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

25 years ago

‘CHRISTMAS tragedy averted after bomb found on beach’ was a headline on the front page of the East Lothian Courier on January 3, 1997.

A 25 pound practice bomb found on Tyninghame beach was detonated by Royal Navy bomb disposal experts on Monday, averting a potential tragedy.

The Christmas cracker with a difference, packed with half a pound of explosive, was discovered on Sunday morning by local man, John Eldridge, out walking his dog.

John, 50, of St Baldred’s Road, North Berwick, found the bomb lying in the sand but did not immediately recognise what it was or the danger it posed to life and limb.

“It was around 10am when I saw this unusual object lying in the sand,” he said.

“I was not sure what it was and so walked around it a couple of times to try and get a closer look.

“Up close there was no doubt that it was a bomb.”

50 years ago

‘OLDEST trader ready to retire’ reported the East Lothian Courier on January 7, 1972.

When Mr Arnot Hepburn’s provisions shop in the West End of North Berwick closes down in a few weeks, it will mark the end of an era.

Mr Hepburn, who is now over 80 years of age, is and has been in North Berwick for 42 years, and is the oldest trader still working in the town.

Along with the late Mr Coventry, he helped to form the North Berwick Community Association.

A keen churchman, Mr Hepburn is senior Elder of the Abbey Church and was Preses of the Board of Management for several years.

100 years ago

THE tale of a ‘provincial Dick Whittington’ was told in The Haddingtonshire Courier of January 6, 1922.

The will of the late Miss Adelaide Watt of Speke Hall, near Liverpool, and of Spott estate, near Dunbar, recalls the romantic origin of the Watt family.

Her estate was valued at £321,845.

The founder, Richard Watt, uncle of Miss Watt’s father, was described as a “provincial Dick Whittington”.

Born in Lancashire of humble parentage, he was employed by a cow keeper named Dimoke to drive a one-horse chaise.

His master placed him at an evening school, and, later, he went to sea.

Reaching the West Indies, he remained there and engaged in business, eventually amassing a vast fortune.

Forty years after he left this country, he returned, inquired after the Dimoke family, and, finding two maiden sisters alive, settled £100 a year on each of them for life.