Saturday 17th May 2025
Cockburnspath Village Hall
7:00pm til 11:00pm (Last entry 8:00pm)

Buy tickets here

Over thirty-nine years and stronger than ever! “North Sea Gas” is one of Scotland’s most popular folk bands with great vocals and tremendous three part harmonies. Guitars, Mandolin, Fiddle, Bouzouki, Harmonica, Whistles, Bodhrans, Banjo and good humour are all part of the entertainment. They have received Gold and Silver Disc awards from the Scottish Music Industry Association and regularly have sold out shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and around the world!

They have released 22 albums with “Hearth & Homeland” being the most recent and are constantly adding new material to their shows. One of their previous albums, “The Fire and the Passion of Scotland, was “Album of the Year” at Celtic Radio in the U.S., winning first place in the “Jigs and Reels” category as well for the set of tunes on the album. All of their previous albums continue to be very popular with fans all over the world evidenced by the Scottish Music Industry Association gold and silver awards for: “Dark Island,” “Lochanside,” “Glencoe Massacre,” “Edinburgh Toon,” “Rosslyn,” “Tak A Dram Afore Ye Go,” and “The Fire and the Passion of Scotland.

Electricity Developments - leave our place better than you found it!
East Lammermuir Community Council has continued to work with East Lothian Council to convene meetings with all 13 known developers, and an equal number of local residents have been invited to those meetings to keep things balanced.  However, once a year we hold an open public meeting and ask all of the developers to come to that to speak to the whole community.  This year that meeting will take place on Monday 19 May 2025 at 19.00 in Innerwick Village Hall.  The purpose of the session is to hear from the developers how they propose to “leave the area better than they found it” - so we will be asking them how they will help us to implement our local place plan, and how they will work with each other to do the best they can for our place and the people who live here.  Come along to hear their offerings, and a challenge from the community council about what more they could all be doing - together.  

Surgery information

• Please note that the surgeries on Monday 7 April 2025 in Spott Village Hall, West Barns Village Hall and Hallhill Centre, Dunbar have been cancelled

• Monday 14 April 2025: Allison Cargill House, Whittingehame from 5.30pm to 6.00pm
• Monday 14 April 2025: East Linton Community Hall from 6.15pm to 7.00pm

• Please note there will be no surgery on Monday 21 April 2025 in Stenton Village Hall due to public holiday (Easter Monday)
• Please note there will be no surgery on Monday 21 April 2025 in Hallhill Community Centre, Dunbar due to public holiday (Easter Monday)

• Please note there will be no surgery on Monday 28 April 2025: Oldhamstocks Village Hall from 5.30pm to 6.00pm
• Please note there will be no surgery on Monday 28 April 2025: Innerwick Village Hall from 6.15pm to 6.45pm

Councillor Hampshire can also be contacted by email at - nhampshire@eastlothian.gov.uk or for a phone consultation call 07866 607203.  If you reach voice mail please leave a message and Councillor Hampshire will get back to you.

This month’s photo is an image of a sunset over the church. One of many excellent sunsets last month. 

Headteacher Jo Legge leaves Innerwick and Stenton Primary Schools

The school bell has rung for the last time for a headteacher leaving her “dream job”. Jo Legge has spent four years at the helm of Innerwick and Stenton Primary Schools, having previously been based at Dunbar Primary School. However, she finished up ahead of the Easter break, as staff at the two schools were invited to her home to mark the occasion. The 55-year-old spoke to the Courier on her penultimate day and said: “I think it has been quite an interesting few weeks.

“You are still operating to keep the day-to-day going, doing the job you are expected to do, but you have got one eye on handing over to the next headteacher and doing that well. You want to tie things up so you are leaving the school in a good place. Emotion wise, I have not had time to really stop and think about it. This morning, Stenton came to Innerwick and did an assembly with lots of songs and messages. They all challenged me to do some different challenges against them and it was great fun. This morning was when it struck home more than it has that tomorrow I will be walking out of the door. I cannot quite imagine how it is going to feel not having to think about what is a full-on and responsible job.”

Mrs Legge, who was a financial adviser before entering the world of teaching, revealed that her connection to the two schools stretched back to before she became headteacher. Early on in her teaching career, she had two placements at Innerwick Primary School, which is home to 51 youngsters, and another placement at Stenton Primary School, which has 26 pupils.

She said: “I actually applied for the job previously and was not successful. The second time it was advertised, I really wanted to do it. I worked in Dunbar, which is obviously a huge school, but my heart has been in small, rural schools. I knew I wanted to come back in the leadership position – it was my dream job.”

Mrs Legge, who lives in Oldhamstocks with husband David, took on the role during the Covid-19 pandemic. That meant initially getting to know many of the children virtually. She was full of praise for her members of staff who worked through that challenging period, and through the challenges that a shared headship brought.

She added: “One of the joys is knowing everybody and knowing all their family backgrounds. Across the schools, we have got siblings, we have got cousins and we know how it all fits together. Every school is important but particularly small schools at their heart of the community – you hold a very special place within the community.”

Amy Kay, depute headteacher at Gullane Primary School, is currently acting headteacher at Innerwick and Stenton Primary Schools ahead of the appointment of a permanent headteacher. In the meantime, Mrs Legge, who has a 26-year-old daughter, Mary, was looking forward to her retirement.

She said: “I’ve got a nice garden and do a lot of growing of vegetables. I have got a caravan and will be going off to do trips around about. I do intend to work in some capacity but will take a wee bit of time and look around. I feel very involved in the local community and will look for opportunities to do that as well.”

House For Sale

Tacoma

Offers Over£220,000

Nestled in the picturesque village of Oldhamstocks, Tacoma is a delightful terraced cottage offering a blend of character and comfort. With its original stone façade, traditional interior, and a peaceful setting, the property is an ideal opportunity for those seeking country living within easy reach of both the coast and the nearby town of Dunbar.

The property comprises of; entry via a sunny porch, a three-piece shower-room, a welcoming open plan living and dining room complete with original features and a fireplace, a well-equipped kitchen with a combination of integrated and freestanding appliances, two bright bedrooms both double in size, one with a feature fireplace.

The cottage boasts a beautiful private rear garden complete with both a stone patio area great for al-fresco dining, mature borders with a range of plants and trees and a well-kept lawn, including a garden shed.

(Click on title to access Simpson & Marwick Website)

https://www.simpsonmarwick.com/reapit-property/EDI250092?fbclid=IwY2xjawJl_Q9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsZj552oJvFYT035F7nyD2GAWIb4vqbJCQc6ZFOYM41Awet8qiIa9QHQUpyd_aem_-1La9lLHdFjBza2DXUipIA

            William Donaldson (Donny) 

                                25th June 1956 - 1st March 2025

Donny’s family would like to express sincere gratitude for the kindness, support and compassion shown to us during our recent bereavement. The retiral collection raised £557 and this will be split between Ward 6 at the Borders General Hospital and Social Bite. 

Special thanks to Chris Lerpiniere, Independent Celebrant, for her beautiful and heartfelt service which captured Donny to perfection. 

Special thanks also to Bruce, Veronica and all the staff at John Bald Funeral Directors for their professionalism and care, and to Helena Thomson and staff for providing the catering. 

Thank you to family and friends, your love and thoughtfulness have been a great comfort during this difficult time and will never be forgotten.