25 years ago

A COUNTY beach had been singled out as one of the worst in Britain, reported the East Lothian Courier on January 10, 1997.

A survey which branded a North Berwick beach the shoddiest in Scotland has been criticised as “unfair” and “inappropriate”.

The strong reaction from East Lothian Council came after the town’s West Beach was singled out as one of the filthiest and least attractive in Britain.

But the shamed council say it should not have been surveyed at all, and insist they are not upset about the damning results.

The survey, carried out in August, by the environmental charity ‘Keep Scotland Beautiful’ in association with the Tidy Britain Group, assessed beaches according to cleanliness, safety, availability of information, ease of access, quality and quantity of facilities, and maintenance of council property.

Their survey covered 100 resorts in Britain.

With a score of just 23 per cent, and an embarrassing grade ‘D’ listing, North Berwick rated bottom of the league.

50 years ago

MINERS from East Lothian recalled a months-long strike resulting in riots 46 years earlier, as told by the East Lothian Courier on January 14, 1972.

Tranent miners who gathered near the War Memorial in the town this week recalled the 1926 strike when miners were out of work for months.

A soup kitchen was set up in the Forrester’s Park and there were riots in the streets, they said.

Mr John Quinn (61) of 54 Coalgate Avenue, Tranent, said he remembered receiving five shillings from money sent to this country by the Russians.

Concerts were held in the Town Hall to raise money, he said.

“We could not even afford to pay rent.”

100 years ago

THE retirement of a police constable who served the county for more than two decades was reported on in The Haddingtonshire Courier on January 13, 1922.

Mr George Chirnside, who has been constable here for twenty-one years, has retired on pension.

No one could have served the public interest better than he.

He was a diligent yet kind-hearted officer and gained the respect of all classes of the community.

His familiar figure will be missed, but he retires with the good wishes of all classes of this community that he may be long spared to enjoy his well-earned rest.

As will be seen from his last announcement in another column, it is intended to publicly recognise the services which Mr Chirnside has so long and efficiently rendered.