The council’s TREADlightly initiative has been highly commended in the Energy Efficient Partnership of the Year category at the Energy Awards 2013 in London.
The staff awareness campaign involves using environmental champions and environmental monitoring to encourage more efficient and effective use of resources. The campaign covers energy and water, waste and recycling and travel and transport.
More than 120 NHS Borders employees will be relocated to the BGH complex and to offices in Melrose by the end of March in a bid to save cash.
Some staff will work from the main hospital building itself as well as the education centre, which is next to the short stay car park.
Employees will also be moved to the Westgrove offices on Waverley Road, Melrose.
An NHS Borders spokeswoman told The Southern: “The Newstead site, which currently hosts a head count of 124 employees including the board executive team and a range of NHS Borders support services will close by the end of March 2014.”
She added: “NHS Borders must achieve savings of £4.8 million by the end of the current financial year.
“The closure of the Newstead site will reduce our property, energy and maintenance costs in addition to releasing a capital resource for investment in healthcare services.”
The Newstead site will be put up for sale on the open market following the relocation of staff.
At a public meeting in Darnick last month, held to discuss parking issues following the introduction of parking restrictions at the BGH, concerns were raised about the implications of the move.
Provost of Melrose, Willie Windram, said more staff working at the Westgrove offices could cause parking issues at the Melrose end of High Cross Avenue and in Tweedmount Road.
He added: “I hope extra consideration is given to where these people will be able to park.”
This week Bridget Khursheed, chair of Darnick Village Trust and community councillor, said that following the introduction of staff car sharing spaces at the BGH the situation in the village had improved, although residents were not confident that this was the result of the changes or staff being on holiday.
“Traffic on High Cross Avenue still seems to be a recurring theme and people are wondering what will happen when the extra staff arrive from Newstead,” she said.
“Even with locals walking and some car sharing, it could take us right back to the problems we had before.”
In just over a year, 20 Borders school pupils have been forced to move schools because of bullying, John Lamont MSP has found.
In addition, between the end of 2011 and early this year, almost 400 school pupils in the region have requested to move schools, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
The response to Mr Lamont’s question from the council showed that 20 pupils moved due to concerns over bullying, including one pupil who was bullied in a sexual manner and another who was driven to self-harm.
John Lamont said: “It is incredibly sad to hear that within the space of a year so many children felt like they had to move to a different school to avoid bullying issues.
“No child deserves to be bullied, and to move school because of it will undoubtedly have an effect on each child’s education.
“It can also have a profound effect on their lives, leaving a child feeling threatened, left out and hurt. It is never an acceptable form of behaviour, and I know that the council and every school in the Scottish Borders has a strict no-tolerance approach to bullying.”
Mr Lamont added: “They work tirelessly to provide the safest and most positive learning environment possible, and their anti-bullying policy aims to intervene wherever there is a possible case of bullying occurring.
“However, these statistics show that no matter how hard you try, some cases of bullying will still occur.
“That is why it is important for children to speak up as soon as possible if they are being bullied. Too many young people keep it to themselves rather than seeking help, and by contacting a teacher, parent or guidance service they can start to receive help before the need to move school.”
Out-of-hours GPs will no longer be based outwith the BGH following changes to the Borders Emergency Care Service (BECS).
The change means Hawick, Kelso and Duns will no longer have out-of-hours doctor cover in the community.
NHS Borders medical director, Dr Sheena McDonald said: “Over the last 12 months throughout Scotland it has become increasingly difficult to recruit and retain GPs who wish to undertake evening and overnight work.
“NHS Borders has taken steps at an executive and operational level to deal with the challenges this poses in relation to out-of-hours services.”
Dr Craig Wheelans, interim clinical lead for BECS, added: “NHS Borders must evolve the high quality out-of-hours service that we provide to patients in response to the increasing demands on GPs during their working week.
“Since 2004 care has been co-ordinated from a hub based within the BGH and NHS Borders will continue to provide care in this manner, with patients triaged to be dealt with in the most appropriate location and by the most appropriate clinician based upon clinical need.”
Speaking to The Southern, John Lamont MSP said: “The Borders Emergency Care Service has provided vital help over the years that has no doubt helped to save many lives.
“We need to ensure that it continues to provide the best possible standard of care for Borders residents, but the withdrawal of GPs from the service puts this under threat.
“While some cases can be dealt with by a nurse, there will be others where a doctor will be needed, but for many people living in Berwickshire and Roxburgh there will no longer be one on call.
“It must be a priority to keep these GPs operating in all areas of the Borders, and something needs to be done to encourage more of them to step forward to take part in BECS.”
Emergency department consultant, Mr Jacques Kerr, said: “Despite current pressures on the out-of-hours service provided by GPs, we are confident within NHS Borders that we shall continue to have a robust and effective service for the management of patients during this period.
“This will involve close collaboration between the BECS and A&E services.”
Spark Energy says its finances and 200 jobs are secure, despite it impersonating “chronic debtors” to get them off its books.
BBC Radio 4’s You & Yours consumer programme found Spark’s employees systematically switched its worst customers to the “big six” energy suppliers, using their names, addresses, bank account details, dates of birth and telephone numbers. Energy watchdog Ofgem is “in dialogue” with Spark on these issues, and investigating others.
Chris Gauld, managing director of the Ettrick Riverside-based firm, told us the “young business” was owed £500,000 in 2011, despite contacting “persistent non-payers” on average up two dozen times.
He said: “If we hadn’t transferred these non-payers, it could have forced us out of business and cost 200 jobs in the Borders.
“Our terms and conditions clearly stated persistent refusal to pay bills could lead to us transferring them to another supplier. Since then, we’ve completely overhauled our customer-care systems and removed this process, and our customers now rate us as 4/5 for customer service.”
Mr Gauld added: “Today, our financial position is extremely secure and the company has grown significantly, now employing 200 local people. Our turnover this year is on course to exceed £80million and we are looking forward to continuing growth.”
Selkirk’s Wilma Gunn has been awarded an MBE for services to cardiac health and charity in Scotland in the New Year Honours.
The founder of the Scottish Heart at Risk Testing (HART) charity told The Wee Paper: “I’m chuffed to bits and a bit shocked”
Wilma, of Hallidays Park, set up Scottish HART in 1997 after the sudden death of her son, Cameron, who had cardiomyopathy. He collapsed while playing five-a-side football the night before his 20th birthday in 1991.
She first raised £5,000 for the Sick Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh before establishing Scottish HART which raises money to screen young people, families at risk and competitive sportspeople for heart disorders.
She explained: “I felt mothers like myself needed a bit of help, and sports clubs and others needed to be more aware of cardiomyopathy and its consequences.”
Scottish HART is also involved in installing defibrillators in public places and runs training programmes for them. And it is the charity behind the successful campaign to have heart screening at Hampden Park, run by Professor Stewart Hillis OBE and Dr John McLean.
Wilma said: “I appreciate this award very much and accept it in the knowledge that a whole lot of people have helped me and Scottish HART over the years to make awareness of cardiomyopathy much more high profile and help save lives all over Scotland.”
Next she hopes to see defibrillators in every town and village in Scotland.
Wilma was honoured in the Daily Record’s first Health Awards in 2002 and gained Guiding’ highest accolade, the Queen’s Guide, in 1962.
Christian Hepburne Scott hands a cheque for £2,200 to Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore, honorary patron of the charity Sense Scotland.
The cash was realised when Christian and Diana Muir, of the charity’s Borders branch, held a reel party in Humbie village hall. The Tibbermore Band gave their time to play and all ages joined in, including the dowager countess.
The money will be used to help the deaf/blind and those with related problems.
Ten students are set to transform health and wellbeing in their communities after graduating from a seven-week course at Borders College in Galashiels.
Run in partnership with Scottish Borders Council’s learning disability service, the Health Champions course offers adults with a learning disability the opportunity to find out more about nutrition and the benefits of regular physical activity.
The 10 students who graduated are: Laura Bandeen (Galashiels), Stewart Bell (Abbey St. Bathans),Heather Burton (Kelso), Tracy Cockburn (Greenlaw), Jean-Pierre Cossigny (Kelso), Matthew Holmes (Innerliethen), Frankie McBrier (Galashiels), Claire McKenzie (Coldstream), Samantha McLaren (Reston) and Helen Rodger (Peebles).
CADDONFOOT
Church
It has been a busy time at Caddonfoot Church over the festive period. The joint Christmas Eve watchnight service with Trinity was led by the Reverend Marion Dodd. Beadle George Wells rang the bell to bring in Christmas Day, the 50th occasion he had performed that task. The Advent candles were lit and the lessons read by Jo Lawson and Anne Grieve, while Atholl Innes told the story of the “Light of the World”. There was a retiring collection for the Lavender Touch, a charity supporting people with cancer in the Borders. On the previous Sunday, CY (Caddonfoot Youth) staged its nativity play led by Trina Bird and Claire Macfarlane. It was a ‘live’ occasion with baby Jesus a real Leah Decoteau, from Clovenfords, while mum Julie looked on. Mrs Bird also read the gospel lesson. The service was followed with sherry, mince pies, tea and coffee. Last Sunday, the Reverend Dodd conducted the service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Earlston
Women’s Group
The meeting on January 9 is in the church hall, starting at 8pm. Speaker is Donald McPhillamy from the Earlston Orchard Project.
Hawick
Rotary
President Scott Elliot welcomed 37 members, partners and guests to the Christmas night. After a festive meal, Bobby Cairns introduced the various artistes who he had invited/persuaded to entertain the company. Billy McWatters then performed a couple of tricks with a humorous commentary, and was followed by Ina Cairns reciting a hilarious poem, “The 12 Days of Turkey.” She was then joined by Betty Oliver and Dorothy Shiels in seasonal songs. Gus Neilson recounted his entertaining version of a “Politically-correct Christmas”, followed by Jane Bannerman singing – with great speed and humour – the “Nightmare Song” from Iolanthe. The company then sang “We Three Kings”, featuring powerful solos from Scott Elliot, Gus Neilson and Jack Swanston, before Pat Sutherland, following her hilarious story of “The Messiah”, as seen through the eyes of a Dumfriesshire shepherd,brought the evening to a close with “Mary’s Boy Child.” All the artistes were accompanied on piano by Rosalyn Walker. Vice-president Sandy Bannerman accorded all the performers a hearty vote of thanks, before the president Scott brought the evening to a close.
Walkerburn
Service
The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on January 19 at 10am.
Yarrowford
WRI
Members enjoyed a Christmas meal at Borders College served by students. The next meeting will be a talk by Fairtrade Selkirk on January 14 in the hall. Competitions – three pieces of cherry shortbread and a favourite side plate.
Borders MSP Christine Grahame met a group of Community First Responders (CFRs) from Peebles, Innerleithen and Walkerburn, along with Scottish Ambulance Service staff, to offer congratulations following the CFRs’ successful application for lottery funding.
The money was for the purchase of high-visibility jackets and uniform polo shirts, plus training equipment.
CFRs are volunteers who fill the gap between a call being made for an ambulance and it arriving. Living locally and knowing the area, they can arrive quickly and help someone who has suffered, for example, a heart attack, respiratory problem or chest pain while the ambulance is on its way.
More volunteers are needed in the Peebles, Innerleithen and Walkerburn areas – anyone interested should go to http://www.scottishambulance.com/YourCommunity/responders.aspx or http://www.peebles-theroyalburgh.info/peebles-first-responders.
An online petition urging Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to ‘get the work done’ following flooding in Jedburgh town centre in the run-up to Christmas has attracted nearly 200 signatures.
The petition by East Lothian resident Moya Anderson calls on the council to enact the recommendations made by the engineering experts it commissioned.
It says: “Please, please Scottish Borders Council, get the work done, it would only take a few days to stop the future risk of flooding that has affected the families, vulnerable and elderly people and small business. Give people peace of mind that all that could be done has been done.”
Retired Scotsman journalist Bill Chisholm, whose son Mark, of Blackhills Close, was made homeless in last August’s flood and again on December 21, wrote to councillors, John Lamont MSP and environment minister Paul Wheelhouse saying: “The council has failed in its duty and must be held responsible for tonight’s (December 21) catastrophic event. Nothing has been done in the 16 months since the last flood to stop the burn from overflowing. And the warning system is obviously a joke.”
Scottish Borders Councillor Jim Brown confirmed the initial £50,000 works on the problematic Skip Running Burn grill and other measures to release water build-up have been brought forward from March to early this month, despite the risk of frost on the concrete-laying operations involved.
Community council chairman Richard Gordon said: “There is a project in place and hopefully the council will speed up its implementation: planning and SEPA consent is needed.”
Borders vets have set up a new sheep group to pool expertise and provide the best and latest advice to farmers.
Border Sheep Health, numbering 12 so far, formed in November and hopes to send out its first newsletter to producers this month.
One of the team, Kelso vet Kath Dun, said: “We’re keen to highlight topical disease issues in sheep and to improve discussion and co-orientated approach, and getting a collaborative message across about sheep husbandry, farming and sheep welfare.
“The group will hopefully be able to give out a unified and impartial voice on sheep veterinary matters and to have a forum upon which to transfer that information to our Borders farmers.”
Kath continued: “As vets we feel a group approach rather than an individual practice approach will enable us to get information out to farmers more effectively. By combining veterinary strengths and expertise, we can give out unbiased advice and recommendations.
“However, we would always encourage farmers to speak in more depth with their own veterinary practice, as their own vets are the ones who know their farm and flock best of all.”
Kath explained the group came about after Galashiels vet David Taylor attended an international sheep conference in New Zealand last February and was inspired by the way vet practices there worked together in an area to discuss sheep matters, and to collaborate information to disseminate to sheep farmers.
“He thought that with the high number of sheep farms here in the Borders, and with a great number of experienced and enthusiastic sheep practitioners across the region, that perhaps a group could be set up in our area”.
All practices across the region were approached about joining and most are represented, she said, along with a vet from the SAC Veterinary Investigation Centre at Greycrook, St Boswells.
The group plans to meet four to five times a year and produce articles, information bulletins, do radio features, produce newsletters and perhaps set up information/practical meetings for farmers.
Kath said: “We’re lucky to have a high population of sheep in our area, so we need to be top of our game as veterinary surgeons to ensure that correct and valid advice and support is given to our farmers to ensure good health, welfare and productivity on their farms.
“Many of the health issues in sheep are both seasonal and weather-dependent – for example, we need to be able to look at weather forecasting for a particular year and for our particular area, and decide on the risk factors for parasites like liver fluke and how severe the challenge to sheep will be for that year. Extra wet summers lead to a higher risk of liver fluke, problems of death and ill thrift in our flocks throughout the autumn and winter months. Similarly, the busiest time in the sheep health calendar is likely to be around lambing time, so we need to target our advice and expertise around that time.”
The Southern will carry features from Border Sheep Health throughout the year.
A MULTI-BREED show and sale of sheep at this year’s Scotsheep in Berwickshire will be “a great opportunity”, says Heriot farmer Jimmy Sinclair.
The show and sale of pairs of breeding ewe hoggs is expected to be a major feature of the leading biennial event for sheep producers, hosted this year by John and Iain Macfarlane at Quixwood, Grantshouse, on June 4.
Mr Sinclair, the immediate past chairman of National Sheep Association (NSA) Scotland, which organises NSA Scotsheep, said: “The prize money provides a real incentive to exhibitors and the show and sale will present a great opportunity for both buyers and sellers to trade high-quality breeding ewe hoggs,”
The show and sale will include classes for 14 breeds and follows a similar sale – the first of its kind to be held in Scotland – at the Highland Sheep event at Dingwall earlier this year.
Mr Sinclair continued: “The sale at Highland Sheep proved highly successful and attracted a huge ringside of buyers, with a top price of 550gns each, for a pair of Suffolks from Mrs Irene Fowlie.”
Classes are being offered for Beltex, Bluefaced Leicester, Charollais, Jacob, Lleyn, North Country Cheviot (hill), North Country Cheviot (park), Scottish Blackface, Mules, Shetland, Suffolk, Texel, Zwartbles and any other breed.
The sale will be conducted by United Auctions, Stirling.
The closing date for entries is May 2.
For more information contact Euan Emslie, NSA Scotsheep organiser, on 01430 441870/07718 908523 or at euan@appliedremedies.co.uk.
Robert Turnbull, president of Melrose Amateur Operatic Society, hands over a £1,500 cheque to Judith Smith, lead nurse consultant at the Borders Macmillan Centre.
The cash was raised when members of the amateur operatic society and friends performed a Musical Memories concert in Earlston Parish Church in memory of the late Sheila Turnbull, Robert’s wife and member.
A NEW man is in the driving seat of bust company First in the Borders following a change at the top.
Paul McGowan has taken over as managing director of First Scotland East with responsibility for a fleet of 400 and a staff of around 1,000.
He replaces Paul Thomas who is working elsewhere in the bus industry and the new boss admits it is not an easy time for the industry.
He commented: “We are operating in a difficult environment and despite recent improvements, there is much to be done to build a strong and successful business.”
He added: “I am delighted to have the opportunity of leading a fantastic team who are committed to moving First Scotland East, forward.”
The regional director of First Bus in Scotland, Neil Barker, commented: “Paul’s appointment is an important one as we look to build on the improvements delivered in the area over the past two years. He knows First Scotland East extremely well and brings with him a wealth of experience and a fantastic track record.”
Mr McGowan will be based at First Scotland East’s HQ at Larbert and started his new job last month.
The company has a depot in Galashiels and outstations in Hawick, Peebles and Kelso.
MORE than 130 people were arrested in the Borders during Police Scotland’s Operation Tinsel.
During the month-long campaign 26 people were charged with violent crimes and a further 28 charged for domestic abuse offences.
Local policing teams also arrested 78 people for anti-social behaviour throughout December and early January.
As a result of a ‘robust presence’ on the Borders’ road network, 37 people have been reported for a range of motoring offences including drink driving, driving without insurance, speeding and using a mobile phone.
Chief Insp Kenny Simpson said: “We launched Operation Tinsel to provide reassurance to the public over the festive period, but also to send a clear message that crime within the Scottish Borders would not be tolerated.
“Local policing teams were out in large numbers to speak with communities and offer information on personal security as well as to detect and deter criminal activity.”
He added: “Operation Tinsel may have come to an end, but police in the Scottish Borders will continue to proactively target those involved in criminal activity and bring them to justice, while at the same time offering all the necessary crime prevention information to our communities.”
WOOLER
At their weekly Primestock sale on Friday, January 3, John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 991 hoggs and 169 ewes.
With the festive season coming to a close all classes were keenly sort after, selling vendors receiving greater returns and lifting averages substantially.
Leading prices per head:- Suff.x:- £105 Edlingham Newtown, £86.50 Craigshouse, £84 Ladykirk, £83.50, £83 West Longridge. Tex.x:- £96, £92 Ewart, £90, £89 Ladykirk, £89 Edlingham Newtown, £88 Lickar Moor, £86.50 Ewart, £85.50 Kettleburn and Black Heddon, £85 Newstead, Ewart, Kettleburn, Lickar Moor, Black Heddon and West Longridge. Bel:- £86.50 Ewart, £85 Ladykirk (2). Chev:- £84, £81.50 Humbleheugh. Char:- £82.50 Wandon. Mule:- £80 Ewart.
Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 223.7p, 207.9p Ladykirk. Tex.x:- 213.8p Black Heddon, 211.3p Cockhall and Lickar Moor, 209.2p Greystonnes, Warenford, 203.7p Lorbottle, 202.4p Lickar Moor and Ladykirk. Chev:- 202.6p Humbleheugh. BFL:- 202.6p Broadlaw. Suff.x:- 196.3p Kettleburn. Mule:- 196.3p Broadlaw.
A strong show of ewes, with an increase in returns,
Leading prices:- Tex.x:- £97 Middle Ord, £89 Ford Dairy, £83 Berryhill. Suff.x:- £89 Berryhill, £86 Middle Ord. Chev:- £73 Humbleheugh. Mule:- £66 Middle Ord, £58 Berryhill, £57 Brandon White House. BF:- £41 (2) Linhope Farming (Hartside).
Rams:- Tex.x:- £127 Edlingham Newtown, £127 Ewart, £113 Ford Dairy. Suff.x:- £93 Edlingham Newtown. BF:- £81 Edlingham Newtown.
ST BOSWELLS
At their weekly Primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 71 clean cattle, 75 OTM cattle, 3,479 prime and cast sheep, 2,671 old season SQQ lambs and 808 ewes.
Bullocks (31) averaged 231.7p per kg and sold to 260p (-3.5p on week), heifers (38) averaged 229.3p per kg and sold to 257p (-10.3p on week), two young bulls averaged 202.4p per kg and sold to 205p (n/c on week) and 75 beef type OTM cattle averaged 126.7p per kg and sold to 185p (+2.1p on the week).
Old season SQQ lambs averaged 193.3p per kg (+1.1p on week) and sold to £104. Ewes averaged £56.49, and sold to £115 and £123 for tups. Heavy ewes £72.68. Light ewes £42.70.
Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.60(2) M/s Cropper and W Taylor (Lockerbie), 2.57 W Taylor(Lockerbie), 2.46 M/s Cropper, 2.50 Hugh Black and Sons Ltd; Shidlaw 2.49 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd; Upper Nisbet 2.47 Denholm Meats, 2.45, 2.44 M/s TA Shaw; Lurdenlaw 2.46 M/s JP Mason and Son, 2.42 W Taylor (Lockerbie), 2.41 M/s JA Waters and Sons; Longnewton 2.41 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons.
Principal prices per head: Lurdenlaw £1773.10, £1635.90, £1605.45; Bee Edge £1586, £1560.
Cows per head: Kersknowe £1507.75, £1477.95, £1234.80; Mosstower £1302.60; Corsbie £1115.40; Phantassie £1278.90, £1112, £1098.10; Thrunton £1251.60, £1223.60; Wester Middleton £1207.50, £1128; Muircleugh £1160, £1129.70.
Cows per kg: Kersknowe 1.85, 1.77, 1.47; Newstead 1.83, 1.71; Mosstower 1.67; Queenscairn 1.67; Wester Middleton 1.61, 1.57, 1.53; Thrunton 1.61, 1.49; Wolfstar 1.47, 1.45; Phantassie 1.47.
Cows: Corsbie £1299.30 (1.22).
Lambs per head: Tex.x;- £104 Elmscleugh, £94 Outer Huntly, BFL;- £95 Tinnis, Suff.x;- £89.50 Corsbie, £89 Newton, Ber;- £89, £88 Springwood (Powell), Suff;- £87 Belmont, Bel;- £86.50, £86, £83 Hartside, Chev;- £83 Saughtree, GF;- £81 Hundalee (Wade), £80 Hartside, CM;- £76.50 Ashcraig, BF;- £76 Elmscleugh, £75 Hartside, Peel and Outer Huntly.
Lambs per kg: Tex.x;- 215 Torsonce, 210.3 Dunslaw, 209 Huntington, Suff.x;- 205.1, 202.5 Dunslaw, 200 Stoneypath and Blackhill, Chev;- 202.6 Thornington, Bel;- 202.6 Lylestane, Suff;- 202.6 Belmont, CM;- 196.2 Ashcraig, GF;- 192.3 Ashcraig, 191 Dunslaw, BF;- 190.8 Skelfhill.
Cast ewes: Tex;- £115 Wedderlie, £111 Springwood, Suff;- £95 Springwood, £91 Spotsmains, Suff.x;- £85 Rumbletonrig, Bel;- £73 Justice Park, CM;- £70 Thirlestane, HB;- £67 Upper Bolton, £65 Blackhill, Chev;- £65 Ecclaw, Ham;- £65 Ecclaw, GF;- £63 Thirlestane, £61 Birkenside, Ber;- £63 Springwood, BL;- £60 Spotsmains, Lly;- £60 Whitriggs, BF;- £43 Mid Harrietsfield, Bowland and Upper Chatto.
Rams: Tex;- £123 Elmscleugh, £119 Thirlestane, £115 Craigsford Mains and Ruchlaw Mains, Char;- £107 Ruchlaw Mains, Suff;- £103 Buxley.
LONGTOWN
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 12 prime cattle, three young bulls, three over 30 month cattle, 4,202 prime hoggs and 4,317 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.
Prime cattle again in short supply and many more could have been sold to advantage with plenty of keen bidders insuring averages were 20p up on the week. Top price to 231.5p on three occasions, first for a Limousin bullock from J.F. and I. Armstrong, Nether Onsett, then Limousin heifers from T. Armstrong and Son, Sceughdyke and W. and W. Faulder, Houghton House respectfully.
Bulls short of requirements and trade took a big jump. Top price of 198.5p for a Limousin x Friesian from Messrs T.B. Imrie, Harelawhole. Black and Whites over 16 months sold to 165.5p also from Messrs Imrie.
Cows scarce with no meat on offer selling to 91.5p from J.G. Vevers, Peterscrook.
A smaller show of 4,202 prime hoggs were forward to the usual full ring of buyers. A lot more heavy hoggs forward which sold to recent high rates, export hoggs slightly easier apart from the best kinds with small hoggs up to 35 kilos in strong demand, averaging £2. For all those that made the effort to get hoggs here they were rewarded with a sound trade throughout, the overall sale average of 188.6p per kilo (SQQ 194.2p per kilo). Top was £116 per head for Texels from Snowsgreen with a top per kilo of 259p for Texels from Low Lonning.
The 788 lightweight hoggs forward were a good show for quality and easily sold at high rates, more could be sold to vendors advantage. Top of £90 for Texels from Copperthorns, £80.50 Copperthorns.
A smaller show of 4,317 cast ewes and rams were forward to the usual ring of buyers who were all keen for sheep with ewes being £2 to £3 dearer on the week, plain ewes slightly easier. More large lean ewes could be sold to vendors advantage but most noticeable was the rise in the trade of Greyface ewes.
It’s always good to start a new year with a challenge and this year looks like being more challenging than most in the Corbie household.
After losing our old Border collie “Tibbie” in the autumn last year, we decided to go “dogless” for a time to see how it went, as we are a dozen or so years older now than when we first took her on.
But coming down the stairs in the morning to an empty kitchen, coming home from work with no rapturous welcome and walking in the countryside with nothing to share your sandwiches with, were all too much to bear, so a decision was made.
A new dog it would be, but as it would probably be our last, we decided to downsize.
It all happened sooner than expected. After seeing an advert in The Southern for cockapoo puppies, just before Christmas, we went for a look – absolutely fatal!
For the uninitiated, a cockapoo is the modern version of a mongrel (a cocker spaniel crossed with a poodle), but more trendy.
The idea is that it combines the best bits of both breeds – cocker’s good nature and poodle’s intelligence and coat that doesn’t cast.
One look at the wee mite and we were smitten. She was all black with floppy lugs, a wavy coat and completely irresistible. We had to wait until after Christmas before she could leave her mum, so that gave us time to come up with a suitable name.
It had to be appropriate for an all-black, female and be a bit different. We compiled a list. “Sweep” – too male, “Golly” too racist, “Bramble” – good, but we used to have a cat called that.
Eventually, the name “Treacle” came up and it ticked all the boxes – black, runs a lot and sticks to your feet when you walk.
As I write we have had her home a week and I’m exhausted.
I’d forgotten how such a wee thing can be so demanding.
I think she is going to be quite bright as she is already partly toilet trained, knows her name and sleeps all night without any disturbance.
When she’s in full flight, however, it’s a case of all hands on deck.
She’s not old enough yet to join me on my forages into the Borders countryside, but I’m sure that before the year is out she will be featuring regularly in this column.
I can hardly wait.
If teacher numbers are cut, a move to a four-and-a-half day school week will help, the council’s director of education has revealed.
Announcing a consultation on the proposed move to an asymmetric week in all Borders schools from August, Glenn Rodger said: “As teachers’ salaries make up the majority of the schools’ budgets, a managed reduction in teacher numbers is the most viable route to achieving savings targets.
“A move to an asymmetric week will assist schools to plan and deliver teaching and learning in the most efficient way and potentially in future with fewer teachers.
“However, there are a number of other benefits to the change. There is already a consensus amongst our primary and secondary head teachers that an asymmetric week would allow for greater collaboration between all teachers and enhance joint planning around key aspects of Curriculum for Excellence.”
A series of public meetings will be held across the area to discuss the proposal, with the consultation closing on February 28.
Pupils, parents, staff and stakeholders are being encouraged to make their views known, with an online survey set up on the SBC website.
Under the system, both primary and secondary pupils would spend four-and-a-half days in school each week, but with no reduction in the total classroom time for pupils.
For full details of the public meetings, see the SBC website.
John Lamont MSP has called for pupils to hand in mobile phones at the start of classes after 233 were confiscated in a high school in three years.
Mr Lamont said: “The classroom is supposed to be a place for learning, but these statistics show that more and more lessons are being disrupted by those with mobile phones.
“Teachers have had to stop their lesson hundreds of times over the past few years just to deal with those playing on their phones.
“It is now all too easy for a pupil to have access to their phones in class, and to distract themselves and others around them. This is not only adversely affecting their education, but the education of everyone else in the class who has to put up with the disruption.”
He added: “We need to start clamping down on their use in classrooms, and the common sense thing to do would be to have all pupils hand their phones in at the beginning of the lesson.
“This would allow the teacher to get on with their job of teaching our youngsters, rather than have to deal with constant disruptions.”
The statistics were revealed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the council, but only one high school had recorded data on disciplinary action on mobile phone use since 2010.
The Borders MSP has also urged parents of schoolchildren to be wary of cyber-bullying after the council revealed that 16 cases have been reported in schools since 2010.
In response to another FOI request, SBC revealed that four incidents were uncovered in primary schools and the rest in local high schools.
According to the response, in each case the parents of the children were informed and the police were involved in at least two instances. A case in 2013 led to a pupil’s exclusion.
Mr Lamont said: “Technology, the internet and social media can be great tools to connect people and improve the ways in which youngsters learn. However, as these statistics show, they can also be used as another medium in which to bully others.
He added that he was pleased that the cases had been ‘dealt with in a strict manner’ and said a zero tolerance, as adopted in the region would discourage others.
But Mr Lamont added: “Many cases of cyber-bullying go unreported and we must be vigilant against it.”