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

25 years ago

A BOGUS doctor alert made the front page of the East Lothian Courier on May 7, 1999.

An all-county alert was flashed this week after it was discovered that a bogus doctor could be trying to gain access to young children in their homes after a bizarre phone call to a young mum.

Letters have been sent out to all schools in the area warning of the possible threat to the safety of children, by the Head of Education at East Lothian Council, Anne Marie Carrie.

The advice to be on the alert was issued following an incident in which an anxious mother was telephoned by a man describing himself as a doctor, claiming that he examined her child at school earlier in the day.

The mother became concerned about the call when the bogus doctor started asking detailed and intimate questions about her child.

The man was using the alias ‘Dr Hammond’ – but no such doctor exists in the county!

50 years ago

‘A CHANCE to hang up your apron’ was a headline in the East Lothian Courier on May 10, 1974.

Are you a housewife who feels that all the dish-washing, housework and ironing is making you more and more mentally stagnant?

If you are, a North Berwick woman would like to hear from you.

Mrs Joyce Pringle, 26 Highfield Road, is hoping to start a group for ‘mentally stagnant’ housewives as a local branch of the National Housewives Register.

The Register started ten years ago after one housewife wrote to the national press and ‘spoke her mind’ on how housewives suffered mentally when stuck to the kitchen sink.

She started the Register and since then it has snowballed into about 600 branches throughout the country and abroad.

Mrs Pringle stressed that it was not a Women’s Lib organisation.

“We are not interested in burning bras – just in trying to take housewives’ minds off the home for a while,” she said.

100 years ago

A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD boy found himself in court after driving a vehicle without a licence, told The Haddingtonshire Courier on May 9, 1924.

On Monday, in Haddington Sheriff Court, Richard Baillie, jun., son of and residing with Mr Richard Baillie, contractor Pencaitland, pleaded guilty to having on 10th April driven a motor car on the public road between Dunbar and East Linton without having a licence. The Fiscal stated that though the accused was over six feet in height, he was only fifteen years of age.

He was a capable driver, but could not hold a licence until he attained the age of 17. Mr Baillie remarked upon the legal objection to a licence being granted until lad reached the age of seventeen. A fine of 15s was imposed.