25 years ago

PIT closure fears were front page news in the East Lothian Courier on December 13, 1996.

Monktonhall pit bosses have hit back at claims that it is threatened with closure, blaming absenteeism and an attitude problem among some miners for part of the problem.

Fears for the jobs of miners, many of whom raised cash to bring the pit out of mothballs in a failed attempt at a workers’ co-operative, began with an announcement that the new owners, Waverley Mining (Finance), had made a £3.2 million loss in the first six months of the year and that the original coal face had reached the end of its working life.

Management made 16 workers redundant last week in a bid to increase efficiency and also told the miners that they must produce 3,000 tonnes of coal a day to keep the colliery viable.

But despite the doom and gloom, a management spokesman predicted this week that the pit had a “terrific future”.

50 years ago

FACILITIES for workers in the county were called ‘disgusting’ by a local councillor, as reported in the East Lothian Courier on December 17, 1971.

Some of the accommodation provided for seasonal workers on East Lothian farms had to be seen to be believed, members of East Lothian County Council were told on Monday.

One member went so far as to say that it was difficult to describe on paper the conditions encountered during a recent inspection.

The inspection was carried out by a County Council sub-committee to see if the standard of accommodation being provided conformed with the bylaws approved by the County Council which came into force in January last year.

Councillor T. Gunn, Prestonpans, said a report which had been prepared by the Senior Assistant Sanitary Inspector could not exactly reflect the conditions.

100 years ago

SEVEN horses suffocated during a farm fire, as reported in The Haddingtonshire Courier on December 16, 1921.

A serious farm fire occurred, on Friday night, at the farm of Ewingston, near Gifford.

The outbreak occurred in the stable, and by the time the fire was discovered the flames were breaking through the roof. It was found impossible to rescue seven valuable horses, which were suffocated.

Urgent messages were sent to Edinburgh and Haddington for the services of the fire brigades, and both made a quick response.

The Edinburgh brigade came via Dalkeith, and unfortunately, in the darkness of the night, were uncertain of the road. When they did arrive, the Haddington brigade had been on the scene for half an hour.