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

25 years ago.. 

A STUDENT who overcame the odds made the front page of the East Lothian Courier on February 27, 1998.

An Open University student has battled against the lingering effects of a broken neck to successfully complete a three year masters degree.

Alan Imlah, 42, was left paralysed from the neck down after a horrific diving accident at Fisherrow Harbour in 1975.

After winning a long fight to regain the use of his legs, he has now achieved another goal by adding a masters degree in education to an earlier honours degree in social sciences.

“It was quite a struggle. It was a higher level and much harder than the honours degree. Every time an essay came up I would think ‘Oh no’, but it was enjoyable,” said Mr Imlah, who lives in Whitecraig Avenue, Whitecraig, with his wife Joyce and their two daughters.

He admitted that had it not been for the accident 23 years ago, he might never have studied through the Open University.

 

50 years ago...

POLICE pounced on a bird poacher, told the East Lothian Courier of March 2, 1973.

A Wallyford man who tried to catch wild birds along the banks of the River Esk was fined a total of £10 at Midlothian J.P. Court this week.

The man, an unemployed miner, pleaded guilty to two charges contrary to sections of the Protection of Birds Act, firstly, that he tried to take or kill wild birds and secondly that he used bird lime for the purpose.

The Procurator Fiscal, Miss Mary Dundas, told the court that Musselburgh Police had been told that the man was catching wild birds in The Grove, Musselburgh nearly every morning.

On February 1, police on patrol saw a man hidden in a specially prepared hide.

When asked to come out, he pushed a white object to the back of the hide.

The object turned out to be a bag containing twigs treated to attract birds.

 

100 years ago...

A COURT case involving the theft of firewood was reported in The Haddingtonshire Courier on March 2, 1923.

Three young men from Dunbar pleaded guilty, in the Haddington Sheriff Court, on Monday, to having on Tuesday 6th February, stolen one cwt. of firewood from the Lochend Wood, Dunbar.

The fiscal stated that complaints had been made to the police about wood having been taken.

In consequence, a watch was kept, when the accused were observed with axes and sacks cutting up a tree which had recently been blown down.

The value of the wood was stated to be 5s.