The trial of a Galashiels community councillor accused of downloading child porn has been adjourned for three months.

William Brown was due to stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court next week on a charge of having indecent photographs of children in his possession. He is also accused of making or permitting to be taken indecent photographs of children at his home in Bleachfield Road, Selkirk, on May 8 last year. The 34-year-old has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the defence had changed their position and were now requesting an expert report about the content of the photographs which the Crown would then have to consider, so next week’s trial hearing would need to be adjourned.

A new date was fixed for November 25, with an intermediate hearing on October 27.

DOMESTIC BUST-UP

A Hawick man involved in a bust-up with his partner was fined £250 at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.

Lee Nichol, 27, was found guilty after a trial of struggling with Stacey Johnson at his home in Trinity Street on November 14.

The court was told that Nichol had tried to get her to leave the house, but the couple were back together and expecting their third child.

At Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, Johnson pleaded guilty to striking Nichol on the head with a screwdriver during the same incident and sentence was deferred until January 16 for good behaviour.

ADMITTED CHILD NEGLECT

A Galashiels woman who admitted neglecting a young child and causing it unnecessary suffering had sentence deferred for six months.

Tracy Ann Hope, 34, pleaded guilty to leaving the child alone in a flat in Channel Street, Galashiels, on December 12 in unhygienic and unsavoury conditions, with dog faeces and urine on the floor, no hot water, exposed electric wires, a collapsed ceiling, and a Rottweiler and collie in attendance.

The case was deferred until January 26 to allow Hope to engage with social work services.

KELSO BOOZE THIEF

Stealing alcohol from the Tesco superstore in Galashiels and then struggling with police officers resulted in Dean Arthur Brown being ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

The 19-year-old, of Orchard Park, Kelso, pleaded guilty to the offences which happened on June 27.

INTERMEDIATE HEARING

A Galashiels man is to stand trial, accused of threatening or abusive behaviour at offices in the town.

John Stuart Kevan, 47, pleaded not guilty to shouting and swearing, refusing to desist and refusing to leave the premises of Turning Point Scotland in High Street when requested to do so on April 16.

The trial date is December 9, with an intermediate hearing on October 27.

KNIVES ALLEGATIONS

A 35-year-old Lilliesleaf woman appeared from custody accused of smashing the window of a neighbour’s home on Saturday.

Lucy Nicol, who changed her name by deed poll from Nicola Brims, is also charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, shouting and swearing, repeatedly banging doors and brandishing two knives during the disturbance in Hislop’s Row. She faces a third allegation of having two bladed articles, namely two kitchen knives, without reasonable excuse.

Nicol pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was released on bail to her parents home in Galashiels.

A trial was set for November 25, with an intermediate hearing on October 27.

BREACHED HER ASBO

A Galashiels woman appeared from custody and admitted a charge of shouting and swearing and banging on a door under the influence of alcohol, which breached the terms of her ASBO (antisocial behaviouir order).

The offence happened at a house in Inchmyre, Kelso, on Saturday.

Shannon Foulis, 21, of Hawthorn Road, had sentence deferred until August 18 for the production of a criminal justice social work report.

DENIES ASSAULT CHARGE

David Irvine, of Silverbuthall Road, Hawick, denies assaulting a woman by punching her on the head and causing her to fall against a set of stairs.

The offence is said to have taken place at a house in Crailing Court, Hawick, on December 22.

The 47-year-old also pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.

A trial will take place on August 21.

MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY

A Kelso youth will stand trial later this year accused of struggling with his parents and brandishing a knife.

Rhys McGregor denies acting in a threatening or abusive manner at Orchard Park, Kelso, on December 17. The 20-year-old, of Eschie Court, is also said to have been shouting and swearing, and uttering threats of violence.

Trial was set at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for November 13, with an intermediate hearing on October 17.

CAR-WASH RAIDER’S CURFEW

A Jedburgh man appeared from custody at the town’s sheriff court and admitted staging an overnight break-in at a nearby car-wash.

Taylor Wright, 20, of Bongate View, pleaded guilty to stealing a cash register and a Mazda vehicle from Autochoice Express at Bonjedward earlier this month. He also admitted driving the car on various roads in the Ancrum and Jedburgh area without insurance.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond deferred sentence until August 29s and placed Wright on a curfew, from 7pm-7am.

TRIAL DATE FOR TEENAGER

A Jedburgh teenager has been accused of knocking out a female during a disturbance.

Luke Marley, 18, of Grieve Avenue, is charged with seizing her by the hair, pushing her on the body and causing her to strike her head against a bannister, resulting in her losing unconciousness, all to her injury. The alleged offence at a house in Grieve Avenue on June 14 is said to have been committed while he was on bail.

Marley pleaded not guilty and a trial was set for November 20 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on October 24.

CONDITIONS OF BAIL

A Hawick man appeared from custody last Friday accused of two offences.

Jason Bradshaw, 38, of North Bridge Street, denies shouting and swearing, and acting in a threatening or abusive manner earlier that day.

He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of giving police a false name and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A trial was set for November 20, with an intermediate hearing on October 24.

Bradshaw was released on bail with special conditions not to enter the Mill Port area of Hawick and contacting a named woman.

CASE IS CONTINUED

A Hawick man due to face jury trial on a charge of assault to severe injury had the case continued for a week.

Alexander MacLeod, 59, is alleged to have repeatedly punched Robert Williams, grabbed him by the clothing, repeatedly struck his head on a metal bar – all to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The offence is said to have been committed near his home in Hillend Drive on June 14 last year.

The case will recall tomorrow(Friday) and the trial has been scheduled for August 11.

Secondary school pupils preparing to return to start their Highers next month will face a postcode lottery in terms of the courses offered.

With schools in the Borders running new Higher courses in some subjects and existing courses in others it is chaotic.

Some pupils will even study an ‘old’ Higher subject on the back of just completing the new National 5 exam.

The already muddy waters will get worse come the start of the 2015/16 school year, with the new Advanced Highers coming in.

Could this mean that some Borders pupils will study a National 5, followed by an ‘old’ Higher course, and then a new Advanced Higher?

It is all very unsatisfactory, and appears to come down to the rushed, and underfunded, introduction of the curriculum across Scotland.

The council has assured us that the course decisions have been taken with pupils’ best interests at heart, and we can only hope that the students are not hindered by this situation in the long term.

On a happier note, what an inspiration the Scotland team has been at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Performances like that of Libby Clegg have brought the large crowds to their feet, and no doubt plenty of those watching on the TV too.

And hopefully there is more to come from our local sporting stars in the final days of these fantastic Games.

They have all done us proud.

When the British leg of the Tour de France ended, the Borders ‘etapes’ had only just begun for some.

The Borders Dialysis Cyclists had their own ‘Grand Depart’ as they set about tackling the 21 stages of the Tour. While crowds lined the streets from York to Sheffield, the Borders Dialysis Cyclists remained in Borders General Hospital with loops of dialysis tubing attached to their forearms, filtering their blood as they begin the first stage on an exercise bike which clips to the end of their chairs.

There are currently nine dialysis patients who regularly cycle during their thrice-weekly dialysis sessions. They have already completed a joint Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge, cycling for a total of 107 hours from January to May. Each patient’s contribution was recorded with coloured dots in a road atlas and on a wall map of Britain.

During the Tour de France challenge, each stage was ‘led’ by a patient nominated to wear the yellow jersey for a personal exercise achievement. They measured their cycle distances on the bike.

The picture shows Jane Chalmers, staff nurse at the Borders Dialysis Unit, and, on his bike, dialysis patient Doug Cochrane.

The Reverend Bruce Lawrie conducted the annual Blanket Preaching Service in the hills overlooking St Mary’s Loch.

The congregation that gathered in the ancient kirkyard of the ruined St Mary’s of the Lowes Church were greeted by a lone piper.

A headstone became the minister’s pulpit and raised grave covers became were utilised as temporary pews.

The service is held year on the fourth Sunday of July and is a throwback to the 17th century when religious dissent was rife.

The Protestant faithful were persecuted and presbyterian preachers held secret services hidden in the hills away from government troops.

To provide a focus for the minister – and also a shield from wind, rain or a burning sun – a temporary shelter was erected using gate stabs and a blanket.

It is only in recent years that the blanket from which the services takes its name, has disappeared.

Valleys minister the Reverend Sam Siroki once stated: “The name of the service always excites the curiosity of visitors, as it did me when I came to Yarrow.

“When I heard the name, I thought that things have to be really bad when people not only sleep during worship, but also bring their blankets.”

Sunday’s service was followed by teas and home baking in Cappercleuch Hall.

The recent scorcher came to an end at the weekend but not before the Border Union Show at Kelso made the most of the final days.

I was there on Saturday and at around 28 degrees for most of the day, it was hard work just walking around, so I don’t know how the animals felt.

Sensibly, the organisers allowed the ones most susceptible to the heat to be taken away as soon as possible after judging.

Some of the spectators, however, weren’t as sensible, as there were several loudspeaker announcements about distressed dogs being left in cars and that police would break into them if the owners didn’t return immediately.

By Sunday, things had cooled down to a more pleasant 16 degrees as I embarked on a stroll along the south side of St Mary’s Loch.

The stiff breeze was whipping up waves on the loch, which lapped soothingly against the stony shore as I followed the broad track towards Bowerhope Farm.

The tall roadside flowers were waving wildly in the wind, particularly meadowsweet, gowan and rosebay willowherb.

The foxgloves which had appeared in abundance after the recent clearfelling of trees were past their best, with the remaining purple floral thimbles restricted to the very tips.

Some of the broadleaved trees along the side of the road were not native and had obviously been planted, and it wasn’t long before I spotted a cherry tree, laden with lovely looking black fruit.

Typically the best were high up and out of reach, but the ones I did manage to get my hands on were delicious.

Further along, there were several with red fruit, but they were not a patch on that first one.

Across the loch, I could hear the sound of bagpipes drifting over the water and I could see on the opposite side, several cars parked along the road. It was the annual Blanket Preaching ceremony, which is held at the ruined churchyard on the hill, high above the loch. I could just make out the worshippers snaking up the steep path to take part in this unique outdoor religious service dating back to the time of the Covenanters.

In the 17th century, Yarrow was the scene of religious dissent; Presbyterian Covenanter preachers and their followers were forbidden to attend church services, so were forced to worship outdoors, often huddling in blankets for protection from the elements.

To this day, the practise is commemorated on the fourth Sunday of July every year.

I have been there in previous years when the rain was horizontal and a blanket would have been very welcome, however, on this occasion, I think the service would be over before the first shower swept down the loch.

Remember, you can contact me by emailing corbie@homecall.co.uk

Up to 50 people could be employed by Christmas at a new firm which will start trading on Monday, the company’s managing director has said.

TenTel, based at Ettrick Riverside, currently has 18 employees, but Robert McKechnie told The Wee Paper that if everything goes to plan then that could increase to 50 by the end of the year.

The company will be the first to offer same-day telephone and broadband services without holding customers to long-term contracts.

It will target customers in rented accommodation and aims to work in partnership with landlords and letting agents, offering them a commission.

Mr McKechnie anticipates signing up 20,000 customers in TenTel’s first year, generating a turnover of around £9million.

It is estimated that in five years it will have 100,000 customers.

Mr McKechnie, said: “This is a brand new approach in the telecoms market that offers customers a less expensive and more convenient service, while also providing a new income stream for landlords.

“Because we don’t spend large sums on marketing campaigns or sales commissions to switching sites, we can pass on those savings in the form of cheaper deals to our customers and commission to our partners. It’s a win-win.”

He added: “It’s a business opportunity that is currently being missed and we can help landlords and letting agents take advantage of it by partnering with us.”

The company was founded by P.J. Darling, who also created Spark Energy, which has its headquarters in the town and employs 200 people, with plans to grow further this year.

Mr McKechnie said that the Mr Darling’s involvement with TenTel was partly behind the decision to establish the headquarters in Selkirk.

However, he added: “Part of it is also the cost to run a business from a property perspective, and it is absolutely value for money here at Ettrick Riverside, and that is down to Scottish Enterprise ... we have had great support from them.”

The company claims to have the most competitive prices in the market and believes that letting agents with 1,000 properties could generate a commission of £25,000 a year.

“This would be the equivalent to them managing an extra 250 properties without incurring any additional workload or expense,” Mr McKechnie said.

A superb cornet, scorching temperatures and large crowds made the 2014 Langholm Common Riding one which will remain in the memory.

It was a superb week of weather and Cornet Dale Irving proved to be a great ambassador for the town.

The 20-year-old conditional jockey took everything in his stride while everyone else was hot under the collar, and he made sure he enjoyed every minute. Good weather at past common ridings have been reported as shirt-sleeved, but this was more like Caribbean.

The cornet is elected via public vote and Dale won by a large majority in May at the first time of standing, surpassing the public confidence shown in him.

The Young Riders’ Club was set up a number of years ago and Dale was one of the first to join as a 10-year-old and the first to be cornet.

The Muckle Toon was celebrating 255 years of traditions and customs and as hundreds of exiles and visitors joined the locals, they did it in style.

It was a glorious Simmer Fair Night (Thursday), as the low sun drenched the Market Place where an exceptionally large crowd was entertained by Langholm town and pipe bands.

Cornet Irving and his Right and Left-Hand Men – Alasdair Cavers and Andrew Elliot – along with the committee, inspected the floral crown intricately made by Les Murray, and the giant thistle chosen once again from the garden of Robert Warwick.

At Townfoot, the last train was met at 9pm – the railway closed in 1964, but the tradition remains.

Glorious weather greeted the flute band as it roused townsfolk at 5am and then led the crowds up Copshaw Road for the hound trail. There was joy for owner Linda Neale who won the blue riband race for the second year running with Eagle Heart. She was later presented with the Arkleton Trophy and Holmwood Cup by Kevin Knott, and the victorious hound posed for the cameras.

Cheers echoed along the High Street as Cornet Irving, with ex-Cornets Cavers and Elliot, made their way to the platform.

Officiating magistrate David Stevenson made mention of semi-jubilee Cornet Andrew Johnstone, who was on horseback, and jubilee Cornet Irving Edgar, on the platform.

The cornet received the flag amid loud applause. His mother and father, Morag and Kenneth, brother Gareth, and grandparents John and Eileen Irving and Michael and Rose Hogg watched from the platform as the procession, led by the Barley Banna emblem carried by Ian Borthwick, followed by the town band, set off up the High Street.

It was then over the bridge into the New Town, up Thomas Telford Road and round the Square Pump, then back into the Old Town, through the packed High Street and down to the Townfoot.

In the Market Place, Rae Elliot cried the Langholm Fair standing on the back of Gillian Paterson’s horse, held secure by his friends James Johnstone, Neil Basnett and David Devlin. He was following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Crowds lined the steep slopes of the Kirk Wynd and Mount Hooley to witness the spectacular gallop by Cornet Irving, followed by 198 riders.

After inspecting the ancient boundaries and hearing Billy Young cry the fair at the Castle Craigs, the riders circled the monument built to Sir John Malcolm in 1835.

The mounted procession made its way to Whita Well then Mount Hooley, where they were met by the Bearer of the Thistle James Johnstone, and the floral crown held aloft by Kevin Irving, and hundreds of children with heather besoms.

The procession, which was now complete with bands, emblems, children and riders, was led by the pipe band down the Kirk Wynd to parade the main street. Rae Elliot then cried the second part of the Langholm Fair in a packed Market Place.

The town band played Auld Lang Syne then headed along Drove Road and the Bar Brae, along with the rest of the procession. On arrival at the Kilngreen the boundary sod was cut by Spade Bearer Gordon Reid and circled by the riders. After fording a rather low River Ewes, and rounding the sod that was cut on the Castleholm, Cornet Irving was given a rousing cheer as he galloped past the grandstand in the Cornet’s Chase.

There was a comprehensive programme of horse racing, athletics, Cumberland wrestling and Highland dancing. T he open-air Castleholm dance in the evening went ahead in fine weather, with music from the town band, under conductor Chris Shanks, and the traditional polka was danced – free of midges.

At 8.45pm the procession gathered at the Lodge Gates to be led towards the town by the band, with stops at the Kilngreen, Crown Hotel and Townfoot to dance the polka.

In a thronged Market Place, David Stevenson received the flag and congratulated Cornet Irving on a job well done. In an emotional speech, the Cornet thanked his family, Right and Left-Hand Men, the committee and friends for their support, and also Shelley Johnstone for looking after his horse. And he praised the people of Langholm.

Another memorable Langholm Common Riding came to an end with Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem, and it was declared by Cornet Irving to be the greatest day of his life.

The spectacular spell of hot weather through much of the second half of this month saw more winter barley fields cut and baled than usual. If the weather remains as hot as mid-term forecasts suggest that early-start pattern could be repeated for most other crops such as oilseed rape, spring barley and winter wheat. Ideal harvesting conditions, low moisture contents and good quality might go some way to compensating for disappointing prices.

Most silage crops also benefited from good weather, heavy yielding and good feeding quality, and it seemed to me on a late July whistlestop trip that took in much of Scotland’s west coast as well as right down the east from Aberdeen to the Borders that a lot of hay has been made this year. Has there been a resurgence in haymaking, a crop that I thought might have suffered its death knell during the horrible summer of 2012? Or have some farmers taken advantage of good grass growth to close off surplus grazing and take an opportunistic cash crop?

It is, unfortunately, still possible to make bad hay in a good year, often through no fault of your own. Cutting a little too early or a little too late, being caught by heavy showers at just the wrong time for two or three days in a row, deciding to leave it for one more day or, as bad, baling too quickly and watching it suffer from overheating can all take the edge off the job and reduce feed quality. There are few crops more satisfying than really good hay, few more frustrating than the brown and mouldy weathered stuff.

The crofter I saw at work on the Applecross peninsula last week probably came somewhere in between. He had a reasonably heavy crop of hay, but it looked a touch weathered to be called good.

And although I can just recall, as a lad, seeing loose hay being brought in by hay rake and sweeps, I had never before seen someone forking loose hay out of the swathe into a trailer. I fought the urge to stop and give him a hand and contented myself with mentally wishing him luck and pondering how long he’d be slogging away in that five or six-acre field.

After years of steady decline and fairly recent demands from farmers for better milk prices if the dairy industry wasn’t to collapse completely, I see that the number of dairy farmers in the UK has increased by 200 year on year.

That includes an increase in Scotland to take the number above 1,000 again and the number of dairy cows has increased by 5,200 to its highest level since 1997. Most of those starting are doing so in a big way, most of those who stuck with years of volatile prices continue to increase herd size. It seems that like every other sector of farming those who are good at what they do can make a profit.

Or, as one of the milk specialists put it, “there are opportunities for a dynamic, progressive and responsible dairy sector” that can challenge milk processors to add value to dairy product sales in a volatile world market.

Borders students heading to college or university for higher education are being urged to contact the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) if they have changed course or institution.

With exam results out on Tuesday, August 5, SAAS expects around 6,000 students to change their academic path during the clearing period.

As the new academic term approaches, David Wallace, chief executive of SAAS, is encouraging people to get in touch early to ensure funding is in place: “Some students apply for a place at college or university for the first time during the clearing period, so they won’t have applied for any fees, loan or bursaries yet. It’s vital these students get their application to us as soon as they can.

“The same goes for those who have already applied to SAAS but are now changing their course or institution. They need to let us know what has changed so we can update their details and still ensure their funding is put in place.

“We appreciate that the clearing period is a really busy time for those applying and that it’s easy for people to forget about the funding element of higher education, but it really is important that your SAAS application is taken care of as soon as possible.”

Applicants can update their information online by visiting www.saas.gov.uk or by calling the helpline on 0300 555 0505.

A former Earlston High School pupil has won an award for a computer programme which calculates the most sustainable route to meetings.

Stewart Anderson, who was brought up in Gordon, scooped the National Union of Students Environmental Improvement Award.

The 27-year-old works as an IT manager for Edinburgh Research and Innovation, the commercial arm of the University of Edinburgh.

Stewart developed software for the email programme Microsoft Outlook which automatically works out the best way to get to meetings the user has in their online calendar.

The Go Green software prioritises walking, cycling and public transport and previously landed Stewart an award within the University of Edinburgh.

Stewart said: “I am overwhelmed to have been presented with the NUS Environmental Improvement Award for the Go Green, Outlook plugin.

“At the University of Edinburgh staff and students make thousands of trips every day to appointments.

“We believe there is a desire to do this in a sustainable way, however currently there are no easy solutions available for finding the most sustainable route.

“I developed the Go Green plugin which allows users to find the greenest route to appointments scheduled in their Outlook calendar in order to both promote sustainability and aid in carbon reduction.”

He added: “I am currently undergoing further development of Go Green in preparation for the University of Edinburgh release, which will also integrate with the University Shuttle Bus times.

“I am looking forward to seeing my work in action and hope that it will help the University of Edinburgh leave a lighter footprint.”

Stewart said he envisioned the software being an integral part of a computer programme like Microsoft Outlook in the future and is planning to develop a general release version.

This would enable it to become part of wider software programmes and could work anywhere in the world.

The Federation of Small Businesses has a consistent position on the independence referendum.

We remain neutral, but have worked hard to ensure small business concerns feature in the debate and that our membership is sufficiently well informed to make the best choice for them.

Nowhere is this more important than for our 700 members in the Borders. In April and May of this year we conducted a survey across Scotland. Over 1,800 members replied and the results were analysed independently by the University of Edinburgh Business School. We have now turned this analysis into a handy referendum guide for small businesses which we published earlier this month (See www.fsb.org.uk/scotland for your copy).

The most consistent response was that the majority felt the standard of debate had been poor. There was also a strong feeling that business owners wanted to know more, not so much about the big economic picture, but what a Yes vote would mean in practice to them, their daily business and their employees.

They raised specific business-related issues such as operational costs, access to customers and the impact on cross-border trade. Questions were asked about currency, tax rates, regulation, EU membership and uncertainty during any transition period.

Firms employing people on both sides of the border have issues about inequalities in take-home pay between those doing the same job. We wonder whether more favourable conditions on one side or other of the border will diminish or increase business.

The fact is that many of these questions can’t be answered fully because no one actually knows how they’ll pan out until after the vote. If it’s a Yes, then a lot of these issues will need to be negotiated – and many will hinge on whether we are in the EU (and, if so, on what terms). If we say No, the main parties at Westminster will need to deliver on their pledge of greater devolved powers.

Earlier this month also saw the Scottish Government publish a leaflet, “Helping Small Businesses Flourish”, which promises a focus on SMEs and increased support for manufacturing, cutting corporation tax by up to three percentage points below the UK rate and better government procurement opportunities. The creation of a more efficient tax system and improved connections for rural Scotland – including broadband – are also highlighted.

Marvellous stuff. But focus means what exactly? Some might argue that the Scottish or Westminster governments could do a lot of this already. Others might say that this sort of pledge should be in a party’s election manifesto, rather than a document about constitutional change.

On the other hand, the Westminster Government has missed the opportunity to get High Speed Rail to Scotland (which has an eight-fold pay-back) and to get moving on completing the dualling of the A1. Further studies aren’t the same as construction.

Half our members think independence may offer new opportunities, while half don’t see any potential benefits and, nationally, ten per cent are considering moving in the event of independence.

But what is also evident is that 27 per cent say they might be influenced further and 13 per cent haven’t decided. Thus, with 40 per cent open to persuasion, it is not too late for both sides to get some specifics on the table. Confidence means investment means jobs.

The council has blamed poor average planning decision times on applications which had been stuck in the system for over a year.

On average it took almost 17 weeks for ‘local’ applications to be decided by the council in 2013/14. For ‘major’ applications it was over a year.

In total, SBC made decisions on 915 applications in the last financial year, eight of which were classed as ‘major’.

The average decision time was 10.6 weeks for local cases and 11.3 weeks for major applications, Scottish Government figures revealed this week.

Defending the planning department’s performance, an SBC spokesman said one of two main measures of performance was the number of applications decided within two months, with SBC sitting just below the Scottish average of 72 per cent.

He added: “The difference in figures underlines the fact that a relatively small number of applications can skew the overall time taken for the determination of all applications when taken as an average.

“The greater proportion of our applications are determined timeously, but there are some longer-standing applications that have affected our overall performance; a challenge we have recognised and are looking to address.”

He said ‘legacy cases’ – applications over a year old – were often held up for reasons outwith the council’s control.

The spokesman added: “There has been a concerted effort to remove legacy cases from the backlog of planning applications in the system.

“In the last year, a total of 169 have been dealt with. The disposal of this number of legacy cases has had a disproportionate influence on last year’s performance figures.”

In the financial year to date, 75 per cent of all applications have been decided within two months.

When you’ve got thousands of people queuing for a major sporting event, it is crucial that everyone is inside and seated before the starter’s pistol goes off.

And a Jedburgh soldier has been one of the army of miltary volunteers on duty at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Private Craig Jack is part of the military venue security force, and it’s his job to ensure that the thousands of spectators get into the Scottish Exhibition Conference Centre (SECC) without a hitch.

Craig, who serves with 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (The Black Watch) at Fort George near Inverness, said he was delighted to be selected to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

The 23-year-old said: “I wasn’t sure if the public would feel a little intimidated seeing us at the security checkpoints, but they like seeing us out and about, and doing stuff. Everyone we’ve seen today seems to be happy to see us, and to have a good time.” 
 Craig said he was also enjoying working alongside his RAF and Royal Navy colleagues.

“Being in the infantry, it’s just males that you see every day, so it’s good to get a female perspective. It makes the 
day a lot better, so I’m enjoying it”, he said.

After leaving Jedburgh Grammar School, Craig worked as a tree surgeon before joining the Army in 2011.

Craig is one of around 2,500 service personnel assisting Police Scotland.

After the Great Raspberry Takeover of last week, when Mr E decided my raspberry canes were a) being neglected (they weren’t), and b) that he would take over their care and claim the glory of the crop (which he did), I am claiming back my spot as resident smallholder.

This year’s chicks are going great guns.

The La Bresse Gauloise (aka The French Eatin’ Chickens) chicks are now five weeks old, and are turning into very big babies.

The kind of babies that, if they were human and you stuck your head in the buggy for a peek, you would be quite taken aback and have to say something neutral like: “Gosh, little Johnny really is going to be a very big boy,” when what you really want to say is: “Lord, that baby is FAT. Back off the rusks, mummy.”

Nice words for this chunkiferous state would be roly-poly, big-boned, bonny (as in the Lancashire meaning of the word = fat, not the Scottish use which implies good-looking) or sturdy).

Our La Bresse are all of these.

They are very independent and very curious, and the more they feather up the more they leave Mum and do their own thing.

Often, she is at one end of the run and they have wandered to the other. Squat down to watch one and you’ll find another one watching you. Nonchalantly. Head cocked to one side. Very French.

At night, when I go to lock them up I find a couple of them perching away from Mum, like proper little grown-up chooks.

The warm days and nights are, of course, helping this. Their beautiful white feathers are replacing their off-white, yellow-ish down, and I can now see why they are so loved in France.

It’s not just their delicious meat, it’s also their colouring which makes them as French as stripey tops and garlic (spot the National stereotype) – blue legs, white feathers and red combs. Red, white and blue – a chook version of the tricolor, the French flag.

Never having raised them or eaten their meat before, it will be interesting to see what weights they grow to and how they taste.

But however delicious they are, in Mr E’s eyes they will never equal the taste of ‘his’ raspberries, two large punnets of which were picked and handed over for conversion into jam (strangely, this is Mr E’s favourite jam. I notice he didn’t rush to look after the chard, or the courgettes ...).

Having stayed indoors on one of the hottest days of the summer, boiling them in a jeely pan with a ton of sugar, and feeling like I was about to burst into flames, I was hoping they might not be all Mr E hoped they were. But they are. The jam is delicious.

Typical. Smallholder 0, husband 1.

Ice cream vendors didn’t even have time to rub their hands in glee during the two sunny warm days of the Border Union Show at Kelso last Friday and Saturday.

Organisers, the Border Union Agricultural Society, took action to make sure animals did not suffer in Saturday’s sunshine, allowing sheep to leave the Springwood Park showground early (1.30pm) and cancelling the afternoon’s grand parade.

Society secretary Ron Wilson said: “We didn’t have a proper parade this year because the cattle, and even the equines, had been out as much as they should. The directors took the decision and exhibitors were delighted with it, which is typical of the care and compassion good farmers have.”

He added: “It was fairly hot. The hot food stands were concerned, but people have to eat and they were surprised at how normal trade was.”

Attendance was slightly down on last year’s bicentennial show, when record numbers visited.

Ron said: “Although Friday this year was very similar to last year, there is no doubt that the Saturday attendance will be down, though not significantly.” Likely reasons were farmers combining, the Commonwealth Games and the hot day, he said.

Highlights included having three national sheep shows with more than 100 entries for each, as well as the Scottish National Hereford Show, he said.

And he told us: “It is always nice that societies wish to use the Border Union Show as their centrepiece for the year. And, so far, we have got two national cattle shows next year already.

“The thrill also is that, whatever species of animal, including rabbits, poultry and goats, we do have a very high quality of stock here.”

Overall he said: “We were very pleased. It was a happy show.”

Visiting politicians included Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead, who described the show as being of national significance, and former Chancellor Alistair Darling.

Mr Lochhead said farmers were upbeat: “The demand for Scottish food and drink produce is through the roof, there is more value attached to agriculture than for many decades and it’s great to speak to local farmers telling me about the resurgence in the Young Farmers Club. These are all healthy signs for the future.”

But he admitted: “There is an element of uncertainty over the implementation of the new CAP as a lot of people won’t know exactly what that means.”

Champion of Champions judge Tom Tennant of Gilmanscleuch, Ettrick, gave the top ticket to Gordon and David Gray, Sunnycroft, Lindean, for their Texel gimmer, Utterly Butterly.

David, showing the homebred animal for the first time, said: “This is a dream come true.”

Earlier, she took the sheep interbreed title, when David said: “It’s tremendous, this is only the second time we’ve won it (1998 was the last time).”

Sired by £6,000 Knock Topaz, her mother was interbreed champion at Perth Show last year and her granny was Kelso’s reserve interbreed in 2011.

The overall reserve went to John Fairbairn, Marshall Meadows, Berwick for his 14-month-old Shire colt, Marshall Meadows Mascot.

Mr Fairbairn said: “I’m delighted. He’s got a big future ahead of him.” This year’s Northumberland County reserve champion heavy horse will remain entire, he said.

Mr Tennant commented: “It was a very good line-up, every champion was worthy. The gimmer has tremendous breed character, she’s just an outstanding sheep.”

And of the Shire, he said: “He’s got tremendous movement and super feather.”

Other champions included the cattle interbreed champion, 18-month-old Limousin bull, Goldies Instructor, owned by Keith Redpath, Bowmont Court, Heiton, who said: “You come and it’s a bit of fun, it’s nice to do well. He’s big and long. He’s been really motoring since I bought him.”

Taking the overall hunter championship were James and Livy Agnew, Hendersyde, Kelso with their homebred, three-year-old bay gelding, Tanganyika, shown by Richard Telford. Reserve went to Andrew and Gillian McCowan, Horncliffe Mains, Berwick, and their seven-year-old bay gelding, Tredragon.

The reserve sheep interbreed title went to Roderick (Rocket) Runciman of Allanshaws, Galashiels, with a North Country Cheviot ewe.

Peebles’ Dorinda Fontana scooped the top poultry award with her homebred black Cochin cock, BBC 3, this year’s Scottish Cochin champion: “He’s been doing so well this year,” she said.

Champion rabbit was Harry Brown’s five-month black Rex from Durham.

Also on Saturday, society vice president Lord Joicey presented foreman Dick Borthwick with a long service award for 50 years’ employment at Lauderdale Estate, saying: “Dick’s wisdom and knowledge on all countryside matters has been invaluable. This award is richly deserved.”

Last week’s farm visit to see renewables at Woodend, near Duns, has won rave reviews from participants.

Sustainable producer John Seed, who has farmed Woodend with his wife Louise, son Donald and daughter Lindsay since 2008, invited interested parties to see the 200ha farm’s 950kW biomass, 75kW wind and 50kW solar PV units.

Post-event comments range from ‘knowledgeable and believable speakers’ to ‘the visit helped me decide which option would be best for our system’ and ‘the integrated nature of the technologies is excellent. Keep it simple message (and) flexible systems that work at the farm level’.

The Seeds specialise in arable crops and free-range eggs, renewable energy and conservation. The renewables systems have meant the farm has reduced its reliance on fossil fuels, cut energy costs and can still harvest and dry its crops quickly and efficiently.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Seed, who is also a bio-energy specialist, said: “The farming sector has become too reliant on fossil fuels. Using renewable energy allows farmers to reduce the risk from volatile world fuel markets.

“Fossil fuel used to cost Woodend Farming Partnership (WFP) £128,000 per year. Including the Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed In Tariff payments, energy costs are now a net positive. Farmers can’t change the price they receive for their crops, but they can influence their variable costs such as energy and fertiliser.

“The installations have also changed the way we go about our business. WFP can now cut our grain earlier, when it is at its best quality, instead of waiting for it to drop to 17 per cent moisture, as our grain drying set-up means that drying is no longer a major cost.

“The mix of technologies has also given us a better balance to our energy generation. It’s windy in the winter, and sunny in the summer. By having solar panels and a wind turbine, this creates a more stable supply of electricity rather than reliance on just one technology. By comparison, biomass supplies heat all year round.”

The on-farm event was organised by NFU Scotland’s Renewable Development Initiative (RDI), aimed at helping farmers and land managers fulfil their energy-generating potential. The visit also included workshops looking at finance, straw boilers, grain driers, district heating, wind turbines and solar.

The main reasons for the Seeds’ investments into renewable energy were to reduce energy costs and be as self-sufficient and sustainable as possible, says the family.

Mr Seed also runs Topling Ltd, a biomass boiler supply and installation business serving the rural market for biomass heating and distribution systems, mainly for district heating, crop conditioning and livestock production systems.

And he is also the founding director and chairman of Helius Energy Plc, a biomass energy development company delivering biomass energy projects.

For more information on the Renewable Initiative, visit http://www.renewableenergyonfarms.co.uk.

Canine telly stars in Peebleshire have launched a nationwide search for Scotland’s best farm dog last week.

This year’s Lambing Live television programme was filmed at the Dykes family farm, South Slipperfield, near West Linton.

And the antics of mother and son Huntaways, Jess and Doug, proved popular with viewers. Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) chose the pair to help launch Scotland’s Top Farm Dog, which is supported by the Scottish SPCA.

The competition is open to all types of farm dogs – from Border Collies to Jack Russells – as long as they play (or have played, if retired) a working role on a livestock farm in Scotland. And the winner will have displayed “exceptional” qualities: the dog may have shown an exceptional skill or undertaken an act of bravery, intelligence, loyalty or companionship, or may have survived injury, or defied the odds in some way.

QMS chief executive Uel Morton said: “Farm dogs have played a huge role in successful livestock farming for centuries. As well as working with cattle and sheep, they are also valued guard dogs and companions these days when farming, particularly in more remote areas, could otherwise be a lonely occupation.”

The winner will be announced at the World Sheepdog Trials near Tain at the beginning of September. To enter, email: info@qmscotland.co.uk – or message the Quality Meat Scotland page on Facebook – no more than 150 words saying why the dog should win, and where possible, send a photograph. The closing date for entries is August 20.

Rebecca Abbott, a dancer with the Lynella School of Highland Dancing in Kelso, won her pre-championship at the City of Glasgow Championships in Paisley. She is taught by Susan Grainger and Sharon Sim, who run the school.

Rebecca has been a runner-up 12 times – but has now finally won.

She has received financial assistance from the Rowan Bowland Trust in Galashiels and Roxburgh Sports Council, helping her to travel all over Scotland and the north of England to compete. Her next goal is Dunoon next month and the Cowal Highland Gathering which hosts the Scottish and World Highland Dancing Championships.

Lives have been put at risk, a local MSP has said, after it emerged that early stage cancer diagnosis in the Borders was the lowest in mainland Scotland in the last two years.

Figures published this week show that less than 20 per cent of patients in the Borders with breast, bowel or lung cancer were diagnosed at the earliest stage between 2012 and 2013.

The national average for the same period was more than 24 per cent.

For breast cancer, less than 30 per cent of patients were diagnosed at stage one, nine per cent less than the national average.

The lack of mobile breast screening in the region during large parts of 2012 and through the first seven months of 2013 has been cited as one of the reasons behind the poor early diagnosis figures.

John Lamont MSP said: “The report explicitly states poor detection rates at an early stage could be down to the absence of a screening van.

“That means cancer patients across the Borders are receiving a poorer level of care than almost every other part of mainland Scotland, and ultimately that places lives at risk.”

He added: “It’s not unusual to see screening vans in supermarket car parks across Edinburgh, so quite why those same vans can’t make an hour-long journey to the Borders at any point over an 18-month period is a mystery.”

The statistics also show that the percentage of NHS Borders patients diagnosed with cancer at ‘stage one’ fell between 2010-2011 and 2012-13, from 26.2 per cent to 19.7 per cent.

Just under 500 Borderers were diagnosed with one of the three cancers between January 2012 and December 2013.

Dr Tim Patterson, consultant in public health medicine for NHS Borders, said: “The decrease or relatively low numbers of cancers detected early in 2012/13 reflects the relative increase in the numbers of cancers detected in the previous year.

“This followed the introduction of the bowel screening programme and the substantial increase in detection of stage one breast cancers as the mobile breast screening units were present in the Borders in 2011/12 but not in 2012/13.”

He added: “Detect Cancer Early is an important new programme that increases awareness of the symptoms of cancer and also of the importance of screening programmes.

“I would encourage everyone who receives an invitation for screening to use this opportunity to get screened. It can be a lifesaver.”

An NHS Borders spokeswoman added that the health board has a higher take-up of bowel and breast screening than the national average.

Outline plans for the creation of 19 holiday chalets at Whitmuir Hall have been submitted to the council, a year on from a previous proposal being rejected by a planning inspector.

According to a consultant who prepared application documents for the owner of the hall and existing holiday accommodation business, the new plans have “strong support from likely holidaymakers”.

However, documents submitted with the application show that objectors are preparing themselves for another lengthy battle to stop the development going ahead.

In an email to consultant John Smith following a public consultation event in June, local resident Donald Francis said: “This development has been a spectre on this very small community for over five years, and knowing what we know of your client and the position of Whitmuir Hall as a relatively worthless, failed tourist business in need of development to get it either sold or to a different place, we may have many more years ahead.

“But, in the end, it will be worth protecting the place from developments like this.”

Fellow Whitmuir resident Hilary Dunlop also wrote to Mr Smith after the event.

She said: “I can say with certainty that no-one wants any new development at Whitmuir Hall and we will all fight as we did before to prevent it, and I can see no reason why any new application would have a different result from that given by the reporter in August 2013.

“The residents, most of whom are retired, want to leave peacefully and quietly at Whitmuir, they do not want or need this constant and upsetting interference in their lives by an unfeeling, absentee landlord who cares nothing for the local community or the environment of Whitmuir.”

An application for 28 chalets on the site was rejected by councillors in December 2012 and an appeal to the Scottish Government dismissed in August last year.

Reporter Gerry Farrington stated that although the development would make a “valuable contribution” to the local economy and tourism provision, it would have an “alien suburban appearance” in the rural setting of Whitmuir.