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

25 years ago

THE newly-refurbished Fraser Centre in Tranent was making headlines in the East Lothian Courier on February 26, 1999.

The old cinema in Winton Place, now known as the Fraser Centre, has been transformed into a theatre and entertainments venue but still needs extensive work on the exterior.

James Robertson, events manager at the centre, charted the progress of the major renovations at a recent meeting of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council.

In 1994, members of the Tranent Christian Centre set up a trust known as the Kingdom Outreach Ministry and bought the old cinema with the aim of making the building once again a focal point for the local community.

50 years ago

TRAFFIC congestion in Haddington was in the news in the East Lothian Courier on March 1, 1974.

Haddington Town Council’s efforts to relieve traffic congestion in the town centre by providing temporary car parks went a stage further this week.

At the Council meeting on Tuesday, it was agreed that Church Street should be marked out for car parking.

The Burgh Surveyor said that by doing this 34 cars could be accommodated there.

The Surveyor reported that to make the grassed area in Newton Port suitable for car parking would cost more than £1,000.

“It certainly won’t be any lower and depending on the price of bitumen it could be higher,” he said.

But on hearing that even then only nine cars could be parked there, the Council dropped the idea. Langriggs, they felt, was a better bet, for a plan produced by the Surveyor showed that 82 car spaces could be provided.

100 years ago

A GROUP of teenagers in court for breaching the peace in Tranent were advised to “reduce the volume of their humming”, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on February 29, 1924.

The explanation that they were “only humming” was made in respect of three lads who came before Bailie Hood at the Burgh Court, on Saturday, charged with committing a breach of the peace – a charge which they denied.

P.C. Grant said that the lads were not using strong or bad language, but Inspector Gray explained that he had heard a disturbance while in his house overlooking the High Street.

The father of one of the lads said he would remind the Magistrate that only at one stage in life would they be frolicsome.

“When they come to our age,” he remarked, “they will get serious.”

The boys told him that they were only humming, and he asked the Magistrate not to put the stigma of a conviction upon them.

Bailie Hood said he could appreciate what had been pleaded on the lads’ behalf, and advised them to reduce the volume of their humming in the future.