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been lost. It is, moreover, regrettable that the area
is notorious for orchard raiding by boys and even older
men. Family life still exercises its power over the majority
of the people. Only very few parents are really careless
of their children and most seem to be ready to give their
families opportunities to take advantage of educational
and other facilities. Little discontent has been expressed
at the raising of the school leaving age to 15.
Marriage in the church has become much more frequent during
the past few years, as has the desire of parents to bring
their children to church to receive the sacrament of baptism.
The following table shows the frequency of marriage with
persons inside the parish and with persons from outside,
during the past 50 years:-
| |
Both Partners
belonging to
Prestonpans |
One Partner from Prestonpans
and the other from:- |
Neighbouring
Parishes |
Rest of
Scotland |
England |
Other
countries |
1895
1915
1930
1945 |
Percent
80
27
48
30 |
Percent
12
41
35
30 |
Percent
8
27
14
15 |
Percent
...
...
3
20 |
Percent
...
5
...
5
|
In their leisure time dancing attracts the young people,
who not only attend local dances, but visit weekly dances
held in Musselburgh and in the Pond Hall at Cockenzie. Whist
drives were held frequently during war time to raise funds
for various charities. These are not now held so often and
there is no noticeable exodus to neighbouring towns for
such functions. A small but active body of people interested
in community drama visits performances in Musselburgh, Cockenzie,
Tranent, Haddington, and Edinburgh. There is, too, once
or twice a week, a large exodus of men, young and old, to
the dog-racing tracks at Wallyford and Tranent, while the
horse races at Musselburgh, which coincide with local trades
holidays three times a year gain much support from the people
of this parish. There is no doubt that gambling has a very
strong hold upon a large number of the community, and too
much thought and rime are devoted
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