John Muir's Birthplace

12/06/2026

Here is our second football post from Sue Healy, Museum Assistant and Collections Volunteer.

In our last football post we talked about how Dunbar United FC formed. A high point for the team came in May 1961, when they beat Cambuslang Rangers 2-0 at Hampden. That same year they also won the East of Scotland Cup.

A visit to Hampden Park Stadium and the Scottish Football Museum (https://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/) is a must for enthusiasts – you can book a tour which includes the stadium, team changing rooms and you even get a chance to practice your goal-scoring skills in a special gallery area! Here are some photos I took when I visited last year (images 1-3).

If you would like to see more of these photos and other sports-related objects, we have been creating a Sporting Memory Bag which is housed at Museums Service Headquarters in Haddington. Here are some examples of the objects from the bag (image 4).

If you are interested in borrowing and/or contributing memories to the bag, please contact [email protected]. With thanks to the John Gray Centre.

Read Sue's blog post on our website: https://www.jmbt.org.uk/2026/06/12/hampden-football-museum-and-sporting-memories/

11/06/2026

Just a heads up that we will only be able to take cash payments while this essential system update takes place.

Cash only from 3pm on Friday 12 June to Tuesday 16 June.

Thanks for your understanding!

A reminder that our telephone payment service will be temporarily unavailable from 3pm tomorrow (Friday, 12 June) until Tuesday, 16 June.
The service will be unavailable while an essential system upgrade is completed. A further update will be provided on Tuesday to confirm its return.
During this time, online payments can be made at https://orlo.uk/PBS2J while council tax or rent can also be paid at the Post Office or PayPoint stores.
We apologise for any inconvenience while this upgrade takes place.

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

This exciting event is coming up in the not-too-distant future! A perfect free activity for the summer holidays! Here's the link
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coalscapes-family-event-6-prestongrange-museum-east-lothian-tickets-1991065141436?aff=oddtdtcreator
More details will be posted nearer the time

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

🌿 FLOW begins this weekend. Celebrating of the role of creativity in climate and nature action.

Every Sunday, Sustaining Dunbar and artist Katie Fowlie will be hosting a programme of creative climate and nature events in Spott Village Hall.

Through workshops, walks, storytelling and artistic exploration, FLOW offers new ways to connect with the landscapes, wildlife and communities around us.

There will be an opportunity for work produced to be displayed at the John Muir's Birthplace Museum later this year.

Whether you're passionate about nature, curious about creativity, or simply looking for a chance to slow down and engage with the world around you, there's something for everyone in this inspiring programme.

🐚 Sunday 7th June 10am-12.00 – Folk, Flora and Fauna Lore
🐚 Sunday 7th June 2-4pm – Mud Balls and Earth Pigments
🐚Sunday 21st June 10am-12.00 & 2-4pm – Plant Photography
Workshop
🐚 Sunday 5th July 10am-12.00 & 2-4pm – From Field to Form
-Nature’s Imprint
🐚 Sunday 12th July 10am-12.00 and 2-4pm -Mosslings Workshop

All activities are free but we will ask permission of participants to use some elements of their work in our exhibition FLOW which will be shown at John Muir’s Birthplace from July to September.

To book your place and for further information please message
Jo McNamara: 07484 210758

29/05/2026

Great workshop programme from North Light Arts and Sustaining Dunbar!

Some elements of the work produced will be shown here in their exhibition ‘FLOW,’ opening later in the summer. We can’t wait!

Categories Events News Rivers Project FLOW -programme Post author By philip Post date 28 May 2026 FLOW is a series of creative activities running on Sundays from 7th June through to Sunday 12th July 2026 as part of our wider Rivers Project. Based at Spott Village Hall, we will explore the Spott Burn...

29/05/2026

29/05/2026

This is an exciting year for the Scottish team qualifying for the World Cup finals in America. At John Muir’s Birthplace, we thought we would look a bit closer to home and see what has been happening football-wise in Dunbar.

⚽️ Did you know that there has been a football team here since 1880, when the team played against Aberlady?
⚽️ Before Dunbar United was formed in 1924 a number of clubs existed including “Dunbar Thistles” and “Dunbar Comrades.”
⚽️ The Comrades apparently used to meet up in the building opposite John Muir’s Birthplace (now King’s Palace). (David Anderson)

First image: Dunbar Comrades, photo provided by Dunbar and District History Society, 2026.

Dunbar United formed as a junior club and were elected into Berwickshire Junior league and then Midlothian league.

Second image: Group photo of Dunbar United Football Club with trophy. Dunbar United won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1961, IC/AM/D/9/1, courtesy of East Lothian Council Archive Service, 2026 at the John Gray Centre.

In 1961 they beat Cambuslang Rangers in the Scottish Junior Cup Final. Do look in Victorias Hair Salon in West Port, Dunbar – they have a wonderful display celebrating this win! (See images 3 and 4).

East Lothian Council Museums Service are also creating a “Memory Sports Bag.” Please share your football memories with us - thank you!

For more information about Dunbar United please see their website at: https://www.dunbarunitedfc.com.

Post by Sue Healy. Read the blog post on our website here: https://www.jmbt.org.uk/2026/05/29/dunbar-united-stories/