WE TAKE a look at the stories making headlines in East Lothian 25, 50 and 100 years ago.

 

25 years ago

 

A MAJOR change to the world had arrived in East Lothian, as reported in the Courier of April 19, 1996.

The ever-expanding world of the information super-highway has reached East Lothian’s property market with a Haddington estate agent being the first in the county to venture on to the Internet.

The adventurous move by John Leith of Property and Mortgage Partnership means that property details will not only be available in the window of his office at 20 Court Street but can also be viewed from all over the world via his very own window on the World Wide Internet.

All that a property seeker needs is a suitable computer linked to the telephone lines through a modem and they will have access to the particulars of the estate agent’s available properties.

“What made me realise that this technology was really taking off was the tremendous number of adverts on TV which gave their web address. It made me think, now is the time,” John said.

 

50 years ago

 

PRINCESS Margaret was to visit North Berwick and open the town’s sports centre, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on April 23, 1971.

North Berwick is preparing to give Princess Margaret a big welcome when she visits the burgh to open the new £50,000 sports centre on June 8.

It will be the first Royal visit the town has had since that of King Edward VII in 1902.

The Princess will motor from Turnhouse airport, arriving at North Berwick at 2.45 p.m. and will stay until 4 p.m.

She will be invited to plant a tree at the entrance to the Sports Centre at the corner of Haddington Road and Grange Road and afterwards unveil a commemorative plaque inside the building.

The plaque will be on a board recording the names of the founder members and founder clubs.

 

100 years ago

 

A MINER appeared in court after being spotted behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk, as told by The Haddingtonshire Courier on April 22, 1921.

At a Justice of the Peace Court, held in Haddington, on Monday, James Ross, miner, Camperdown Villa, High Street, Prestonpans, pleaded guilty to having, on Saturday, 19th March, behaved in a disorderly manner in High Street, between the Gothenburgh public-house and the police station.

The accused was one of the first miners from Prestonpans district who joined the army.

During the war he was badly gassed, and subsequently had an attack of malaria.

The result was that as soon as he touched drink it affected his head.