HADDINGTON Festival is celebrating its golden anniversary at the moment, with the event having put a smile on thousands of faces since 1968.

The 2018 celebration is currently under way.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the town’s community council, has been involved with the annual spectacle for a number of years and attended the second festival back in 1969.

She said: “We are looking forward to it because it is 50 years.

“I remember being at the second one and have lots of good memories and just had a lot of fun over the years.

“It is not easy pulling a programme together but, once the programme is set, you meet so many different people and it is really good.

“We have had some laughs along the way.”

More than a few famous faces have visited the Haddington Festival over the last five decades.

Actress Prunella Scales – who starred in Fawlty Towers and After Henry – musicians Johnny Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, The Proclaimers and Eddi Reader have all been involved down the years.

The Haddingtonshire Courier was there for the very first festival, which featured another famous musician, and looked ahead to it on May 17, 1968:

“Haddington’s first ever Festival Week, which begins in just over two weeks’ time, has already caused considerable interest both inside and outside the burgh, and it looks as though it is going to be a resounding success.

“With a variety of events, ranging from a concert headed by Jimmy Shand and his band to several exhibitions, the week should appeal to a large section of the public.

“The festivities start on Sunday June 2 with a Drumhead Service on the East Haugh conducted by ministers of all denominations.

“That evening the opening variety show, featuring Jimmy Shand, his son, as well as Peter Mallan and several other well-known artistes will take place.

“Throughout the week other events will include barbecues and folk singing evenings, a symposium on Haddington, organised by the St Andrew Society, productions by both the Haddington Operatic and Dramatic Societies, several dances, appealing both to young and old, a gymkhana, five-a-side football tournament and many other interesting and novel ventures.

“At present plans are being made for all public houses in the town to be open until 11pm each evening.

“If the weather is ‘kind’, Haddington’s first Festival Week should prove to be both entertaining and successful.”