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

25 years ago

‘HOLLYWOOD Crooks’ were being tracked by police, reported the East Lothian Courier on August 8, 1997.

Sneak thieves styling themselves on characters from a Hollywood movie are plaguing North Berwick householders with a rash of bizarre pilferings.

The thieves, who call themselves the ‘Hollywood Crooks’, have struck every day or night for the past eight weeks.

In addition to bottles of alcohol, cash and freezer food, they have removed tubs of cacti and other houseplants. In one incident, they left a handwritten message for their victims.

Community PC Colin Malcolm told community councillors: “These are not professional thieves. They are probably teenagers out for kicks.

“But it is extremely annoying and it is time they were caught.”

He explained that, in every case, the thieves had slipped into properties which had not been properly secured.

50 years ago

HISTORIANS made a curious find in a Musselburgh wall, told the East Lothian Courier on August 11, 1972.

Local historian Robert Rae was walking recently on the Links at Musselburgh and on passing the wall beside the gasworks spotted something which most people would have missed.

Embedded in the wall are three stones which are not the sort of stones one usually finds in gasworks walls or, indeed, any walls.

One looked like part of an old headstone. There seems to be a date which starts 16-- but the remaining figures are worn away.

There are also some letters but the only complete words are two “ofs”.

The second stone Mr Rae has no doubts about. It is a Poll Stone, which people got if they could not afford a proper headstone. It is numbered 174, then there is a first initial T and underneath 9 x 3.

The other is a bit of a mystery. It seems to have an elaborate letter E carved into it and may, said Mr Rae, date from Tudor times.

100 years ago

AN ACE new sporting facility opened in Haddington, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on August 11, 1922.

The employees of the West Mills have secured a site for tennis courts in the park to the west of the works.

Several enjoyable games have taken place on the courts, the play being witnessed by interested spectators.

On fine evenings, the courts present a gay and lively appearance.

All the labour in preparing the site has been carried out by the workers.

The ground level adapts itself admirably to the formation of the courts, and this new sporting centre has the advantage of being situated in a beautiful part of the town.