At Earlston Camera Club’s final meeting of the 2013/14 session, Peter Moore won the Helen McDonald Travel Award.

It was donated to the club in memory of long-standing club member Helen by her family.

From the range of images submitted for the final competition of the year, it was no easy task for her family to decide the best entries. Digital – 1, Peter Moore; 2, Linsey Anderson; 3, Curtis Welsh. Print – 1, Adam Drummond; 2, Allan Drummond; 3, Helen Pugh-Cook.

The judging followed a presentation by club member Angela Jewell on a trip to Laos and Cambodia.

The photograph shows Peter Moore, centre, receiving the Helen McDonald Travel Award from Angela and Graeme Howlieson, Helen’s step-daughter and son-in-law.

At his final meeting before retirement, Glenn Rodger, the council’s director of education, was given a standing ovation by elected members.

Mr Rodger arrived at the council in 2002. His first job was to tackle a £4million black hole in the department’s budget.

Twelve years on, Mr Rodger’s early retirement prompted councillors to give him a rousing farewell.

“My 12 years as director of education and lifelong learning in the Scottish Borders has been the highlight of my professional career,” said Mr Rodger.

“It is the people around you that make things happen and I am fortunate to have been surrounded by excellent staff both in schools and in the education department.

“That being the case, I am sure that education in the Borders will continue to go from strength to strength in the future.”

Council convener, Councillor Graham Garvie, said: “Glenn Rodger has dedicated his career to improving the education of children and has been a superb director of education and lifelong learning for the people of the Scottish Borders.

“He has been consistently bold in his thinking but has always sought to include teachers, parents and pupils in his vision for better education in the Borders.

“Whether at public meetings, face to face individual meetings, or giving advice to councillors, Glenn’s professional and approachable style has never failed to impress.”

The half-day pupils will enjoy from August is an opportunity that needs grasped, the chairman of Borders Sport and Leisure Trust has said.

David Ferguson, a father of two high school children, told The Southern: “There are questions to be asked over the speed of this decision and the implications for education and future generations, and there will be difficult issues for schools and parents.

“But, the implementation of the asymmetric week has now been agreed and we have a choice - continue to fight against it, when we know significant savings are needed, or look at how we can take advantage of it for our children and families.”

Mr Ferguson said pupils will be asked after Easter what clubs would interest them, to establish the potential popularity of ‘Friday Clubs’.

He added that these could be significantly cheaper than childcare for working parents.

“Under the asymmetric week, the Friday afternoons will free up time for such clubs. How many? Where? That will come down to where the community support and enthusiasm exists, and where the manpower and finance is available,” Mr Ferguson said.

He added that discussions with SBC and schools suggested that some facilities will be available within schools on Friday afternoons.

“We could have clubs for music, drama, art, dance, cooking, languages, gardening, trades, ICT, film-making, computer game coding and others - areas under pressure in finance-strapped schools struggling to find space, funding and staff to support them in the modern curriculum,” Mr Ferguson said.

“This could actually have positive benefits for children, families and schools. The key thing is we’ve got a short space of time to make it happen.

“If we get to August and nothing has been properly organised children will drift and go down the street on Friday afternoons or go to friends’ houses and it will be hard to pull them back from that.”

Mr Ferguson said senior pupils could also take on leadership or coaching roles at the clubs.

He added that BSLT is in a good position to provide activities for pupils on Fridays.

If you would be interested in supporting a Friday Club network email davidferg@btinternet.com

Rural surveyor Tom Oates has left George F White to join Youngs RPS as an equity partner.

The son of well-known Borders farmers Richard and Marion Oates, he made the move after 15 years with his former company.

Tom said: “Youngs RPS has a strong reputation for its core rural work, and I am pleased to be able to add my expertise to the existing capability here.

“The opportunity to join was one I was delighted to accept, and will allow me to continue to carry out and develop my work across the Borders and further north.”

He will continue to be based in north Northumberland but will work throughout Scotland.

Tom has worked in land sales and acquisitions; valuations; CAP reform; land and business management; and landlord and tenant work.

Last week he was an expert witness in only the second rent review case to appear before the Scottish Land Court since the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003, involving a Kelso farmer.

Tom is also an approved agent of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and is listed on the DEFRA valuation panel. He has worked throughout the Borders, Lothians, Perthshire, Angus, Dumfriesshire and the islands during this career.

Tom grew up at Lumbylaw, Alnwick, Northumberland, where his parents, now at Billerwell, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick, were noted Limousin and Texel breeders. He was with Harrison and Hetherington for three years, following his land agency qualification, before George F White approached him to become a land agent and auctioneer at farm sales. He still keeps his hand in and sells occasionally.

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYC) is going from strength to strength with membership numbers at their highest since 1999.

The trend is reflected in the Border Federation District where numbers have increased year on year, with more than 100 14- to 30-year-olds now enjoying the clubs in their area.

The new district office bearers are: Angus Beck (chairman), Andrew Tullie (vice chairman), Jamie Gilchrist (secretary), Ben Moffat (assistant secretary), Robert Fleming (treasurer) and Mathew Ramsden (assistant treasurer). Part of the teams’s work is to support the clubs in the area. SAYC’s motto is “Not just for those who wear wellies” and officials are keen to stress SAYFC is for anyone who would like to be part of an organisation that offers personal development opportunities.

Angus, 23, who works on his family’s mixed farm, joined local club Ednam YFC when he was 16, becoming treasurer then chairman before taking on those roles at district level.

He said: “The Young Farmers organisation is fantastic. It has let me meet a good group of friends with the same interests, and has given me the confidence to speak in front of anyone.”

Ednam YFC celebrates its 70th anniversary this year and recently took part in the East Regional Sheep Dressing competition, reinstated into the syllabus at the request of members from the Border Federation District.

Treasurer Robert Fleming, 24, is particularly proud of his club, Reston JAC, who recently won the East Regional Hockey competition.

“Over the next year we hope to encourage more members to take part in regional and national events – it is a great way to try out new activities,” he said.

Another local club, Ettrick and Lauderdale, came second in the East Region Clay Pigeon Shooting where district assistant Secretary Ben Moffat, 22, was part of a team of three.

Ben, who works on his family stock farm, was competing against ten other teams : “Through competitions such as this one, and all the social balls and dances I’ve met a lot of people from all over Scotland and made good friends. The clay pigeon shoot was one of the highlights for me last year.”

Regional vice-chairman Finlay MacFarlane, 26, said: “Border Federation is a very strong district who continuously look for ways to get members involved.

“Over the last year we have seen them take part in more regional and national events, and this is something I hope will continue to grow.

“It is important that our members help drive the association forward, and by taking on an office bearer role we have the opportunity to reinvest our experience and knowledge in new and younger members.”

Other club competitions include stockjudging, arts and crafts, drama, ten pin bowling, speechmaking, quiz, go karting and football.

Anyone interested in joining should contact their local club secretary – Garry Fleming (Ednam YFC) on 07791 951907; Ben Moffat (Ettrick & Lauderdale JAC), 07860 456508; Fiona Mitchell (Reston JAC), 07515 099305; Iain Livesey (Teviotdale YFC), 07746 643981 - or Jamie on 07747 096751.

Hawick Salvation Army corps raised £272 at a coffee morning for the army’s hospital in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The hospital is raising money to provide clean drinking water to 250 homes in the city and the coffee morning was held, appropriately, on United Nations’ World Water Day.

The hospital was set up in the late 1970s by Gattonside resident and Salvation Army commissioner Harry Williams, and is named after him. Harry, who will be 101 in July, is pictured with Lieutenant Caroline Parkin, leader of the Hawick corps, and a poster illustrating the work of the hospital.

I WAS having a conversation with a friend of mine recently who has his own one-man business. He told me that he should really get a Facebook business page set up, but he has no interest in Facebook at all.

I told him what I tell many of my clients who come to me to get started on social media marketing – you may not want to be on Facebook, but there are around 1.3billion other people who are … and that’s a lot of potential customers!

I’ve heard people say that they simply refuse to have anything to do with Facebook because they don’t agree with it.

The simple message is, “Don’t ignore Facebook!”

Now, Facebook may have all these millions upon millions of users, and the thought of being able to get your message to all of them sounds very appealing, but wait!

It is Facebook’s ability to let you home in on exactly the kind of people who will be interested in your product or service that is the deal breaker.

Being able to deliver your message to several thousand highly targeted users is far more valuable than broadcasting to all and sundry.

There can be a huge temptation to create a Facebook page for your business and immediately start posting information about your products, services and offers, pushing for sales straight away.

Remember, though, that Facebook is social media.

Imagine, for a moment, that you’re at a cocktail party. There’s a room full of people milling around, and you decide to mingle.

The first person that you meet is soooo boring; they just talk about themselves, showing no interest in you or what you have to say. You take the first opportunity you can to move on.

The next person seems more interesting – they listen to what you have to say, have some helpful advice, and throw in a bit of humour as well. You decide to stick around to see what else this person has to offer.

You can extend this analogy to Facebook. Set up a page and post nothing but self-promotional posts and you’re simply wasting your time. You’re asking people to buy into you before you’ve passed the “Know, Like and Trust” barrier: people need to know you, like you and trust you before they’ll buy. So, give before you ask.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to give away free samples of your product. Give value by posting relevant content that people will find useful and may even share with their friends.

Over time you can nurture these relationships, getting more and more engagement on your page. This will help you build authority, credibility and likeability.

If you do it right, you’ll not need to engage in any hard sell – your audience will be more receptive to products and offers that you then drop into the ‘conversation’.

One of the misconceptions about Facebook marketing is that it is free. Getting Facebook right takes time, effort and, more and more so nowadays, an advertising budget. Fortunately, your budget does not need to break the bank. You can dip your toe in the water for only a few pounds.

So, if the thought of signing up for a Facebook account makes your skin crawl, take a deep breath and take the plunge anyway.

Andrew McEwan of The Web Workshop in Morebattle (www.thewebworkshop.net) helps businesses in the Scottish Borders and beyond with their online presence and digital marketing.

This week, our correspondent, Union Jack, tells of the most important event in the 13-year intervention by coalition forces in Afghanistan.

US Army Lt-General Milley, previous commander of ISAF Joint Command, made it very clear the presidential election is the biggest strategic event since coalition forces intervened to rebuild the country after Taliban rule.

The insurgents know this and are doing everything to disrupt the election process.

Hence, everything I do with the public affairs team, or indeed everything that any of the teams here do, is based upon creating a secure environment for elections to take place.

I wouldn’t know how close the nearest policemen, let alone troops, are to my local polling station in Eccles, but fortunately any ‘rebels’ in Birgham are unlikely to interfere with the democratic process.

Here in Afghanistan, election logistics is a huge operation, made more difficult by much of the country being affected by insurgent activity, and also because this is a very mountainous country and snow covers much of the landscape.

Historically, previous rulers have either died in office or been physically deposed. Never before has an Afghan national leader handed over power as the result of a democratic election.

This Saturday, the 21million registered voters will have the opportunity to be part of history.

The council’s acting director of social work has said the introduction of self-directed support on April 1 is the biggest change in the sector during her career.

Stella Everingham made the comment at a meeting of the executive committee, adding that the new legislation will also require changes across the Borders, with some services still only offering block bookings.

The council will now provide ongoing social work services using the new approach, which means that each person can choose how involved they would like to be in their assessment and how much control they would like to have in planning their support and managing their budget.

Each person who is eligible for support will be allocated a budget to spend in a way which meets their needs.

Four options in self-directed support (SDS) enable people to choose the level of involvement they want, including having a direct payment made to their bank account or having a social worker arrange the services required.

A combination of options are also available.

Ms Everingham added: “SDS is a radical change to the social care system and it will affect all of the work we do.”

My years in lambing sheds were such painful experiences I’m always impressed by those farmers and shepherds who not only manage the process well, but enjoy it.

That was reinforced last week by a visit to friends lambing over 1000 ewes and watching ‘Lambing Live’ on TV.

The same sense of calm and orderliness was evident at both farms as healthy ewes gave birth to healthy lambs and well organised systems saw them then move on from individual pens to groups indoors then out to grass. Spending an hour or so on the ‘real’ farm with two grandchildren who were entranced by a pen of lambs on deep straw with an automatic milk feeder kept my anti-sheep feelings at bay. That might change, but seeing lambs through a child’s eyes made me smile.

The same was true of watching the Dykes family on their farm at West Linton in the TV spotlight. Hamish Dykes was not only calm while helping a ewe with a tricky birth with the camera on him, but patient when listening to presenter Kate Humble. She is an enthusiast, but a surname has seldom been less appropriate.

Always on the lookout for the downside of sheep I stayed alert for any sign of a dead ewe or the plastic bag containing dead lambs that always seemed to be part of my own lambing experience. Nary a sign, and every small crisis of lambs coming tail first, one leg back, head stuck or temporary refusal to breathe once extracted ended happily.

An occasional hint that it is not always so even in the best of lambing sheds would have been welcome, but overall the five nights of ‘Lambing Live’ was a good advert for professional sheep farming, including the visit to the slaughterhouse to show the quality end product.

Slaughter of a different kind is on the minds of many sheep farmers as in spite of pleas, warnings and publicity campaigns sheep worrying by dogs continues to increase. It’s difficult to know what more can be done to prevent irresponsible owners allowing their dogs to run free and amok among defenceless sheep.

Shooting them – the dogs, that is, not the owners although some might think the humans more culpable than the animals – is one answer. But most attacks are unseen, it’s the aftermath carnage of dead, dying and mutilated sheep that is found. It comes down to some owners seeing dogs chasing sheep as sport and many others suffering the “He/she just wants to play” blind spot familiar to anyone who has been jumped on, pawed and slavered over by any family pet.

A saying I hadn’t heard was quoted to me recently, namely that “As the days get longer, they get colder.” That certainly seemed to be true of March and the cold winds that blew almost incessantly. In spite of that, landwork is well on, there has been some crop growth and the blackthorn blossom this spring seems more profuse than I’ve seen it for some years. Or perhaps that is wishful thinking – as might be my hope that April won’t be poet TS Eliot’s “cruellest month” as it was last year.

A 14-year-old male has been arrested and reported to the Children’s Panel following an incident at Kelso High School on Monday, March 31.

Police responded to a bomb threat at the high school around 2.30pm on the day in question, following a suspicious call.

The school was evacuated as a precaution before it was determined that the call was a hoax.

Chief Inspector Kenny Simpson said: “This hoax call caused significant disruption and some alarm to pupils.

“This led to a robust and an extensive inquiry to establish the circumstances, resulting in the quick arrest. We hope this arrest serves as a reminder of how serious such matters are treated.”

Jazz comes to the Borders on Saturday (April 12) when the Nova Scotia Jazz Band gets audiences toe-tapping at the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles.

Veterans of the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and Glastonbury, the quartet play Dixieland jazz in the classic style with Lorne Cowieson on trumpet, Duncan Findlay on banjo, bass player Andy Sharkey and, on clarinet, saxophones and vocals, John Burgess.

Since forming in 2009 the band have played at major festivals and events all over the UK from London to Shetland and special guests have included Roy Williams, Jim Fryer, Ian Bateman, Stephanie Trick, Brian Kellock, Digby Fairweather, Richard Leach, Gregor Beck and Forrie Cairns.

For their concert at the Eastgate they will be joined by the top class BBC Radio Big Band drummer Tom

Gordon.

In 2011 the NSJB won their first award as ‘Best Early Jazz Band’ in the Scottish Jazz Awards and 2012 saw their debut film appearance as the travelling Dixieland band in The Happy Lands.

For more information visit www.novascotiajazzband.co.uk or ring the Eastgate.

The Dog Aid Society of Scotland is a dog charity based in Edinburgh. They rehome dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages throughout Scotland, working on a home from home basis, fully home checking all prospective new owners.

If you are making the difficult decision to rehome your dog, the charity can offer friendly advice on its free rehoming service.

They believe in responsible dog ownership, therefore they provide financial assistance for dog owners on low incomes. The society encourages neutering by offering vouchers worth £50 to be used at your local vet. It also provides Veterinary Aid Scheme to help towards unexpected vet bills.

The society operates fully on donations as it receives no government funding.

If you would like to support the charity, you can send a cheque, postal order or donate through its website, www.dogaidsociety.com.

For more information on the society’s schemes, dogs available for rehoming, to rehome your dog or to be added to the mailing list for updates, please contact the society at 60 Blackford Avenue, Edinburgh, EH9 3ER, by calling 0131 668 3633, visit www.dogaidsociety.com

or get in touch via Facebook – www.facebook.com/dogaidsociety – or Twitter @dogaidsociety

The Dog Aid Society of Scotland is a registered charity.

Reg Charity No: SC001918

Meet Archie and Sasha. These lovely dogs are looking for new homes. They are currently staying at Arthurshiels Animal Rescue Centre, near St Boswells.

Sasha is a 17-month-old staffordshire bull terrier. She has previouly lived with young children and mixes well with other dogs. She is full of energy and loves people. She needs more work with walking on a lead, but is learning fast not to pull. She loves going for a run around in our large outdoor pen. This girl is full of fun and would make a great addition to an active family.

Archie is a six-year-old male lurcher. Both are super dogs.

For more information on the dogs, or if you are interested in rehoming them, contact Arthurshiels on 07581 878393.

Caddonfoot

Church

The Reverend Elspeth Harley, conducting Sunday’s morning service, based her talk on “trypraying”, a new booklet which was handed out to members of the congregation. The lessons were read by Margaret Blyth. Next week sees a series of services in the Galashiels churches to mark Holy Week. On Palm Sunday there will be an ecumenical service in Caddonfoot at 6.30pm and a Maundy Thursday service in Trinity with an informal supper and communion. This will be followed by a Good Friday communion service in Caddonfoot at 7pm. The annual Caddonfoot Youth home-baking stall raised £100 for Christian Aid as part of the Count Your Blessings project. Many parishioners attended the funeral service of Sheila MacCuish, widow of the late Reverend Donald MacCuish. The service was conducted by Reverend Harley, along with support from the Reverend Marion Dodd, the church’s recent interim moderator.

Canonbie

Soup kitchen

The soup and sweet lunches, run by the United Parish Church and enjoyed by 91 people in the village hall last Saturday, raised £401. This was the last of the five fundraisers held throughout the winter months – and £1,500 was made in total for the church. The Sunday school had a cake stall and the Guides also sold items, and Beth Todd held tombola to raise money for a local cause.

EARLSTON

Parish church

The spring coffee morning raised the sum of £325. The Palm Sunday service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods, followed by a Passiontide service in the church at 6.30pm that night. The last Lenten worship

service is on April 16 at 7pm. Maundy Thursday – communion and vigil at 7pm in the church; Good Friday – service with St Cuthbert’s at 7pm in

the church. The Easter Sunday early communion outdoors service – weather permitting – is at 8.30am, followed by bacon rolls before the all-age Easter service at 10.15am.

EDGERSTON

Postponed

The next hall lunch, which was to have been held on April 27, has been postponed.

Slide show

Chris Veitch will be presenting a slide show and talk entitled “Jed town walk 1913 revisited 100 years on” on April 25 at 7pm. Bring and share supper. Anyone interested in attending should contact Christine (01835 840246 or p10caw@aol).

Coffee mornings

Coffee mornings continue on the first Monday of each month at 10.30am.

Games night

A family games night will be held at Edgerston Hall on April 11 at 7pm.

fala

History society

The next meeting of Fala, Soutra and District History and Heritage Society will be held in Fala Village Hall on April 24 at 7.30pm. Sheena Irving, of Cousland, will talk on “Cousland Smiddy – Update”.

FOUNTAINHALL

WRI

Members meet in the village hall at 7.30pm on April 16 for a talk on Malawi. Competitions – three ginger snaps and a button. Competition results from the March meeting – traybake – 1, Fiona Walters; 2, Dorothy Small; elephant ornament – 1, Christine Neil; 2, Ireen McLachlan.

GALASHIELS

Camera club

Members held their last full meeting for this session on April 2, ending with the annual club competition, judged by Charles Summers. There is a committee meeting on April 28 at 7.30pm.

Inner Wheel

The Inner Wheel Club of Galashiels held its annual charity beetle drive and after an exciting evening, Onur Kurt, one of the younger players, emerged the winner. He was rewarded with a large Easter egg. Inner Wheel member LIz Ingoldsby added to her collection of wooden spoons, picking up the booby prize for the second time in three years. The money raised from this event will be sent to a school in Ghana to help install a water supply. Susan Boorman has been welcomed as a new member – she was presented with her membership badge by president Rosemary McCosh. The next meeting is on April 15 at 7.30pm when Margaret Tooth, from the Blythswood charity, will give a talk.

Glendouglas

WRI

A bead jewellery demonstration by Caroline McKendrick was the main feature of the latest meeting. The competition was won by Iris Willacy, with Sandra Jeffrey runner-up. Raffle – Cath Turner.

Dance

There is a charity dance on April 19 to raise funds in aid of tackling arthritis. It starts at 7.30pm.

Hawick

Camera club

The AGM took place last week with club president Anna Lee chairing proceedings. Trophies presented – Bill Ellis Shield, awarded to Bert Lancaster for projected sequences; Gaylor Cup, Sel (J.) Messer, projected image of the year; F-Stop Shield and the Challenge Cup, Brian Marriott, portraiture and projected images throughout the year respectively; Cummings Trophy, Derek Lunn Trophy, Hopekirk Trophy and Bill Nelson glass sculpture, Ali Graham, landscapes, prints throughout the year, print of the year and monochrome photography respectively. George Sudlow received a certificate in respect of his print sequences, while Norma Graham was awarded the Novice Trophy for best new member. The meeting continued with the election of office bearers – president, Anna Lee; vice-president, Dennis Laing; secretary, Bert Lancaster; treasurer, Sandy McVittie; syllabus secretaries, Norma Graham and Edith McLean; publicity secretary, Bill Neil; competition secretary, Ali Graham; website manager, Kenny Baillie; committee – Jimmy Anderson, Eric Scotland and (ex-officio) John Hill. Club meetings will resume at the end of September. There will be a summer outing in June, but a date has yet to be announced.

Bridge club

April 1 – 1 (equal), J. and M. Miller, V. Johnstone and D. Usher; 3 , M. Tuson and R. Witherington; 4 (equal), V. McPherson and R. Francombe, M. Millar and S. White.

Rotary

President Scott Elliot welcomed Andrew Farquhar to last week’s meeting when he talked about the Hawick Walking Weekend (July 5-7) which he and his committee had organised. Now in its fourth year, it is going from strength to strength and brings many visitors and much-needed trade to the town. The event receives community council funding, as well as support from Scottish Natural Heritage and SESTRAN. Entertainment takes the form of a ceilidh and concert held on the Saturday night. The Rotary club is donating £100 to provide medals for the P6 and 7 schools swimming gala. On May 17, a charity golf day has been arranged by Brian Beattie at Monksford Golf Club, St Boswells.

innerleithen

Community council

The monthly meeting of Innerleithen and District Community Council will take place on April 7 at 7.15pm in the council chamber.

Church services

There will be services on April 13 at 11.30am and Good Friday at 6.30pm.

Games committee

The next meeting of St Ronan’s Border Games committee will take place on April 16 at 7pm in the council chamber, Memorial Hall.

Coffee morning

St Ronan’s Border Games’ annual coffee morning will be held on April 19 in the Vale Club (10am-noon). Donations of cake and candy, and raffle prizes would be gratefully received on the day.

South Pacific

The final curtain fell on Innerleithen and District Amateur Operatic Society’s spring production of South Pacific on Saturday. Afterwards, long-service awards were presented to Angela Thomson (10 years); Esther Gilchrist, Ross McGinn and Sheila Smith (15 years); Claire Bell (20 years); Elma Belleville (25 years); Keith Belleville (30 years); Evelyn Grahame (45 years). The society’s AGM is set to take place on April 23 in the Free Library Hall, Buccleuch Street, at 7.30pm when the decision on next year’s spring production will be made. Anyone who is interested in the work of the society should contact Elma Belleville at secretary@idaos.org.uk or phone 01896 830577.

Fair

St Ronan’s Primary School Parent-Teacher Association will hold a spring fair at the school on May 8 (6-8pm).

Introduction night

St Ronan’s Border Games Introduction Night will be held on May 9 in the Memorial Hall from 7pm.

Concert

St Ronan’s Silver Band will give a spring concert on May 10 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at the Thrift Shop, Adam’s Bakery (Innerleithen) and Robb’s KeyStore (Peebles).

Jedburgh

Bridge club

March 31 – N/S – 1, V. Johnstone and M. Miller; 2, H. Long and M. Weightman; 3, A. Ireland and M. Miller; E/W –

1, R. Oates and S. West; 2, B. and I. Middleton; 3, M. Forsyth and M. Allen.

Coffee morning

Jedburgh Lunch Club is holding a coffee morning in the British Legion on April 12 (10am-noon).

kelso

Thursday Group

Members quartered the globe with Isabel Gordon and a history of tea. Today (Thursday), the Smailholm Stitchers will talk about the Great Tapestry of Scotland and the two panels the group stitched for it – 2pm, Abbey Row Centre. Next week John Gordon speaks about his “Life in Writing”.

Church

This Sunday (Palm Sunday) sees the normal pattern of services – Ednam (9.30am) and Kelso North (11am) – with an afternoon communion at Plenderleith Court (3.30pm). Last Thursday evening, the Women Together group were given a guided tour of Sainsbury’s. The Seder Meal and Ceilidh is being held tomorrow (Friday) at 7pm in Kelso Rugby Club. Tickets are still on sale from the church office, or pay at the door. Short Holy Week services, organised by Kelso Churches Together, will be held in St Andrew’s Church from 12.45 to 1pm, Monday-Thursday. next week. They will be followed by soup and rolls. A celebration of Holy Communion will be held on Maundy Thursday at 7pm in Kelso North, with services also being held on Good Friday and Easter Day.

Guild

At Kelso North and Ednam Church Guild’s annual business meeting, Miss M. Aitken presided and presented the accounts, which were approved. Mrs M. Donaldson was elected to the committee. At the March 28 gathering, members entertained the committee. Mrs W. Robson opened the meeting with a prayer, reading and hymn. Mr S. Yates presented a film clip selection, featuring music, humour and dance. Mrs G. Brimlow spoke of Miss Aitken’s year as guild co-ordinator, and looked forward to the latter’s second in the post. Saying grace, a hymn and supper, provided by members, ended proceedings.

U3A

The next open meeting of the Four Border Abbeys U3A group is on April 14 at 2pm in Kelso Rugby Club when John Nicol will talk about Ideoms Theatre Group.

Horticultural society

The town’s horticultural society has organised a presentation – “Photography Tips – How To See A Picture” – by Duncan Anderson in the Tait Hall at 7.30pm on April 16.

Bridge club

April 2 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; 2, Brian Saywood and Ken Ross; 3, Joyce Thomson and Helenor Pratt; E/W – 1, Annie Mitchell and Bob Stevenson; 2, David Harris-Burland and Ruth Mackay; 3, Gerry Eglington and Jon Bridger. April 3 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Jean McLaren and Ken Ross; 2, Rena Stewart and Maureen Weightman; 3, Val Johnstone and Mary Millar; E/W – 1, Gerry Eglington and Jon Bridger; 2, Colin McGrath and Brian Saywood; 3, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson.

Langholm

Umbrella walks

The Rotary Club’s annual umbrella walks once again attracted a good turnout of participants in both the town and at Canonbie. So far, £8,000 has been raised from the two walks which had 25 different organisations and clubs taking part. Money will be added from the three local charity trusts – Arthur Bell, John and Mary Elliot Memorial and David Stevenson. The cheques will be presented to the participating organisations at the Rotary meeting in May in the Crown Hotel.

Lauder

Church

Holy Week – April 17, 7pm, Lauder Church Centre, bread and cheese supper, followed by Holy Communion; April 18, 2-3pm, Lauder Church, music, meditation and reading of the Passion, according to St John; April 19, decorated egg competition, Church Centre, entries by 10.30am and judging at 10.45am; April 20, 9.30am, Chesterhill, Lauder, sausage sizzle, egg rolling; Lauder Church, 11am, Easter hymn singing with praise band;11.30am, all-age worship followed by informal communion service led by the Revernd Jim Wallace.

Beetle drive

Lauder Over-60s are having a beetle drive on April 25 in the Youth Trust Hall at 7.30pm – everyone and all ages welcome.

Historical society

Member Malcolm McVittie will give a presentation on the “Campaigns of Montrose” on April 16 at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens (01578 722559).

Melrose

Tennis club

Waverley Tennis Club marks the start of the season by hosting an American Tournament at the Gibson Park courts on April 20 at 2pm. This will be a social afternoon for players of all standards and ages. Prospective members are welcome. A group of seniors (over-70s) play several times a week and coaching programmes are in place. The club has its own website – www.mwtc.co.uk – and it is also on social media – https://www.facebook.com/groups/269160853239293. Information is also available via the clubhouse noticeboard or by telephoning the secretary, Pat Nicholson, on 01835 823924.

Trimontium

The Trimontium Walk season starts today (Thursday) at 1.30pm from the Heritage Centre, Melrose Square. Back by 5.15pm, with refreshments in Newstead at 4.30pm included. The Roman steering oar found by James Curle in a pit on ground sloping down to the Tweed in 1908 was installed for the 2014 season by two assistant curators from the National Museums last Thursday. Dr John Reid’s first lecture of the Trimontium spring series continued his investigation of that hotspot of anti-Roman agitation, the south-west of Scotland. The next talk, on April 24 and by Dr Nick Hodgson, of Tyne and Wear, will dovetail with Dr Reid’s and, from new research, reveal the impact of Hadrian’s Wall on the local people.

Coffee mornings

The coffee mornings at Bowden (overseas projects) and Melrose (arthritis research) raised hundreds of pounds for these causes.

Church

April 12 –Easter Pilgrimage Walk from Melrose Abbey to Holy Island; April 13 – services at Bowden (9.30am) and Melrose (11am).

morebattle

Surgery

Councillor Simon Mountford will hold a drop-in surgery at the institute from 11.15am-12.15pm on April 12.

Craft fair

The village hall will stage a craft fair and coffee morning in aid of St Aidan’s Restoration Fund on April 26 (10.30am-12.30pm).

AGM

The guild AGM was held last Thursday when Catherine Mabon welcomed everyone. The committee stays the same as last year and suggestions for next year’s syllabus were taken.

oxton

Channelkirk Church

April 18 – 7-8pm, service with hymns, prayer, scripture readings and special readings describing the events of Good Friday; April 20 – 8am, Sunrise Service, led by the Reverend John Riddell.

WRI

On April 16 at 7.30pm, Dinah Iredale will give a talk, illustrated by pictures, on bondagers. There will be a chance to buy her book or the DVD.

SELKIRK

Antiquarian society

The next meeting is on April 16 at 7.30pm in the parish church hall when the Reverend Tom Hogg will present a talk entitled “Border Churches”. Annual membership of the society is £6 – non-members, £2 per session.

Camera club

Annual exhibition results – monochrome – 1, Aileen Allan; 2, Bryan Johnstone; 3, Ati Johnston; HC, Bryan Johnstone, Jim Young. Colour, general – 1, Aileen Allan; 2, Jim Young; 3, Aileen Allan; HC, Eileen Nichol, Kevin Black. Colour, people and portraiture – 1, Helen Gray; 2, Ali Johnston; 3, Bryan Johnstone; HC, Bryan Johnstone and Jon Fair. Colour, landscape – 1 and 2, Aileen Allan; 3, Bryan Johnstone; HC, Jon Fair and Bob Brown. Colour, f lora and fauna – 1, Kevin Black; 2, Ali Johnston; 3, Aileen Allan; HC, Jon Fair and Malcolm Henry. Projected image – 1,2 and 3, Mike Reynolds; HC, Mike Reynolds, Ali Johnston, Bryan Johnstone. Best overall image : Aileen Allan (landscape)

STICHILL

WRI

Johnny Johnston, from Eyemouth, delivered a talk on his connections with boat-building and fishing. After retiring, he set up the Berwickshire Maritime Trust. Money was raised to buy a boat and, in conjunction with a youth group and the Employment Agency, the vessel was given a makeover. This gave eight unemployed youngsters work for six months. Johnny also has hopes of building a new boat which would be a team-building project to retain skills which otherwise would be lost. Competitions – four pieces of tablet – 1, Dawn Steel; 2, June Brown; 3, Kathy Wilkie; boat ornament – 1, Margaret Dutton; 2, June Brown; 3, Dawn Steel. The raffle was won by Elizabeth Topp. The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on May 6 in the village hall – a visitors’ night with entertainment by Heiton and Morebattle Choir.

Traquair

The next services in Traquair

Turn to page 30

From page 29

Kirk are on Maundy Thursday (7.30pm) and Easter Day (6.30pm).

YETHOLM

History society

Yetholm History Society last week welcomed back Clive Hallam Baker, from Branxton, an authority on the Battle of Flodden. This time his talk centred on the part played by women, including their position of power on the international stage at the time and referred to various queens in this country and on the Continent. The speaker then mentioned the part played by females on the field of battle, such as helping the injured.

St Trinian’s Night

The Plough Hotel has organised a St Trinian’s Night for April 19 from 7.30pm. Fancy dress is welcome, but not essential.

Coffee morning

The Floral Gateway coffee morning held last weekend raised in excess of £300.

Border Collie

The premiere of The Border Collie Story documentary film was held at The Maltings in Berwick last week. It featured four retired shepherds from Yetholm and the Bowmont Valley. Bill Elliot, from the village, had a leading role. It will be shown in the Wauchope Hall in May.

Palm Sunday

This Sunday sees a walk from Hownam via Morebattle, Linton and Hoselaw to Yetholm. Those not exhausted are invited to worship and a congregational meeting in Yetholm Kirk at 6pm. On the agenda is a proposal that the five churches in the parish be renamed Cheviot Churches Church of Scotland.

Surgery

Councillor Simon Mountford will hold a drop-in surgery in the Youth Hall from 10-11am on April 12.

wooler

At their weekly primestock sale held at Wooler last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 286 hoggs and 235 ewes and rams.

Hogg numbers again tight, fleshy types keenly sought after.

Leading prices per head:- Suff.x:- £102 Castlelaw, £101 Brandon and Fawdon, £100 Newstead. Tex.x:- £99.50 Hartside (A Hutcheon), £99 Brandon, £97 North Wing and Todrig. Chev:- £96 Biddlestone Home Farm, £94.50 Hartside. GF:- £90 Ladykirk, £87 Shotton. Bel:- £87.50 Ladykirk. Bla:- £85.50 Hartside. BF:- £81 Hartside.

Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 230.3p Ladykirk. Tex.x:- 227.6p, 226.9p Ladykirk, 219.8p Fawdon, 218.3p Shotton. Suff.x:- 226.7p Shotton, 214.6p Ladykirk, 212.5p Biddlestone Home Farm. Chev:- 221.3p Biddlestone Home Farm, 205.6p Fawdon. GF:- 212.2p Shotton. Bla:- 208.5p Hartside. BF:- 202.5p Hartside.

Ewes more numbers about, all classes in firm demand

Leading prices:- Tex.x:- £121 The Hagg, £91 North Wing and Todrig, £89 The Hagg and Todrig. Suff.x:- £99, £97 Middle Ord, £93 Reavley Greens. BFL:- £91 Fawdon. GF:- £87.50 Reavley Greens, £83 Middle Ord and Todrig. BF:- £85 Fawdon, £70 Moorlaws Farm, £69 Reavley Greens. Cha:- £81 Moorhouse Farm. Chev:- £77 Biddlestone Home Farm, £74.50 Humbleheugh, £71 Sourhope.

Rams: Suff:- £110 Todrig. Tex.x:- £89 Biddlestone Home Farm (B Dixon), £79 Ladykirk. Chev:- £81 Biddlestone Home Farm.

st boswells

At their weekly primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 66 clean cattle, 26 OTM cattle, 2,584 old season hoggs and 242 ewes.

Bullocks (21) averaged 216.8p per kg and sold to 249p (+8.3p on week), heifers (45) averaged 216.8p per kg and sold to 256p (+3.8p on week) and 26 beef type OTM cattle averaged 131.8p per kg and sold to 185p (-13p on the week).

Old season SQQ hoggs averaged 236.2 per kg (+10.2p on week) sold to £120, averaged £93.71 per head and ewes averaged £82.40 and sold to £119. Heavy ewes £97.92, light ewes £55.26.

Principal prices per head: Bee Edge £1523.90, £1498.98; Longnewton £1495.48, £1433.12; Mosstower £1412.64.

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.49 M/s W.T.S. Forsyth and Sons, 2.45 Malone of Edinburgh; Lennoxlove 2.25 Denholm Meats, 2.24 M/s T.A. Shaw; Gospelhall 2.25 M/s J. Saunderson; Upper Nisbet 2.21 W. Taylor(Lockerbie); Longnewton 2.18 M/s J.A. Waters and Son, 2.12 Falside; Smailholm Mains 2.18 Gosford Bothy Shop; Saltoun Home Farm 2.18 Ramsay Family Butchers, 2.05 Falside; Mosstower 2.16; Crookhouse 2.14 M/s Duff Ltd; Nisbet 2.10 Malone of Edinburgh.

Bulls: Smailholm Mains £1210.02(1.29); Woodheads. L £1094.36(1.09).

Cows per head: Mosstower £1298.70; Nisbet £1053.50; Berryhill £1046.22; Shotton £1036.68, £973.56; ; Milrighall £937.26; Dunslaw £935; 57 Mount Road £897.26; Mervinslaw £882.88; Hoselaw £864.58; Sanson Seal £853.20.

Cows per kg: Mosstower 1.85; Mervinslaw 1.78; Nisbet 1.75; Greenknowe 1.72; Dunslaw 1.70; Shotton 1.63; Townhead 1.59; Berryhill 1.41; Hoselaw 1.39; Sanson Seal 1.35; Shotton 1.33.

The 2,584 old season lambs averaged 225.3p (SQQ 236.2p).

Hoggs per head: Tex.x £120 Clochnahill, £110 The Lee and Crookston, £108.50 Lurdenlaw, Suff.x;- £108, £107 Clochnahill, £106 Boghall(St Andrews), £105.50, £105 Clochnahill, Chev;- £104 Lurdenlaw and Buchtrig, £103.50 Boghall(St Andrews), £103 Saughtree and Easter Whitmuir, CM;- £104 Wester Ulston, Lleyn;- £101.50 Dryburgh Mains, GF;- £96 Bedrule, £94 Camieston, BF;- £95 The Knock.

Hoggs per kg: Tex.x;- 251.3 Thornington, 248.8 New Blainslie, 246.3 Thornington, 246.2 New Blainslie, 246.3 Thornington, 246.2 New Blainslie and Lower Ashtrees, Chev;- 250, 246.1 Boghall (St Andrews), 243.6 Lylestane, Suff.x;- 245.1 New Blainslie, 245 The Knock and Boghall(St Andrews), 242.3 The Knock, ML;- 233.3, 231.3 Whitmuir, EC;- 232.9, 228.8 Kilnknowe, GF;- 228.6 Bedrule, CM;- 226.1 Wester Ulston, 225 Lylestane, SD;- 225.6 Belford on Bowmont, BF;- 220.9 The Knock.

Ewes: Tex;- £119 Wantonwalls, £118 Pirnie Hall, £112 Birkenside, Suff.x;- £112 Lochside, £111 Primside, £110 Lochside and Whitsome West Newton, Chev;- £98, £89 Gospelhall, £89 Easter Whitmuir, CM;- £93 Belford on Bowmont, GF;- £91 Bonjedward Mill, £90 Whitsome West Newton and Birkenside, HB;- £89 Bonjedward Mill, BEL;- £85 Pirnie Hall, Lleyn;- £85 Kilnknowe.

Rams: Char;- £100 Townhead (Cockburnspath), Suff;- £90 Currie Inn.

longtown

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 32 prime cattle, 16 young bulls, 38 over 30 month cattle, 5,391 prime hoggs and 3,286 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

At the Easter Show and Sale of prime cattle, young bulls and cast cows, Mr Ross Anderson, of C.J. Anderson and Sons, made a fantastic job of judging each class and the show was kindly sponsored by Clydesdale Bank. In the prime cattle section Mr Anderson placed a Limousin bullock shown by Messrs W. and W. Faulder, Houghton House as Champion clean beast which later sold to 248.5p to Border Meats Ltd, Butchers, Lockerbie. The first prize heifer was a Limousin from Messrs A. and W.J. Taylor and Son, Dashwell Green, which sold to 240.5p also purchased by Border Meats.

Mainly dairy bred bulls were on offer for the show. Beef bull first prize went to Messrs J.C. and D. Nicholson, The Gill, and sold to 199.5p. The first prize dairy bull was a Fresian from firm of C.P. Robb, Dinwoodie Green and sold to 167.5p. Top price of the sale was 218.5p twice for Limousin’s both from J. and P. Routledge and Son, Netherton.

A larger show of cast cows were presented and the first prize was awarded to Messrs J.W. and E.S. Woodmass, Howard House and sold to 156.5p with second prize from A. and A. Ewing, Dumbretton, selling to 167.5p.

Another fine show of 5,391 prime hoggets were forward to the usual busy ring of buyers with all firms keen for sheep in the build up to Easter. More Blackface hoggets and heavy hoggets were forward with fewer runs of best Cheviot hoggs although best quality hoggs keenly bid for resulting in an average of 219ppk (227.5ppk SQQ).

The sale was topped at 316p for Beltex from RN Scott, West Meiklethwaite, and to £128 for Beltex hoggs from A. and B. Fisher, Lairdlaugh, whose run of 57 excellent hoggs averaged £124.84 and 290ppk.

Another excellent show of 3286 cast ewes and rams were forward to a crowded ring, all keen for sheep with 2109 heavy ewes averaging £99.69.

border livestock

Last week Border Livestock Exchange Ltd sold 189 prime cattle including 61 cast cows, 841 prime sheep including 294 ewes and 240 store and breeding cattle.

Aberdeen Angus cross heifers sold to 390p per kg from Fenwick Steads, Belford, to Well Hung and Tender, Berwick. Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Howden, Jedburgh, sold to 388p per kg and £1,636 per head. Organic steers from Tullochallum, Keith, sold to £1,826 per head.

Prime lambs were considerably dearer as numbers of old season lambs start to run dry. Export weight Texel crosses to 470p per kg. Suffolk crosses to 465p per kg and Romney crosses to 460p per kg and £96.60. Heavy pure Texel lambs to £110.

Store cattle continue to sell extremely well with regular customers snapping up quality consignments on farm at very satisfactory prices.

We didn’t all have the same weather last week, but most parts of our area had at some time full days of mist and drizzle.

Some had that for three or four days in a row and it’s surprising how that sucks out enthusiasm and energy. But onwards and upwards, although the spells of heavy rain we have also had in the past fortnight have slowed land work and reminded us of what mud is. In my optimistic way I still expect the sun to break through any day now to give man, and beast, a welcome boost.

Climate change permitting, I suppose. The most recent apocalyptic warning that we’re all doomed unless “something is done” has come from the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change.

It reported that the extremes of weather caused by a forecast 2C increase in average world temperature will increase the threat of plant and animal disease, reduce food production, mean poverty for millions and even lead to wars.

Cynics with some knowledge of history might suggest that’s business as usual for humanity, then, but the UN panel say their report is a call for action.

That call suggests an urgency hardly supported by a 2,600 page report by 300 scientists that took more than three years to complete. No layman and precious few specialists are going to read that in its entirety or even in parts.

Throughout history it’s simple ideas and short books or pamphlets that have had an effect, not tomes.

Climate change might be the threat it is claimed, but a 2,600 page report isn’t going to spur action.

I sometimes wonder when enough is enough for big landowners, specifically most recently the Crown Estate.

Already with 360,000 acres in a property portfolio worth an estimated £8.6 billion, the Estate has just added Rio Tinto’s 4,500 Alcan estate near Lynemouth, Northumberland, for a reported £20 million. Small stuff for an estate that also owns Regent Street, Kensington Palace Gardens, more than £1 billion worth of regional shopping centres, racecourses, potash mines and about half of the entire UK coastline.

But enough for most of us to be going on with. At least Crown Estate income is put to good use – 15 per cent of annual profit goes to the Royal family. Jolly good.

As long as some of that reaches the Princess Royal. Acerbic, but sensible, and capable of making her own breakfast, she told ‘Countryfile’ on Sunday night that genetically modified crops do have a part to play in feeding the world.

It’s a serious business looking after the countryside, she said, but a much more serious business trying to feed a world population that is increasing by the billion.

Compare and contrast with the reactionary views of Prince Charles, a man who in the difference between way he preaches and the way he lives has almost perfected the art of eating your cake and having it.

Hundreds of Borderers who rely on a charity for vital support with their hearing aids could be left struggling if no more funding is forthcoming.

The Hear to Help project is run by the charity, Action on Hearing Loss Scotland – the new name for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People.

Since 2009, Hear to Help in the Borders has run 278 drop-in sessions, supported 1,000 NHS hearing aid wearers, re-tubed 3,200 NHS hearing aids, and distributed approximately 9,000 packets of hearing aid batteries.

But funding finished last month and the money left will cover operating costs up until the end of June.

Action on Hearing Loss Scotland says if the project ceases, many people will face a long trip to the Borders General Hospital for basic hearing aid maintenance. And it says that, for some, such a journey might not even be possible, while those who did travel to the BGH would also increase pressure on the audiology department.

Project manager Lesley Stewart says, hopefully, the NHS and Scottish Borders Council will support the business case for additional funding.

“However, if the project ends ,it will cause serious problems for a great many people.

“A number of our clients in the Borders have already told us they would not be able to make the long journey to the BGH,” she said.

Free sporting activities will be on offer during the Easter Holidays in Girvan.

The Girvan Youth Trust in partnership with South Ayrshire Council, Girvan Academy, South Ayrshire Community Sports Hub and Active Schools are organising a programme of Easter Sports and activities during the Easter Holidays for children and young people who are in Primary 6 up to the age of 18.

The programme will offer a variety of taster sessions for young people to try out on Monday 14th, Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th April from 10am till 12 noon and again from 1pm till 3pm in Girvan Academy.

And the community safety partnership from the council will also provide healthy snacks at the session.

The taster sessions in Yoga, Zumba, Dance, Gymnastics, Circuits, Boxercise, Maui Thai, Bike Track and the Climbing Wall will be delivered by qualified and skilled instructors and the team games and activities such as Hockey, Basketball and Volleyball etc will be run by Girvan Academy’s Senior Sports Leaders.

Taster sessions in rugby, table tennis and badminton will also be available.

There will be staff from all of the partners on hand to assist and support the coaches and also the children/young people who attend the sessions and it will provide a fantastic opportunity for young people who are trained Sports Leaders to practice their skills and gain valuable experience.

A completed consent form will have to be returned before any child or young person under the age of 16 will be allowed to participate in any of the sports activities and all local primary 6 and 7 pupils have been issued with flyers and consent forms.

These have also been distributed to pupils of Girvan Academy, however if you know a young person who would like to attend and who doesn’t have a form, extra copies can be collected from Z1 Youth Bar prior to the event or filled in by a parent/guardian on the actual day.

A registration table will be open at 9.30am and 12.30pm on all three days.

The Youth Trust have tried to provide taster sessions in a variety of different activities and hope that there will be something for everyone.

This is the first time that they have worked together to provide such a programme and they hope that it is well supported by local young people.

The Youth Trust are hopeful that, if successful, this will lead on to other sport and activity based programmes for local young people in the future.

Disturbed during the early hours , Galashiels residents looked out to see a drunken man kicking wheelie bins and shouting: “You’re a paedo. Come out and I’ll kill you.”

Police found Stephen Milliken standing in the middle of the road shouting and swearing. The 31-year-old refused to calm down and was arrested when he kicked the front bumper of the police car.

“He had a cut below his eye, as he’d fallen down some stairs earlier, so was taken to Borders General Hospital for assessment,” explained depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.

Milliken arrived at the hospital’s accident and emergency department at 1.40am, where his shouting and swearing continued. A hospital security officer asked him to stop, but Milliken retorted: “Who do you think you are, you f*****g prick.” Milliken then spat, although failed to hit the man.

He was considered fit to be taken into police custody and throughout the journey to Hawick police station, Milliken banged his head on the cage of the police vehicle, and continued to shout and swear.

“A spit hood had to be put on him as he was spitting on the floor,” added Ms Bradley.

Four officers were needed to take him to the cells, and he tried to headbutt one.

The accused, of Beech Avenue in Galashiels, admitted behaving in an abusive manner at Glendinning Terrace and at the accident and emergency department on March 10. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a hospital employee and attempting to spit at him, and struggling violently with police and attempting to headbutt an officer at the police station.

Milliken’s lawyer, Rory Bannerman, said his client was deeply ashamed and embarrassed by his behaviour.

Mr Bannerman added: “He had drunk to excess and has little recollection of what he did. The weekend coincided with his birthday and he had drunk too much. He hadn’t been drinking in recent times, and this was the first time in nine months he had drunk to excess.

“Through his drunken haze, he thought that he was the victim, as he says he was assaulted earlier on.”

Sheriff Eric Brown jailed Milliken for three months.