One of my favourite walks in the Borders is up the river Tweed from Peebles. A few weeks ago, I revisited it after a few years’ absence, hoping that it was still as good.

I set off through the recently reseeded Hay Lodge Park towards the river and once over the little burn, you are into the countryside proper.

After a brief scramble over a broom-covered rocky outcrop, the path crosses a flat meadow below the impressive partial ruins of Neidpath Castle.

Here, the spring flowers are in abundance, particularly red campion, Welsh poppy, stitchwort and, of course, buttercups.

On the river, a handful of mallards were feeding amongst some floating froth in an eddy which must have been rich in some sort of food, while a female goosander rested up from her fishing forays on a shingle bank.

After another rocky scramble below the castle, another flat meadow beckons with a well-placed bench where you can sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the riverside.

You can then cross the river by way of the old railway bridge, or go a bit further to the Old Manor Bridge if you are feeling more energetic.

I chose the former, pausing to admire the Victorian workmanship on the railway bridge, especially from below, where you can see how the arches were built on the twist to allow for the bend in the bridge.

Once across, the return journey is through the riverside woodland and here the path is harder going than I remember (or I am not as agile).

It is quite rocky in places and the many tangled tree roots can become slippery when wet.

It is well worth it for the lovely views across the river to the castle and, if you go at the right time of year, a special treat is in store.

I hit it just right to witness an amazing spectacle in the woodland beside the footpath.

The entire area was carpeted with tiny pink and white flowers, which I have never seen in such abundance before.

They were the delicate blooms of pink purslane.

It was cultivated in Britain by 1768 and was first noted in the wild in 1838.

It has spread rapidly since 1930; in Cornwall, for example, it was not recorded until the 1930s, but is now known in almost every 10km square.

It can quickly colonise woodland, suppressing other vegetation by its lush mass of spring foliage which then flops over nearby plants. Nonetheless, it is a spectacular sight when seen en masse like this.

Landlords letting residential properties are able to reduce their tax bill by claiming expenses and allowances against their rental income.

The treatment of relief for certain expenditure for unfurnished properties changed in April 2013 and landlords should consider this when completing their 2013/14 tax return.

Broadly, when calculating rental business profits a taxpayer can deduct business expenses so long as they are incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes and not of a capital nature.

For an expense to qualify the business purpose must be the sole purpose. Where expenditure has a dual private and business purpose then unless the business element can be clearly distinguished then the whole of the expenditure will not be allowable.

Examples of common deductible expenses are, water rates, council tax, gas and electricity, maintenance and repairs to the property, insurance, mortgage interest, letting agents fees, legal fees for lets of a year or less, accountant’s fees, rents, employee costs but not the landlord’s own time, ground rents and service charges and direct costs such as phone calls, certain travelling costs, stationery and advertising for new tenants.

Expenses can be restricted if a property is let at less than a commercial rent.

Wear and Tear Allowance is a deductible allowance of 10 per cent of the “net” rent received - the total rent for the year less any expenses paid by the landlord that would normally be borne by the tenant, for example utility bills or items provided in an otherwise unfurnished let.

An extended version of this article is available at www.renniewelch.co.uk. For further information, or to discuss how the changes last April will affect you, contact Mairi Drummond on mairi.drummond@renniewelch.co.uk or 01573 224391.

A major redevelopment of a Borders golf course has been completed, with the directors hoping it will help continue to drive growing membership.

The Woll, on New Woll Estate at Ashkirk, has been gradually developed by the Brown family over the past decade, including its expansion to 18 holes.

The latest move, the redesign and rebuilding of six greens, has involved some leading names in the industry, and director Nicholas Brown is very happy with the result.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It is a better result than we had anticipated, both in terms of design and they way the greens have grown in.”

Designed by Richard Le Sueur of Golf Design Scotland and developed to the highest specification, the new greens take the course to a new level. 

The turf has been supplied by Tillers Turf, whose clients include Muirfield, Wentworth, Gullane and Archerfield.

Although the project was in the pipeline, the owners decided to bring it forward due to a poor season for the greens in 2013.

Mr Brown said: “In the face of poor economic and membership conditions in the Borders, the directors saw the development as not only essential but a strategic step forward.

“As one of the few privately owned courses in the Borders, we know the pressure on courses is huge, with competition for members and visitors fierce, however evidence shows the best quality courses and facilities are building on their success while others are left behind.”

He added: “Not many clubs have such a lucky membership seeing continual improvement, and a growing membership shows the directors are making the right moves.”

Since the Brown family took over the estate the number of employees has gone from one to 34, with additional greenkeeping staff taken on this year to ensure that the course remains in best condition possible.

And the success of the work over the winter, and the response from members and visitors, has convinced the directors to make further hole design improvements at the end of this year too.

More than a dozen landscape conservation groups have united in an effort to stem the march of wind turbines across the Borders countryside.

The newly-constituted Borders Network of Conservation Groups has been formed to step up the campaign to safeguard the enormous value which the landscape brings to the region’s local economy, culture, recreation and ecology.

Network chair, John Williams, says the biggest threat to the Borders is coming from the rush to erect as many wind farms as possible before subsidies are reduced in 2017, and as restrictions due to the Ministry of Defence’s seismic monitoring at Eskdalemuir are relaxed.

The network’s 15 member groups are actively campaigning against proposals for 15 major Borders wind farm projects, which are currently in the pipeline.

Mr Williams told us: “Developers appear to have no concern for the devastating effect that increasing numbers of ever-larger wind turbines have on our landscape and communities and the network will be concentrating its efforts on protecting the Borders in the face of this onslaught.”

The network is now adopting a strategic approach for concerted action, as one of its vice-chairs, Mark Rowley, explained: “If the brakes are not applied now, the Borders will very soon become ‘the Land of a Thousand Turbines’.

“Our member groups all believe the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council should do all in their power to halt this ‘wind rush’ temporarily so as to take stock.”

Mr Rowley said there were three good reasons for such a moratorium: firstly, recent Scottish Government figures show renewable energy targets will already be comfortably met by operating and consented wind farms and those currently in the planning system; secondly, many turbines which have received approval have yet to be built so nobody will be able to judge the impact of these until it is too late to save the landscape and, thirdly, wind turbines in the Borders already produce more than nine times as much electricity as local households need.

The other vice-chair of the network is Professor Jack Ponton, who added: “We will be meeting with the leader of Scottish Borders Council, and its chief executive, on June 17 to discuss matters of mutual interest when we hope to be able to suggest constructive ways in which the council can fulfil its obligations to protect and promote the Borders’ heritage, people, and economy.

“In the near future, other political leaders and government officials can expect to hear more from us. We’re not going away”.

Rain poured down on Scotsheep, but failed to deter an estimated 6,500 visitors to the biennial show at Quixwood, Grantshouse, last Wednesday.

Organisers had to abandon host John and Ian Macfarlane’s farm tours, and the inter-region sheepdog trial was similarly a victim of the weather.

Organising committee chairman David Leggat said cancelling the tour had been “extremely disappointing” for both the hosts and farmers attending because “the farm tour is always one of the highlights of Scotsheep”,

But yesterday the Macfarlanes and Scotsheep organisers, the Scottish region of the National Sheep Association (NSA), announced they will hold an open day at Quixwood on Sunday, June 29, to give NSA members, and up to three guests each, an opportunity to view the farm’s 1,800-strong flock and suckler herd of 750 cows.

NSA president, the Duke of Montrose, officially opened Scotsheep by highlighting future challenges: “Agriculture is going to have to grasp every innovation and opportunity on offer. We are particularly lucky that here in Scotland we have a concentration of bodies at the forefront of sheep health research and their discoveries must be quickly brought to commercial application,” he said.

Visiting rural affairs cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead was tightlipped about the CAP deal he was set to unveil as we went press yesterday (Wednesday).

The event, which featured the latest developments in the industry, also attracted a visit from The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Francis Maude, who attended with local MSP John Lamont.

Borderers fared well in the Scottish Young Shepherd of the Year competition, taking second and third places, while a local company topped one of the trade stands awards.

As runner-up, David McLean of Reston will head to Malvern to compete in the finals of the UK National Young Shepherd of the Year at the end of July, as well as to the world championships in France in September.

He told us: “I was delighted to be runner-up. I just entered for a bit of fun and because it was local. It’s the first competition like that I’ve ever done and I was over the moon to come second.”

The 20-year-old started by helping out at lambings during holidays when he was 12. He left school aged 15, completed a year’s agriculture course before working for a local dairy farmer for a year. He went self-employed, focusing on shepherding, aged 17, getting his own dog, Ben, five months later.

He has his own clipping run, shearing about 3,000 sheep, and does three lambings as well as regularly working for three farmers in Berwickshire.

“I just enjoy being outdoors. Most of the time I work away myself with the dog. I prefer to be at work; I enjoy it, I don’t see it as a job, it’s more a way of life,” he said.

Coming in third place was Andrew Tullie from Teviothead, while the heat was won by 18-year-old Euan Orr of Lawhead, Tarbrax.

Galashiels farmer Andrew Elliot of Blackhaugh is the first chairman of the new Scottish Cattle Industry Group established by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

The livestock producer runs 220 cows, of which half are pedigree Aberdeen Angus, and more than 4,500 ewes on four hill and upland units.

The group’s first meeting was in Stirling when it decided evaluating and setting a starting point in relation to cattle businesses is a priority.

Mr Elliot said: “The first meeting has been a really positive start for our group. We have a good range of group members covering all parts of the industry.

“A clear priority identified at our first meeting is the need for adequate benchmarking of cattle businesses to take place to ensure farmers can focus on the right parts of their businesses to drive efficiency.

“We are planning to help deliver that by establishing various groups across the country through our ‘Focus on Figures’ project, one of the main outputs of which we hope will be a benchmarking tool for wider use by the whole industry.”

The cattle industry group has been set up to work with QMS to provide feedback, advice and guidance to ensure the organisation’s cattle-related projects are focused on grassroots industry needs to maximise benefits.

The group also suggested QMS works on management systems with a focus on producing the optimum specification of cattle for the different markets in Scotland. The group also emphasised the need for more benchmarking within the industry.

It is now, officially (in Shoogly Towers-land) Homebrew Season. The time of year when we rope in the YMs, Gamford and anyone else with wellies (to guard against nettle stings) and access to a plastic bag/bucket to help us scour the hedgerows for ingredients.

Just like seeing Seville oranges hit the shops in January and being spurred on to make marmalade, the sight of a snap of Lady June of Langlee shucking some early elderflowers to make elderflower champagne for her birthday was enough to cause a homebrew frenzy at Shoogly Towers.

In fact, for our first brew of the season, no grubbing along the hedgerows was needed. All of the main ingredients came from our garden. I probably should be ashamed to admit what the raw ingredients are, seeing as they are things that most folk try and rid their garden of – nettles, sticky willy and dandelions.

Yes, our first hooch of the Shoogly homebrew season will be nettle beer and nettle wine. Mr E was quite concerned about the sting – would this affect the drinker? He feared one sip would result in a collagen-stylee trout pout.

I had to assure him that – or so I read – the act of boiling up the brews before a long simmer would put paid to that. Slightly reassured, he remains second in the queue to try it.

So the clothes are slowly being evicted from the airing cupboard as the demi-johns and cloth-covered tubs move in. Airing cupboards. Soooooo over-rated. Just chuck the clothes straight in the drawers.

And how satisfying will it be when we finally drink it, knowing that we are helping to decimate the nettle population. After years of pulling them up, chopping them down and digging them out every spring, we have resorted to the final solution – drinking them out.

It’s a first for me, and so far it looks like horrible muck. The Young Mistress pronounced it ‘sludge’. Yuk. Let’s only hope it tastes about a million per cent better than it looks.

Next on the list is elderflower wine and, taking Lady June’s lead, we went out gleaning the first flowers which have started appearing over the last couple of weeks. An enjoyable, sultry summery evening saw the shoogly nippers and Gamford filling a pail with the sweet-smelling sprays of creamy flowers.

Once the elderflowers are in full bloom, we’ll be out again, picking for cordial and – my absolute favourite elderflower product – strawberry and elderflower jam.

There’s nothing like a slice of freshly-made bread, spread with butter and strawberry and elderflower jam. To me, close your eyes and it is the taste of summer. Worth keeping a jar for the deepest, darkest winter month. Better than a shot under a sunlamp.

Over the years I have written of Newt (Newton) and Bossie (Boswell), my two wee Borders’ cats acquired just as I entered Parliament.

I am saddened to tell you that this will be my last reference to either of them. Newt died just a few weeks ago, lying under the snowball viburnum. I sat speaking to him for a few hours till the last moments. There was an appointment that day at the vets, but mother nature beat me, and him, to it. I consoled myself and indeed Bossie for the next few days, but her rejection of food went on too long and it dawned on me that she too was reacting to the loss of her brother, companion and adversary of 15 years. She had to be put to sleep just eight days after him. The vet explained that Newt’s death had contributed markedly to her decline. Quite frankly, unless you have or have had pets, you will find my grief bewildering. But the house is so quiet. The cat dishes have been cleared away. Cat food redistributed. But just a wee while ago I stumbled over the cat scratching pole, literally part of the furniture for 20 years. Ah well, between you and me, a few more tears were spilt, although I do know that this ache will pass in time. Politics? Life is not all about politics.

Common ridings

You know summer is here – and certainly not because of the weather – when all our communities are draped in bunting and horses are hard to hire. I look forward to attending as many of these events as possible, but with such a large constituency and so many events there is often a clash in my diary. My black and white outfit is at the ready for the Braw Lad and Lass. But no horse riding. Too far too fall.

First Bus and my survey

Because of changes to the route of the 62a and x62, many of you have been in touch. You can tell me your views via my website, www.christinegrahame.com and I will shortly be putting a tear-out response form in The Southern. Once I have responses then these will form a dossier to present to the chief executive of First East.

Summer tour

Finally, on the issue of transport, I will be doing my usual summer tour in a blue Volkswagen campervan on Monday – details of stops to follow. Last time you may recall the blue Volkswagen broke down the first day. I have been assured that this is a different and reliable blue campervan. However, the best laid plans ... look out for a campervan of any colour.

Free chips

I am holding another free microchipping session with free vet’s check at Newtongrange Parish Church, Sixth Street, on June 25 from 9am-noon. You might recall that some months ago I did the same in Gala. If you missed it you are welcome at Newtongrange.

Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £217,388 for projects in the area.

Hearts & Minds are one of 48 to benefit, which will enable the Elderflowers scheme to continue.

Pupils from three Jedburgh schools came together recently to demand a youth club for the town.

With a little help from Cheviot Youth and their adult helpers, the 25 young people from Howdenburn and Parkside Primary Schools and Jedburgh Grammar hosted a meeting in Jedburgh British Legion, informing the people of Jedburgh that with the closure of the town’s only youth club C02 last December, they had nowhere to go, were bored at home and were desperate for a place to meet and socialise with friends.

Fourteen of the group had worked with Cheviot Youth staff over the weeks before the youth summit, planning the day and spending time canvassing pupils in the three schools for their views on a new youth club and service. Their commitment to the success of the event was evident in the way the day went, with much lively debate, excellent ideas, and a call for action that will keep everyone busy over the summer months.

Ian Rendall Reid, manager at Cheviot Youth told us: “The good work that the young people did in organising the youth summit and the work done on the day itself is just the start of a journey that will see us open a new youth club in the town very shortly. We now wait upon the adults to show their support for what the young people of Jedburgh are asking.”

And Lisa Cowan, SBC youth media development worker, added: “Steven Davidson and Aaron Sutton, the youth summit’s media team, worked very hard on the day recording interviews from all the participants. In a short space of time, they learned the skills to capture some impressive audio material. The young people they interviewed talked about what youth provision they would like to see in 
Jedburgh and appreciated the opportunity to be heard.”

All the information provided on the day – the questionnaires, competitions and the results of various consultations – is now being collated and will provide the information for a report.

Sitting in the Stichill home he shares with his wife and children, Ian Aitchison savours the view out across Kelso and the surrounding green hills.

It’s a far cry from the sun-baked brown and dusty terrain and ever-present danger of Afghanistan, where he has spent the last seven months as deputy chief of the NATO ISAF Joint Command Public Affairs Office.

Ian has perhaps become better known to the readership of The Southern as Union Jack. Security concerns meant we were unable to divulge his identity until now.

However, safely back on home turf, Commander Ian Aitchison, Royal Navy, to give him his correct title, is happy to talk about his time in Afghanistan, where he played a pivotal role in the formulation and deliverance of all public affairs strategy for the international coalition still engaged against armed and violent insurgents.

The Borders is certainly a far cry from life on an operational military base in a conflict zone, where Ian went armed every day and always had to be alert to possible threats.

He grew up on his family’s farm at Lochton, near Birgham, where the Aitchisons have farmed since 1903 and readily admits he would have happily spent his life farming.

But that was not to be and so, after university and a year on the family farm, he found himself entering Britannia Royal Naval College, at Dartmouth, in September, 1992. His subsequent career in the ‘regulars’ was spent aboard helicopters training for anti-submarine operations.

When he left the regulars in 1998 and joined the ranks of the Royal Naval Reserve, he moved into his present role as a public affairs officer.

It was actually while in the reserves that he met his wife, Jeanette, who was also a media operations specialist.

In 2012, Ian took redundancy from his civilian public relations job as head of communications for Europe and Africa with the world’s largest shipping company, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), to establish his own public relations firm, providing global strategic communications support to NYK as a consultant.

But when the Royal Navy was looking to mobilise a senior public affairs officer, Ian volunteered.

And so it was 21 years to the day that, in September last year, he found himself back at navy stores drawing service kit ahead of his deployment to Afghanistan.

Having served in Bahrain on previous operational tours involving both Iraq and Afghanistan, Ian says there were various reasons he volunteered to return to uniform.

“When the marines deployed to Afghanistan at the start of the conflict in 2001, I was there with the RN Battlestaff in Bahrain to see them coming down the ramp of the Hercules at Bagram airbase.

“Having been in at the start, this was a nice way for me to finish that off and come full circle if you like,” he told us. “Professionally it was also a great opportunity to add to my experience.”

Ian says the challenge of operating at the ‘top of your game’ every day with equally committed professionals made it an unforgettable period.

“It was phenomenal. The great thing was the challenge and the most memorable period was during the recent election. It was quite momentous. They’ve got over the first hurdle and the next one is this weekend with the run-off election.”

Despite the mind-numbing poverty, Ian is convinced the international coalition’s efforts are paying dividends and that ordinary Afghans are now seeing the benefits.

“We’re definitely making a difference – you just need to look at the number of new schools, improved levels of health care, the drop in infant mortality rates.

“And the election saw a palpable sense of excitement and pride among ordinary Afghans about being able to vote. People wanted a choice to say they don’t want extremism and violence, and want to make a better life for themselves. But it’s a very different culture – you can’t simply impose western values, so we’re assisting them in coming to their own solution.

“The job’s not finished, but we’re setting the conditions for winning. It will take more effort and a long time yet, but a lot of blood, sweat and treasure has been put into it to move it forward.”

Ian is now mulling over several options for his future, including the possibility of a fuller role with the navy.

His family are naturally delighted that ‘Daddy’ is home. Ian managed to keep in regular contact via mobile phone, Face Time and email – Jeanette emailed him photographs of Isla and her big brothers, Henry and James, every week.

For their part, Jeanette and the children had got used to having Ian at home after he took redudnancy.

“So him going away again took a little bit of getting back into that routine,” she said. “When you’re on your own, the routine has to be pretty slick at home.

“I think the most difficult thing is that you’re always on duty. I’ve found that when Ian walks through the door I can feel myself physically relax.

“And so I’ve never felt totally relaxed for all those months he’s been away because you know if anything happens, it’s all down to you.

“At least now I can put my feet up a bit more!”

The identities of the 120 Borderers who will carry the Queen’s Baton on its relay section round the region have now been revealed.

They will run in Duns, Greenlaw, Earlston, Melrose, Tweedbank, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Kelso and Hawick on Wednesday (June 18).

David Laing, of Kelso, former chair of Roxburgh Sports Council, has the honour of being one of those to carry the baton when it crosses into Scotland at Coldstream on Saturday (June 14).

“This is truly exceptional as it means I have been asked to carry the baton into the first town in the Borders,” David said.

Other runners are, as follows – June 18, in Greenlaw: Andrew Beaumont, Blair Rutherford, Michelle Gibb, Graeme Sutherland, Susan Hunter.

Earlston: Callum Love, Jennifer Bond, Alexander Gilchrist, Fraser Wardhaugh, Kerry Sandilands, Alexis Green, Mhairi Henderson, Claire McCulloch.

Melrose: David Boland, Joanna Cavaroli, Elizabeth Clyde, Annabelle Ireland, Stuart Turner, Abbi Blackie, Lee Myers, Caris Watson, Faye Nicholson, Joris Caldow, Kirsteen Mackenzie, David Tawse, Jane Sargent, Sandra Watt, Pauline Grigor, Christina Robertson, David Catto, Thomas Goodman, Elizabeth Scott, Alison Chapman.

Tweedbank: Thomas Otton, Alasdair Clipston, Richard Kenney, Louise Johnston, Ross Falconer, George Wells, Ian Millar, Billy McCulloch, Neil Renton.

Selkirk: John Wheelans, Lee Jones, Craig Hunter, Allan McGee, Bethany Ellis, Sophie Collins, David Hunter, Linda Nicholson, William Main, Dorothy Malkin, John Knox, Kay McColm, Emily Newlands, Helen Rodger, Susan Stewart, Alan Stewart.

Kelso: Frania Gillen-Buchert, Graeme Lang, Derek Paterson, Linsey Young, Fraser Veitch, Megan Kilpatrick, Mark Hill, James Wilson, Colin Dumma, Iain Richards, Susan Baird, Rebecca Easson, Gillian McFadyen.

Jedburgh: Stacey Downie, Glenda Barton, Lily Stenhouse, Heather Robertson, Maureen Virtue, Lauren Tait, Rae Anderson, Jean MacNab, Gemma Scott, Eileen Martin, Kirsty Campbell, Brian Woods, Roy Laidlaw, Lewis Stewart, Trevor Gallon.

Hawick: Allan Moffat, David Rae, Megan Shiel, Lorna Caddick, Jennifer Hudson, Peter Hall, James MacDonald, Pippa Bell, Carly McAllan, Monica Richardson, Caryl Thompson, Andrew Shields, Elizabeth Little, Rosheen Nichol, Brogan Anderson, Kristie Waugh, Stuart Hunter, Lynda Turnbull, Morag Rolland, Janice Chapman, David Oliver and Rory Lawson.

Stichill is set to host an action-packed day on Saturday, June 21.

Activities begin at noon with a 10km run, followed by children’s sports at 3pm. Adults can try welly-throwing and a tug-o’-war.

In the evening, the village barbecue and hog roast will take place from 6.30pm, entry £6 (£3). There will be live music from Riddle Fiddles, Tommy Grieve and Pet Shop Pete and his Gang.

The long wait is almost over for younsters in Selkirk, with the opening of the new Pringle Park playpark set for Sunday, June 22 – just in time for the school summer holidays.

Souters are being invited to celebrate the fantastic community effort at a Big Picnic on the day, from noon, with Selkirk Silver Band providing music on the day.

More than £330,000 has been raised since a group was formed in 2008 to encourage the community effort needed to raise the cash for the improvements to the play facilities.

Margaret Sweetnam, a member of the fundraising group said: “We hope that as many of these supporters as possible will bring a picnic along to the park on Sunday 22 June from 12 noon, and try out all the fantastic new equipment, or just admire the setting. One of our aspirations from the start was to enhance the natural beauty of the Pringle Park, which I think everyone will agree has been achieved in spades.

“Catherine Andrews, SBC Landscape Architect, has worked with us from the beginning to take our ideas and the ideas we generated through community consultation and translate them into this fantastic design. We particularly want to thank her, also Anthony Morris of SBC, who has worked tirelessly on site to make sure the work is completed to the highest standards. We also would like to thanks the residents in the streets adjacent to the Pringle Park for their patience as the work has continued.”

Ms Sweetnam added that the improvements would not have been possible without (£250K) from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces Scotland Fund, The Robertson Trust (£10K), Scottish Borders Council’s Community Grants Scheme (£5K) and Landfill Communities Fund (£35K). The group also received countless donations of money and precious time over the years from businesess, groups and individuals, helping to raise over £15,500.

Ms Sweetnam continued: “The work doesn’t stop here though. There’s more to be done, including planting and more fundraising for ongoing costs such as insurance and maintenance.

“We’re holding our AGM in the County Hotel at 7pm on June, 24, so we’d encourage anyone who’s interested in getting involved to come along and join us.”

On Monday, Michael Moore MP returned to his old school, Jedburgh Grammar, to take part in a debate on Scottish independence. Six panellists debated the issues and answered questions from the pupils for 90 minutes.

Mr Moore said: “I could not have asked for a better audience than the current pupils of my old school.”

Police are investigating the theft of 900 litres of Forestry Commission diesel in Wauchope Forest between June 6 and 9.

Officers have also issued an appeal after two quad bikes were taken from a Newcastleton farm between 4pm on June 8 and 8am the next day, before being found in Roughope Forest.

Reviews of Walter Scott Prize contenders In our final two reviews of contenders for this year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Texas and New Zealand are the backdrops.

The Promise by Ann Weisgarber: Review by Bridget McCann

Every so often a novel comes along that quietly gets under your skin from first word to last. This is one such gem, so that, even months on, I feel a loss that these characters and their world are no longer in my life.

The setting is Galveston Island, Texas in 1900, against the backdrop of the worst storm in American history. But we cannot ignore the impact on young pianist Catherine Wainwright of being a woman living at the turn of the century, without position or power, and driven from society. It is her ensuing desperation that drives this unfolding love story.

The characters are beautifully and honestly drawn, their flaws and failings only making them more vulnerable and human. But this “narrow bar of dirt and sand, water on all sides,” is as vital to the feel of this novel as the people, the salty air, the heavy Texan heat and the sounds of this weathered landscape. Weisgarber paints such a vivid description of the storm water which steals over this flat land that I was left wanting to shout out “Run for your lives!”

You will not be able to put this book down and will be moved by this story of redemption and of promises kept.

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton: Review by Sally Gillespie, The Southern Reporter

What more can be said about the Man Booker prize-winning The Luminaries from the competition’s youngest winner, Eleanor Catton? It’s a stunning book, Catton’s second, and deserving of the many plaudits it has garnered. The Observer describes it as ‘a dazzling feat’, the Independent praises its ‘sheer rip-roaring readability’ but not all have enjoyed, with the Standard’s David Sexton describing the prose style as ‘annoying’ and writing: “Catton never shows, she tells.”

The action is set in the 28-year-old author’s native New Zealand, in the South Island west coast town of Hokitika during the 1860s gold rush, and starts with unsupecting prospector Walter Moody arriving at his hotel where the book’s characters are seated.

Written in the style of a 19th-century novel, The Luminaries deals in secrets, sex, opium and murder, all manner of nefarious goings on really. It’s complex – at the least, characters are associated with the astrological zodiac – but it’s hugely readable and Catton at all times remains in command of the exquisitely crafted work, which at 832 pages achieves another Man Booker first by being the longest to win the prestigious prize.

Almost 17,000 visitors flocked through the gates of Harmony Garden in Melrose for the 2014 Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.

Organisers say tickets sales were up by over 10% on last year for the four-day programme, which ran from Thursday to Sunday night, and included appearances by Absolutely Fabulous star, Jennifer Saunders, former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, comedian Rory Bremner, television wildlife presenter Steve Backshall and former prime minister, Gordon Brown.

This year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction went to Robert Harris for his novel, An Officer and a Spy, for which he received a cheque for £25,000 and a trophy from prize sponsor, The Duke of Buccleuch.

Festival director Alistair Moffat commented: “This was simply the best, the best festival ever. Not only did 17,000 come through the gates at Harmony, the variety of events was startling and the audience responded hugely. Can’t wait for next year.”

Mr Harris was delighted to have won the Walter Scott Prize after losing out four years ago to Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.

“To win is fantastic. Walter Scott is a great hero of mine and the shortlist was amazing,” he said.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre officially retired on Friday after 18 months on the bench at Jedburgh and Duns.

Solicitors, court staff and other legal representatives marked his departure with a presentation and buffet in the courthouse, following Friday’s criminal business.

Hawick solicitor Rory Bannerman made a short speech, thanking the Sheriff for all his work.

He was then presented with a picture by court clerk Pauline Renwick.

Sheriff McIntyre thanked all the court staff and solicitors for all their work and support during his term on the bench.

Formerly based in Edinburgh, he took over his new appointment at the two Border courts following the departure of Sheriff Donald Corke, who returned to the Lothians.

Born on June 16, 1944, Sheriff McIntyre spent the early years of his childhood in India, where his father worked as a tea planter and served with the Indian army.

He returned to Britain where he attended prep school in Kent and public school at Wellington.

After leaving St Andrews University with a degree in law, Sheriff McIntyre served in the Far East with the 6th Gurkha Rifles.

After rejoining the Black Watch as a territorial, he rose to major and was honoured for his long service.

He is a member of the Royal Company of Archers and chairman of the Scottish Branch of the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Sheriff McIntyre went into private practice in Edinburgh, before joining Taits Solicitors in Kelso as a partner in 1990.

He became a temporary sheriff in 1983, taking up a full-time post in 2000.

Sheriff McIntyre’s interests include country sports.

Local farmers and politicians are backing a national campaign to reduced dog attacks on livestock.

Regional support comes in the wake of attacks earlier this year when sheep were drowned after being chased by a dog into the sea at Craster. Others, worth £900, were mauled to death near Eskdalemuir in March. And in April vets had to euthanase a lamb and patch up others, including a ewe with her ear ripped off, following an attack on Andrew Redpath’s sheep near Sprouston.

Norham sheep farmer and LibDem councillor Dougie Watkin, said: “More often than not, people don’t realize their dog is going for sheep until it’s attacked. I encourage people to ensure they have their dog on a lead and are aware of its whereabouts when walking through fields as dogs worrying sheep is an increasing problem in rural Northumberland.”

Police statistics for last year for the Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders show there were 34 incidents of dogs worrying sheep, broken down into three incidents of chasing, 16 of dogs attacking sheep and 15 involving killings.

The National Sheep Association and national farming paper, the Farmers Guardian, launched their ‘Take the Lead’ campaign, urging dog owners to put their pets on leads, earlier this year and have been lobbying vets, dog shows and publications for support.

NFU Scotland Lothian and Borders regional chairman Stuart McNicol supports the campaign which also urges owners to clean up after their dogs and to be responsible for their own actions.