Sayings and doings of 25 years ago...

‘REAL life drama’ took place at a lifeboat open day, reported the East Lothian Courier on July 3, 1998.

The annual RNLI open day in North Berwick turned from a slow and poorly attended event to a real life rescue mission after a bird watcher fell and injured his leg on Craigleith Island.

Shortly after a group had been dropped on the island by Fred Marr in his boat ‘Sula’, a visitor to the town, Mr Muddiman, from Chesterfield, slipped and fell – his ankle rapidly swelling.

Mr Marr was unable to help as there is no landing stage or harbour on the island.

But he called Forth Coastguards and the North Berwick Blue Peter inshore lifeboat was quickly launched.

A number of people congregated to watch but were quickly informed that the rescue was for real and not just a show for the open day.

The tide was out when the lifeboat returned and was pulled on to a metal trailer, with the casualty still on board, and driven up to a waiting ambulance at the boathouse.

...and 50 years ago

From the ’Pans to Cannes, a Prestonpans junkyard being set to feature at the prestigious movie festival was making the headlines in the East Lothian Courier on July 6, 1973.

The film, “The Flee Market”, shot by East Lothian’s famous film-makers James and Gordon Hickie, has been entered as one of five films to represent Great Britain in the celebrated Cannes Film Festival in September.

The festival is the event of the year in the movie world and this major distinction for the two brothers from Port Seton could bring them world-wide fame.

It follows the Gold Award which they won in April with “The Flee Market” when it was entered at an international “Ten Best” film competition held in London and organised by the magazine “Movie Maker”.

The Hickie brothers, who together run Gosford Films, shot the 15-minute film in the well-known scrap yard belonging to Sam Burns near Prestonpans. It concerns a group of children who sneak into the yard and act out their fantasies amongst the junk.

...and 100 years ago

A FIRE which was started by children playing with matches broke out in Longniddry, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on July 6, 1923.

A fire broke out, on Thursday, in the stackyard at Seton West Mains, occupied by the proprietor, Mr Wm. Wright. Seven tons of barley straw and eight tons of wheat were destroyed. The fire is believed to have originated through children playing with matches.