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

25 years ago

‘LABOUR of love at new bank’ was the front page headline of the East Lothian Courier on March 12, 1999.

Stunned staff at a bank kept their cool when customer Patricia Coventry went into labour as she discussed her mortgage.

And this week she took baby son Connor back to the Alliance and Leicester office in Haddington to say a big ‘thank you’ – and see a special account opened for him by the firm.

“The staff were really marvellous,” said Patricia, 25, of Market Place, North Berwick.

Determined to sort out her mortgage after moving house, Patricia Coventry shocked staff at the Haddington branch of the Alliance and Leicester when her contractions started.

She was chatting to branch manager Marjory Reynolds about her mortgage in her office four weeks ago when the contractions started at about 11.30am.

“We had just moved house and I wanted to get all the application forms for our mortgage sorted,” she said.

“My contractions started in the office and Marjory told me I was going into labour.”

50 years ago

A BID to clean up a ‘shanty town’ was revealed in the East Lothian Courier of March 15, 1974.

Revised plans for the Seton Sands Caravan Site, showing the replacement of the ‘shanty town’ holiday huts by static caravans, were put before East Lothian Planning Committee on Monday.

But at this stage the Planning Committee has only granted planning permission in principle for the extension of the site.

The revised plans, prepared by the site owners Bourne Leisure Ltd, show that much better use could be made of the site without any increase in the ground area.

The plans showed provision for more than 770 units compared with original proposals for 1,400 units.

There would be provision for more than 630 static caravans to replace the present holiday huts (just now there are 82 static vans); 20 touring units; 60 brick-built chalets; and 70 residential caravans.

100 years ago

THE passing of a distinguished professional golfer, who became a well-known golf course designer and golf club manufacturer, was recorded in the March 14, 1924 edition of The Haddingtonshire Courier.

Ben Sayers, one of the outstanding personalities in golf, died on Sunday at North Berwick. His fame was world-wide and his passing will be regretted by thousands whose associations with the links brought them in contact with this doyen of Scottish golfers.

“Wee Ben”, as he was called with a touch of admiration, leaves behind a widow and grown-up family. His sons Ben Sayers, who has been associated with his father in the business at North Berwick, and George Sayers, are both well-known golfers.