Sayings and doings of 25 years ago...

A NEW lifeboat was welcomed, the East Lothian Courier reported on September 13, 1996.

Hundreds of people flocked to Dunbar Harbour to watch the official naming of the town’s first new lifeboat for over 35 years.

Old and young gazed on in pride as a champagne bottle smashed on the gleaming vessel, named ‘Sir Ronald Pechell Bt’ by Mrs Pauline Poland in honour of her late brother.

Ivor McPhillips, in his last duty before retiring as hon. secretary, accepted the lifeboat.

“This is the first Trent-class lifeboat to go into service in Scotland. I am confident that the lifeboat and its crew will be equal to the pressures put on them and that the honour of the RNLI will be maintained,” he said.

 

...and 50 years ago

‘OWL spends night in the nick’ was a headline in The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 17, 1971.

Once again in the news is the now famous Gifford Road tawny owl – whose bad kerb drill and consequent near misadventure with a local photographer last week resulted in a photograph in the Courier.

His latest escapade was of a more ‘arresting’ nature.

After dark on Saturday evening, Haddington Police heard a bang against their office window and, on investigating, found that the owl had knocked itself unconscious after flying into the glass.

They are sure it is the same bird, as quite a few of the Haddington Police officers have noticed it at night in the area and it would be unusual to find two owls so close to one another.

‘Tawny,’ as his friends in the Force have christened him, was taken into custody until he recovered and later released – without bail.

 

...and 100 years ago

A GRAMOPHONE cabinet and a number of records were destroyed after a tent caught fire at Longniddry Bents, told The Haddingtonshire Courier on September 16, 1921.

An unfortunate experience, towards the close of an enjoyable period of camping, occurred on Thursday to a party of young men from Haddington, who have had a tent pitched on the bents at Longniddry, where they spent week-ends and evenings, travelling to and from their work daily.

In their absence, the tent was unguarded, although neighbouring campers kept a look-out to see that no unauthorised persons interfered.

On Thursday afternoon, one of these neighbours was alarmed to see the tent in flames. At once the S.O.S. signal was abroad, and willing hands did what was possible to rescue the property of the absent campers.

The fire had obtained a good hold, and, although many articles were saved, a considerable amount of property was burned.