Police are appealing for witnesses after a hit-and-run incident in Stow on Tuesday.

A silver Mazda car collided with three parked vehicles on the A7 Galashiels Road around 7.45pm. The Mazda left the road and went down a small embankment.

The male driver and female passenger of the Mazda left the scene, making off on foot towards Edinburgh. The man is described as white, medium build and wearing a dark-blue T-shirt and jeans. No-one was hurt. A 29-year-old woman was detained and released pending further enquiries.

Comedian and impressionist, Rory Bremner, welcomed local volunteers to an archaeological site near his home at Crailing on Sunday.

The purpose was to investigate Crailing’s ruined church and abandoned graveyard to help launch Scottish Archaeology Month – Archaeology Scotland’s annual celebration of the country’s many varied archaeological and heritage sites.

Rory commented: “I have always wanted to know more about this fascinating old graveyard, its history and the stories of some of the people buried here.

“We looked for evidence of just how old the original church might be. The archaeologists suspect it may go back to the beginning of Christianity in the Borders, and if so, will be a very important site.”

Archaeology Scotland’s research ahead of the visit to Crailing unearthed some fascinating local stories, including an 18th-century love story that led to the murder of a man by his daughter at the behest of her lover.

She was hanged whilst her paramour escaped to the continent.

“It’s thrilling, in a gruesome way, to think a man who lived here, walked these grounds and worshipped at this church, should commit such a heinous crime and get away with it,” Rory added.

Sunday’s efforts uncovered previously unrecorded stones and together they form a record of the people in the parish prior to the church moving to another site in the 1750s.

Chris Bowles, of Scottish Borders Council’s archaeology department, which has funded the work at Crailing, says little is known about many very old parish churches.

“There’s quite a bit more to do – the churchyard seems to be bigger than it first appears and the hope is it can be developed into a bigger project,” he said.

Borders MSP Christine Grahame is urging constituents to get in touch with her office about the failure of ITV Border to show debates in the run-up to the referendum.

She said: “I have been contacted by many constituents who are outraged that they were unable to watch the debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling on August 5.”

Email Ms Grahame: christine.grahame.msp@scottish.parliament.uk.

Local transport operators are being encouraged to attend information sessions next week to find out about major changes being planned in the way public and community transport services are provided.

Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership (CPP) is launching a new sustainable transport framework covering all passenger transport services for use by all CPP organisations.

The CPP includes Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, Borders College, housing associations and registered social landlords, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, voluntary sector organisations and other related groups.

It is anticipated the framework agreement will be awarded early in the new year, and local firms are being encouraged to tender for the work.

A series of information sessions will take place for operators next week. These are all being held from 6pm until 7.30pm:

They are being held for bus and coach operators at the BGH education centre on Monday and at Lanark Lodge Day Centre, Duns on Tuesday.

For taxi operators they are taking place and Lanark Lodge on Wednesday and the BGH education centre on Thursday.

The transport framework is part of a collaborative approach to the planning, co-ordination and commissioning of transport being taken forward by the CPP’s newly established strategic transport board.

Chair of the board Helen Forsyth, chief executive of Berwickshire Housing Association, said: “As a CPP we recognise how important transport is in the Borders and the significant issues people face in getting around.

“By working together to plan and co-ordinate transport activity we think we can address some of these issues and make real improvements in transport in our area.

“This joint framework is a significant milestone for the CPP in collaborative working and offers real opportunities to co-ordinate transport services more effectively and efficiently.”

The framework agreement will be split into four lots: short notice and urgent transport; mainstream education transport to and from schools and colleges; additional needs, social care, healthcare and other transport; and supported local bus services.

The transport framework will be tendered through Public Contracts Scotland at: www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

For more information contact the Council’s Corporate Procurement Service on 01835 825579 or visit: www.scotborders.gov.uk/procurement

In some quarters, the independence referendum campaign has been lauded as a model of democracy.

No bullets have been fired, no bombs detonated. Scots can be justly proud of the fine example they’re setting to the rest of the world, particularly in areas where causes have only been won via great suffering – even death.

Yes, at times things have got fairly heated and personal during the seemingly-unending campaign leading to Scotland’s date with destiny next month. Considering the magnitude of the decision we are being asked to make, it’s hardly surprising.

But, as we report on page eight of today’s paper, a worrying trend is emerging in the Borders.

Police are hunting for those who have damaged or stolen pro-independence signs during recent weeks.

Regardless of which side of the argument you are on, everyone who believes in the democratic process should condemn the actions of these people. They are not helping the No campaign and this sort of nonsense certainly won’t impress the electorate.

It’s vital that both Yes and No supporters are able to get their messages across to the voters – and using signs, posters and banners are an important tool in any campaign’s box. In fact, vandalism and theft may only serve to highlight the paucity – perceived or otherwise – of a certain point of view.

The swifts have gone, the swallows are gathering and there’s definitely a different feel to the air. Summer is slowly slipping into autumn and the signs are all around as I discovered on a riverside walk at the weekend.

The emphasis has moved from flowers to fruit as plants prepare to disperse their seeds as part of the annual reproduction cycle.

Some, like the rosehip, are fully ripe and red to attract the birds and small mammals, while the rowans are similarly red but still remain too hard for them to eat – Nature’s way of spreading the harvest.

Others like the elderberries, haws and sloes are formed, but still green, and still have a bit to go before they become edible.

The rasps are mainly over, other than those growing in the shade, and the brambles are still green, but it looks as though there is going to be a good crop.

There seems to be more sloes around this year than for some time, so all us makers of that Christmas enhancing beverage sloe gin, are in for a treat after a few lean years.

While walking under some sycamore trees, I couldn’t help noticing that the leaves were rustling louder than usual in the stiff breeze as if they were dry and brittle.

Many were coming down in the wind and it seemed that autumn had come early. I picked one up and quickly saw that it was covered in black spots ringed in yellow.

Like many members of the maple family, they are commonly attacked by this fungal infection called tar spot.

It is a leaf spot disease caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum.

The spots are unsightly, and the disease can cause slightly premature leaf fall, but it has no long-term effect on the vigour of affected trees.

Another tree which caught my eye beside the path, was an alder.

I paused to photograph one which was displaying what I thought was its unusual reproductive system of having both male and female catkins on one branch.

I then thought it’s a bit late in the year for that, but the tiny cones looked to be accompanied by purple flowers.

I later discovered that these purple “flowers” were caused by another fungus – Taphrina Betulina, the same type of thing which causes “witches brooms” on birch trees.

It is a type of gall and is quite rare on alder. It just goes to show that even on a day when there doesn’t seem to be much about, looking closely at everyday things can often produce surprises.

Contact me on email – 
corbie@homecall.co.uk

As Scottish referendum day draws closer – September 18 to vote yes or no for independence, that is, four weeks from today – the debate gets more heated.

And, notable in farming terms, the big names have broken cover to say “Yes” – former NFU Scotland presidents John Cameron, John Ross, Jim Walker and John Kinnaird.

Having talked to a number of farmers on both sides of the debate during the past year or so, and read some of the seemingly interminable letters in the farming press before losing the will to live, I don’t know how much effect endorsement will have.

All gave valuable service to Scottish farming over a combined period of almost 30 years – Cameron and Walker more extrovertly, Ross and Kinnaird more low key – but in their way as effective.

However, just as I doubt whether the televised debates of the genuine big political names Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling change our views on independence for or against, I doubt the farming four will convince or disabuse.

Still, we must give them full marks for trying.

Their joint view, summed up by Mr Ross at a press conference is basically: “Farming and rural affairs need to be at the forefront of all future Scottish government thinking… An independent Scotland is the only way this can be secured.” It might seem naïve to suggest that an industry involving only about 65,000 people directly and producing a small part of the country’s output should be at the forefront of government thinking. But isn’t that rather blinkered view how most people think about the referendum?

In theory, they should consider the overall effect. In practice, it is about how we think it will affect us as an individual.

As for my own view, I can only offer the allegory of a dour Gala/Hawick game, where a visitor turned to the man next to him and said it was an awful match. To which the man said: “Are you fae Gala?” “No.” “Are oo fae Hawick?” “Er, no.” “Then what’s it got to do with you?”

I look forward to animated debate and discussion in the next month, but to few minds being changed from their present yes or no setting, regardless of who endorses either side.

Back in the harvest fields throughout the region, no one needs to be told that the weather took a turn for the worse again last week and remains unsettled.

So much for the worse that in some parts of our area grain fields were flattened, an unusual sight these days, and some might have suffered wind damage.

A pity, because until early August most farmers in north Northumberland and the Borders admitted – the correct description for something akin to drawing teeth – that this has been a good year with a good spring, good lambing, good hay and silage and a great start to harvest with oilseed rape and winter barley.

Pedigree beef cattle breeders will have to up their game by adopting the latest genetic technology to ensure quality Scotch beef competes in the market place, NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller warned.

Part of the £45 million fund earmarked by the Scottish Government for beef improvement over the next three years should be used to develop genetic programmes to help commercial beef producers become more efficient, Mr Miller told more than 1,000 beef farmers attending the centenary open day of the Wedderlie Aberdeen-Angus herd at Gordon.

He praised owners, John and Marion Tilson, and daughter, Wanda Hobbs, for their good use of estimated breeding values (EBVs) to improve the performance of their 200-cow herd, one of the best in the country.

“The Wedderlie herd is showing the way by incorporating all available technology into their breeding programme, with an emphasis on maternal EBVs, to produce commercial cattle for the commercial market,” said Mr Miller. “They have demonstrated how top quality cattle can be produced on grass on a high lying hill farm presenting many challenges.”

But Mr Miller said Scotland was falling behind Ireland where EU money is financing an ambitious data capture programme, including carcase information and eating quality, to help producers select breeding stock, and also a performance testing programme to assess the commercial progeny of selected sires.

Contrary to popular belief, research in Ireland indicates bulls showing the highest liveweight gains were not necessarily the most efficient in converting feed into beef, he said.

Reducing feed costs – the benefit could be as much as 7kg per head per day - would be a major bonus for the industry. And identifying the genetics of cattle producing a higher proportion of the best cuts in a carcase, rather than just huge rumps and mince, could be worth as much as £200 in carcase value, he said.

Roslin Institute research shows progeny of some sires had a higher resistance to TB than others, and the same might apply to Johne’s diseases, which offered tremendous potential advantages to beef producers.

SRUC beef expert, Dr Basil Lowman, warned attendees the continued emphasis on liveweight gain in all breeds could lead to the breeding of “elephants” in the future. The Aberdeen-Angus had made tremendous progress in increasing average 400-day weights by 20kg over the past 10 years but indications suggested it was at the cost of calving ease.

“The aim must be to get cattle to grow as fast as possible up to 400 days and then stop. The breed should be looking to select females with a big pelvis for easy calving rather than concentrating on a further increase in growth rates,” he said.

The Wedderlie herd meanwhile has increased growth rates above the breed average while improving calving ease and increasing 200-day milk weight at double the breed average by concentrating on maternal EBVs when choosing females for breeding.

Prospective tenant farmers were viewing hill farms in the Cheviot foothills near Yetholm yesterday (Wednesday, August 20).

Landowners Roxburghe Estates hope to let the two productive units on long-term tenancies said a spokesperson last week.

Neighbours Cocklawfoot Farm, at the end of the Bowmont Valley, and Swindon Farm, on the way up the valley, are both being let on 15-year minimum Limited Duration Tenancies.

Roxburghe Estates factor Roddy Jackson said: “These farms are both very productive hill farms and, as an estate committed to supporting the tenant farming industry in Scotland, we are pleased to offer the units on long term tenancies.”

The farms can be rented individually or together. The well-equipped Cocklawfoot is 1,917 acres with farmhouse and steading and currently stocked with 1,160 breeding ewes and 260 hoggs.

And Swindon Farm is a 739-acre hill farm currently with 588 breeding ewes and 188 hoggs. An estates spokesperson added: “It has a useful range of buildings and a cottage can be provided if required.

“The sheep stock have the benefit of being hefted and would therefore require to be taken over at the entry date.”

The closing date for tenders is September 17 and the date of entry to the farms is expected to be in November this year.

For more information and further particulars, contact Roxburghe Estates Office on telephone number 01573 223333.

Galashiels motor dealer Clelands Jaguar organised a sponsored bike run on Sunday when 51 riders left its Melrose Road premises for an 88-kilometre ride through the Ettrick Valley via St Mary’s Loch.

One cyclist will be chosen at random to participate in a national final where a winner will then be chosen to train with the Sky Cycling Team at its winter camp in Majorca.

The event was in aid of Brake, a national charity dedicated to making roads safer by preventing road accidents from happening and also providing support for people bereaved or injured as a result of crashes.

Brake co-ordinates national Road Safety Week each November and provides free community training on different road safety topics, including young driver safety.

Borders SNP MSP Christine Grahame has branded Tory independence referendum leaflets distributed locally as “dishonest”.

The flyers issued by John Lamont MSP and David Mundell MP, and colleagues up and down the country, feature questions posed by local people and a case study from a family on why they will be voting No.

However, the questions, answers and family piece are identical, despite being attributed to different people.

Mr Mundell’s leaflet featured Conservative councillor Keith Cockburn and family, while Mr Lamont’s was attributed to former Tory candidate Rachael Hamilton.

Ms Grahame said: “I was astonished to discover that different people from different areas of the country asked identical questions.

“However, I was even more astounded that the Tories being questioned, including two Borders politicians, gave exactly the same responses.

“All it has done is highlight the dishonesty of the No campaign and the lack of respect they have for their constituents.”

Ms Grahame added: “Did they really think nobody would notice? Surely they think more of people in the Borders than that?”

Responding, Mr Mundell said: “This is a bizarre and quite frankly astonishing claim from a Yes campaign who repeatedly refuse to give local people even the most 
basic facts about independence.

“Our leaflet was distributed to give people the information they need after the SNP refused to tell us what currency we will have, how they will secure our pensions and how our schools and hospitals will be funded under separation.

“Given they have no credible answers on any of the big issues, it doesn’t surprise me they are trying to use this issue as a smoke screen.”

Mr Lamont told us that Mr Mundell’s statement covered his position on the matter too.

Gill Orde in Catering has been given a Healthy Living Plus Award for its food at the Harestanes cafe.

The achievement recognises the commitment to supporting healthier eating.

A special Healthy Living Day is being held there on Sunday, from 1pm to 4pm, with zumba dancing, power hooping and a treasure hunt for children. There will also be free food available.

Such an event is part of the award criteria.

Small tourism businesses must be at the centre of efforts to grow the industry, a new Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) report suggests.

However, the study shows that while two-thirds of Scotland’s tourism enterprises want to grow, most are not looking to the public or private sector for support.

As a result, the FSB is arguing that organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland, councils, Business Gateway and the Scottish Tourism Alliance need to pool their resources to get the message through to hard-to-reach small businesses.

Andy Willox, the FSB’s Scottish policy convener, said: “There’s no doubt that there’s some good public-sector support on offer for Scottish tourism businesses, but our report shows that businesses are confused about who does what.

“While, of course, it’s up to businesses to look for the help they need to get the edge, publicly-funded bodies need to work more closely together and deliver a consistent joined-up message to busy, hard-pressed local tourism businesses.”

Based on contact with more than 500 businesses, 30 Scottish local authorities and a range of other public bodies over 12 months, the report confirms that the country’s tourism industry is not just about providing beds.

It found that about half of Scotland’s small tourism businesses provide accommodation, but many restaurants, bistros, bus, coach and taxi firms, activity providers and retailers also identify themselves as tourism businesses.

Scotland aims to grow annual visitor spending by £1billion by 2020, from £4.5-£5.5billion, and the FSB says smaller businesses are key to meeting this target.

However, the report identified that energy costs and poor digital connectivity are holding businesses back.

Mr Willox said: “Governments at Westminster and Holyrood say that they’re tackling the problems of 
spiralling energy costs and poor digital connectivity, but small Scottish tourism businesses say that big bills and bad broadband are holding back their plans for growth now.”

An in-depth review of adult care packages and out-of-area child placements will be carried out by the council in an attempt to cut costs due to new financial pressures.

At a meeting of the executive committee on Tuesday, chief financial officer David Robertson predicted a balanced position at the end of the financial year.

However, he added: “There are significant pressures within the ‘People’ department, with the management team having identified options to ensure a balanced position is achieved.

“At this early stage in the financial year there is a continuing demand in children’s out-of-area placement presenting a pressure of £1.255million above base budget and demand-led pressures within adult services of £429,000. This is being offset from transformation savings in primary schools from changes in class composition and reducing school rolls, together with a range of in-year savings measures.

“These include reviewing a range of high-cost care packages to older people, adults with learning disabilities and people with physical disabilities, reductions in spend in residential care homes and extra care housing, and redesigning some day services.”

In response, Councillor Stuart Bell said: “We are struggling to get our budgeting right for complex needs, children, adult, disabilities and care packages.

“I understand that we made significant provision in the budget for this year to try and get us out of the difficulties of previous years, yet we are talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds here.”

Mr Robertson said: “The budgeting was based on the estimates of demographic pressures faced across the council – but at that time it can only be an estimate.

“In June, we have seen significant additional pressures which were not predicted when we set the budget.”

He added that SBC put “significant resources” into assessing demographic pressures and is not alone in having to face new challenges throughout the year.

“The reality of the demographics is that we are facing an uphill battle in terms of demand on social care services and I’m not convinced any council is managing it any better,” Mr Robertson said.

However, he did accept SBC needed to review the demographic estimation techniques.

Leader David Parker said: “This is the third year we’ve had challenges at this point of the year, but the challenges are getting smaller.”

A hearing is to be held after a complaint that Alastair Cranston breached his role as a councillor for Hawick and Denholm to promote his business interests was upheld by the Standards Commission for Scotland.

The hearing will be heard on October 10 at 9.30am in the council’s headquarters an Newtown St Boswells.

A St Boswells family firm is planning for the future with the introduction of the next generation into the agricultural business.

G. Marshall (Tractors) Ltd was founded in the 1970s by George and Sheila Marshall, but their 26-year-old son David has now joined at an exciting time for the firm.

A significant investment has been made in taking on a Case IH franchise, with the company becoming the new dealership for the Borders and north Northumberland, and new staff also recruited to provide a sales, service and parts back-up.

The introduction of David, a former Hawick High School PE teacher, and associated succession plan will enable him to become a shareholder and director, eventually taking over the business.

He told The Southern: “Joining the business was always a possibility, but my parents let me do what I wanted. But when the opportunity arose I thought it was too good to turn down. I have always been around the business and worked here when I was home from university or when my dad needed a hand.”

David added: “It is a logical time to come into the business and we have an exciting time ahead, but if you excuse the pun, every day is like a school day for me just now.

“It is a case of learning the ins and outs and getting to know people and building relationships, but the guys here are vastly experienced in the trade, so I’ve got some good teachers.”

On the new franchise, George Marshall said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Case IH.

“In this area we have a strong base of farmers who understand the value of investing in new technology, where knowledgeable dealers with the right advice and products play an important role. The farming area is one of the best stock areas of the country and we also have some of the best arable land in the UK, mainly operated by larger farming units.

“This represents a very strong base of existing and potential customers who will benefit from the fact that we now handle the full range of Case IH products.”

A building-repair grant of £370,000 from Historic Scotland will help continue restoration work at The Haining in Selkirk.

The award is the second largest issued in the latest round of funding through the scheme, announced on Tuesday.

Susan Edington, chair of the Haining Charitable Trust (HCT), said: “We are delighted that further funding has been granted to restore the Haining House and appreciate this immense contribution from Historic Scotland to ensure the future of this significant mansion, which reflects the stalwart efforts now being made to develop the estate as an important heritage venue.

“HCT has been working solidly on developing The Haining as an important centre for the advancement of education, arts and heritage, and to strategically position it, regionally and nationally, as an emerging venue of importance within the Scottish Borders.” She added: “Our task now is to investigate opportunities for match-funding which will allow us to spend the needful on the fabric of the building, bringing it into a state of repair that will ensure its benefit to the community for a long time.”

The project has been awarded a commendation in Regeneration and Conservation by the Edinburgh Architectural Association, and the house will be open on September 6 and 7 as part of Bygone Borderlands festival.

A planning appeal for eight wind turbines near Roberton has been dismissed by a Scottish Government-appointed reporter.

The Barrel Law scheme for 125m-high turbines was rejected by Scottish Borders Council in March 2013, but developers ABO Wind UK appealed that decision.

On Tuesday, Michael Cunliffe issued his judgement, ruling that the wind farm’s contribution towards renewable electricity targets and reduced carbon emissions did not outweigh its “unacceptable adverse impacts on the landscape and on aviation”.

Mr Cunliffe said the turbines would “significantly compromise the safe and effective use of the Deadwater Fell PSR (Primary Surveillance Radar)” and therefore the safe use of airspace north of RAF Spadeadam managed by RAF air traffic controllers.

In his decision notice, Mr Cunliffe added: “Alemoor Reservoir has recreational importance for anglers and walkers. There is a sense of tranquillity which would be lost if the landscape were dominated by large moving turbine blades.

“The wind farm would intrude an industrial feature into a peaceful rural setting, and diminish the enjoyment of the reservoir and its surrounding area by recreational users.”

The reporter went on: “I recognise that Barrel Law would not introduce an entirely new feature to the landscape, since 10 slightly smaller turbines are already being built at Langhope Rig.

“However, while the landscape does not enjoy protected status, I regard it as an attractive area of local importance, and consider its landscape character would be seriously damaged by the scheme.”

Duncan Scott, project manager for ABO Wind UK, said: “We are, of course, extremely disappointed with the outcome of the appeal. We believe Barrel Law is a very good location for a wind farm and we worked very hard over two years on the design submitted, confident it met all relevant planning and design criteria.

“While the decision to refuse is clear, we are at a loss to understand how the factors relevant to our application were balanced in reaching the conclusion.

“Taking all factors into account, we believe the planning balance was strongly in favour of allowing Barrel Law to proceed.”

This week, courgettes. Lots of them. Lots and lots. A veritable glut, in fact. What an amazing summer for growing stuff. Especially courgettes in the Kelso area, it seems.

Off we went to Londonshire, with flowering courgettes and one or two teeny green pencils. Baby courgettes.

We returned from Londonshire after our holibags and found courgettes the size of marrows. Yes, marrows. Or at least, that’s what they looked like.

In the picture, the small ones on the top are almost normal size, the rest are hee-yew-mong-ous.

I weighed one or two, and they tipped the scales at 3lb, 3.5lb, 4lb. But what to do with this unexpected green bounty?

Cue frenzied Googling. Courgette recipes, courgette drinks, what to do with 30 tonnes of courgettes, that sort of thing.

As a result, we have just tucked into courgette cake at tea-time, which the Young Mistress made for Gamford. How delicious, how moist, how amazingly good courgettes can taste. Especially when they are cake-shaped and slathered in a whole tub of chocolate buttercream with ickle chocolate hearts on top. Yum.

Courgette wine next. Another 50 tonnes of courgettes chopped and boiled in a big pot of water and left to cool.

Once cool, such delights as yeast, orange juice, lemon juice, root ginger and sugar are to be added. Sounds like another yummy courgette winner, until you get to the bottom of the recipe and it states that the result will be drinkable in six months, but will greatly improve after 12. Note to self: make sure and label bottles with ‘Do Not Drink Before 2015’.

Then courgette and parmesan soup, pronounced by the Young Master as his most favourite ever soup ... this week. How fickle are our youth?

Next up will be courgette and cumin soup. And stuffed courgettes. Pan-fried courgettes. Stewed courgettes. Curried courgettes.

This is beginning to sound like a post-Christmas ‘what to do with the leftover turkey’ list. After the next few days chipping away at Courgette Mountain, I am sure it will begin to feel like a ‘what to do with the left-over turkey’ list.

Surely, a single vegetable which can feed a family of six must have some value?

Sadly, you can’t sell them on eBay, or put them as an ‘Offer’ on Freecycle, or otherwise I would. I have tried to offload them on to friends and acquaintances who either a) hate courgettes, as a result of over-exposure to soggy ratatouille as youngsters, or, b) have cupboards full of the things themselves as they have a glut too. And, no, they don’t have any recipes I haven’t already tried. Ho hum.

I have even thought about having a ‘courgette-by’. Inspired by an American gang ‘drive-by’, but without the shooting, of course. This would involve driving along, identifying the ‘victim’, then stopping the car beside them with a reassuring smile (so they don’t think I’m a total fruitloop) and handing out a free – yes, free – courgette. Or maybe two. Or three.

Then I would drive off, probably to the sound of the ‘thwack’ of a courgette thrown in anger against the back windscreen.

At least, I console myself, that by planting my tomato seeds quite late – waaaaay later than recommended on the packet – I feel smug that I have avoided a second glut.

Or is that just my ‘glass half full’ way of looking at the fact that my tomatoes may never, ever ripen? Green tomato chutney, anyone?

It is with great sadness that we record the death in July of Richard Hawkins of Eden Hall, Kelso. He was 84.

Mr Hawkins was born in Cambridge. He was educated at Eton and read law at New College, Oxford.

He went through Pirbright Army Training College and Sandhurst before serving in the Coldstream Guards in Malaya and Aden.

After his call to the Bar, he embarked on a career in industry as an in-house lawyer.

Many tributes have been paid that recognise his pioneering work over many years as one of the leading environmental lawyers and he was closely involved in the reshaping of waste management in Britain.

He was extremely widely travelled with a well- stocked mind.

In music, his great passion was the operas of Wagner. He also loved (and wrote) poetry. He particularly enjoyed Robert Browning, WB Yeats and his favourite, TS Eliot, all of which he could recite at length.

He enjoyed sport and was a formidable player and opponent when playing racquets, cricket and tennis, and he was a member of the Lennel Tennis Club in Coldstream.

Mr Hawkins and his wife, Lady Sylvia Loch, the well-known author and expert equestrian, have lived in the Borders for the past 18 years.

He always regarded himself first and foremost as an Englishman, and is buried at Cornhill in accordance with his wishes. However, he also took immense pride in being a Coldstreamer and in ‘coming home’ to his regiment.

Everyone who knew him will have very personal memories of this complex and multifaceted man.

He was very funny, with a great sense of humour, immensely generous and always kind and helpful. He was also a lover of good food and wine, and enjoyed the company of his friends.

Mr Hawkins died at Kelso Hospital where he had been looked after both by his doctor, Sandy Morris, from Kelso Health Centre, and through several years of illness by many cherished local carers and nurses.

To Sylvia and Allegra we extend our deepest sympathy and condolences at his passing.