More than 500 pupils from 13 primary schools across the Borders and Midlothian have had the chance to get hands-on engineering experience – thanks to the Borders Railway Bridges to Schools project, supported by the Institution of Civil Engineering.

Hosted by BAM, principal contractor for the Borders Railway, the project gave pupils from P5, P6 and P7 an insight into the challenges of civil engineering and an opportunity to construct a 2.8m-high model cable-stayed bridge, encouraging the children to work as a team.

Stuart Mackay, communications manager for BAM, said: “The Bridges to Schools workshops provided a great interactive platform to engage with young people across the area about the major engineering activities that are under way to help bring the Borders Railway to life. We’ve had some great feedback from teachers and all of the children who took part really enjoyed playing their part in constructing a model bridge. I think we might even have found some future engineers!”

The BAM-led workshops ran in line with a schools education programme run by the Scottish Youth Theatre to educate primary pupils about railway safety.

The schools which took part in the Bridges to Schools initiative were: Langlee, Burgh, Tweedbank, Glendinning, Balmoral, Heriot, Fountainhall, Stow, Clovenfords , Gorebridge, Newtongrange and Moorfoot.

The photograph shows Cameron Catterall and Adam Blake, from Newtongrange Primary School, participating in Bridges to Schools.

A boost for Borders housing and the local construction sector – that’s how £800,000 funding for Eildon Housing Association is being greeted.

The Scottish Government announced the funding during the Cabinet’s visit to the Borders on Tuesday and the money will be used by Eildon to acquire land at Coopersknowe in Galashiels for affordable housing.

First Minister Alex Salmond reaffirmed that providing social rented homes, safeguarding jobs and helping the construction industry was a priority.

By March 2016, a total of £12million of Scottish Government funding will have been spent in the Borders, over a four-year period, to assist in the provision of more than 250 additional affordable homes.

Speaking after viewing completed affordable homes at Easter Langlee in Galashiels, Mr Salmond said: “Our investment in the Borders is providing much-needed affordable homes for local people, sustaining construction jobs and providing ongoing local employment opportunities.”

Eildon chief executive, Nile Istephan, said he was delighted with this latest financial support, as it will enable Eildon to secure the Coopersknowe site – located on the opposite side of the road from the association’s development at Easter Langlee.

“Not only will this help us to address the high demand for quality affordable housing, it will also help support the local construction industry and create much-needed jobs and training opportunities,” he said.

One of Eildon’s existing Easter Langlee tenants commented: “We were delighted to secure one of these new homes and, since moving in October, we are settling in well. This development provided the ideal opportunity for me and my family.”

Building firm Persimmon Homes expects to hand over more than 800 new affordable homes in Scotland, including properties in Galashiels, over the next two years.

Councillor Frances Renton, Scottish Borders Council executive member for social work and housing, added: “This will help sustain construction industry jobs and provide much-needed affordable housing, via an anticipated five phases of development in the biggest mixed tenure housing site in the central Borders”.

There has been criticism of Scottish Borders Council after hospitality food and drink items from the Queen’s Baton Relay were dumped in a lay-by.

A driver at the Borders Book Festival spotted the rubbish in the lay-by on the English side of the border, just beyond Coldstream bridge, on Saturday, June 14, during one of several trips to Berwick-upon-Tweed railway station to collect VIPs.

This was also the day the baton relay entered Scotland, crossing the border at Coldstream.

The driver said: “The rubbish was in the lay-by, which didn’t have a bin, for three days.

“It was hospitality products, such as food and drink containers and packaging. Most of it was empty, but some appeared unopened.

“It was marked with SBC labelling.

“When I passed on Monday and saw it was still there, I stopped and bagged it and took it to landfill. I estimate my three bags held about 100kg of rubbish. It was an unsightly mess.”

SBC had provided catering for staff and partner agencies involved in the baton event.

A council spokesman told us: “Unfortunately some waste items were obviously not uplifted from the south side of Coldstream Bridge.

“A member of SBC staff reported leftover waste to our Neighbourhood Operations team on the morning of Monday, June 16, but when they attended later that day the refuse had already been removed.

“We are extremely grateful to the member of the public who took the time to uplift the rubbish.”

BUSINESS

This is on the basis you will have an equity involvement in the partnership, will be included in the management of the firm and are required to contribute significant capital, and are not therefore caught by new rules which require certain fixed share or salaried partners in LLPs to be treated as employees.

Many professional practices use April 30 as an accounting date as this gives maximum deferral of tax liabilities on rising profits, although in the recent tougher commercial times, with reducing profits, some firms have looked to change their accounting date to March 31.

If we use an example of a partner joining the partnership on May 1, 2014, the first tax return to April 5, 2015, will include the profit share for that period. The return for the subsequent year will include the profit share for the year to April 30, 2015. Thereafter the profits taxed for each tax year will be those for the accounting year ending in the tax year.

This advice, in our experience, results in a look of horror, matched only by the phrase “double taxation” when discussing profits of firms with an overseas branch.

Fortunately, tax rules provide relief for such instances and on this occasion the profits taxed twice on joining the partnership are available for deduction at a later date.

Rennie Welch LLP accept no liability on the basis of this article and detailed advice should be obtained before entering into any transaction.

Have you got a question? If so please email: thebusinessbrain@renniewelch.co.uk.

Lilliesleaf farmer and NFU Scotland vice president Rob Livesey’s Salers will be competing at the Great Yorkshire show later this month.

The Firth farmer told TheSouthern: “We have a smaller team (than for the Highland Show) going, we’ll see how that goes.”

He was speaking in the wake of success at the Highland, when champion Salers bull Cleuchhead Compo, pictured, was among his winners which also included best pairs and best junior female.

Rob said: “We had a great show. This bull is one of the best we have bred. His mum is one of our top cows having bred bulls to £7,300 in the past.

“The heifer that was junior female champion reflects a typical female in our herd.”

Galashiels and Kelso Rotarians have been collecting used milk bottle tops which are recycled by CK Polymers of St Boswells – and £1,000 has been raised from 3.6 tonnes.

Members from the two Borders Rotary clubs presented a cheque to Caroline Green, of Marie Curie Cancer Care, money which will buy 50 hours of nursing care at home for terminally-ill patients.

In the photograph are, from left, Mike Perry (Kelso Rotary Club), Isobel Johnson (president , Galashiels Rotary Club), Caroline Green, Sandra Craig (president, Kelso Rotary Club) and Sheena Cossar, who started the project.

It occurred to me at the weekend, and not for the first time, that because of the nature of farming I could start Landlines every week with good news/ bad news.

The immediate good news is that I don’t intend to make that a regular feature, the bad news is that I will use one more example. So, good news, most of the past fortnight or so has been good to wonderful weather which gave last week’s Highland show a boost and silage makers ideal conditions. It was also generally good for crops and livestock, although it seems we don’t need many successive dry days before some pessimist mentions “drought”.

The bad news is that ex-farm beef and lamb prices are down as are futures prices for grain and, as is often the case in farming, those good news/bad news items are closely linked.

Good weather and rapid grass growth have helped lambs reach target weights quickly, numbers sent to market have increased quickly, and we all know what that means – prices have fallen.

The drop in beef cattle prices to about 2011 levels has rather more complicated causes, including a rise in beef imports and difficulty in competing for export sales because of the strength of sterling, but the net effect has been the same.

Most grain, oilseed, potato and vegetable crops are still enjoying good growing conditions after a mild spring and warm early summer. Prospects for high grain yields this harvest are good, so, inevitably it seems, prices being quoted for this autumn are the lowest for several years. It’s a funny old game.

Anyone who has ever prepared a farm business cash flow and budget for a bank manager – one manager told me “I don’t necessarily believe your cash flow, but I admire your ingenuity” – would have been encouraged by recent evidence that the Bank of England has a shocking financial forecasting record. For example, for one period when the bank had forecast inflation would be less than 1%, it rose to 5%. Any farmer who has seen his cash flow go pear-shaped as grain prices slump and fertiliser and spray prices soar would enjoy seeing a graph of the bank’s forecast versus reality.

While enjoying the bank’s discomfiture, with one commentator suggesting it should replace the term “forecast” with “prophecy” – why not “Wild guess” or “Hopeful punt”? – I can’t say I’m surprised. The history of economics is littered with so-called, and usually highly paid, professionals getting their estimates wrong.

But pointing this out to bank managers and accountants when my budgets were criticised never helped much.

I’ve lost track of how many sheep breeds there are now in Britain. It could be 70, most of them for decorative and showring purposes only. If it was 70, it’s now 71 with the arrival of the Valais Blacknose, native to Switzerland. It will be a happy day when we have more breeds of useless sheep than breeds of useless dogs.

We are back to the Alice’s Restaurant scenario again at Shoogly Towers – closed on account of a lot of death. Except, of course, we are not closed.

We can’t be, as we were never open in the first place.

Anyhoo, hard on the heels of the death of Bruce the gout-ridden cockerel (and Bruce’s heels were very swollen and gout-ridden towards the end), we lost our wee Sally this last week. I say “wee” Sally, as although she was the smallest turkey, she was a turkey nonetheless and therefore, by species, much larger than a lot of birds.

We originally bought Sally as one of 10 poults, eight of whom eventually met their deaths as turkeys do at the end of each year. Well, that’s a bit of a fib, because two of the 10 were Lurch and Lurch 2, the stag turkeys we kept (one main, one reserve). Lurch, you may remember, was so gargantuan he went off his legs and had to be despatched. Lurch 2 nervously stepped up to the plate (not literally, as he was never destined to be Christmas dinner) only to be despatched – by our Patterdale.

Post-Chrimbo, just Queenie and Sally, our turkey girls, remained. Wee Sally Bally Bee, who would come waddling over at high speed the moment you entered “the chickens” (as the fenced-off half of our grounds is universally called at ST) and then follow you round like a beady-eyed, beaky wee dog, having a nosey at everything you did. She had a penchant for shiny stuff – rings, nails, tacks, watches.

Like a large bronze and grey magpie, she would peck and pull at stuff that caught her fancy, including the buckles on your wellies. Odd.

She was a big hit with the Young Mistress, who styled herself Queen of the Turkeys and loved her favourite, Sally Bally Bee, to bits.

We got used to shouting for her, and she got used to coming to call. Always there.

In the last couple of years, due to the ineptitude of Vic, our stag turkey, poor wee Sally – desperate to be a mum – would sit on eggs ... any eggs ... she wasn’t fussy whose they were. Two days before she died she had been sitting on the (much rejected) Old English Pheasant Fowl eggs rejected by all and sundry. She sat tight for three weeks, but to no avail. Gradually squashing them one by one with her heavy turkey body, she was finally left with two – which, sadly, didn’t hatch.

We lifted her off and removed her from the broody coop she’d been in and I could swear she looked sad. If turkeys can look sad. She hung about, listlessly.

Gamford, remarking on her uncharacteristic state, said: “She’s on her way out.”

And she was.

The next morning, he let the chooks and turkeys out, and she didn’t want to leave the shed. It was a warm, sunny morning. At 9am, I went to take her water in a wee drinker so she didn’t have to move, and she was lying down, eyes closed. Nite, nite Sally, sleep tight.

The Young Mistress was distraught. And the relentless cycle of life rolls on. For every yin there’s a yang, and the same day that Sally died the first of our bought-in eggs hatched and a lovely, fluffy wee yellow chick was born.

Bye, bye, Sally Bally Bee, you will be sadly missed.

GILL

ADAMSON

Michael Moore MP is extending his Road to the Referendum campaign to include Ettrickbridge, Lauder, Greenlaw and Newcastleton.

The remaining dates are: Tait Hall, Kelso, July 3; Kirkhope Hall, Ettrickbridge, July 11; Corn Exchange, Melrose, July 24; Youth Trust Hall, Lauder, July 29; Fairbairn Hall, Greenlaw, July 31; Hawick Town Hall, September 4; St Peter’s Church Hall, Galashiels, September 11; Village Hall, Newcastleton, September 15. All meetings start at 7pm.

A Borders student is one of the winners of an innovation competition and will now take part in a residential “boot camp” for young entrepreneurs.

Maria Silies, 27, is studying on the MA Fashion and Textiles Design course at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels and has been named one of 33 winners of the Young Innovators Challenge 2014.

Run by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE), the competition encourages students to submit creative and innovative ideas for solving problems on one of three themes: healthcare and well-being; green and sustainable energy resources and smarter communities and infrastructure. There were more than 300 entries in total and each of the 33 winners has now received £1,000 to further develop their ideas.

Maria, originally from Germany, was chosen for her idea to “upcycle” textile waste from mills in Scotland, particularly heritage textiles such as wool, tweed and cashmere.

She sources the remnants from a local finisher and dyer in Galashiels, knitting, weaving or needle punching the strips to create larger pieces of fabric. Her idea came out of her Masters dissertation, which explores the opportunities in designing with Scottish heritage textile surplus and transforming it into desirable and unique fabrics, suitable for accessories and fashion.

Maria will now get the chance to join with the other winners in workshops and get input from experts and mentors. She said: “The challenge seemed to be the perfect opportunity to ‘think big’.

“I’m looking forward to presenting my idea to the public and pushing the potential of my project.”

She added: “Being one of the winners is a fantastic opportunity to work intensively on my idea with business experts and advisers from SIE.”

Alison Harley, creative director at the School of Textiles and Design, said: “This innovation challenge was an exceptional opportunity for students to show how they could really make a difference by designing a creative solution to a previously ‘sticky’ problem.

“It dovetails perfectly with our approach at the university, focusing as we do on developing solutions to critical global issues, through science, technology, engineering, business and design.”

A singular link was formed when Steven Henderson was installed as Galashiels Rotarians’ president after his wife’s tenure in the same post at the Selkirk club in 2009/10. The clubs have always had a good relationship – but this can only improve over the next Rotary year which starts officially on July 1.

Also installed at the meeting were Lynda Stoddart (president elect) and Tricia Paterson (president nominee). From left, Lynda Stoddart, retiring president Isobel Johnson, Steven Henderson and Tricia Paterson.

In most cases of parasitic gastro-enteritis (PGE, gut worm disease) it is not carrying a worm burden in their stomach or intestines that affects lambs most, but having to fight off constant fresh infection from grazing worm-contaminated fields, writes the Borders Sheep Health vets.

The foremost question when working out a worm control plan is how can we avoid lambs grazing worm-contaminated pastures and how can we do this sustainably (i.e. without selecting too much for resistance)? After midsummer worm control is often based on a combination of grazing management and anthelmintic treatments (guided by faecal egg counts) to ensure that weaned lambs are grazing only low-contamination pastures. If lambs are on wormy pastures, then you can dose them as often as you like but they will not perform well if you don’t move them.

Finishing lambs off the ewes before midsummer means that they are not exposed to the heavily worm-contaminated pastures that can build up in the second half of the grazing season.

If warm/wet conditions continue into July, then an increased PGE risk can be expected this summer. These conditions will also increase the fluke risk in the autumn. Dry periods reduce the immediate risk of PGE, although when rain follows a dry spell of several days, there can be an immediate increase in worm challenge. If the summer as a whole is dry, then the overall level of worm disease can be expected to be lower, although autumn and winter PGE can be a problem when the wet weather eventually arrives.

Air Cadets from 2180 (Galashiels) Squadron handed over a £945.10 cheque to the chairman of the Royal Air Forces Association (Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders branch), Bob Bertram, when he visited them on Monday.

The cash was collected at a bag pack at Tesco in Galashiels.

Mr Bertram said: “It’s a matter of personal pleasure to return to the squadron in Galashiels where I spent many years as an officer and to see it doing so well.”

Bob, former commanding officer of the Galashiels squadron, inspected the cadets on parade and saw a variety of activities in which they are involved, including flight simulators and radio work.

Cadets from the squadron will soon depart to RAF Benson for a week of activities and flying at the Oxfordshire helicopter base.

Anyone aged 13-17 who wants to join the squadron or find out more should contact Frank Wielbo on 01835 870543.

The photograph shows Bob Bertram and Flight Sergeant Aaron Kerr holding the cheque, along with the Galashiels cadets.

The people of Galashiels came out in force on Wednesday evening to either dress up or watch others do so.

And, with the weather holding out (just), it was the usual mixture of madness, merriment and fun.

The Southern’s digital content manager Kevin Janiak set out armed with a video camera – and this is the result.

And when the fancy dress passed, Gala folk watched the procession of horses, led by the Braw Lad and Lass, as they returned to the town from their visit to Torwoodlee. Video from Stuart Cobley to come later.

Results – Children 3 years and under: 1, Rubix Cube; 2, Spaceman; 3, Pirates.

Children 4-6: 1, The Hulk; 2, Dorothy; 3, Jack Sparrow.

Children 7-10: 1, Tooth Fairy; 2, Computer Character; 3, Horse & Cart.

Adult and Child: 1, Fox; 2, England; 3, Red/White Rose.

Junior Pairs: 1, Maybe Aye Maybe No; 2, Sesame Street; 3, Big Sister & Patient Little Brother.

Adult Singles: 1, Disco Queen.

Junior Groups: 1, Guid Auld Galae; 2, BOA Bairns of Anarchay; 3, Pirates of the Galalean.

Family Group: 1, Pirate Ship; 2, Lego Movie; 3, Annie Ruddiman.

Senior Groups: 1, Mrs Brown’s Boys; 2, Strictly Dancing; 3, I Phone.

Uniform Groups: 1, Gala Messy Church Adam & Eve; 2, Scouts.

Pre School Groups: 1, Mini Mags; 2, Caddonfoot; 3, Gala Express.

Prams: 1, Cinderella.

Float: 1, Scala Day; 2, Hazeldean.

Best in Parade: Guid Auld Galae; Gala Hot spots

A ceremony to mark work beginning on the multi-million pound Selkirk flood prevention scheme has been hailed as a significant moment.

The comment came from council leader David Parker after he helped Scotland’s minister for environment and climate change, Paul Wheelhouse, cut the first sod.

Mr Wheelhouse was in Selkirk on Tuesday, alongside First Minister Alex Salmond and his Cabinet, for a public meeting in the Victoria Halls.

He took time out to don protective gear, grab a shovel and share the turfing ceremony with the council leader.

The cost of the scheme has risen from an original estimate of £28.8million to £31.4million.

Experts claim it will protect 595 properties – including 120 businesses which employ around 1,200 people. It also helps protect a number of important infrastructures. They include parts of the sewage treatment works, Philiphaugh Community School, the rugby club and an electricity power station, as well as parts of the A7.

The Bannerfield footbridge will also be strengthened at a cost of £879,000. Flood risks will also be reduced on the Yarrow road and at Lindean.

Eighty per cent of the bill is being picked up by Holyrood.

Councillor Parker commented: “This is a significant moment for Selkirk. No-one from the town will forget the flooding which devastated Bannerfield in 2003, and significant effort has been put into the flood protection scheme to ensure Selkirk is protected from an event of this kind again.

“With the backing of the Scottish Government, this scheme will encourage business growth and employment with the Royal Burgh by safeguarding almost 600 properties.”

Preparatory work is already under way and will increase over the summer, with major construction starting in December. It is due to be completed by December 2016.

Mr Wheelhouse said the scheme would have a positive impact on residents and businesses.

He added: “Communities such as Bannerfield living under the threat of flooding know only too well the devastating effects it can have and that is why flooding remains a priority for this government.

“In particular, this project, aside from protecting houses, will also protect the very important Ettrick Riverside area which is home to many of Selkirk’s established and new-start businesses.

“By continuing to invest in measures to mitigate the impact of flooding and reduce the risk of it happening in the first place, we are providing invaluable support to some of the most vulnerable communities in Selkirk and, indeed, across other similarly-affected areas the country.”

Project manager Colin Price commented: “The level of works will increase this summer and we will engage with the community on the closure of roads, as well as the Bannerfield footbridge which will have to be closed on a number of occasions.”

Police are appealing for witnesses following a break-in and theft from an address in Galashiels.

The incident happened sometime between 11.30am on Friday and 4pm on yesterday (Sunday) at Heatheryett Lodge.

After returning home, the occupants discovered that their property had been entered and numerous items including jewellery, money and a tablet device had been stolen.

Detective Sergeant Gordon Millar, who leads on local Operation RAC enquiries, said: “The homeowner’s are very upset at the theft of their belongings and we are keen to hear from anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity in the area over the weekend.

“In addition anyone with any information that can help us trace those responsible is also asked to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A planning application has been submitted by the council for the new £21.8m Kelso High School providing details on the design of the school and associated facilities.

Community drop-in sessions are expected in the coming months to provide updates on the project.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison, SBC executive member for education, said: “The submission of the planning application brings a new Kelso High School another step closer.

“With a land purchase agreement already in place, I am pleased to see the project progressing and look forward to a brand new facility which will provide an improved learning environment for generations of Kelso children.”

Paul McGirk, chief executive of the council’s development partner, Hub South East Scotland Ltd, added: “We are delighted with the progress being made on this project in partnership with the council.

“Pupils and staff will benefit from modern, fit-for-purpose facilities and the community will benefit from investment in the local area. We look forward to making these plans a reality.”

Hub South East Scotland has appointed Morrison Construction as contractor to build the school.

It would be hard to imagine a more perfect backdrop to a Borders common riding or festival than the one enjoyed at Melrose on Saturday.

A week of events had built up to Saturday morning’s climax, when the Melrosian, the Festival Queen and her court tour surrounding villages and take part in ceremonies at Melrose Abbey.

Townsfolk had awoken to perfect azure blue skies and golden sunshine. In fact, the only thing brighter than the weather was the smiles on the faces of all those involved.

And one of the biggest was that of 2014 Melrosian Fraser Anderson.

Speaking minutes after the conclusion of Saturday’s ceremonies in the abbey grounds, he told us: “It’s been unbelievable. It went very quickly like everyone says.

“I can’t really describe it, but without the support of everyone, I wouldn’t have had such a great week.”

And asked for his personal highlights of the week, he added: “Coming up the High Street on the horse behind the pipers, the abbey and the ball – and seeing everyone happy and relaxed.”

The son of Ian and Vada Anderson, from Fairways, the Melrosian said he felt that any young man getting the chance to be Melrosian should grab the opportunity with both hands: “The thing is, I’d never considered it until I got asked.

“But it’s literally something you can’t turn down – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” he said.

Festival chairman in charge of proceedings this year, James Marjoribanks, was also a delighted man by the conclusion of Saturday’s ceremonies at the abbey.

He told The Southern: “It’s been tremendous.

“We couldn’t have had a better week weather-wise: It makes it all so much easier when you have good weather.

“Our principals were also wonderfully supported by the people of Melrose, because it is, after all, a community festival, and that’s what we proved this week.”

His personal highlights from the week was the crowning and installation ceremonies at the abbey on Thursday night.

“Last year was my first year as chairman and I was a bit like the proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights.

“So I take my hat off to this year’s orator, Nigel Brown, who was excellent. He and I had a good chat up on the dais and it helped make it all very relaxed.”

Saturday’s ceremonies began with the traditional visit to Newstead and the site of what is claimed to be the oldest Masonic lodge in the country and where office-bearers of Melrose’s modern-day lodge greeted the principals.

Festival Queen Charlie Hume and her court were also given a warm welcome by residents of the village.

It was then a brief walk to the site of the former Roman fort of Trimontium.

The Melrosian and the official party were greeted by Ex-Melrosian Clark Eaton-Turner in the authentic garb of a Roman soldier.

From there it was on to Gattonside and a welcome from the village, the site of the fruit orchards once tended by monks from the abbey and where cherries were offered to the official party.

Among those who turned out to greet the official party was Gattonside’s oldest resident at 100, Harry Williams.

After having his picture taken with Trainbearer Maia Thomson, one of Gattonside’s youngest citizens, Harry told us: “I’m enjoying it very much. It’s living history and the weather’s great.”

At Abbotsford, the Melrosian and his supporters received traditional yellow roses from Jane Douglas-Home, on behalf of the Abbotsford Trust, and a gift was presented to the Festival Queen.

The last port of call before returning to the abbey was Darnick Tower, where the Melrosian received a gift of honey, while guests accepted refreshments symbolising the mead of long ago.

Ex-Melrosian (2000) Greig Anderson, in the role of the abbey’s lord abbot, was offered a gift of wax ‘to lighten your convent at Melrose’.

The ruined abbey was bathed in sunshine for the final ceremonies of the day, the highlight of which was the laying of a wreath of red roses by the Festival Queen on the site of the burial of King Robert Bruce’s heart.

The Melrosian was ably supported throughout the week by Right-Hand Man Sam Thomson and Left-Hand Man Graeme Crawford.

Festival Queen Charlie Hume is the granddaughter of Ex-Melrosian John Bunyan and great-grand-niece of Ex-Melrosian and past festival chairman, George Bunyan.

The Festival Queen was also ably supported by her court, comprising First Attendant Katherine Donaghy; Second Attendant Heather Panter; Courtier Ruaridh Tullis; Courtier Matthew Kirk; Heralds Ben Lynch and Lex Daunas and Trainbearers Maia Thomson and Lucy Whiting.

Ross MacDonald, 21, from Melrose, has been recognised by Glasgow’s International Financial Services District (IFSD) for achieving a first class honours degree in finance at the University of Strathclyde.

At an awards ceremony for the IFSD Glasgow Student Awards 2014, Ross was one of seven students, representing each university and college in Glasgow, to be presented with a certificate and £250 to mark their achievements.

Ross wants to work in security analysis and currently plans to return to university to undertake a masters in finance.

The awards programme was established by the IFSD Partnership to highlight the wealth of talented graduates emerging from Glasgow’s universities and colleges, prepared for careers in financial services.

Presenting the award to Ross on behalf of the IFSD, Elaine Hovey, senior manager, said: “Many congratulations to Ross on his achievement.

“The IFSD Student Awards underline the breadth and depth of talent graduating from these universities and colleges which is, we believe, very reassuring for existing financial services companies in the city and prospective inward investors.”