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

25 years ago...

‘D DAY next week on Sea Bird Centre’ was a headline in the East Lothian Courier on November 7, 1997.

East Lothian Courier: Scottish Seabird CentreScottish Seabird Centre (Image: Newsquest)

A decision on the fate of the Sea Bird Centre project at North Berwick is only five days away.

At a meeting on Wednesday morning, the Millennium Commission will determine a £1.2 million bid for lottery cash to help fund the project.

And the Board of Trustees expect to be told the outcome later that day.

The final push came last Thursday when members of the board of trustees, along with community councillors, met with three Millennium Commission representatives to set the scene and discuss the merits of the Sea Bird Centre project.

The representatives – Dr Heather Coupar, Bill Alexander and Andy Martin – enjoyed a helicopter trip from Granton to North Berwick, to get a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the area.

The site for the centre was pointed out, along with other important sites such as John Muir Country Park, Fidra and of course the Bass Rock.

50 years ago...

AN OPINION that ‘Alsatians are not to be trusted’ was reported in the East Lothian Courier on November 10, 1972.

The chairman of East Lothian J.P Court, Sir Alexander Kinloch, said Alsatians were dangerous animals that could never be trusted.

He was speaking at the court in Haddington on Tuesday when he ordered an Innerwick man to keep his dog under control.

Robert Richardson, welder, of Thurston, Innerwick, had pleaded guilty by letter to being the owner of an Alsatian dog which attacked and bit a schoolboy on September 9.

“Alsatians are dangerous animals,” said Sir Alexander.

“They can never be trusted.”

100 years ago...

A WOMAN from Haddington made a claim to a £100m fortune, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 10, 1922.

To a fortune estimated at £100,000,000, said to have been left by a certain Robert Edwards, who emigrated to America in the 18th century, a claim has been made by Mrs Mary Edwards or Anderson, housekeeper to Mr Thomas Runciman, ploughman, Monkrigg Mains, near Haddington.

Edwards, who left the immense fortune, is stated to have purchased 40 acres of land in Long Island, where Wall Street is now built, and his estate is now estimated to amount to the figure stated.

Edwards was a native of Lossiemouth, and when an old man he came back, and made enquiries as to his relatives.

He was informed that they were all dead.

Mrs Edwards states that her grandfather was American born.

His father was a very rich man.