25 years ago

‘HIGH sea drama for yachtsman Tim’ was a headline in the East Lothian Courier on October 25, 1996.

A man from Spott who raised £21,000 to be part of a sailing crew in the ‘Clipper ‘96 Round the World Yacht Race’ has reached his first port of call safely despite a dramatic start.

Tim Wood, 22, who lives at ‘Easter Spott’ by Dunbar, graduated from Bristol University with a degree in mechanical engineering and, deciding that he needed a challenge before starting his working life, took to the high seas for an 11 month race around the world.

He got the challenge he was looking for within hours of leaving Plymouth at the start of his journey when the yacht he was helping to crew sailed into a force nine gale and ropes on the main sail broke.

But putting this early upset behind them, the crew went on to win the first leg of the ‘warm-water’ race that will take them as far as the Galápagos, Hawaii, Shanghai, Durban and Salvador.

50 years ago

LEUCHIE House was officially opened as a respite centre for people with MS, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on October 28, 1971.

The Duchess of Gloucester opened Scotland’s first holiday home for sufferers of multiple sclerosis at Leuchie House, the Servite Convent near North Berwick, on Friday.

When she arrived at the convent – which is also known as the Richard Cave Multiple Sclerosis Holiday Home – she was welcomed by the Earl of Wemyss and March, Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian.

Others present included the Countess of Limerick, President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society; Mr Richard Cave, Founder and Chairman of the Society; Viscount Younger of Leckie; and Lady Younger.

100 years ago

A DRUNK man was up in court after stealing a hen from a farm-steading by Whitekirk, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on October 28, 1921.

In Haddington Sheriff Court, on Monday, John Harkin, an Irish agricultural labourer, pleaded guilty to having, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, broken into a lockfast hen house at Auldhame farm-steading, and stolen a hen.

The accused said he was drunk at the time, and did not remember anything about the occurrence.

The Depute-Fiscal stated that the accused was familiar with the farm of Auldhame, where he had worked during the previous year.

He was now employed at the neighbouring farm of Newmains.