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

25 years ago

THE death of Princess Diana was front page news in the East Lothian Courier on September 5, 1997.

People flocked to sign books of remembrance, special prayers were said in churches, some sporting and other events were postponed or cancelled and flags flew at half mast on municipal buildings as the people of East Lothian joined the nation in mourning the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a high-speed crash in Paris.

Many organisations who did decide to go ahead with events on Saturday said they planned to observe a one minute silence at 11.45am – the time the funeral in Westminster Abbey is expected to end.

Dodi Fayed, eldest son of Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, and his chauffeur died at the crash scene. Princess Diana died in hospital some three hours later. A bodyguard is still in intensive care.

Books of remembrance were opened at the Town House, Haddington, and Brunton Hall, Musselburgh.

50 years ago

A PRESTONPANS bush thief was highlighted in the East Lothian Courier of September 8, 1972.

A Prestonpans man who stole bushes from a monastery garden was fined £7 when he appeared in court at East Lothian J.P Court in Haddington on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a rhododendron bush and a peony bush from the garden of Drummohr Monastery, Prestonpans, on June 14.

Mr F. D. Burnet, prosecuting, told the court one of the monks in the monastery looked out of a window at 6.30pm and saw several people walking in the garden. A car was parked nearby.

When he went outside he found the garden had been interfered with.

The accused was traced through the car and police found the stolen bushes planted in his garden.

The man told the court: “I was led to believe the ground had been vacated and the bushes were going to waste.”

100 years ago

EXCELLENT costume displays made it difficult for judges to pick a winner for best fancy dress at Stenton village fete, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 8, 1922.

The village was en fête on Saturday afternoon.

The programme opened with a fancy dress parade, which had been organised by Miss Buchan-Syderff of Ruchlaw. There was an unusually large number of entrants.

The costumes and disguises showed great care and originality, and aroused great interest amongst the onlookers.

Such was the excellence of the fancy dresses, that the judges had great difficulty in arranging an order of merit.