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

25 years ago...

A SUGGESTION that a town was stuck in ‘a time warp’ did not prove popular, reported the East Lothian Courier on December 18, 1998.

A Dunbar resident’s claim that the town was being treated as “the poor relation” was greeted with anger by East Lothian councillors who have invested around £22 million in the burgh in recent years.

Mrs K McCue had written to East Lothian Council’s first Question Time and her letter was read at their meeting in Haddington on Tuesday.

“It appears to residents and visitors alike that we are stuck in a time warp,” she said.

“Why can’t we come out of the 1890s before everyone else leaves the 1990s? Why can’t we have some decent shops?”

She went on to list the need for improved policing and instanced the behaviour of hooligans on the street, causing discomfort to pedestrians, shoppers and visitors by shouting abuse, cycling on pavements, shoplifting, playing football on the street and generally behaving badly

50 years ago...

A QUARTET’S bravery was being recognised, told the East Lothian Courier on December 21, 1973.

Four North Berwick men who took part in a rescue at Milsey Bay this summer are to receive R.N.L.I awards for gallantry.

The men are Mr Alexander Russell, 31 Lochbridge Road, a hairdresser; Mr Thomas Brown, a postman, of Dunbar Road; and two brothers, Mr B. Pearson and Mr J. Pearson, who are fishermen.

Mr Russell and Mr B Pearson have been awarded bronze medals.

They were in a rescue craft “Blue Peter III” and, although they were unable to save the life of Police-Sergeant Stewart Will, they were able to rescue Mr Padgett, a local man who launched his boat in 20-foot-high waves in an effort to save Sergeant Will.

While the men were pulling Mr Padgett aboard, the rescue craft was buffeted by surging backwash which almost tipped the craft over and dislocated his shoulder.

Mr Benjamin Pearson was badly bruised.

100 years ago...

WORK was taking place to tackle subsidence at Port Seton Harbour – but delays were leading to fears that high tides could cause more problems, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on December 21, 1923.

In connection with the scheme to deal with the subsidences of the banking at Port Seton harbour, last week a number of men appeared and excavated a long trench.

The timbering required for erecting a wall or cofferdam, not, it is understood, being to hand, the work was suspended.

There is fear that the high tides may fill up the excavations.