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

25 years ago

A YOUNGSTER was set to enjoy a ‘Perfect Moment’ with a former soap star, told the East Lothian Courier on November 26, 1999.

A Musselburgh youngster with dreams of becoming a top singer will be centre-stage on tonight’s Children in Need broadcast.

Daisy Chute, 10, of Musselburgh, and a pupil at Loretto Nippers, will be part of Martine McCutcheon’s singing troupe for this year’s Children in Need charity single, ‘Love Me’, to be broadcast live on the BBC.

“There’s great anticipation about the event but the timing hasn’t been great as she’s had to sit exams this week – some have had to be taken early to allow her to prepare for rehearsals – but she’s very excited,” said proud mother Alice Chute, originally from Champaign, in the US.

“She’s been wanting to make it on to the stage since about the age of seven and has had lots of help from her music teacher at school and will be taking the lead in Calamity Jane, a school play.”

AND ‘retirement dinner then fire chief had to tackle a blaze’ was the dramatic front page headline of the same edition.

Veteran firefighting chief Ronnie Hunter found himself back in harness – just 24 hours after his retirement dinner – ironically in the home of his next door neighbour and former fire brigade colleague in East Linton, Jim Orde.

He dashed to the rescue when a frying pan set fire to the kitchen of Jim’s home at McCall Gardens on Sunday evening... beating his old colleagues on the fire brigade to the scene.

50 years ago

THE formation of community councils moved a step closer, reported the East Lothian Courier of November 29, 1974.

With local government reorganisation less than six months away, East Lothian District Council yesterday paved the way to the setting up of Community Councils in the District.

It was agreed as a first step to publicise the Council’s intention of getting the ball rolling and invite suggestions from the public regarding the areas and composition of Community Councils.

The move follows a special meeting of the General Purposes Committee at which certain broad guidelines were established.

The District Council thinks a broad view should be taken of the possible functions of Community Councils which might be expected to act as a ‘sounding board’ for all local interests.

100 years ago

A MYSTERY developed on a North Berwick beach when clothing was found there, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 28, 1924.

A quantity of clothing, including a topcoat, waterproof, jacket, and other apparel, and a pair of boots, has been found on the beach. Despite an active search, the mystery remains unsolved, nor is anyone reported as missing in North Berwick or neighbourhood.