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

25 years ago.. 

MILLIONS of pounds were to be spent on a new development at Roodlands Hospital, said the front page of the East Lothian Courier on December 26, 1997.

A new, purpose-built £4.2 million mental health unit is to be built at Roodlands Hospital, Haddington, sounding the death-knell for nearby Herdmanflat.

Proposals agreed by the East and Midlothian NHS Trust are to be put to Lothian Health early in the new year.

If they get the health authority’s support, they will then go out for public consultation.

The new unit would have 73 psychiatric and psychogeriatric beds and provide all the inpatient and outpatient services currently based at Herdmanflat Hospital, which would be closed and the site sold when all of its services had been transferred to community teams or to the new Roodlands unit.

The health trust’s board agreed to the scheme at a meeting last week and said that an outline business case would be submitted to Lothian Health.

...and 50 years ago

CARS bursting into flames hit the headlines in the East Lothian Courier on December 29, 1972.

Two cars burst into flames after an accident in Tranent last Thursday.

William McNaughton (49), civil servant, 62 Northfield, Tranent, was driving his car east on High Street when it was in collision with a parked car.

As a result both cars caught fire.

Fire units from Musselburgh and Tranent attended the blaze. Mr McNaughton sustained a cut lip.

WHILE a North Berwick youth was fined for stealing crockery.

A 16-year-old youth who stole crockery for the use of a potato squad was fined £30 at Haddington Sheriff Court on Thursday last.

The Procurator fiscal, Mr Peter Morrison, told the court that a potato squad was working for three weeks at West Fortune and was staying in a bothy. Someone noticed that they were using very good china for their meals.

The workers moved to Corstorphine to pick potatoes. The police went there and found the accused at a bothy table containing some of the stolen crockery.

He admitted stealing them from the farmer’s shed and showed the police three of his suitcases with stolen items in them. The total value of the property was £15 and it was all recovered, said the Fiscal.

...and 100 years ago

A FIRE on Christmas Day burnt down Elphinstone school, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on December 29, 1922.

The village school was totally destroyed by fire on Christmas night. The outbreak was discovered shortly after six o’clock in the evening.

Information was immediately dispatched to Haddington and the burgh fire engine, under Mr David Walker, made a quick response.

With the assistance of Mr Baillie’s motor wagon, the fire staff and engine covered the nine miles from Haddington to Elphinstone in little over half an hour.

By the time the brigade arrived, however, the fire had got a thorough grip of the building which was a mass of flames.

A none too adequate supply of water was available.

In a short period, nothing but the bare walls were left.

The school consists of five large rooms and accommodates from 150 to 200 pupils. The damage is estimated at £3,000.