This was Jimmy MacFarlane’s finest hour. My Goodness, it couldn’t have been more perfect!.
This started out originally as Jimmy’s Camping Weekend. Sure enough 11 of the 14 did camp or were softies in Campervans, but 3 very sensible souls stayed at Joy’s splendid establishment, Springfield Guest House, a mere 15 mins from the Site & 20 minutes from Dunbar Town Centre the quickest way, but 40 minutes by the coast path, which was something else.
We watched lobsters & crabs being landed in significant numbers, bound straight for Spain and so on, beautiful community gardens, collies to play with, & fantastic coastal scenery- a real eye opener: with blue skies, the whole weekend- miracle.
However, back to the story- we effectively gathered together (those from the West), in West Linton for lunch/snacks, arriving in Dunbar around 1.30pm
First call after logging in to our Site/Guest House, was to Belhaven Brewery for the (hic) tour.

Neil & Lorna (friends of Jimmy’s), joined us for the weekend, & despite Lorna being what we call a very attractive lady- by God, could she down a Belhaven Black or 2- and I mean pints!
The Tour was very interesting, and Belhaven have been revitalised by the success of Belhaven Best & more recently, Belhaven Black- which in our opinions, knocks Guinness for six.

Jimmy had arranged dinner for us at the Hillside Hotel, where the food was as good as you can get anywhere, with plenty of lubricant to help it down, wine &/ Belhaven!
Some were somewhat embarrassingly lively & proceeded to “entertain” the other diners with Glaswegian ditties, jokes, and very lengthy poems, which they had no chance of remembering had they been sober.
Surprisingly, we were not ejected from the premises, probably because we had not paid at this stage. Eventually, we departed & the sensible 4 took a taxi back.
One of those embarrassing guys was attracted to a somewhat dubious young lady, somewhat the worse for wear, and she, blind as a bat, seemed quite taken by him. He kept telling passers by, who were very suspicious, that he was not her grandfather, rather her toyboy. Thankfully he rejoined us before any damage was done.
Meanwhile, the rest of us were staggering, (as you do) homewards, when some caring souls noted that one of our number was missing.
Not much guessing needed. Dick (the Pimpernel) Bruce had managed to crawl his way to a cash dispenser, presumably to draw cash (it wasn’t a Phone Box); but then, no DicK. His alleged minder, Bill Davies was totally unconcerned, in fact, we suspect he fancied his van for himself that night.
Others were more caring, and spent what seemed like hours of precious drinking time searching Dunbar for him. Luckily, after we had given up, one observant drinker, noticed him passing the pub window from the wrong direction, and lassoed him in.
The next day, we saw the sights of Dunbar in more detail, & joined up for a snack in town. However, our Chairman decided to check out our hostelry for that night, and was persuaded to down a few pints of “The Black”. He was found hanging around the pub, just before we had to leave that afternoon.
In the afternoon, the Museum of Flight was our target. Most had been there before, but most had never gone without family and the like. This time no whinging kids or bored wives etc. We spent hours there and still not seen everything. We really tested the knowledge of the staff & sometimes they fell short! Those who have experience of British motorbikes of the past, usually can liken the “engineering” of old planes!
If we thought the Friday dinner was excellent, Saturday’s was as good or even better at the Volunteer Arms. Again, we sat at one long table which made for a very friendly soiree.
Likewise the next day- good old fashioned exercise walking into, round & back from Dunbar, then off to the Mining Museum in Newtongrange.


Some had been there before, but this time we took the extended tours and again, these were first class. Finally, around 4pm we headed home, some via West Linton, some direct by M8.
Dave & Mary Stewart had gone direct from Dunbar to a rally, I believe in Scarborough.
You couldn’t imagine a better & more enjoyable weekend, with PERFECT weather as a bonus.
Jim, you’re a star!