25 years ago

‘RESIDENTS flee storm terror’ was the front page of the East Lothian Courier on November 8, 1996.

Hurricane-force winds brought chaos to East Lothian on Wednesday when nearly 100 people were evacuated after a roof was blown from flats at Prestonpans, some schools had to close, roads were blocked by falling trees and many homes were left without electricity.

Weathermen recorded gusts of up to 84 miles per hour battering the area... the highest wind speeds recorded for almost 30 years.

Some terrified residents of the three-storey flats at Middleshot Square, Prestonpans, fled as the roof began to rip off over their heads at around 7am, many still clad only in their nightwear.

But amazingly others slept through the drama and only realised the danger when police and firemen hammered on their doors to evacuate the building.The back door had to be used, as the main entrance was blocked by giant roof sections.

WHILE a community joined together to help a youngster.

A 10-year-old Kenyan boy arrived in Haddington for an operation which could help change his life... thanks to a big fundraising effort by townsfolk.

For they collected the £3,000 needed to bring Onesimus Mulwa to Scotland for surgery to have a huge disfiguring cyst removed from the side of his face.

The connection with Haddington came about through Onesimus’s uncle, Ben Nzidka, who studied at Myreside School of Furniture Restoration at Gifford.

50 years ago

‘YODELLING cobbler’ was a headline in The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 12, 1971.

One of the more unusual acts on Hughie Green’s “Opportunity Knocks” programme in recent years was that of a yodelling cobbler and his dancing shoes.

The exponent of this act, Bill Gore, paid a visit to the Musselburgh Legion Club on Monday and gave an extended programme which illustrated why his performance justified the praise which it received.

Supporting the artiste were the members of the resident Bon Accord Band, Allan Law (organ), John Knox (guitar) and Ian Imrie.

100 years ago

MAIL for residents of East Lothian was badly damaged, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 11, 1921.

On Friday, an unaccountable accident took place in connection with the mail apparatus here, which receives the English bags by the London early morning train.

The bags were much damaged and many of the letters were mutilated to such an extent as to make the establishment of the identity impossible.