the outcome "leaves a very bad taste." The committee heard their decision to refuse retrospective listed building consent for the work had been overturned on appeal. In April 1982 they refused permission for the erection of a wood burning boiler, an enclosure canopy, and pre-fabricated flue and pipe work. They considered the work would be to the "severe detriment" of the appearance of the listed building.

EAST Lothian planning committee agreed to continue an application by Blue Circle Industries to proceed with the 30 million modernisation of their Dunbar cement works.

10 years ago

EAST Lothian is leading the way in home care services for the frail elderly. A pilot project set up in June 1997 to test a new way of providing home care to the increasing number of older people in the community was so successful it was decided to extend it throughout the county. Following negotiations with the trades unions, the reorganisation will be done on a phased basis and will be completed by November.

PRESTON Lodge High School is to play host to a group of music students from Santiago in Chile this month. The party, from the Grange School in Santiago, consists of a 32-strong choir. The youngsters will be staying with PL pupils and their families for three days. Their visit is part of a two-week tour of the UK.

EAST Lothian MP John Home Robertson has welcomed the latest unemployment figures, which show a drop in the district's jobless total. The unadjusted figures for July 1998 show that there are 1,297 people out of work, compared to 1,523 for last July.

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 September 12, 2008

100 years ago

A FATAL motor accident occurred on Saturday evening last at Tranent. James Grant, a miner, belonging to Musselburgh, was on his way home from sports at Tranent, and was crossing the bridge at the west end when he caught hold of a passing motor. A companion called out to him to beware of the motor coming on the other side, but as he let go his hold the other motor struck him on the head and knocked him down. Death was instantaneous.

AT a meeting of Inveresk School Board, the estimates for the additions and alterations to Wallyford School amounted to 1530, giving accommodation for 210 pupils (63 in existing building), 115 being required for the alterations of it, and 147 in the three new classrooms, the cost being 9 15s 3d per pupil. With the sanction of the Scotch Education Department, all the pupils attending Wallyford are being accommodated at Crookston.

50 years ago

A YOUNG boy pleaded guilty to stealing two pounds of peas from Pinkie Mains Farm at Musselburgh Juvenile Court. Provost Lannan said: "I think it is extremely pitiful that you should have broken your fine school record. By stealing peas that is a start on the wrong road as far as a young boy like you is concerned. I think you should feel ashamed of yourself bringing your father into this court. I do hope you will never enter this court again," the Provost told the boy as he admonished him.

A BAKERY van horse bolted through Doig's newsagent's shop window in Musselburgh High Street. Three people were injured, among them the van driver. One woman, Mrs Margaret Langlands, of New Street, had her arm broken as she was pulled out of the path of the frantic horse. Another, Mrs Henrietta Martin, Whitecraig Road, suffered from severe shock, and van driver, Alexander Graham, Monktonhall Place, who was trapped in the shafts, bruised both legs and his arm. The horse, which was cut about the neck, will not be destroyed.

25 years ago

UNION leaders were expected to tell striking miners at Monktonhall Colliery to go back to work. NUM area agent Mr James Young said he would be advising the men to return. The men's action followed the shock announcement that the National Coal Board are seeking around 300 voluntary redundancies at the pit. The men went on strike after a row between management and unions at the start of the dayshift. NUM delegate David Hamilton said the stoppage had been caused by the "don't care" attitude of management.

THE South of Scotland Electricity Board have been given the green light for a 9.15 million scheme to dump more pulverised ash from Cockenzie power station at the Lagoons on Musselburgh foreshore. Permission to dump an additional 1.52 million tonnes of ash at the existing lagoons was given by East Lothian planning committee. Outline consent was also given for entirely new seaward lagoons at the east end of the present site for longer term ash disposal from Cockenzie.

10 years ago

GLADSMUIR residents have formed a steering committee in a bid to co-ordinate their opposition to Cala Homes plans to build up to 450 houses in the village. Residents held a meeting in the village hall recently and elected a steering committee to fight the Cala proposals. They have been collecting signatures for a petition in opposition to the proposals which they claim would have a devastating effect on the village.

SUCH has been the success of the booklet "John Muir's Dunbar" that it has been reprinted just three months after going on sale for the first time. The booklet guides the walker round Dunbar and provides historical notes on places of interest that would have been familiar to the young John Muir before he emigrated to the US in 1849.

AN application for a 45,000 grant for a ferry service between North Berwick and Anstruther to mark the year 2000 will soon be on its way to the Millennium Festival Fund.

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 September 19, 2008

100 years ago

PROVOST Simpson intimated to Musselburgh Town Council that the work of putting in the drainage at Wallyford had commenced. The sewage from Wallyford was formerly carried down to the sea by Ravenshaugh Burn, and many complaints have been made by people staying in the vicinity of the burn regarding the nuisance it caused. It is therefore satisfactory that the work has begun.

IN the list of awards to stationmasters on the North British Railway system, we notice the following local prize-winners: Second class (3), Mr McNeil, Macmerry; Mr Stevenson, Ormiston.

YESTERDAY the Musselburgh merchants held their autumn holiday. During the day large numbers of people left the town per rail and car for Edinburgh and places within a day's journey from Musselburgh. Until well on in the evening Musselburgh streets were deserted save for a few of the unemployed.

50 years ago

INVERESK Church Hall was filled as people from all over Musselburgh gathered to welcome back the Rev Dr D S Stiven and Mrs Stiven who recently left the Parish of Inveresk for Iona. Mr R S Whitelaw, an elder, opened the proceedings, saying: "On behalf of the Kirk Session I give you a hearty welcome." He was sure that all had been sorry that Mr and Mrs Stiven had felt they had to leave, but said that everyone had shown their appreciation of Mr Stiven's 21 years of service by the presentation of a cheque for 235.

AN application for the let of the ground near Fisherrow Harbour for a site for a hut was turned down by the General Purposes Committee. "My view is that we have already agreed to let the Sea Cadets have a hut down there," said Councillor T White, "but I think that we ought to have control over it." The harbour was, said Councillor White, one place where young mothers could, with comparative safety, take their children in the summer time.

25 years ago

THE fight for the whole future of the mining industry in Lothian and the hundreds of East Lothian families who depend on it, began in earnest. In a visit to the area, Coal Board chief Ian MacGregor warned he would close Monktonhall Colliery unless productivity improved. He threatened to put the colliery on a care and maintenance basis if the 1,500 miners do not end their strike action. Figures supplied by the NCB to East Lothian District Council show there are 1,072 miners from the district employed at Monktonhall and Bilston Glen collieries. Of those who work at Monktonhall, 90 live at Elphinstone, Ormiston and Pencaitland. Seventy from the same communities work at Bilston Glen. There are 98 miners working at Monktonhall and 25 at Bilston Glen who live in Musselburgh; Wallyford/Whitecraig, 130 and 70; Tranent/Macmerry 172 and 91; Prestonpans/Port Seton 252 and 70. East Lothian miners make up 41 per cent of the workforce at Monktonhall and 16 per cent at Bilston Glen. MP John Home Robertson said: "I am very suspicious that Monktonhall is set for closure."

10 years ago

MUSSELBURGH'S long lamented Hayweights clock is to be returned to the town after an absence of many years, but it will stand on the other side of the bridge to its original site. Once a well known town symbol and landmark, the clock stood for over 60 years at the prominent intersection of North High Street and Bridge Street, near where the Brunton Hall now stands. Erected in the 1880s it was originally used to weigh hay but towards the end of its life as a weighbridge it was used for sand and gravel. A clock was added in 1908 and that mechanism is now in the clock tower at Eskmills. Demolished in the late 1960s, the clock languished in a builder's yard before before being stored by the local authority at Macmerry. Tesco, who are about to open a store in the burgh, approached East Lothian Council to say they wanted to contribute to a community-based scheme. The sum of 20,000 will be spent on the project and the casing will be installed on the grass area opposite the new Tesco store at the Mall. Councillor Norman Murray thanked Tesco and Musselburgh Conservation Society.

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 September 26, 2008

100 years ago

FISHERROW was extremely busy this afternoon, New Street being crowded with an excited gathering of fisher people. The occasion was that known as the "Fishermen's Walk," and, the weather being fine, more than usual interest seemed to be manifested in the function. In the forenoon the usual meeting took place at the house of the retiring boxmaster, when the new boxmaster was appointed. The position for the next year will be held by Mr Alexander Livingstone, New Street, the retiring boxmaster being Mr James Gibson. The usual procession through the streets, headed by the brass band, took place in the afternoon when there was a fairly good attendance of the fishermen, who carried the model boat and banners. Although the "walk" is not such an interesting function as in days gone by, still considerable interest has been manifested in the day's proceedings. Several marriages are taking place at this season, and although the fishing has not been so good as the fishermen would have liked, still they have had many a worse.

50 years ago

COUNCILLOR E A Deane of the Tower Amusements and the Palace of Pleasure, in Dunbar, offered a "Lambretta" motor scooter to the winner of a rifle shooting competition, which has been in progress for some weeks at Dunbar. Last week, the winner, Miss B M Bogue, Dunbar, was presented with the scooter by Sir Andrew Murray, former Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

DALKEITH and Musselburgh firefighters worked in shifts at the weekend when they were called out to deal with a huge fire at the National Coal Board's Woolmit Farm. At one time fire officers were worried about an oil tank with 500 gallons of diesel oil threatened by the fire, which started in the Dutch barn. The barn, with 60 tons of barley straw, was completely destroyed.

LORETTO RC Hall, Musselburgh, was the scene of an inter-parochial dance. Among the parishes represented were Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Dalkeith, Rosewell, Loanhead and Bonnyrigg. Music was supplied by the Burns outfit from Prestonpans.

25 years ago

SPECIAL advice centres to help the striking Monktonhall miners and their families will open on Monday in Musselburgh, Prestonpans and Tranent. The move came this week after the ruling Labour group on East Lothian District Council agreed to give the Monktonhall workforce their full support. Meanwhile, a large turnout of the striking miners was expected at Brunton Hall to hear from their Scottish president Mr Michael McGahey.

NORTH Berwick people were saddened to learn of the death of the two Misses Cowley, Ella and Cita, who were both in their 90s. Both had been music teachers, and Miss Ella was for 50 years the organist at Abbey Church. Neighbours first became alarmed when they heard running water and the hot plate on a cooker glowing red with nothing on it. Police were called and found the two sisters dead. Ella had died first and Cita two or three days later. "Miss Cita had hoped and prayed that she would die soon after Ella," said Rev James Lees, minister of Abbey Church.

10 years ago

ACCUSATIONS were flying as angry Tranent residents stepped up their fight against plans for all-weather sports pitches at the Ross High playing fields. Householders living adjacent to the site of the proposed pitches are up in arms over the proposal, claiming it will reduce their house prices, lead to noise, disturbance and vandalism, and make their lives a misery.

HOPES are high that a deal will soon be signed for the redevelopment of the former Presto supermarket in Tranent's High Street, which has lain derelict for several years. Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council has repeatedly pressed for action to be taken over the building, and as recently as last month suggested the building be split into smaller units in a bid to make it easier to let.

EAST Lothian MP John Home Robertson was at the Corn Exchange, Haddington, recently to give blood. The politician was keen to do his bit to support the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

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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