25 years ago

THE ceiling at a hall in Prestonpans was damaged during stormy weather, reported the East Lothian Courier on November 1, 1996.

Stormy weather which hit the district on Monday caused serious damage to the Salvation Army Hall in Prestonpans.

Local Brownies had a narrow escape when a corridor ceiling caved in an hour after their meeting had finished, but luckily the building was empty when it happened.

The collapse was caused by rainwater which had collected through a leak in the roof during the storms.

The building, in Kirk Street, was closed all week to enable builders to make the area safe.

Captain John McAffrey said: “With all the wind and rain it was just the final straw.

“Water collected in the ceiling and pulled it down.

“The roof itself has not fallen in, it is just a corridor ceiling. We still have structural problems with the roof in the main hall, but this was not the result of the storm damage, and it will be out service until structural engineers declare it safe.”

50 years ago

‘SIX hurt in accident’ was a headline in The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 5, 1971.

An ex-police superintendent at Haddington and five of his passengers were slightly inconvenienced when his car was in a collision with a lorry in East Lothian on Wednesday.

Ex-Supt, Alexander David Craig (57), of 44 Dunbar Road, Haddington, was driving his car west on the Haddington-Pencaitland road near Letham Holdings when it was in collision with a lorry parked broadside across the road.

Mr Craig and his passengers were taken to Roodlands Hospital, Haddington, for a check-up but were not detained.

The driver of the lorry, Mr William George Deans (26), 38a High Street, East Linton, was unhurt.

The car was extensively damaged.

100 years ago

A STABBING case was reported in The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 4, 1921.

In Haddington Sheriff Court, on Monday, William Murphy, labourer, Standalane, pleaded guilty to having on Saturday night, 22nd October, stabbed Neil McLean, labourer, in a bothy at Standalane.

The Fiscal stated that the accused and McLean and their wives, along with a man named Young, had all been drinking.

An altercation occurred between accused and McLean, who rose to put an end to the quarrel.

Murphy, who had the knife in his hand, rose to his feet and immediately attacked McLean by striking him with the knife on the face and the arms.