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

Sayings and doings of 25 years ago...

A HERO made the front page of the East Lothian Courier on May 30, 1997.

A man who leapt into the River Tyne at midnight to save the life of a drowning woman has been honoured for his courageous action with two bravery awards.

Brian Ramage, 38, was presented with a Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Award and Royal Humane Society Award by Chief Constable Roy Cameron at a ceremony at police headquarters in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Brian, a father of three, from Lynn Lea Avenue, Haddington, had been celebrating his father-in-law’s 60th birthday at the Waterside Bistro on September 6 when he left the restaurant for a walk and some fresh air with brother-in-law, Robert Fairgrieve.

As the two men were standing by the Tyne, Brian thought he saw a large log drifting in the water.

It was only when he took a second look that he realised it was a woman, floating unconscious.

 

...and 50 years ago

A DRINK-DRIVING priest made the headlines in the East Lothian Courier on June, 2, 1972.

While driving to a sick call, a Roman Catholic priest collided with two parked vehicles and a concrete bollard.

Later Police found he had been driving while under the influence of drink.

And at Haddington Sheriff Court on Monday, Sheriff K. W. B. Middleton was shown a medical certificate and the Procurator Fiscal, Mr Peter Morrison, said he could confirm the priest was in a bad state of health when he was called out unexpectedly on a sick call.

The priest, the Rev. Matthew James Donoghue (55) of 9 Law Road, North Berwick, was fined £38, ordered to pay £8.33 back duty and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Father Donoghue pleaded guilty by letter to driving without due care and attention in Quality Street, North Berwick, near the Imperial Hotel, on April 3 and colliding with a parked car.

He also admitted driving without due care and attention in Melbourne Lane, North Berwick, and colliding with a parked van; driving without due care and attention and colliding with a concrete bollard; and driving under the influence of drink.

 

...and 100 years ago

A LARGE number of animals, including 24 rabbits, were found in a fox den in Whittingehame, according to The Haddingtonshire Courier on June 2, 1922.

Recently, game keepers were engaged in digging out some moors.

The following store of food was found in the den: 24 rabbits, 1 grouse, 1 pheasant, 1 rat, 1 blackfaced lamb.

What makes this more interesting is this large amount of food must have been brought in by the vixen in the space of two or three days.