A DECADE in Dunbar is at the heart of a new book put together by a town resident.

Dr James Herring has interviewed people who lived in the town in the 1950s for his new book.

Published by Dunbar and District History Society, Dunbar in the 1950s looks at rationing, housing, entertainment and shopping.

Dr Herring, who was born in 1948 and grew up on the town’s Cedar Street, now lives on Roxburghe Court.

He told the Courier about his love for his hometown.

He said: “Dunbar has always had a great community, a good community spirit in the town and people willing to help.

“I used to be president of the town’s running club and we got lots of help from local people when organising races.

“The history society is also very popular.

“There is also Lost Dunbar (a social media page), which keeps in touch with people all over the world.

“We have had a really good response for the book from Australia and New Zealand.

“The environment in Dunbar is lovely but it is the people in the town that make it.”

The shops included in the book each have a separate chapter, with photos given to the author by people who worked in the shops or whose relatives owned the shops.

The Co-operative – known as The Store – shops, Lipton’s, AT Smith, George Low and Son, MJ and B Williamson, Louis Allen, Purves the Grocer, Knox Newsagents and Carruthers shop/restaurant are all featured in the book.

Dr Herring, who is a member of Dunbar and District History Society, said people remembered stores from years gone by.

Copies of the book are on sale for £10 from Dunbar Town House and shops in Dunbar.

Dr Herring, who previously wrote Stranded: The Whales at Thorntonloch in 1950, added: “This is a book of social history, allowing readers to hear the authentic voices of people who do not normally feature in history books, rather than politicians and the aristocracy.”

Profits from the book will go to the town’s history society.