25 years ago

A FAMOUS landmark atop North Berwick Law was in need of repair, reported the East Lothian Courier of December 8, 1995.

The whale’s jawbone at the summit of North Berwick Law is to be repaired at a cost of about £700.

The condition of the well-known local landmark has deteriorated over the decades and the town’s community councillors are keen to ensure it is saved for posterity.

They approached the district council with their concerns and Macmerry-based specialists Ralph Plastics was contracted to do the job.

They will restore the jawbone with fibre glass, and the protective railings around it will be repaired by Daw Engineering of Fenton Barns.

Scaffolding will have to be used to carry out the work and the equipment will be taken up the hill by a tractor vehicle – a far cry from the mode of transport used to get the jawbone to the top in the 1930s.

50 years ago

‘WANTED, 180 beds for touring cyclists’ was a headline in The Haddingtonshire Courier on December 11, 1970.

The Scottish Milk Race will again be passing through Dunbar on July 22, 1971.

The race took Dunbar into its tour of the country two years ago and caused great excitement.

The only problem is where to put all the cyclists, race officials and representatives of the Milk Marketing Board when they arrive – 180 beds are needed.

Co-operation is being asked for from local people and those living within a 10-mile radius of the town.

MEANWHILE, power cuts hit the county.

Scenes reminiscent of the wartime blackout were re-created in East Lothian this week when various parts of the County were suddenly plunged into darkness by power cuts.

Ironmongers, grocers and little general dealers shops found themselves almost besieged by customers clamouring for candles, paraffin and flashlight batteries.

Those in the Tranent area were the first to feel the effects.

100 years ago

A NEW bus service was introduced in Tranent, the first of its kind. The story made headlines in The Haddingtonshire Courier on December 10, 1920.

The motor bus service, inaugurated on Saturday by the Scottish Motor Traction Co., between Tranent and Edinburgh, was fully taken advantage of.

On Saturday and Sunday, a considerable number of people preferred to travel direct to Edinburgh rather than undertake the long walk to Prestonpans station.

On some of the journeys the motors were crowded, and on the return journey, on Sunday night, the service had to be duplicated.