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

25 years ago...

AN UNUSUAL theft was highlighted in the East Lothian Courier on July 12, 1996.

Thieves slipped away from a gift shop in Musselburgh on Monday with 15 dolls worth a total of £650.

The porcelain dolls were stolen when a glass display case at the Tollbooth shop in High Street was broken into between 9.30am and 1.30pm.

The cabinet is out of sight from the shop counter and it is believed that they were all taken at once.

Collectors have been asked to be on the lookout for the dolls, which range from 10 inches to 28 inches in height.

Susan Ramm, co-owner of the Tollbooth, said customers alerted her to the fact that they were missing.

“The shop opened at 9.30am, then in the afternoon, customers told me they thought the dolls had fallen over,” she said.

“When I went to look, I saw they were gone.

“I think they were all taken in one go but I can only guess what happened.”

50 years ago...

‘HE’S so spoiled’ was a headline in The Haddingtonshire Courier of July 16, 1971.

The youngest resident at Fa’side Lodge, Tranent, is spoiled.

During the day the chirpy little fellow enjoys the pleasant surroundings of the lounge and speaks to his companions.

At night he retires to his mistress’s bedroom.

Jockie is a real pet ... a pet budgie ... the only pet in the old people’s home.

His owner Mrs Lily Whyte did not want to part with him when she went to live in the home. The matron, Mrs A. E. Buglass gave her permission to bring Jockie along too.

“Jockie is a great favourite with residents,” she said. “And he can talk.”

100 years ago...

‘A BIRD’S strange death’ was highlighted in The Haddingtonshire Courier on July 15, 1921.

A most extraordinary incident, writes “H. F.” to the Scotsman, was recently narrated to me as having occurred in the eastern Lammermoors.

Some time ago my informant while at work with some others outside noticed a wood pigeon flying through the air at a considerable height.

Just at the same time a flight of starlings swept across the sky, and, wheeling in one of their marvellous aerial evolutions, crossed immediately above the pigeon with that loud rushing sound so familiar to all who have watched them on the wing.

The pigeon dropped to the ground like a stone.

In aeronautical phrase it “crashed,” and with a fatal result, for when one of the witnesses of the occurrence noticed that it failed to rise, he went across the field and picked it up dead.