Police are appealing for witnesses after a brick was thrown through the window of a door in Scott Street, Galashiels.

The vandalism happened just before 1am on Friday.

With the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict making headlines, this week’s Framed in Time – thanks to Judy Olsen’s book, Old Jedburgh – also features British troops being readied for action.

In August 1914, Army Reserve men left the town by train, sent off by Provost Boyd, Bailie William Oliver and Councillor J. C. Clark. Three cheers were given for the king and the national anthem sung. Four more young men – Robert Haig, James Millar, David Rutherford and George Nelson – left three days later.

Opened in 1856, the Jedburgh line brought in goods for shops and shoppers from surrounding communities. The station, situated three-quarters of a mile from the town centre, was closed to passenger traffic after storms in 1948 and to freight in 1964.

“Lies, damned lies and statistics” was a phrase popularised by American author Mark Twain more than 100 years ago, but it is still worth considering today.

The TD postcode has been named as having one of the highest concentrations of registered sex offenders by a national newspaper, which voiced fears that rural towns such as Galashiels and Hawick were becoming dumping grounds for these types of criminals.

Yet, as Galashiels Community Council chairman Bill White enquired, we don’t know how many of those on the list are deemed a serious danger to the public, or how many have been “dumped” here from other regions. As Mr White suggests, the figures provide more questions than answers.

A similar statistical dispute is raging in Selkirk where supporters of a community wind farm have added up all those who voted “yes” to any of three possible sites and concluded that 63 per cent are in favour of at least one option. Opponents also claim victory, citing the number who voted “no” for each option as outnumbering those who chose the affirmative, thus claiming a near 60 per cent rejection. Confused? We’re not surprised.

Sometimes, however, statistics send an unequivocal message.

So, whether or not SBC officers are right in reporting that stress accounts for 23 per cent of sickness absences or, as an ex-employee claims on page one, the true figure is nearer 50 per cent, it is still too high and represents a major challenge for our soon-to-be-elected representatives at Newtown.

WORK on the controversial issue of setting rents will go ahead separately from reporting on other tenancy issues, NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller has said.

The Tenant Farming Forum (TFF) – whose members include the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and NFU Scotland – met Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead last week when they set a timetable of 18 months for coming up with suggested improvements in the sector.

But the controversial Section 13 of the 2003 Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, which concerns how rents for secure tenancies are set, is a stumbling block.

And the TFF plans to review it separately and urgently to come up with a fairer system and suggest how the law should be changed.

Speaking to TheSouthern, Stow farmer Mr Miller explained: “It’s pretty fundamental to how rent reviews are assessed.

“The latest ruling suggests that what should take primacy is free market comparables. But there’s a concern about how that would work and how it might add impetus to rent increases.”

The aim is to come up with a suggested new Section 13 by October in time for the Scottish Government’s next legislative programme.

Mr Miller continued: “We are still trying to get a process fixed up with Government.

“The idea is to try and fastrack a review and come up with proposals which hopefully would be clear and allow a formula to be used that is transparent and simple to operate and reflects the earning capacity of the land so you come up with a sustainable rent.

“The key thing about long-term rents is that they reflect the earning capacity of the holding. Some people believe comparables are key to delivering that, others would suggest a formula that looks at the productive capacity of the land or margins of the business would be a better way of setting a rent.”

Other issues TFF will provide reports on within the 18-month framework include equipment, repair-renewal, investment and improvement, waygo, diversification and assignation and successions.

Meanwhile the union will be holding meetings across Scotland to discuss issues such as investment in holdings, waygo and a satisfactory dispute resolution process with tenant and landlord members.

i’ve read quite a lot of George Orwell’s work, book reviews and essays, as well as novels and journalism, but no-one remembers everything they read – I’d be happy with 10 per cent, no, make that five. All right, one – so no surprise recently to find a quote I didn’t recall.

Perhaps the source was a bit more unlikely, the farming section of Private Eye. You didn’t know that fine organ had one? It does, although headed The Agri Brigade, written by “New Bio-Waste Spreader” – it used to be “Muck Spreader” – and usually given over to attacking government departments, agri businessmen and subsidised, polluting farmers indulging in environmental vandalism.

Apart from that, it’s quite balanced and occasionally illuminating. Target of the column in the issue I read was the huge decline in farmland bird species between 1970 and 2010, almost certainly because of – according to Spreader – intensive farming methods.

Spreader starts with the claim that in a survey 10 years ago, as farmers and agri-chemical companies tried to fight off plans for a pesticide tax, 86 per cent of farmers said that conservation was an important part of their farm management.

He noted that might come as a surprise, when “not many farmers are interested in bio-diversity unless the result of it can be put to flight by a dog and shot.”

To back up that assertion he quotes the survey on wild bird populations published by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last autumn. Overall bird populations have remained much the same 1970-2010, he says – I’m assuming Spreader is a he, the kind of assumption without proof that is Private Eye’s stock in trade – with one big exception.

That is farmland birds. In 2010, 19 species identified as relying on farmland for food and survival were at the lowest levels yet recorded. Most are down to half or less of the 1970 figure and a few such as the grey partridge, tree sparrow and turtledove were down by about 90 per cent.

Spreader – who is, I suspect, a farming commentator from the same stable as the late, and in my case unlamented, Anthony Rosen – is not as critical of this decline as might be expected because, he says, the business of farmers is to produce food, not to make conservation their priority.

He understands farming economics. Farmers have to compete to rent, or buy, land. If they don’t produce as much as possible, they will fare badly compared with those “who have squeezed the last ounce of productivity from their land more profitably.”

The “greening” of the European Union’s common agricultural policy (CAP) now being discussed would redress some of that balance, Spreader suggests, with up to one third of a farmer’s subsidy withdrawn unless they make much greater efforts at conservation.

Spreader is probably writing for effect there, and also probably wrong. For one thing, the CAP negotiations are unlikely to produce any single result as dramatic as that. For another, the main struggle at negotiations is between the bigger, more advanced, countries such as Germany, France and Britain paying most in to the EU farming budget, and the poorer countries more dependent on farming, mainly in Eastern Europe, who want a fairer share of subsidies.

When it gets right down to it, remembering that for the first time these CAP changes have to be approved by the European Parliament with all the vested interests that involves, conservation will be well down anyone’s wish list.

Be that as it may, Spreader concludes with a critical, half-amused, statement: “To many non-farmers, it is a mystery why those who spend their working days amid the wonders of nature aren’t more interested in wildlife conservation.”

That’s when he quotes Orwell, back in 1944: “Real rustics are not conscious of being picturesque, they do not construct bird sanctuaries, they are uninterested in any plant or animal that does not affect them directly … those who really do have to deal with nature have no cause to be in love with it.”

On the same lines, I once got into big trouble with the purists at a Burns’ supper when I suggested the Bard was not a particularly good farmer – a true farmer wouldn’t have noticed the ploughed-up mouse, he’d have been too busy concentrating on the straightness of furrow or worrying about mildew in the next field.

Spreader makes some valid points including the fact that profit comes first for many. Some squeeze land hard. Hedges are still ripped out. Every pound is a prisoner and scale of operation is the benchmark.

But I know several farmers on a modest scale who do a lot for conservation and wildlife because they believe we’re all just passing through and should try to leave the land, and what lives on it and by it, in as good, or better than, state as it was when we took over.

And as the tireless farming advocate Guy Smith pointed out in the next issue of “Private Eye” the DEFRA survey only looked at 19 of the 60+ species of birds found on farms – the numbers of some of which, including chaffinch, woodpecker, barn owl and fieldfare, are increasing. Facts can be so irritating.

ARABLE farmers in the Borders face a ban on fertilisers and pesticides on sloping land near water.

Scottish Government officials propose halting the use of the additives on ground with a gradient of 12 degrees or more, unless there is at least a 10 metre wide strip of land between the crops and surface water.

NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller said: “A ban on the use of fertilisers and pesticides on this land could have a drastic impact on agricultural productivity and food security.”

Farming leaders were this week meeting with Scottish Government officers to urge them to find a better solution to diffuse pollution.

Mr Miller said: “The proposed changes take no account of the affect of weather, vegetation and application technology, among other factors, but instead focuses rather bluntly on the issue of slope.

“We have made these points in our submission and will raise them again when we meet with Scottish Government. Risk based and proportionate action on diffuse pollution, working hand in hand with farmers, has to be the priority here.”

Local MSP John Lamont has written to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead raising concerns.

He said: “The proposed changes could see a substantial area of land coming out of crop production. Many farmers rely on being able to farm every acre of their land in order to be profitable, and they are understandably worried at the prospect of having productive land taken away from them. He (Lochhead) will have to take action to address these issues and ensure farmers across the Borders are not adversely affected.”

The Borders is a major grain producing area and the effects of the measure on the local economy could be significant, he said.

Borders agribusiness McGregor Farms’s arable technical manager, David Fuller estimates 10 to 15 per cent of the 2,800 hectares the business farms would be affected if the new rules go through.

“There would be patches of fields we couldn’t crop which would reduce our outputs and yields,”

He continued: “The proposed regulations are highly restrictive, especially in the Scottish Borders, because quite a lot of land that’s cropped is sloping to 12 degrees or more. It’s just putting more pressure on producers.

“The Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) rules (to keep nitrate levels in surface water down) are already very stiff for us compared to England.”

He is concerned, too, that at the current busy time of year arable farmers will struggle to respond within the short four-week consultation period.

“It’s a distraction at a very busy time of year and difficult for people to respond fully,” he said.

McGregor Farms’ director Colin McGregor is this year’s Farmers Weekly Arable Farmer of the Year.

He has told government officials: “We are active users of precision farming techniques which ensure fertiliser and agrochemicals are only applied where needed. To ban fertiliser applications on sloping fields will effectively take this land out of commercial production.

“Scotland is a net importer of wheat and this will only increase the deficit to the commercial advantage of the rest of the world and to the detriment of Scottish food manufacturers.”

He describes the planned changes as “a very blunt piece of proposed regulation based on no apparent scientific basis”, adding: “I look forward to common sense prevailing and this proposal being rejected.”

The new rules are being put forward as a result of changes to European legislation.

When I look away I know you’ll stay

no matter what I say

you always have a way

of making me feel better.

You don’t have to go and throw it all away

we are who we are and that’s ok

Coz I know who you are and I’m here to stay

No matter what you say.

Shelly, 16, Kelso

a fantastic flavour on the local music spice racks Cori Ander. In his fourth year at Hawick High School, Corin Anderson has composed two albums, Dark Sun and Apiaceae.

Music made him successful and has changed his life for the better. He is a great example of a success story.

Corin’s interest for music was originally fuelled by the Beatles. His mum and dad bought him a CD by the band and he liked it. He then came to the high school and, like a lot of people, started learning how to play.

He liked that too – and he was good at it. Corin learned keyboard, tunes and techniques and started to compose his own music. From that moment, he never looked back.

His first album was Dark Sun and the CD tells a story that is literally out of this world. He takes inspiration from experimental musician Jon Hopkins and Starsmith, who plays backing music for Ellie Goulding, he composed his own music. He told me? “I play electronic music and lots of different styles; dance, ambiance, Scottish, experimental”.

The story of Dark Sun was set on another planet and given a good sci-fi theme thanks to his electrical style. It is a great album.

Corin went on to compose a second album, Apiaceae (the name of the family of herbs coriander comes from).

Is it better than Dark Sun? Yes. This is down to two main reasons: Corin has added vocals to his music, from himself, Caroline Lamb, Leanne McFadden and Jean Firth, something he didn’t have in Dark Sun. Reason two, the album is more professional than the first.

The future looks bright for Corin. He now plays percussion in Hawick Saxhorn Youth Band and he is playing piano in a ceilidh band named Teris and Tartan. He is possibly going to compose a third album and Corin is also planning a concert, in Hawick.

When he is older, he says he would like to compose music for film or TV, or become a music teacher, “something musical” as he puts it. I am sure I am not the only one who would like to wish Corin the best of luck.

To follow Corin, you can like his CoriAnder page on Facebook or you can subscribe to MusicCoriAnder on YouTube. You can also find him on a website, www.4sitpromotions.com, who promote young teenagers.

It’s astounding how quickly time passes, especially when your day-to-day life has begun to hold such significance concerning your future; but yet minutes continue to turn into months in an instant.

For the first time in my entire life the summer holidays of 2011 were filled with dread rather than the buzz of freedom and uncertainty consumed every last memory I have as a sixth year pupil.

I am aware I tend to slip into drama queen status but when your closest friends, the people you see every day, are moving on you begin to panic slightly.

Our school paper allowed me to concentrate on something other than UCAS deadlines and open days, replacing them with submitting articles and interviews; this was the future I imagined.

School – Galashiels Academy – and I had had our differences that we had worked out but by the end of my last year we both knew it was time to part ways, I was in need of something new and that is exactly what I got. I remember it vaguely – being confused at getting woken up by a phone call from the school as my leaver’s form was well and truly complete, and I remember hearing the word BBC.

Apprenticeships are few and far between so high up in the media sector and knowing this made my application form easy; I thought there was no chance I would walk away with something here.

When filling out the form, I was more overwhelmed by the fact that my teacher had even bothered to contact me and was extremely enthusiastic for me to apply. This feeling continued when I received my initial interview as I felt great to be making my teacher proud. This was soon washed away by fear.

Interviews are scary and although you know everyone else knows this, including the person who is interviewing you, there is no beating the fear down and as I walked into BBC Scotland it engulfed me.

I can talk for Scotland, to anyone, anywhere, but at that moment I was speechless! I sat in a small group of smartly dressed 18-23-year-olds and cringed while beginning to have inner battles of non-existent self-confidence and determination accompanied by trying to decide whether I really wanted this.

The interview, although it is a cliché, is a complete blur but I do remember finding my voice in time for the group session and dominating our decision-making exercise; which I now blame on the nerves although the other now fully-fledged apprentices think differently.

After 700 candidates and two interviews I got the call to confirm me as one of the ten apprentices the BBC were taking on in the next September.

The summer I had dreaded now seemed brighter and when attending T in the Park and standing beside ginormous BBC Scotland signs it suddenly struck me – I am an official employee of the BBC; how life had changed!

While writing this article, I have found it surreal to think that this was less than a year ago and here I am now sitting in the BBC at work. This apprenticeship has opened so many doors for me by allowing me to work with some truly inspiring people and being part of events and productions I would never have dreamt that I could be a part of.

Apprenticeships are not what they used to be – not once have I made a cup of tea or used the photocopier! I work with production teams all over the BBC in every department and have learned things that universities could not begin to teach me, along with meeting nine other apprentices that I now class as my closest friends!

Music radio is my passion and having already co-produced and presented a live show on drive-time BBC Radio Scotland I feel this apprenticeship has made this dream attainable.

I urge anyone thinking about possibilities outwith university to consider this opportunity as they don’t come around often and they are unquestionably significant in achieving any goals in the media industry. Where better to start than the world’s biggest broadcaster, the BBC?

IT WAS the end of an era when the old Caddonfoot school closed.

The small primary shut its gates for the final time at the end of March after 137 years.

Past and present pupils and staff held a final assembly together to mark the closure, sharing memories of their school days.

A final ringing of the handbell, commemorative medals all round, and the old school was shut.

Headteacher Alison Sutherland said: “Staff and pupils were all very sad to leave the old school, but are very excited about the move to our fantastic new school, Clovenfords Primary School. We are busy commissioning our new school so it is ready for pupils and staff on their first day in school at the start of the new term.”

Scottish Borders Council convener, Councillor Alasdair Hutton, will welcome pupils to the new Clovenfords school at the start of the summer term on Monday.

KELSO’S Cobbles Inn has been praised in the Scottish Parliament for winning the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) award for the Borders Pub of the Year.

In a motion, local Conservative MSP John Lamont highlighted the Kelso establishment’s achievements, which also included scooping the awards for Edinburgh and South-East Scotland Overall Pub of the Year.

The Cobbles Inn will now be shortlisted for the Scottish Pub of the Year award 2012.

Mr Lamont said: “They have done the Borders proud and it is for that reason that I lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament celebrating their success. It has already been supported by MSPs across the political spectrum wanting to acknowledge the achievements of the Cobbles Inn.

“I now look forward to seeing the inn compete in the Scotland-wide competition for Pub of the Year. With their high standards of excellence I am sure that they will continue to do a great job in representing the Borders and I wish them every success.”

Scottish Borders Council honoured the long service of staff at two ceremonies on Friday.

Around 200 employees attended the two sessions which were hosted by outgoing convener and employee council chairman Alasdair Hutton and held in Eildon Mill, Tweedbank.

Mr Hutton said that in the past SBC awarded staff a gift when they retired, but explained: “The employee council wanted to change the system to one which said ‘thank you for what you do while you are here’.

“The employee council came up with the idea of presenting a certificate to thank staff every five years, starting from 15 years’ service and continuing every five years until employees retire. Employees who reach 25 years can also receive a small thank-you gift of their choice. We are truly fortunate that we have such a good, long-serving workforce. Any other council would love to have a staff which is as loyal and as stable as we have.

“They have shown this council a steady loyalty which has its effect in the better quality of service we give the public in the Borders year after year.”

A HAWICK councillor has demanded that a camper van site in a town car park is not enclosed.

Ron Smith made the comments as Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee backed the introduction of a 330-square metre space in the Common Haugh car park from April to September. The site will host six vans in a pilot scheme by Hawick Welcome initiative, with its members introducing the visitors to businesses and places of interest in the town.

And if successful, it is hoped full-time employment could be created in 2014.

Mr Smith said: “I am very supportive of this seasonal facility, but I am concerned that it could be enclosed. I ask that bollards or other objects do not enclose the site.”

Planning officials said that fresh paint will be put down to mark out the new camper van site.

Asked if the scheme would have any impact on Hawick market which takes place on Saturdays in the car park, planning committee chairman Jock Houston added: “Camper vans cannot stay on Friday nights into Saturday morning, so it won’t affect the market.”

The facility will also be closed during the two weeks of the Common Riding celebrations.

SCOTLAND’s biggest pop event is back – and TheSouthern has two pairs of tickets to give away for In:Demand Live.

This year’s In:Demand Live takes place on Sunday, May 20, at the SECC, Glasgow, and will once again see a stellar cast of chart acts – all playing on one stage on one day.

The names announced include X Factor judge and N-Dubz singer Tulisa, The Saturdays, Professor Green, Alexandra Burke, Stooshe, Cover Drive, Tinchy Stryder, Alyssa Reid, Skepta and Lawson.

It is expected another five acts will be added to the line up, so look out for more big names to come.

In:Demand Live has been created to celebrate Radio Borders’ national evening programme In:Demand Scotland which is hosted by Romeo and packed with artist interviews, exclusive tracks, competitions and gossip from the world of music and entertainment.

For your chance to win simply tell us the answer to the following question:

Where will In:Demand 2012 take place?

Tickets for In:Demand Live – priced £27/£30/£50 + booking fee – are on sale now and are available on www.ticketsoup.com, or via the SECC ticket hotline on 0844 395 4000.

For more details and regular updates on In:Demand Live, log onto www.indemandlive.co.uk

To enter, email kenny.paterson@tweeddalepress.co.uk or post to In:Demand Live Competition, The Southern Reporter, The Hermitage, High Street, Selkirk TD7 4DA, with your answer, name, age, address and daytime and evening telephone numbers. Competition closes on Thursday, April 19.

Two winners will be picked at random, and receive a pair of tickets each to attend In:Demand Live.

Usual Southern rules apply.

Smailholm Tower has been placed on the shortlist for the UK Roofing Awards 2012.

The 15th-century building, which is said to have proved inspirational to Sir Walter Scott, received funding for an innovative “living” turf roof after the previous one was found to be leaking.

A REUNION of former pupils of Walkerburn Primary School will be held later this month.

It is the first of three events planned to mark the 35-pupil school’s 150th anniversary.

And it will take place on Sunday, April 22, from 2-4pm and all alumni, staff and parents of pupils are welcome.

“This will be a chance to meet up with old friends and share stories and memories,” said head teacher Shirley Bean.

A range of photographs will be on display and refreshments will be available.

The second anniversary event will by a service of thanksgiving in the village hall on Sunday, September 30 at 10am, followed by another reunion in the school.

Finally on Saturday, May 18, 2013 the celebrations will reach their climax with a founders day, details of which have still be finalised.

For further information contact Shirley on sbean@scotborders.gov.uk

A BORDERS College hairdressing student will compete at national finals in London later this year, writes Sally Gillespie.

One of only five students selected from Scotland for the Wella Xposure final in June, Kirsty Fojcik won through the regional final at Clydebank College recently.

She said: “I was really shocked but thrilled to have reached the grand final in London.

“I was so nervous at the Scottish heat, but it was great to see all the fabulous work of the other students. I’m looking forward to going to London and I’m just going to try and enjoy the whole experience.”

She and three other Borders College hairdressing students – Lisa Donaldson, Mario Taddei and Danielle Fraser – contested the regionals, each preparing mood boards depicting their themes and ideas for their hair cut and colour.

The college’s programme leader Paula Hutchison said: “The Wella organisers said they had received triple the amount of photographic entrants for this year, and to have had four entrants selected from Borders College to compete in the regional event was a great achievement.”

And the judges said the standard from all competitors had been exceptionally high.

Meanwhile former events management student, Sophie Eelbeck changed direction while at college and now has a City and Guilds Certificate in Vehicle Maintenance.

Soon after she started events management training the budding mechanic realised she wanted something more practical and to merge her interest in cars with her future career, so she applied for the college’s one year pre-apprenticeship certificate course.

She said: “I thought my fellow students and staff would be a little judgemental because I am female but this has not been the case. Borders College also has a great garage workshop, you get to work on a variety of cars and the course tutors are there to help you when you need it.”

The student has gained a work placement herself for two days a week at Adam Purves at Tweedbank.

“I work in the garage workshop one day a week and in the office the other day. I like working there, it gives you a better idea of how it works in a real business and I get to talk to customers which has improved my self-confidence.”

Sophie has applied for the full-time Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Level 2 course next year and then hopes to get an apprenticeship and become a qualified motor vehicle technician.

LOTHIAN and Borders Police Board have offset the loss of three rural Borders stations by approving the purchase of two new community contact vehicles at a cost of £50,000, writes Kenny Paterson.

The board met at Newtown St Boswells recently and decided to back the recommendation by Chief Constable David Strang to introduce the vehicles, which could be stationed at Peebles and Galashiels.

Tweeddale councillor Gavin Logan told the meeting that the loss of the West Linton and Innerleithen stations, which along with the closure of Newcastleton are expected to save the police service £119,000, meant it was important one of the vehicles was based in his district.

The vans will be used by community beat officers in remote areas of the Borders as well as attending major incidents in the region.

Councillor Logan said: “This is a great step forward after losing so many of the more traditional policing facilities in Tweeddale.”

KELSO Square could soon have its own modern market cross, writes Sally Gillespie.

Morebattle artist Paul Grime is coming up with ideas for the £40,000 Sainsbury’s gave to the town when the supermarket got the go-ahead for its store on the outskirts.

He said: “Kelso being the special place it is needs something very well considered. The market cross is a good symbol for trade and commerce. Many Scottish towns have a market cross, Kelso doesn’t.”

The artwork will tie in with the Kelso town heritage initiative improvements (THI) which include the one-way system and changes, and possible vehicle-free areas in the Square.

Earlier this week, the artist, who specialises in site specific art, was sifting through the 100 responses from a survey put out through Kelso library.

“It was trying to take a more creative approach to engaging with the community rather than just asking people what they would like. There’s been a broad spectrum of responses.” People’s favourite buildings included the town’s abbey and the town house he said, adding that the horse is the animal people most associate with Kelso, and also salmon.

Other consultations have included meetings with the community council, THI stakeholder group, chamber of trade and local schools over the last three months. And the 56-year-old artist has considered the history, landscape, cultural and religious developments in the area in drawing up his design ideas.

Mr Grime said: “It has been very useful to receive so much feedback from Kelso residents. My main ideas have focused on a contemporary market cross which seems a very appropriate object to bring to Kelso town square, the centre of commerce and provision of services for the people of the town and surrounding countryside.

“It is a structure with rich historical associations, and great potential for contemporary interpretation. I am developing ideas for the other elements of the design and how I can work these into a final proposal.”

He expects to suggest a symbolic form on top of the cross which he currently estimates could be four metres high (13 feet) depending on its position in the Square but he has not decided on what materials to propose yet.

Mr Grime and SBC officials will attend a Kelso Roads User Group meeting next month to propose the next stage of the design.

THE Hawick PSA Male Voice Choir celebrated their 80th birthday with a concert in front of a large and appreciative audience.

The choir under musical director Ann Witherington and accompanist Lyndon Warburton had two top-line soloists with them for this special concert, and the Hawick audience gave them a great welcome.

Alexandra McFadzen, a superb mezzo soprano is destined for greatness, and her powerful yet controlled voice is reminiscent of the Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins.

She studied classical music at Stevenson College in Edinburgh before moving to the Royal Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Her most recent highlights include singing with the Glasgow Symphony Orchestra and working with Scottish Opera.

Steve Brown, baritone, is a home-grown talent having been brought up in Peeblesshire as a member of a musical family.

Steve has been singing since he was a boy and most recently he has sung with Hawick Amateur Operatic Society where he took the lead in shows such as Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof and South Pacific.

The choir, 28 strong, started this year’s concert with the spiritual Ezekiel saw the Wheel, before moving on to the Second World War with a selection entitled Remember the Days which had the audience joining in with songs such as the White Cliffs of Dover and We’ll Meet Again.

Three prayers followed, starting with Donald O’Keefe’s At the End of the Day, then Sunset Poem by Dylan Thomas from Under Milkwood, and ending with Prayer in the Twilight by Harry Dexter.

The first half of the concert, which had a total of six solos from the guests, ended with two songs from 20th-century musicals, Get Me to the Church from My Fair Lady and the title song from Camelot.

Steve Brown led the choir in the rumbustious brass band march La Reve Passe before Alex delighted with an aria from Puccini and Steve gave us Higher than a Hawk from Calamity Jane. Later the two delighted the audience with People Will Say We’re in Love from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma.

The Everley Brothers featured next from the choir with Let it Be Me before Geoff Ross sang Down by the Sally Gardens.

Three little lambs also came into the occasion with the Wiffenpoof Song and Cool Water arranged by Ann Witherington almost brought the evening to a close.

Almost, but not quite, as the choir had not one, but two classics, up their combined sleeves.

Nessun Dorma, again by Puccini, was followed by that great Wesleyan hymn Blaenwern with everyone joining in to almost have the plaster on the ceiling of Teviot Church flaking on the audience.

A great night of musical talent and a great night for Hawick from the PSA Male Voice Choir on this its 80th birthday – and incidentally, the only PSA choir still left in the United Kingdom.

We should make more use of them in Hawick and the Borders; if they were nearer Edinburgh I am sure they would figure in the festival year after year.