WE TAKE a look at the stories making headlines in East Lothian 25, 50 and 100 years ago.
NEARLY a dozen pupils from across East Lothian were heading overseas, reported the East Lothian Courier on September 12, 1997.
Historic links between Scotland and its Scandinavian neighbours are being preserved and promoted by a group of East Lothian schoolchildren.
Knox Academy pupils Frith Hurn, Isla Kerr and Jane Priest joined Kimberley Goudie, Gail Lindsay and Pamela Grossick from Preston Lodge High School, Adele Mullen and Sharon Watt from Ross High, and Stuart Menzies, Katie MacLaren and Kirsten Howie from North Berwick High School, travelling by plane from Edinburgh to Eisbjerghus Efterskole in Funen, Denmark on Wednesday, where they will take part in the second work experience exchange between the two areas.
The students were due to spend Thursday and today (Friday) at a local school taking an active part in a project about Britain currently being put together by Danish youngsters.
This weekend they will leave the school with their Danish hosts and travel to various parts of Denmark to experience family life, local traditions and culture.
50 years ago
CONCERNS that ‘a mongrel town’ could be created made the front page of the East Lothian Courier on September 15, 1972.
Fears that Gullane would lose its character and become a “mongrel town” instead of the charming village it is at present were expressed at a public meeting called last week to discuss planning proposals to develop the village eastwards and increase its population artificially to 3,600 by 1986.
About 200 people attended the meeting in the village hall which had been convened by Mr Giles Weaver, of Greywalls.
The object, he said, was to try and acquaint the people of the village with the full picture of what the planners had in mind.
He said he had been “horrified” by what was proposed as most people did not know the size of the development which was in the offing.
With the aid of a map, he pointed out the various areas it was proposed to build at the east of the town.
100 years ago
A MAN was fined after being found guilty of stealing a horse, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 15, 1922.
In Musselburgh Police Court, on Friday, Robert M’Dougal, hawker, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to stealing a horse which an Aberlady gentleman had entrusted him with to take to an Edinburgh sale.
Instead of carrying out his commission, M’Dougal sold the horse to a hawker in Musselburgh for £1. A fine of £2, with the option of twenty days’ imprisonment, was imposed.