Archives
Below are our archives for May 2013. If you are looking for a different month, please use the date search box feature below. To browse please choose from last month or try the News, Sport or Opinion archives for this month.
Football club's toilets torched
POLICE are investigating after a portable cabin-style toilet block on the grounds of Musselburgh Athletic Football Club was set alight on Monday evening.
Theft of lead from church is 'thwarted'
POLICE say they are investigating two separate metal thefts from the roofs of properties in Haddington.
No shortage of road closures for the Edinburgh Marathon
A SERIES of road closures and parking restrictions will be in place throughout Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton and Longniddry this weekend for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.
Burgh Primary playground's forest makeover nears completion
A FOREST-inspired makeover for Burgh Primary School's playground is nearing completion after the school council received £10,000 to help make its vision a reality.
Two county nominees up for education awards
A TOP teacher at North Berwick's Scottish Seabird Centre and Dunbar Primary School Parent Council have beaten off stiff competition to be named as finalists in the Scottish Education Awards 2013.
Hand carts form flower beds with a difference in North Berwick
NORTH Berwick In Bloom volunteers have been busy restoring two hand carts which date back to traditional working practices.
Don't get in a flap, you can help out with Dunbar chicken coop too!
THE waiting list to become involved with Dunbar Grammar School Community Chicken Coop has been opened to the general public.
Pencaitland triumph in cluster schools' cooking competition
ROSS High School welcomed its feeder primary schools to the local heat of the Little and Large cookery competition, with Pencaitland Primary School the eventual winners.
Artists and craft makers invited to apply for awards scheme
COUNTY artists and craft makers have a chance to gain grants to support their work as part of the annual Visual Artists and Craft Makers Awards scheme.
West Barns man shortlisted for top shopping centre management award
THE manager of a retail centre in Nottingham - who still lives in West Barns - has been shortlisted for a major industry award.
Three lead thefts from Aberlady Kirk
A COUNTY church has been targeted three times by metal thieves in little over a month.
Case closed for veteran Tranent lawyer Alex
AFTER nearly 40 years as a legal practitioner in Tranent and a familiar face in the town, solicitor Alex Lafferty has retired.
County housing market still continuing to struggle
DESPITE an increase in house sales across Scotland, East Lothian's housing market is continuing to struggle - with recent figures showing a nine per cent decrease in the number of homes sold between January and March this year compared to the same period in 2012.
Watch out Wiggo, QMU's Trevor is on your tail!
An ACADEMIC at Musselburgh's Queen Margaret University will trade in his books for a bike next month when he attempts to cycle the 3,300-kilometre route of the Tour de France - a week before Sir Bradley Wiggins and Co compete in the real race.
It's all right to say: 'I'm not OK'
A DUNBAR man recovering from a breakdown plans to walk 1,000 miles in 100 days to highlight mental health issues.
Lengthy path campaign finally on the right track
A LONG-standing campaign to connect Gullane and Drem via a safe path for walkers and cyclists is on track.
Museum to be Open to all during golf major
THE Coastal Communities Museum in North Berwick is expected to open its doors in July with a special golfing exhibition for The Open Championship - but its official opening may not be for another two years.
Italian adventure arrives for pupils
YOUNG ambassadors and teachers from two primary schools are heading to Italy to meet their Tuscan counterparts.
A MUSSELBURGH teenager who spent more than a decade visiting Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital has been honoured for his fundraising work to help his "second home".
Pensioner's home at Haddington sheltered housing 'gutted' by fire
A PENSIONER was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire in her sheltered accommodation.
THE future sale of Haddington's court building could be "seriously jeopardised" by a backlog of maintenance costs for the property worth nearly £500,000, according to East Lothian Council's chief executive.
Millionaire changes menu for 11-year-old
IT MAY serve everything from sushi to burgers but when a Musselburgh school pupil visited The Quay restaurant's new World Banquet, he found one of his favourite types of food missing.
Cockenzie House to re-open at last
AFTER years of planning and preparing, Cockenzie House, Cockenzie, is ready to open its doors to the public.
Priest vows to fight Vatican over Cardinal's residency
THE parish priest for Dunbar and North Berwick says he is willing to take on the Vatican in a legal fight to ensure that Cardinal Keith O'Brien is able to retire in the county.
Staff 'scared to work' due to incidents
A HADDINGTON shopkeeper has claimed his staff are "very scared to work" after a series of incidents at his High Street shop.
Work to start on blaze-hit fire station
NORTH Berwick fire station is expected to be operational again in November - nearly a year after the Station Road property went up in flames.
Open day at Belhaven Hill School
BELHAVEN Hill School in Dunbar holds an open day on Saturday 10.15am-12.30pm.
MP hears of Tranent pupils' water fight
PUPILS from St Martin's RC Primary School in Tranent welcomed Fiona O'Donnell MP to the school last Friday for their Rights Respecting School Water Aid showcase.
Land Rover overturns on A1 slip road at Haddington
POLICE and firefighters were called to a slip road of the A1 near Haddington on Monday after a Land Rover pulling a trailer overturned, spilling its load onto the A1.
Torness open to visitors for first time in 12 years
VISITORS are being welcomed back to Torness Power Station near Dunbar for the first time in 12 years.
Night-time adventures on offer at county's museums
MUSEUMS across East Lothian host a variety of night-time adventures this week.
Drug dealer evicted from council tenancy
A CONVICTED drug dealer has been evicted from his council tenancy.
Law Primary pupils praised by MSP for Euroquiz efforts
FOUR pupils from Law Primary School in North Berwick competed in the final of the annual Euroquiz competition run by the Scottish European Educational Trust (SEET) on Monday.
East Lothian Courier seeks senior reporter
The East Lothian Courier is searching for a talented senior reporter to join its team in Haddington.
Talking newspaper celebrates turning 20
TALKING newspaper the East Lothian Messenger celebrated its 20th birthday with a tea for listeners, volunteers and friends at the Trinity Centre in Haddington on May 4.
Police to hold street surgery in Longniddry
RESIDENTS have the chance to discuss issues with police in Longniddry later this month.
Vision of fairer world inspires African trip
A DIRLETON woman will be using the skills she is learning at university to help give less fortunate people in Africa their sight back.
Festival organisers ready for a hectic 3 Harbours
ART, music, and history come to life in Prestonpans and Cockenzie and Port Seton at this year's 3 Harbours Arts Festival.
Supermarket standstill lets town centre 'get on its feet'
THE chair of Haddington Business Association (HBA) has welcomed the chance for the town centre to get "back on its feet" as proposed supermarket developments either "stall" or are scrapped.
Community wind turbine bid rejected
A PROPOSAL for a Dunbar community wind turbine which developers claimed would generate £200,000 per year for local projects has been rejected by councillors.
Raft race could sink without new leader
A POPULAR North Berwick seaside event, which has been running for decades, could be heading for choppy waters unless a new organiser comes forward.
North Berwick legend Fred will not be forgotten
A NORTH Berwick icon was honoured at the weekend with the unveiling of a plaque at the town's harbour.
A TRANENT man is swapping his two feet for three wheels to raise funds for the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh for the second year running - while paying tribute to his grandfather, who passed away 11 years ago.
Long and winding road ends in glory for Alan
A RETIRED North Berwick businessman has completed an incredible 3,600-mile drive in a 40-year-old open-top classic car across Europe and the UK to raise £45,000 for charity.
AFTER losing her husband to cancer just a month after they married, a Musselburgh woman and her family are hoping to raise as much as they can in memory of the man who became a much-loved part of their family.
Police 'march' onto bowling green and arrest player mid-game
POLICE "marched" onto a county bowling green last Friday night to arrest a player - while he was in the middle of a game.
Residents' 'legal objection' to council over golf club lay-by
A GROUP of North Berwick residents is launching appeal proceedings and lodging a complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman against East Lothian Council after its decision to grant North Berwick Golf Club permission for a lay-by on Beach Road.
Pipers sure to be a red hot ticket at music festival
SOME of Scotland's most popular traditional musicians including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Donnie Munro have been announced as headline acts at this year's Trad on the Tyne festival in Haddington.
Offer to help fund courts is rejected
THE leader of East Lothian Council has claimed that an offer to meet the running costs of Haddington Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts has been rejected by the Scottish Court Service "without explanation".
Battered feet can't stop Scott's feat
AFTER two days which saw him walk 56 miles, play six games of rugby and battle painful feet blisters, Tranent's Scott Glynn has completed his Walk with Scott charity challenge, raising more than £8,500 - with the final figure expected to exceed the £10,000 mark.
Hero Jock dies just days before ceremony
THE widow of Dunbar war veteran and Arctic Convoys campaigner Jock Dempster has told of her "deep regret" that her late husband never got to wear his Arctic Star medal at an official event.
Police to submit Steven Brown murder case report to Crown Office
THE senior officer investigating the 1999 murder of Tranent's Steven Brown is expected to submit a report on the investigation to the Crown Office in the coming days.
Bunkered! Bid to build house at golf range to boost security hits the rough
THE owner of East Lothian Golf Range at Meadowmill, by Tranent, has been narrowly defeated in his bid to build a house at the site - which he said was needed for security reasons.
A taste of T in the Park comes to QMU
TO CELEBRATE the 20th anniversary of T in the Park music festival, a host of roadshow events are being held in Scotland, including one in East Lothian tomorrow (Friday).
POLICE in East Lothian are appealing for information following a bogus caller incident that happened in Musselburgh last Thursday.
Ross High School's Connected team commended in UK final
ROSS High's young enterprise team Connected were commended for their entrepreneurial acumen and business skills at the UK-wide Deutsche Bank Young Entrepreneurs Programme National Final 2013 in London last month.
New Gullane Day Centre looking for a manager
THE management committee of the new £2.9 million Gullane Day Centre - currently under construction - is advertising for a centre manager.
Dunbar set to welcome pipe bands from across Britain
AS MANY as 3,000 people are set to descend on Dunbar on Saturday for the town's annual pipe band competition.
Public exhibition of wind farm substation plans
A PUBLIC exhibition of plans to extend the substation at Crystal Rig wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills - as part of plans for an offshore wind farm in the Forth estuary - takes place at Spott Village Hall this month.
THE Coastal Command & Maritime Air Association (CCMAA) service of commemoration will be held at the memorial next to the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick on Sunday.
A MUSSELBURGH teenager has fought off fierce competition from 1,000 hopefuls to secure a place in the National Youth Film Academy's summer course for 2013.
Dunbar Arctic Convoy veteran dies
A PROMINENT county veteran of the Second World War has died just weeks after he was officially recognised for his role in the Arctic Convoys.
Knox film-makers impress once more
A TEAM of pupils from Knox Academy have upheld what is fast becoming a proud school tradition after winning the UK Grand Prix title in the Kid Witness News competition.
John Muir luminaries come to town
THE president of America's Sierra Club and chair of Britain's John Muir Trust visited Dunbar last Wednesday.
Marathon effort to keep memory of mum alive
THE memory of a former Haddington woman who died of a stroke aged just 50 is being kept alive through a tribute fund - set to be boosted this month when her daughter runs the Edinburgh Half Marathon.
Council leader: hotel re-development a 'builder's breakfast'
PLANS to soon re-open East Linton's former Crown Hotel will not proceed until East Lothian Council concerns are resolved - with the council leader branding the situation "a builder's breakfast".
The waiting is over as station goes live
LISTENERS around the county have been tuning in to hear East Lothian's very own radio station on its new FM frequency following a "magnificent" launch on Saturday, April 27.
Residents barking mad at dog day care plan
RESIDENTS have warned that a day care centre for dogs could drive them barking mad if the proposal gains East Lothian Council's approval.
Call for Brunton charge review is thrown out
COUNCILLORS have insisted that they remain committed to addressing issues raised by community groups unhappy with the charges levied at Musselburgh's newly refurbished The Brunton.
Outdoors lovers won't be board at Foxlake Adventures this year!
FOXLAKE Adventures is looking forward to offering thrill-seekers an action-packed summer - with a host of new activities making a splash.
Something for everyone at this year's festival
A WEALTH of new shows and performers top the bill as the Haddington Festival brings another packed programme to the town.
Tranent's Civic Square is like stepping back in time
IF DOCTOR Who appeared in his Tardis at Civic Square he would think he was in the 1970s.
End of the road for town garage
A BUSINESS which has been serving North Berwick's motoring needs for 40 years has ceased trading - in a building which has been part of the town's transport history since the early 1900s and is now set to be turned into flats.
Transplant teenager goes for world glory
A TEENAGER who nearly died at birth takes the next steps in an "incredible" journey this summer when he goes for international sporting glory at the World Transplant Games.
'Bomb' school may not re-open till August
MACMERRY Primary pupils, who were forced out of their school due to a bomb 'scare', may not return there until August.
'Persistent offender' is banned from entering every pub in East Lothian
A MUSSELBURGH man has been banned from entering any pubs in East Lothian.
Interview hope in hunt for killer
POLICE probing the 1999 murder of Tranent man Steven Brown are interviewing a number of "significant individuals" who they believe hold key information about the death, the Courier can reveal.
A MAN was killed at Musselburgh Racecourse on Wednesday after becoming trapped between pallets of soil while delivering landscaping materials.
A SCOTTISH Government minister has defended his decision to vote against a motion in the Scottish Parliament which criticised proposals to close Haddington Sheriff and JP Courts - despite previously backing the campaign to save them.
TWO Haddington businesswomen have revealed their vision to create a soft play centre in Haddington within the former library building on Newton Port.
£200k recovered from alleged drug raids
ABOUT £200,000 in cash was recovered by police from a property in Musselburgh as part of an operation targeting alleged drug dealers.
BREAKING: Man killed in 'tragic accident' at racecourse
A MAN was killed at Musselburgh Racecourse on Wednesday morning when unloading materials from a delivery vehicle.
MPS from two African countries shadowed county MP Fiona O'Donnell last week as part of a scheme to increase understanding between Commonwealth politicians.
Successful event for New Beginnings
MEMBERS of newbeginningsclub.eastlothian raised £442.75 during a tombola and bag-packing event at the Asda supermarket at The Jewel in Edinburgh.
New Horizons youngsters draw on feelings for special artwork
A GROUP of young people from New Horizons in Haddington took part in a workshop to create a piece of art to be displayed at the town's library.
