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

 

25 years ago

FANS packed Haddington’s Corn Exchange for the last leg of Fish’s world tour, reported the East Lothian Courier on August 30, 1996.

Rock star Fish won two standing ovations on Sunday, at the final gig of his ‘Yin and Yang World Tour’ in Haddington’s Corn Exchange.

Around 650 people packed out the local venue to hear their local celebrity sing for over two-and-a-half hours.

And Fish – real name Derek Dick – was thrilled to have the opportunity to finish off his worldwide tour – which included stops in war-torn Bosnia and Croatia – by playing to his local fans.

He said: “It was really good, just right – and the place was crammed right up to the front.”

Fish is so often out of the country, he seldom has the chance to catch up with local fans, but before he even set foot on the stage, fans were chanting “Geez a Bun” to gear him up for the concert.

 

50 years ago

‘SHE had a star-studded audience’ was a headline in The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 3, 1971.

It’s not every day that a famous television personality watches an aspiring young actress on stage.

But that’s what happened to a Tranent girl last week.

Attractive 16-year-old Donalda Noble is appearing in a fringe show at the Edinburgh Festival.

The word quickly got round the young cast in Alice in Wonderland that the famous Dick Van Dyke was in the audience with his daughter.

“It was a great thrill to think he was watching,” said Donalda who plays two parts – the Duchess and The Rose.

She was chosen out of hundreds for a part in the play.

 

100 years ago

COMRADES of the First World War took part in a Highland Games in Tranent, according to The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 2, 1921.

The local Comrades of the Great War, on Saturday, held their annual Highland Games in the Foresters’ Park, attracting a large number of interested spectators.

Besides a quoiting competition, which started at 10am, the programme included 32 events.

These continued throughout the afternoon, the day’s enjoyment concluding with a fancy dress parade, for which valuable prizes were offered.

A feature of the programme was the number of races for entrants of all ages, Much enthusiasm was evinced in these, and several had to be run in heats.

The obstacles to be negotiated in most of the races, consisting of nets, sacks, and other impediments, lent additional interests and amusement to the competitions, which were often very close and keen.