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

25 years ago

‘A GO-FAST granny’ made the front page of the East Lothian Courier on August 29, 1997.

At an age when senior citizens could be forgiven for winding down and using their bus pass, 81-year-old supergran Moira Bradd has just bought her latest motorbike.

Mrs Bradd, who lives with her husband Benjamin at Bourhouse, near Dunbar, took delivery of the second-hand Yamaha 125cc machine just a couple of weeks ago but has yet to really put it through its paces.

“I haven’t been out on it as much as I would like because I’ve had visitors.

“I’ve been up to 50 mph, but if I was on the main road or motorway I would probably do about 60,” said Mrs Bradd, who has four children and six grandchildren.

The Yamaha is just the latest in a long and illustrious line of machines Mrs Bradd has owned, including a BMW, Tiger 100, Velocete and a BSA.

MEANWHILE, multi-million-pound council offices were in the pipeline.

A £4.5 million contract for work on new council offices at Brewery Park, behind the County Buildings, Haddington, has been awarded.

The 4,700 square-foot, open plan offices will be built for 300 council staff, giving them permanent accommodation after nearly two years of working in portable units.

50 years ago

THOUSANDS turned out to catch a glimpse of a thrilling parachute display in Dunbar, reported the East Lothian Courier on September 1, 1972.

A crowd of 2,000 looked into the sky above Countess Park on Wednesday afternoon to watch three parachutes drift down for a brief visit.

The men were members of the Army’s Golden Lions free fall team.

They jumped from a small plane flying overhead and gave a display of free falling acrobatics before their brightly coloured parachutes opened. They landed spot on their targets in the football park.

There was a slight delay because of some plane trouble at Turnhouse airport. But the Lions managed to get another plane and soon they were over Dunbar.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Glengarry Highlanders Pipe Band from Canada entertained the crowds.

100 years ago

DISASTER struck as a number of racing pigeons did not return from the final race of the season, told The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 1, 1922.

The last race of the season, and the longest distance for young birds, took place last week from Barbon, a distance of 130 miles.

It has proved very disastrous to the members of St Ringans Homing Club.

A large number of valuable birds have been lost, only thirteen returning out of a total of fifty liberated.

Bad weather conditions prevailed.