Let’s get a couple of things straight from the start. This is not a rom-com about middle class shoplifters, neither is it a smash ’n’ grab action overload, starring The Rock. Instead, it confronts a serious defect in the American judicial system, “based on real events.”

Despite the appearance of Susan Sarandon, as a tough, ambitious US attorney, Ric Roman Waugh’s film cannot be passed over as political activism. It may expose an anomaly in the war against drugs, but is not in any shape or form a boring message movie.

Jason is a typical teenager, living with mom, not doing much, hardly seeing dad who runs a successful transport business. When his best friend asks him to accept a parcel of ecstasy pills and hang onto it for a day as a favour, he sort of says yes. It turns out to be a sting and the FBI grab him. He faces 10-30 years for possession unless he can give them the name of his dealer, in which case the sentence is reduced to 12-15 months.

Jason refuses, at which point Dad steps in and makes his own arrangement with the US attorney. If he can bring in a genuine hardcore dealer, one working with the Mexican cartels, Jason walks. What crazy justice is this, you may well ask. It’s called The Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws, which means if you snitch on your mates you get a slap on the wrist and if you don’t you rot behind bars until you’re too old to remember why you’re there. The film is made with integrity. The action and stunts don’t exceed the boundaries of possibility. You feel the tension as Jason’s dad digs ever deeper into the paranoid world of the racially exclusive dark end of the street. Dwayne Johnson’s performance is far removed from his usual big-muscles-talk roles (Fast & Furious 6, G.I.Joe: Retaliation). He is excellent and the film deserves higher praise than it may receive.

ANCRUM

Wood show

Furniture-makers’ collective Real Wood Studios is getting ready for a summer celebration of locally-produced furniture and crafts. The works of resident craftsmen Stephen Finch, Ross Ketteridge, Graham Murdoch, Graeme Murray, Anna Nichols, Neil Norris and Alasdair Wallace will be on show. The Real Wood Studios showroom will also be presenting selected works from the Reivers Moon Gallery, including Ruth Johnston, Michael Booth, John Martin, Jean Haldane, Mary Goulden, Ann Smith, Sue Evans, and Smitten and Sandy Jarvis. Also exhibiting are CorraStar Designs and Kenny Scott – Caddon Design. The show runs from July 6-21, with opening times Monday-Saturday (9am-4pm) and Sunday (10am-3pm).

Bonchester

Exhibition

Hamilton-based Banks Renewables is staging an exhibition about its proposed Birneyknowe Wind Farm, near Bonchester, today (Thursday) at Tower Mill in Kirkstile, Hawick. The event runs from 3-7pm.

Bowden

WRI

Members enjoyed a summer outing to Edinburgh, comprising a tour around the Royal Mile and Grassmarket, followed by tea at the Royal Museum.

Exhibition

Bowden Village Committee is holding a Pant Well Restoration Exhibition on June 22 (10.30am-4pm) in the village hall. The event is a showcase of the Pant Well – past, present and future. On display will be a range of images, materials and information on the heritage of the Pant Well, its significance in Bowden’s history and recent restoration. Also showing will be Newtown Primary School’s project (including a visual display) on the Pant Well. There will be a free, guided Restoration Ramble (no dogs)at 1.30pm to walk the water courses on the common that fed the original Pant Well supply. Meet at the Pant Well in the village square at 1.20pm. Stout waterproof footwear is advised.

EARLSTON

Paths Group

The Paths Group’s annual general meeting will be held on June 25 at 7pm in the Black Bull Inn.

Coffee morning

The Earlston branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland women’s section is holding a coffee morning in aid of ex-servicemen’s charities in Hanover Close on June 22 (10am-noon).

Auld Earlston

The first annual general meeting will be held in the Red Lion function suite on June 25 at 7pm.

Church

The June 23 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods and Sunday school will finish until August 18. After the service, refreshments will be served before the congregational walks. Two are available – a longer one through Speedies Wood to Drygrange Orchard and back, or around the river and haugh, then back to the church hall. Picnics can be left in the hall before walkers go. A session meeting will be held on June 26 at 7.30pm in the church. The Civic Week service on June 30 will be in the marquee at 10.15am.

hawick

Exhibition

Hamilton-based Banks Renewables is staging an exhibition about its proposed Birneyknowe Wind Farm, near Bonchester, today (Thursday) at Tower Mill in Kirkstile. The event runs from 3-7pm.

Rotary

It was down to business at last week’s club meeting when, after dinner, members convened into their various committees. Ideas and plans were discussed and formulated for the new Rotary year which starts in July, and these would be presented to the club assembly in two weeks’ time.

Innerleithen

Service

The next service in Innerleithen Church will be on June 30 at 10.30am.

Jedburgh

WRI rally

Jedburgh Town Hall was the setting for the Roxburghshire federation WRI spring rally. Denholm butcher Drew Lauder and chef Robbie Bunton, Woll, Ashkirk, gave the ladies a taste of what is available and how economically it could be cooked, using only hot plates. Robbie created dishes in easy time, giving some good ideas. Drew talked about how he sources his meat and what he looks for to get the best. Joyce Tinlin sang, accompanied by Drew Gibb. Competition winners – fruit loaf – Caroline Tullie (Newmill and Teviothead); three dropped scones – Helen Cessford (Morebattle); scissor case – Kath Runciman (Langshaw); child’s jumper – Ann Reid (Minto); arrangement in a jug – Mary Pringle (Morebattle); table decoration – Gweyn Williamson (Midlem); Ann Wallace sugar sifter competition (four gypsy creams) – Joan Duncan (Makerstoun). Judges were Marjory Tennant, Jean Guthrie and Alison Blackadder.

Kelso

Bridge club

Results fromKelso Bridge Club’s annual congress held at the racecourse on June 9 – pairs competition – 1, Bett and Norman Morrison; 2, Marjorie and Harry Dooley; 3, Maureen McMillan and Jennifer Marshall; 4, Marian and John Miller. Swiss teams – 1, Margaret Morton, Ian Morton, Bett Morrison, Norman Morrison; 2, Liz Barr, Ritchie Thompson, Margaret Anderson, Anne Harvard; 3, Annie Mitchell, Bob Stevenson, John Hayton, Lee Leeson. Club nights – June 12 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Sheena McPherson and Sheila Urquhart; 2, John and Marian Miller; 3, Jim and Mary Stone; E/W – 1, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; 2, Archie Stewart and Billy Potts; 3, Ian and Eliz Ross; June 13 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Archie Stewart and Sheila Urquhart; 2, Jim Stone and Annie Mitchell; 3, James Tweddle and Ernie Hopkins; E/W – 1, John and Marian Miller; 2, Alison Darling and Mary Logan; 3, Nancy Porter and Jock Dun.

Market

A farmers’ market will be held on June 22 in Kelso Square, running from 9am until 1.30pm.

AGM

The AGM of futureKELSO will be held at 7pm on June 27 in the Abbey Row Centre – all welcome to this open meeting.

Sale

See Yetholm section.

LANGHOLM

Probus

The club met in the Eskdale Hotel last week when president Jim Thomson welcomed 23 members, along with guest Eric Hislop. Members were reminded that the AGM is on July 3, to be followed by the 30 years commemorative lunch. The annual outing is to Ocean Terminal, Leith, on August 14. The cost is £12 and is open to members of the public. The president introduced the guest speaker, Nick Rodger, who was born and brought up in the town and is golf correspondent for the Glasgow-based Herald. He gave a light-hearted and able talk on his life and experiences as a sports correspondent. He spoke of his school days when he first became interested in journalism, reporting for the Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser on junior league football and at college he continued reporting on this sport. One of his friends heard that a reporting agency was looking for a sports reporter, so he applied and got the post. Much to his horror he was assigned the task of golf reporting, a sport on which he had never written. He obviously developed a flair for the sport and remained as an agency golf reporter for 10 years, submitting copy to numerous newspapers under various pen names. When a vacancy came up at The Herald, he applied and gained the post as golfing correspondent. A vote of thanks was given by Harry Aitken.

Fete

The primary school fete – run by the teachers, children and parents – raised £1,072. The money will help towards subsidising transport costs for trips to such as the theatre and sports events. Throwing the wet sponge at school staff proved popular.

Ride-out

An extra ride-out is being organised by the Castle Craigs Club in the lead-up to this year’s Common Riding – a pony ride on July 10 – and with the young riders’ club having been run in the town over the past few years, it should prove popular.

Lauder

Historical society

Gwen Hardie will give an illustrated talk about Thomas the Rhymer on Wednesday at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens (01578 722559).

LEGERWOOD

Choir

The parish church welcomes back the Andante Chamber Choir on June 29 (7.30pm).

mELROSE

The kirkin’

The tribute to the town’s fallen of two world wars by the Melrosian’s laying of a wreath on the Weirhill preceded the kirkin’. There will be services on June 23 at Bowden (9.30am) and Weirhill (11am), plus a midweek service on June 26 followed by lunch.

Trimontium

The Architectural/Archaeological Society of Northumberland and Durham was the latest group to visit Melrose on the sunny Saturday of the Borders Book Festival, with both pipers and a string orchestra playing in the Square. The Thursday Trimontium Walk had also been blessed with decent weather and this year’s Roman soldier at the Trimontium Stone on the Saturday had come in for a fitting of his uniform. Preparations continued for the installation of the 228 silver denarii of the Synton Hill hoard in the museum after the children’s Welcoming Exhibition at Melrose primary school tomorrow (Friday). Today’s (Thursday) Trimontium Walk leaves at 1.30pm from the square.

Morebattle

Coffee morning

The coffee morning for institute funds raised £390.

Fishing

Winner of Morebattle fishing competition was Brian McNulty, with Drew Gibson runner-up. Tieing for third spot were Stuart McNulty and Colin Cessford.

Sale

See Yetholm section.

OXNAM

Oxnam Owls

The Owls held their annual charity event when Quintessence entertained a packed hall with music and songs, and this was followed by supper. As a result of this event the Owls are able to give a donation of £500 to the Borders Children’s Charity. First prize in the raffle – a hamper – was won by Jane Douglas.

Selkirk

Christian Aid

The final total for money collected from Selkirk and the Valleys for Christian Aid was £2,246.13.

St Boswells

WRI

Rural members enjoyed a meal at The Gordon Arms in Gordon. At the H&H rally, held in Jedburgh Town Hall, members enjoyed success in various competitions – Rose Cameron clinched third place for her pancakes and flowers in a milk jug, while Janet Irons took the runner-up for her gypsy cream biscuits. On Friday, June 28, the rural members will be holding a whist drive in St Boswells village hall at 7.30pm.

STOW

Fitness

Galawater Health and Fitness Club’s last session before the summer break is on Wednesday, June 26. Classes resume in the Town Hall (1-2pm) on Wednesday, August 14.

Traquair

Service

The next service in Traquair Kirk will be on July 7 at 10.30am.

Walkerburn

Service

Walkerburn Festival Sunday service starts at 10.30am on June 23.

Yetholm

Kirk

The church summer dance and supper takes place at Springwood in Kelso on Friday (June 21). Anyone without a ticket and wanting to go should contact any church official. The spring coffee morning was enjoyed by those attending, but numbers were disappointing. The event coincided with the Yetholm Hill Walking Weekend and this clash should be avoided in future.

Peace march

Yetholm was on the route of the a peace march from Iona to London via Lindisfarne. Local walkers met the marchers as they made their way along the Back Ditches.

Sports day

Now that there is no football club and the archery sessions have been discontinued, coupled with the fact that the pavilion is out of action, the village playing field is not being used as it should be. It was therefore refreshing for villagers to see and hear the local primary schoolchildren enjoying their annual sports afternoon.

Concert

Taking part in a concert – the opening event of Festival Week – was singer Anne Renshaw from Edinburgh. It turned out that she used to live in the village. Her father, Jim Stirling, was the local policeman and the family lived in the police station, now the village post office. Anne will be singing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Wednesday, August 14.

Yellow and green

There could be no doubt about the Yetholm Festival colours – Main Street was ablaze with yellow and green. This ranged from the bunting to the decoration of the Bari Manushi’s house, to the new Festival Week flag flying throughout – even above the new butcher’s shop.

Sale

The Great Borders Summer DVD, CD and Book Sale will be held on Town Yetholm Green on June 22, running from 9am until 1pm, raising funds for summer activities for the young people of Morebattle, Yetholm and Kelso. Donations are still needed and can be left at Yetholm and Morebattle primary schools, Greenbank (next door to the Yetholm village shop) and Seasons in Roxburgh Street, Kelso.

A busy year for Caddonfoot Youth (formerly Sunday school) ended with the annual prize-giving and presentation in the church.

Youngsters studied the Old and New Testaments, raised £220 for Christian Aid’s Count Your Blessings project, including a baking stall, while they also sang songs, listened to stories and watched DVDs, among other things. The presentations ended with a “Bridge Too Far” from Catherine and Georgie Bird.

Others involved throughout the year were Alex Bird and James Macfarlane, along with other children, who were thanked for their efforts as well as the leaders, Trina Bird and Clare Macfarlane.

Last Sunday, Father’s Day, the service was conducted by Roy Owen and the lessons read by Jim Hayes.

Tributes were paid to the late elder, John Gebbie, at his funeral service conducted by the Reverend Haisley Moore when the lessons were read by Lord Steel.

The congregational board met on Thursday and the vacancy committee meets tomorrow (Friday).

June 23 sees a joint service in Trinity Church for the Kirkin’ of the Braw Lad. There will not be a service in Caddonfoot.

Pre-school children from Galashiels nurseries and playgroups held their teddy bears’ picnic last Tuesday when more than £100 was raised for Aberlour Options, St Boswells.

The photograph shows the cheque being presented to Jane Pringle, assistant manager at Aberlour Options, by one of the teddy bears.

A bus firm is to create 20 jobs at a new St Boswells base after winning contracts worth £10.4million with Scottish Borders Council.

But Perryman’s gain is Munro’s loss, with the Jedburgh company retaining just one of 10 services it currently runs following the retendering process at Newtown.

The root-and-branch review means the Berwick business will hold five key routes from August 12, including the Jedburgh/Kelso to Edinburgh and Jedburgh to Galashiels services presently provided by Munro’s.

Roddy Perryman, operations manager of Perryman’s, said: “We are recruiting in preparation for the opening of a central Borders depot in late July. We are in the process of securing a site in the St Boswells area.

“Around 20 jobs will be created, most of which will be involved in the running of our recently-awarded SBC local bus services contracts.”

Colin Douglas, the council’s passenger transport manager, added that Perryman’s recruitment process would “take on local drivers who may be displaced from companies who currently hold the contracts”, with First also losing a Galashiels to Berwick service to the Northumberland firm.

In January, Munro’s was stripped of its operating licence by Scotland’s Deputy Traffic Commissioner following a public inquiry, which found it guilty of loaning vehicle discs to a Dalkeith bus company in 2011.

The company unsuccessfully appealed the decision, but were awarded a new licence in a separate hearing.

SBC’s renewal of the contracts follows a consultation exercise with bus users that led to recommendations on what services are needed for the future.

New providers of Scottish Borders Council bus contracts from Monday, August 12

Jedburgh-Hawick (Monday to Friday 5.05pm) - Peter Hogg

Jedburgh-Hawick (Monday to Friday 6.20am) - First

Jedburgh-Hawick (Saturday 1.45pm) - Peter Hogg

Hawick-Jedburgh (Saturday 5.29pm) - Peter Hogg

Kelso-Hawick (Sundays) - Perryman’s

Jedburgh Town Service - tbc

Berwick-Hutton-Swinton - Travelsure

Berwick-Eyemouth-Reston-Duns - Travelsure

Chirnside-Eyemouth - Travelsure

Hawick Town Service - First

Hawick, Burnfoot-Longcroft Crescent - in-house fleet

Jedburgh/Kelso-Edinburgh - Perryman’s

Galashiels-Duns-Berwick - Perryman’s

Galashiels-Earlston-Lauder - Buskers

Earlston-Kelso - Peter Hogg

Galashiels-Kelso-Berwick - Perryman’s

Jedburgh-Galashiels - Perryman’s

Hawick-BGH - The Bridge

Selkirk Bannerfield-Melrose - First

Galashiels Netherdale - Munro’s

Kelso-Leitholm-Greenlaw-Berwick - Buskers

Peebles-Broughton-Biggar - Barc

Peebles-West Linton - Barc

Hawick-Carlisle (Monday to Friday evenings) - First

Hawick-Carlisle (Sunday) - First

Newcastleton-Carlisle- Telfords

Newcastleton-Hawick - Telfords

Berwick-Ayton-Eyemouth (Monday to Saturday) - Travelsure

Berwick-Duns - Travelsure

Maxton-Newtown-Galashiels - in-house fleet

Kelso-Coldstream - Buskers

Westruther-Hume-Kelso - in-house fleet

Coldstream-Duns - in-house fleet

Kelso-Sprouston - in-house fleet

It was a lyric by his musical hero Tom Waits that summed up this year’s Selkirk Common Riding for the town’s Colonial Society standard bearer.

“It’s a great line – ‘If you get far enough away, you’re on your way back home’,” Robert Mailer Anderson, a 45-year-old native of northern California, told The Southern.

He was following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, a century to the day after his ancestor had borne the Colonials’ flag around the royal burgh during its annual ceremonies.

Back in 1913, his namesake Robert Anderson – affectionately known as ‘Honolulu Bob Anderson’ after emigrating to Hawaii some years earlier – was Selkirk Colonial Society Standard Bearer.

And it was the looming centenary which saw novelist, journalist and film-maker Robert determined to make the long trip from his home in San Francisco. Accompanied by a 20-strong party of family members, including his wife Nicola and four young children, plus various aunts, uncles and cousins, Robert took part in a week-long programme of events and activities and clearly relished every minute of what had been a long-held dream.

Setting up camp at Hoscote House at Roberton, the family threw itself whole-heartedly into the common riding and in return the town clearly took them all to its heart.

“It’s all been pretty wonderful,” Robert told The Southern after the week’s final common riding events. “I’m an American mutt – part Scottish, English, German and Mexican. But I was always aware of this anniversary because of my Scottish heritage through my great-grandfather, through his large life, and because every generation has carried a Robert Anderson since then.

“I was always told that’s who I was named after, so I was aware of the connection. And they were the only old photos around my father’s house. Ones of his grandfather – pictures of him playing cricket, fishing and the stray newspaper clippings someone keeps.”

Various family members, including Robert’s father, aunt and sister had already travelled to Selkirk in the past.

Despite family commitments, being a prime mover behind the new San Francisco Jazz Centre and helping get President Obama re-elected, Robert’s family were keen that he was the one who should apply to mark the 100th anniversary of Honolulu Bob’s time as standard bearer.

“But unless you know Scotland and unless you’ve experienced something like this, you just don’t appreciate just what it means,” Robert explained.

“I’ve experienced nothing like this before. There were a lot of highlights as you might imagine.

“One being that the other standard bearers were just so kind and immediately brought me into their fraternity, and the manner in which they did it was both unexpected and truly welcoming, and something I won’t forget.

“I feel huge kinship here in Selkirk and we’ll definitely be back.”

Heriot-Watt University’s graduation ceremony in Galashiels provided a colourful procession last Friday.

New Heriot-Watt chancellor Dr Robert Buchan, in gold robes, conducted the ceremony in St Paul’s Church before leading the academic procession to Old Gala House for the reception. There were no honorary graduates, with Vivien Westwood and Rory Bremner named in previous years. PHOTOGRAPH: TOM FINNIE

Both the sun and some of

Britain’s biggest literary names were on shimmering form at this year’s Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.

The packed programme saw crowds flock to around 50 events staged in Harmony Garden in Melrose, and included headline appearances by the likes of writers Kate Mosse, Pat Barker and double Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel, as well as television and film stars Joanna Lumley, Neil Oliver, Tom Conti and John Sessions.

And with one of the country’s richest prizes for fiction up for grabs, the festival also attracted national media attention and saw more than 13,000 tickets sold.

With only his second novel, The Garden of Evening Mists, Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng was the judges’ choice for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and its cheque for £25,000.

Tan told us: “I had no expectations of what to expect when I came here.

“I have been completely blown away by how beautiful this whole region is and I would love to come back again – and I will.”

Festival regular Conti told The Southern the event was always a pleasure to do: “It’s just a very pleasant place to come to.

“It’s a nice atmosphere and everybody is really friendly.” Popular television archaeologist, Neil Oliver, brought his family for the whole weekend.

“We’re having a lovely time. I had the opportunity to bring my family and make a weekend of it. It’s been great and the kids are enjoying going to some events,” he told The Southern.

Lumley’s headlining appearance on Saturday night drew some of the biggest queues.

She held the sell-out festival marquee audience in the palm of her hand for an hour with memories of her modelling days and recollections of working with famous big screen names and, of course, with Patrick Macnee in the New Avengers.

Stories about her time as the much-loved Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, whom Lumley admitted was a cartoon version of herself, also had the audience enthralled.

Festival director Alistair Moffat was this week effusive in his praise for all those who had worked tirelessly to make the event such a record-breaking success.

“It has been a fantastic festival, the best yet,” he told us. “We have a superb team which has shown that, right here in the Borders, we can put on world-class events.”

And Mr Moffat paid special tribute to festival patron, the Duke of Buccleuch, saying: “Richard Buccleuch has shown such generosity of spirit. I can’t tell you how much I admire him. He helped this year’s festival really sparkle.”

“Pretty much perfect” was how 2013 Bari Gadgi Anders Cameron described this year’s Stob Stanes ride-out at Yetholm last Wednesday .

The Bari Gadgi and Bari Manushi Stephanie Cockburn led a cavalcade of 135 through the village to the Stob Stanes in the foothills of the Cheviot in ideal riding conditions of sunshine with a light breeze.

Yetholm Festival chairman David Hutchinson said: “It went extremely well. There was a very good turnout of riders and it was very well attended. It was a beautiful evening when the cavalcade left Town Yetholm. The two principals were on white horses and looked rather good, and a sizeable crowd came out to welcome them home.”

Villager Stuart Smith gave the oration at the Stob Stanes, while Yetholm Primary School head teacher Linda McCall welcomed the riders home and presented Bari Gadgi Cameron with his Jagger and Bari Manushi Cockburn with her goblet.

The Bari Gadgi told The Southern: “It was one of the busiest ride-outs ever and a great way to start things off.

“The weather was pretty much perfect and there were great views from the top of the hill.”

The youngest rider to complete the ride was Rory McFadyen, aged seven. The best turned out prize for the under-16s went to Emma Stenhouse, while the best turned out adult was Kirsten Parker from Galashiels, on horses hired and turned out by Langlee Riding Stables, Jedburgh.

Earlier in the festival Janice Gillies won the ladies’ darts competition at the Plough Hotel.

The family walk took place on Saturday, June 8, when 19 people and four children led by Mr Hutchinson strode over Yetholm Law to Primside and back to the village via Hayhope.

Mr Hutchinson said: “It was the most beautiful day and a thoroughly enjoyable happy walk.”

Boules at the Plough Hotel that afternoon was won by won by the Cockburn family, while The New Other Side of the Bar topped the evening’s pub quiz.

The Kirkin’ of the Bari Gadgi and Bari Manushi took place at the village parish church on the Sunday, followed by a reception at Border Hotel.

The children’s disco in the afternoon was at the Youth Hall. In the evening the mixed darts was won by Caroline Burnett and Paul Downie, and Paul went on to take the dominoes title later that evening.

Yetholm Village Choir held a well-attended concert in the parish church on Sunday evening.

Monday night’s quoits on Town Yetholm Green was won by Kevin Richardson and there was also a family beetle drive in the Youth Hall.

On the Tuesday there was the whist drive in the Youth Hall, which was won by Mary Tait for the ladies and Gil Telfer for the men.

The Thursday saw the best-attended village lunch in the Wauchope Hall, with family bingo for the evening.

The Border Hotel hosted a karaoke session on the Saturday and the day also saw the popular duck and boat races.

The leading duck belonged to Hazel Ponton, with the best duck that of Lucy Sanderson.

The best boat was entered by Michael Kelly, with fastest boat title going to Nikita Munnerley. The family day followed on Kirk Yetholm Green, including children’s sports, tug-o-war, go-carts, target golf, wheelie bin race, obstacle course and egg throwing.

There was also a display by the Les Amis d’Onno equestrian display group, demonstrating trick horse-riding, on the village green

The week was rounded off with the Yetholm Village Dance in the Wauchope Hall.

Members of the Inner Wheel Club of Galashiels marked the club’s birthday with a dinner at the Kingsknowes Hotel.

Visitors had travelled from the eastern Borders, Dalkeith and Musselburgh to join in the celebrations, along with district chairman Jenny Barker.

Club president Rosemary McCosh welcomed everyone and later on in the evening advised all present that Galashiels member Vi Romanis had been elected district chairman for 2013/14.

The club also hosted a soup and pud lunch at St Peter’s Church, Galashiels, as a fundraising event for local charities

The club met on Tuesday for the AGM – the last gathering of the session before the summer break.

Five Cardrona Scouts have been awarded Chief Scout Gold Awards – the first such honours to be achieved by members of the Cardrona group.

Group members have been busy during Community Scout Week, rebuilding and planting the borders around Cardrona Village Hall.

The group, which also includes Cubs and Beavers, is managed by Cheryl Turpie who was proud to be presenting these awards seven years after she first set up Beavers in the village.

During the run-up to the event, the young people and helpers also picked litter and sold autumn bulbs around the village. Finally, they held an afternoon tea and bake sale.

Nine churches from either side of the border are working together in a rolling programme of flower festivals to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Flodden.

The event at Norham’s St Cuthbert’s Church, pictured, runs until June 30 (10am-4pm daily).

It has been a 25-year wait for Martin Rodgerson but his time as Standard Bearer past as quickly as the wind through Selkirk on Friday morning.

From a family steeped in the Common Riding tradition, Martin was destined for Selkirk’s highest honour since he started riding at the age of three.

This year was his 22nd, and most important, ride of the Marches, and with such experience some would have taken the route for granted.

Not Martin. He savoured every moment, from receiving the Royal and Ancient Burgh flag at 6.45am from Provost David Anderson until it was handed back unsullied and untarnished in front of a packed Market Place.

The emotions appeared close to overcoming him on a number of occasions, including The Toll when he hugged girlfriend Jayne Andrew, to the Casting in the Market Place, where he held off from heaving the banner until completely ready.

But the 28-year-old wore a smile as wide as the River Ettrick afterwards.

He told the Wee Paper: “I got a brilliant crowd and brilliant attendants to support me.

“The highlight was the Casting. I decided to take my time going up there as you only get one chance to do it and I wanted to do it right.

“It was very windy when you got on the stage but to see everyone up there supporting me was amazing.

“The wind also made it hard when we were up the hill.

“There was a lot of pressure on me to live up to the standards of previous Standard Bearers, but hopefully I lived up to it.

“I think it will be a few days until I realise what I have done.”

Following behind grandfather George (1950), dad Brian (1980) and uncle Ian (1986), Martin’s Hail Smilin’ Morn began with the sound of the Flute Band awakening him at 4am.

Sun welcomed Common Riding Day 2013, a welcome sight after last year’s drenching, widely thought of as the wettest for 65 years.

The Act of Remembrance at the town’s War Memorial followed before the Silver Band’s first drum and the sound of the Exiles singing Her Bright Smile rang out.

Upon picking up the Burgh flag, Martin led his attendants Adam Nichol, Greg MacDougall, Thomas Bell, Menzies Haining and Chris Sanders, and the remaining members of the 337 mounted followers, to check the boundaries of the town – 900 years since King David granted Selkirk large amounts of its current land.

Doon the Green they went to the sound of O’ a’ the Airts, and through the low lying River Ettrick which glistened in the early morning sun.

The riders made the steep climb to the Three Brethern, where Martin enjoyed a stunning view across his homeland, just as his dad Brian had done 33 years previous.

Then the trek back into Selkirk, where Standard Bearer Rodgerson led the procession back to huge roars from the awaiting crowd at The Toll.

Spectators quickly filed up to the Market Place and an hour later, Standard Bearer Rodgerson emerged, Burgh flag still proudly held in his right hand while on board Rogan.

He waited, and waited.

But finally he stepped onto the Casting stage, and once there, performed his role with aplomb in the windy conditions.

It was fitting tribute by the newsagent, exactly 500 years after Fletcher’s poignant act brought back news of the Souter slaughter on Flodden’s fields.

A video of Martin Rodgerson’s Casting can be viewed at selkirkweekendadvertiser.co.uk

IT’S HERE! Welcome to the longest day of the year, the summer Solstice, and we want you to mark it by sending us in your videos.

Our digital content manager Kevin Janiak has set the ball rolling with a glimpse into the start of his day,

Show everyone what a glorious place the Scottish Borders is to live, especially on this longest day, by sending your mp4 video (15 seconds maximum) to kevin.janiak@jpress.co.uk and we’ll show a compilation of the videos, hopefully by sundown.

So come on, get your smartphones out and let your inner Speilberg free for the day.

The first responder who saw one of his employees saved by a cardiac machine being piloted in the Borders has backed it being rolled out nationally.

Neil Redpath saw first hand how the mobile analyser, which has been trialled by paramedics in the region, detected that 50-year-old Martin Hall of Duns was having a heart attack rather than angina after he collapsed last month.

And he says it meant Mr Hall was off work for only two weeks – and, more importantly, survived.

Mr Redpath, a manager at Redpath Tyres in Duns, said: “I kept him going until the ambulance arrived and the paramedics were able to take a blood sample and analyse it in 20 minutes. In that time, it showed he was having a heart attack and was taken to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh straight away.

“The last time he had a heart attack in 2011, Martin was taken to the Borders General Hospital and had to be analysed there before being rushed to Edinburgh. On that occasion, Martin was off work for two months.

“It takes approximately 20 minutes for the machine to come up with its results, and that is why it has not been used in the cities yet, as in that time the ambulance will be at the hospital.

“But for a rural location such as the Borders it is perfect.”

The initiative is a partnership between Scottish Ambulance Service, the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare (SCTT), NHS Borders and Samsung.

SAS medical director, Professor George Crooks, says the scheme is currently in the evaluation stage, but added that initial results were very encouraging and “demonstrate that such tests can be successfully undertaken by paramedics in ambulances”.

The pilot started in November last year with 10 ambulances in the Borders equipped with the analysers and so far more than 100 patients presenting with cardiac chest pain have been tested.

“Lazy” picnickers are blighting a Galashiels beauty spot by leaving their rubbish behind, it has been claimed.

Fed-up Boleside resident John McDevitt wrote to The Southern about constantly picking up picnic refuse on a stretch of the Tweed called ‘Boleside Beat’.

The former picnic area’s bins, benches and grass were maintained by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) until two years ago, after a dispute with owners Laggan Estates.

“Every time the sun comes out, the picnic brigade comes out,” Mr McDevitt said. “Once they get to Boleside they plonk their lazy backsides down to scoff the food, and drink as much as possible, and leave all the plastic, glass, dog poo, carrier bags, disposable barbecue, etc. behind in the grass.

“The council does not keep the grass short any more, and it will have good reason for this, but why did it have to remove the bins?”

The council responded: “As Boleside is private land, it is not SBC’s responsibility to pick up litter in that area.”

Next week, the Braw Lad and Lass cross the Tweed at Boleside from Abbotsford House, which reopens in July.

Ten years old this September, Borders Sport and Leisure Trust has grown year-on-year, but the current economy is putting that at risk.

As a social enterprise, all profits are ploughed back into the trust’s facilities and programmes, but a cut in the management fee it receives from Scottish Borders Council has brought new challenges.

However, Ewan Jackson, chief executive, is confident the organisation, which operates independently of the council, can continue to develop.

He said: “There are pressures on key partners, other companies and individuals in our communities, and that impacts on us. There is no getting away from that.”

Mr Jackson added that the 10 per cent cut in the management fee from SBC would affect services.

“The board do have decisions to make, and are in the process of investigating all options which we think are right and proper,” Mr Jackson said.

“It could be that at the end of the day opening hours may need to be cut.”

He went on: “There is an expectation on facilities that may not be sustainable in the longer term, but we, as stewards of those facilities, will do our upmost to develop and grow instead of cutting back.”

Mr Jackson also described how operating on a commercial basis helped the trust fund other parts of its work, and also subsidise some activities.

He added: “Commercially attractive and fairly priced activities help, and they can generate small operating profit margins which can be reinvested into sustaining our current workforce and facilities.” Despite the challenging economic climate, the trust has employed more staff this year, and is continuing to look at cutting its costs in other ways.

“Energy costs have more than doubled in the past 10 years, and swimming pools in particular are energy hungry,” Mr Jackson said. “We are looking at energy-saving methods in facilities, but there is still more that we can do and we are continuing to explore not only energy efficient ways of working but also environmentally friendly ones too.”

Patients undergoing hip and knee operations at Borders General Hospital have been back on their feet in no time, thanks to a new project.

The Enhanced Recovery Programme, the first of its kind in a general hospital in Scotland, has seen recovery time at the BGH slashed, and patients up and walking on the same day as their operation.

The new process has also helped patients’ recoveries by reducing pain and the need for procedures such as blood transfusion.

The project team, which includes nurses, doctors, managers and other healthcare workers, has been supported by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank.

Dr Ali Mehdi, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the BGH, said: “The enhanced recovery process demonstrates that a focused team approach, involving NHS Borders in embracing shared objectives, improved patient experience.

“Apart from benefitting individual patients, the project has benefited patients as a group in the local area by creating the ability to deliver quicker local care in a safe environment.”

This reduction in overall recovery time has been cut for most patients from six days to just three, with some even able to go home the day after their operation.

A lot of this is down to the new way in which patients receive anaesthetics, with special pumps infusing the area with local anaesthetic.

A special ‘hip and knee school’ delivered to patients two weeks before their operation by physiotherapists and occupational therapists has also helped prepare patients better. The success of the programme is being confirmed in positive feedback from patients.

Damon Sommerville, senior charge nurse on the 
orthopaedic ward, added: “The whole process demonstrated, and continues to demonstrate, that all staff working together to a common goal has real benefits for patients.”

Borderers are being urged to help a campaign to improve mobile phone coverage in the region.

They are asked to download the RootMetrics app onto their smartphone and use it to report what the signal strength is like in an area.

Petitions committee chairman Alex Nicol is to write to the Galashiels landowner of a Mossilee Road site requesting a 15-metre section of pavement be built alongside it.

Petitioner Ian Stephen argues the lack of walkway is dangerous.