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

25 years ago...

TIBETAN refugees were rescued by a county businesswoman and her boyfriend, reported the East Lothian Courier on January 23, 1998.

Local businesswoman Claire McNaughton trekked for miles in sub-zero temperatures to help rescue 21 Tibetan refugees from near death in the Himalayas near Mount Everest.

Claire, 32, and her boyfriend, Stuart Finlay, led the group to safety in two daring rescue missions, last month.

Claire, who runs Macplants, a garden nursery at Boggs Holdings, Pencaitland, said: “We were walking on holiday when we met the Tibetan refugees.

“They had walked from the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, and had been walking for 20 days when we met them.

“They had very bad frostbite and four of the group had already died.”

The couple came across the group near the 5,700 metre Nanpala pass in Nepal.

She continued: “When we saw them we realised we had to get them urgent medical help.”

 

50 years ago...

WHO will be the ‘Dustman of the Year’, pondered the East Lothian Courier on January 26, 1973.

Tranent Town Council workmen will soon be holding their annual dance in the Grant Lounge of the Labour Club.

And the highlight will again be the Dustman of the Year Award.

For the past two years, the award – a highly polished dustbin lid – has been won by Willie Robertson, who keeps the High Street looking spick and span.

Now the question is – can he make it a hat-trick?

Mr John Bellaney, the burgh foreman, was not saying. “No one will know till the night of the dance whether Willie is the town’s Dustman of the Year.”

Willie prizes his lids, at his home on Ormiston Crescent West.

 

100 years ago...

AN ENTERTAINING dance was held at a farm in Whittingehame, told The Haddingtonshire Courier on January 26, 1923.

Through the kindness of Mr and Mrs Kinnaird, Newmains, the employees and their friends had a successful dance in the granary, on Friday evening.

The building was beautifully decorated for the occasion.

Mr Bisset, farm grieve, on behalf of the employees, thanked Mr and Mrs Kinnaird for their kindness, and expressed the hope that all present would enjoy themselves.

During the evening, songs were well rendered by Miss M. Peden, and Messrs Webster, Cowan and Anderson.

A fine exhibition of dancing was given by Messrs W. and C. Telford.

The Saturday following was given as a holiday to the employees.