The 12-year jail sentence this week handed down to ex-Borders police sergeant Kevin Storey is a stern warning for those tempted to commit offences of violence against women.

Storey’s catalogue of sex offending – including rape – was committed over two decades and will have appalled the vast majority of the public, including his former colleagues who often come into contact with the victims of these sort of crimes and witness the devastating effect they can have. The fact that many of Storey’s offences were carried out while he was a serving officer makes them even worse.

It is a sad indictment on society that our court pages regularly reveal tales of woman being the victims of male aggression, often alcohol-fuelled.

As we approach Christmas and New Year – a period when many of us develop the propensity to overindulge in the booze stakes – violence against women, or at least the threat of it, has a more-than-likely chance of rearing its ugly head. But the punishment dished out by the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday sends out a clear message that society is increasingly no longer prepared to put up with this type of crime – something Kevin Storey should ponder as he sits in his prison cell this Christmas.

An agricultural building company faces a large fine after a worker suffered severe injuries falling through a fragile roof and plunging 12 feet to the ground at a Borders farm.

But a sheriff has admitted it is simply a “paper exercise” as David Miller Contracts Ltd, from Gifford, East Lothian, has gone into liquidation with the fine not collectable and the directors not liable.

Neil Knox, 69 at the time of the accident at Tollishill Farm, near Oxton, on March 14, 2013, fractured his spine in two places, broke several ribs, punctured his lung, is confined to a wheelchair and has no movement in his legs.

The company pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. 
The court heard Mr Knox, who had been doing roofwork for 45 years, was fixing lights on a farm building.

Director David Miller had said that due to access difficulties the workers would go onto the roof and use crawling boards. But against instructions, Mr Knox walked over the roof which gave way and he fell onto gravel.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation determined that the best way to have approached the job would have been from below using a platform.

Prosecutor Lynn Jamieson said: “There was a risk assessment, but it was just general and not site specific.”

She added the case highlighted the dangers of working at height.

Defending, Barry Smith QC said the firm’s directors were upset at the injuries to their valued colleague.

He added that Mr Knox knew he was not supposed to walk on the roof, saying: “It is not the first case and not the last case where a man of great experience takes a short cut and pays a high price for doing so.”

Mr Smith explained that a failed property development in 2002, along with the housing crash, had resulted in financial difficulties for the firm which was forced into liquidation by Her Majesty Revenue and Customs.

He said the firm took health and safety very seriously and had no previous convictions.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre said it had been a “terrible accident” and there had been “catastrophic consequences” from just falling 3.7 metres. He wanted time to consider sentence and deferred the case until January 23 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

The court was told that a separate civil action by Mr Knox is currently ongoing.

A former Lib Dem leader of Scottish Borders Council says he intends leaving the party he has supported for four decades and joining the SNP.

And John Ross Scott, also an ex-journalist with The Southern, has not ruled out a return to frontline politics after an 11-year break.

Now in his seventh year as chairman of NHS Orkney, Mr Scott was back in the region at the weekend visiting friends and family in his native Hawick and Innerleithen.

On Friday, he attended the Scottish Magazine of the Year Award ceremony in Glasgow, picking up an award for Living Orkney, the coffee table monthly magazine he has edited since 2009.

Earlier this year, Mr Scott found himself at odds with his party this when he chose to publicly endorse the Yes campaign in the run-up to the Scottish independence referendum.

In his role as Orkney’s two-day-a-week non-executive health board chairman, he praised the Scottish Government’s track record and claimed only independence would stop the NHS in Scotland being “sucked into the creeping privatisation agenda south of the border”.

It appears that departure from the Lib Dem policy was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the 63-year-old’s relationship with the party.

“I will be leaving the Lib Dems and joining the SNP,” Mr Scott told The Southern.

“I have a year to go of my stint with NHS Orkney and I am gradually winding down my involvement with the magazine with a co-editor coming on board in the new year.”

Asked if he would consider putting himself forward as a candidate in forthcoming elections – for Westminster in May and for Holyrood in 2016 – Mr Scott was non-committal.

“At this point, let’s just say I’m not ruling anything out, but I can say that my passion for politics as a means of improving the lives of people in Scotland is undiminished and, with more time on my hands, I am reviewing the various options.”

Mr Scott, who began his journalistic career with the Hawick News in 1977, was chief reporter with The Southern until January 2002, when he was appointed leader of SBC in the wake of the infamous £3.9million education budget overspend.

Sixteen months later, he lost his Hawick Silverbuthall seat before leaving the region for Orkney, where he took over as editor of a local newspaper.

He had served his native town as a councillor for 23 years, including a term as provost, and, in his role as chairman of the South East Scotland Transport Partnership and as Scottish Lib Dem transport spokesman from 1998-1999, he was a staunch and vocal supporter of the reinstatement of the Borders railway.

His previous attempts to break into national politics have been marked by disappointment.

In 1997, he failed to win his party’s nomination to fight the seat vacated by Sir David Steel.In 2007, he was shortlisted to be the Lib Dem candidate for Orkney in the Scottish Parliamentary elections, but lost out to current incumbent Liam McArthur.

Half the money needed to pay for a new portable ultrasound scanner has been handed over to the labour ward at Borders General Hospital.

The Friends of the BGH was delighted to be able to hand over a cheque for £12,500 to labour ward staff following recent fundraising. This amount is half of the cost of a portable ultrasound scanner which costs £25,000.

The labour ward currently has a portable ward scanner, but this is taken out of the department for use in peripheral clinics during the day, from Monday to Friday.

During this time, women in labour with emergency problems are scanned in the pregnancy assessment unit, but this may entail a wait, or a move to another part of the maternity unit.

An additional portable scanner will allow prompt scanning in the labour ward. The department recently introduced two new care pathways to help reduce chances of stillbirth.

The first involves scanning all women with reduced foetal movements; the other aims to produce tailored growth scans – both of these interventions would be made much easier by an additional scanner.

The latest funds have been raised through a number of activities and the new chairman of the ‘Friends’, Hans Waltl, said: “We are delighted to be able to help the labour ward with a contribution towards this equipment.”

A man, accused of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, has been remanded in custody following a private appearance at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Ewan Peddie, who is aged 38 and a prisoner in Barlinnie, made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination of the evidence.

A Berwickshire man appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday facing two rape allegations.

One of the charges against John Michael Hutchison dates back to before the introduction of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

The 41-year-old from Eyemouth made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

He was released on bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson and the next court appearance is on a date yet to be confirmed.

Safety guidelines have been issued following the death of a well-known Borders sheep farmer earlier this year.

Jim Sharp, 66, of Newbigging Walls, near Lauder, died of multiple injuries after his shoe lace became entangled in the rotating blade of a sweep auger in a grain silo.

A fatal accident inquiry was held into his death at Selkirk Sheriff Court earlier this month.

The National Farmers Union of Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive have teamed up to remind farmers to use the safe stop procedure when working with any agricultural machinery.

The guidelines include putting the handbrake on, make sure the controls are in neutral and that the equipment is made safe, stop the engine or turn off the power, and lastly remove the key, or lock-off the power supply.

Farmers were reminded that this was especially important when carrying out maintenance or repairs on machinery.

The guidelines state:“Use a padlock to prevent the power being turned on accidentally or remove the ignition key and keep the key with you until the work is complete.”

They added that farmers should never enter a grain silo when the auger is running as several accidents have been caused when someone has become entangled in the sweep auger by a boot lace or clothing.

In addition, farmers were urged not to enter grain silos to clear blockages of any kind unless the power is isolated and there is no chance of bridging in the grain.

“Drowning in grain silos can occur when a person sinks into the grain as the silo empties,” said the guidance.

“Also consider lack of oxygen in the silo, particularly if the grain could be damp/contaminated or if it is a sealed silo.”

Hand Safety Executive inspector Hazel Dobb said: “The tragic death of Mr Sharp has once again brought home the dangers involved in the farming industry, particularly when working with agricultural machinery.”

NFU Scotland vice president Allan Bowie added: “Farming remains one of the most hazardous industries to work in and the loss of an important industry figure like Mr Sharp simply strengthens the union’s resolve and commitment to work with others to improve our sector’s health and safety record.”

A Hawick man who made an abusive comment in court to a man he had assaulted a year earlier was jailed for six months.

Dylan Mitchell had denied, along with 25-year-old Johnny Donaldson, assaulting a man at Burnhead Road, Hawick, on November 3, 2012.

But Mitchell, 22, of Paterson Gardens, and Donaldson, of Burnhead Road, Hawick, were both found guilty after trial. Donaldson was sentenced to a 12-month community payback order with a maximum 300 hours of unpaid work for his part in the attack.

At Jedburgh on Friday, Sheriff Kevin Drummond said: “This was a sustained assault, which persisted over a period of time.

“It was a protracted and violent assault involving punching and kicking. To put it another way, there was more than one round.”

He sentenced Mitchell to five months’ imprisonment.

On October 3 last year, Mitchell was found guilty of making an abusive remark towards the assault victim at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, and committing the offence while on bail.

His lawyer, Rory Bannerman, told how Mitchell had commented: “There’s that wee b*****d.”

Mr Bannerman added: “Although it was in short compass, it was said in the court building.”

Mitchell received a concurrent sentence of six months in jail after being found guilty of the offence.

“This was threatening and abusive behaviour in court, directed at the same person you assaulted in November 2012, and was committed while you were on bail,” said Sheriff Drummond, adding: “I am unable to deal with this, other than by custody.”

Mitchell admitted shouting and swearing, and challenging others to fight at a house at McLagan Drive, Hawick, on August 17 last year.

He turned up at the house door at 7.45 am and shouted to the occupant: “Get out here.”

The man told him to “f**k off”, and Mitchell retorted: “You are going to get it. Don’t think that this is the end of it.”

Mr Bannerman said Mitchell and his girlfriend had “been abused in messaging over the internet” and his client went to the house in the early hours of the morning upset, and shouting.

“He felt he had been wronged and engaged in a slanging match,” said Mr Bannerman.

Mitchell was sentenced to 20 days’ imprisonment – to run concurrently – a total of six months.

Susanne Pugh, pictured, from Galashiels, is one of nearly 100 supporters from across Scotland to be part of Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Supporter Wall, which was unveiled earlier this month.

The wall recognises individuals and organisations who have each raised more than £1,000 for the charity.

Supporters are invited to nominate a name to appear on the wall, with many people choosing to pay tribute to loved ones that have survived or died from breast cancer. This year, there are almost 100 names listed on the wall which is displayed in the charity’s Scottish offic in Edinburgh.

Susanne lost her mother, Gerda Erna Pflug, to breast cancer 32 years ago and nominated her name to go on the wall.

Fundraising for Breakthrough Breast Cancer is also highly personal for Susanne as she was also diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago after finding a lump. She was treated by Dr Mike Dixon at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and took part in Mikes Marvel’s fundraising team by cycling from Glasgow to Edinburgh. She also raised funds for the charity by hosting a summer fun day. Collectively, Susanne has raised over £1,900 for the charity during the past year.

She commented: “It was a very special and emotional moment when I saw my mum’s name unveiled on the Supporter Wall.”

The Great Tapestry of Scotland will be permanently based at a new purpose-built centre in Tweedbank, close to the new Borders railway, following a decision by Scottish Borders Council today (December 18).

Councillors considered a detailed business case and initial design for the project at the SBC meeting today, with the report being approved by 21 votes to 10 to ensure that the tapestry’s permanent home will be close to the main terminus of the Borders railway at Tweedbank, subject to planning permission being approved.

Speaking after the decision, Councillor David Parker, Leader of the council, said: “I am delighted that elected members have supported this project and we hope to provide a truly inspirational visitor centre that will act as a gateway to the Borders and encourage visitors not only to view the tapestry but to go to the many other visitor attractions throughout our region.

“We have worked hard to secure the tapestry for the Borders and there were many other locations in Scotland who were very keen to offer the tapestry a permanent home.

“We have been able to demonstrate to the tapestry trustees that our Borders proposal was a very unique and special one, and I was delighted earlier this year to secure the support of the Scottish Government who will be a major funder of the project.”

Councillor Stuart Bell, SBC’s executive member for economic development, added: “The business case and design of the proposed Tapestry Centre at Tweedbank was compelling and I have no doubt that we will provide a first-class national and international attraction that visitors to the Borders will want to see.

“The tapestry is not only a fantastic community arts project but it showcases the history of Scotland and it has been enormously well received wherever it has been displayed. The arrival of the new Borders railway will generate significant economic impetus to the Borders and the fact that we are able to attract a project of this nature before the railway’s arrival is a testament to our economic vision and effort.”

Cllr Iain Gillespie, who seconded Cllr Bell’s motion to support the tapestry proposal, said: “I am very pleased that this special tapestry will have its permanent home in the Scottish Borders.

“It is a truly magnificent work of art which will become a national treasure and I have no doubt that the many visitors to the tapestry will not only return to see it again, but will return to the Borders to see the many other attractions here.”

The council’s decision will mean that the new Tapestry Centre will be open to the public during 2016/17.

Sharp morning frost followed by blue sky, sunshine and a wind to remove skin, or a temperature in the teens, rain and mist?

An easy enough choice, if we could make it. So much of December so far has been an improvement on a dank November. For the first half of this month there has also often been a reminder of the pleasure of going to work by moonlight.

There are also fewer people heading for farm poultry sheds in the early morning moonlight on the countdown to Christmas dinner. Many farms used to keep a few dozen turkeys or capons to supply local customers, as well as take their chance at auction sales. Some farm workers also kept birds for welcome extra income at this time of year. But on-farm turkey plucking and preparation has declined steadily through lack of labour – and it is hard work – and the few farms in our area that still produce traditional farm turkeys have to deal in fairly big numbers. Not as big as the tens of thousands being produced for supermarkets, but big enough to make the first three weeks of December a busy, often chilly, and frequently nerve-wracking time matching weights to orders.

Much the same applies to vegetable growers. The home-grown brassica market is worth about £550million a year in Britain. That includes, as we know, Brussels sprouts, and about 16 per cent of the total national crop is sold in December. As we also know, sprouts are the butt of more Christmas jokes than anything else. It’s difficult to know why when they’ve been part of our diet for more than four centuries. Not only that, varieties have been bred with more taste and better texture. And you don’t have to go far in the eastern Borders to see how professionally and well all brassica crops, including sprouts, are grown. Perhaps it goes back to the British habit of boiling all vegetables until they were soggy and jokes about school and other institutional dinners. Surely the endless cookery shows on television, if nothing else, have taught us that cabbage, sprouts and broccoli are not only nutritious, but tasty when correctly cooked?

Richard Simpson, vice-chairman and fifth generation of Simpsons Malt, recently gave an interesting run-through of the company’s history – “150 years in 15 slides” – at the Merse Agricultural Discussion Society in Duns. He reminded us that old-style maltings often burned down – wooden buildings and anthracite heating – while converting barley to malt. And that turning hundreds of tonnes of grain with wooden shovels was hot, hard, heavy work.

At their modern Berwick and Norfolk sites, Simpsons is now one of the biggest maltsters in Europe. But planning for the future is no easier for maltsters than it is for growers of malting barley, he said. Distillers now account for about two-thirds of malt use and they can turn demand on or off rapidly. That sounded familiar to farmers.

A drunken man who refused to leave a pub was fined £200.

Albert Johnston, of Horsemarket, Kelso, had gone to The Cobbles in the town’s Bowmont Street with his dog.

“He was heavily intoxicated and was spoken to by the bar manager as he had a large dog with him, which was causing come anxiety to other customers,” explained procurator fiscal Graham Fraser.

Johnston left, but then returned and refused to leave again.

The 41-year-old admitted disorderly conduct on August 29 and was fined £80. He was fined a further £120 after he also admitted threatening and abusive behaviour at Kelso police station on August 30.

“He was aggressive, squaring up to police, and threatening to punch and bite them,” said Mr Fraser.

Johnston’s solicitor described his client as leading a “solitary life”, adding: “He shouldn’t have gone back to the pub and he kicked off at the police station.”

My jolly, red-suited, white-bearded Chrimbo mood vanished like the vapour on a well-lit Christmas pud last week, and was only restored on Saturday morning.

Comedian/actor Ben Stiller who has made me laugh like a drain on numerous occasions (There’s Something About Mary, Zoolander, Meet The Fockers, etc) made my blood boil midweek. He had a ‘wild weekend’ with Bear Grylls on my favouritest-ever island (and place I was married about eleven million years ago), Skye.

He waited for Mr Grylls at ‘a distillery’ (Talisker, as it’s the only one on the island – so why not give them a plug? If he ordered a case each for all of his Hollywood pals, he would have boosted the profits massively. Thank yoooooo, Mr Stiller).

But that’s an aside. What got my goat was the fact that Mr Stiller (why is it that when you tell someone off – children, dogs, household staff –

you use their full name or their title?) decided to have a dram whilst he was waiting for Mr Grylls (oh, oh. He’s in trouble too). His host arrived by private helicopter (how wild and outdoors-y is that? Man, he knows how to rough it, that Bear. Surely he should have yomped the 700-odd miles from his Devonian barn conversion, which I imagine is where he lives).

On seeing the helicopter, Mr Stiller knocked the whisky back (heretic) and then tossed the paper cup on the ground (litterbug).

Now, I’m sure a minion from the film crew picked it up, but nevertheless, that’s not good.

I come from a generation growing up at the same time the ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ campaign was launched. I am forever haunted by that wee stick figure leaning over a bin and that terrible advert they did, where they stated that if everyone in Britain chucked their litter in the streets it would be over Ronnie Corbett’s head. Ohhhh noooooo! Puir wee Ronnie! Death by excess litter!

To cap it all, the fact that Mr Grylls had spent (someone else’s) good money on a helicopter, and instead of sitting inside he was hanging off it, standing on those rail thingies that helicopters land on.

I started to warm to Mr Stiller when he expressed some slight surprise at having to hang on to the outside of a helicopter as it took off, to which Mr Grylls snorted words to the effect of hadn’t he been in a helicopter before?

Yes, said Mr Stiller graciously, but he usually rode INSIDE them.

Give me good old-fashioned Ray Mears any day in his khaki ensembles and the haircut of a man who still lives with his mum.

You wouldn’t get Ray hanging off the side of a helicopter, he’d be safely buckled inside, observing the safety instruction sheet. And he would never, ever drop litter. Not even for effect.

Gotta love you, Ray.

And then on Saturday morning we went to look at the results of the free family portrait sitting we had won at the Border Union Show, which included a free mounted print worth £49.

The sitting was in Hawick at Parris Photography, with John Parris. Odd to think that tucked away in a corner in a cul-de-sac is this very talented Borderer who travels all over the world taking portraits and documentary photos.

Leafing through his books, poring over the gorgeous but thought-provoking images of township kids in South Africa amongst many others, we got to pondering the value of photography to document stages in your life, special days and events, milestones.

And the albums of photos that were brought out where the young ones learned ‘the story’ from the older ones. Whole life stories between two covers, more or less gone in these digital days.

But our gorgeous portrait cheered me up, and its story will be passed on. Thanks John.

As the 2014 grouse season has ended, the value of grouse shooting and the benefit it brings for the economy and the environment are highlighted in an infographic being sent to MPs by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Moorland Association.

The facts include: Heather moorland is rarer than rainforest and 75 per cent of it is found in Britain because of grouse moor management; grouse shooting in Scotland, England and Wales supports conservation work and is worth an estimated £100million a year; grouse shooting in Scotland, England and Wales supports the equivalent of more than 2,500 jobs; conservation for grouse shooting is landscape-scale management; 79 per cent of upland EU Special Protection Areas are managed as grouse moors and up to five times more threatened wading birds are supported on moors managed by gamekeepers.

Richard Ali, BASC chief executive, said: “Grouse shooting delivers significant benefits to the economy, the environment and our tables.

“The conservation benefits for heather moorland, which has been described as “our rainforest”, are clear and it’s important that MPs are aware of these facts.”

Robert Benson, chairman of the Moorland Association, said: “Driven grouse shooting and associated moorland management is an essential part of managing, maintaining and protecting our rare upland habitats.

“Grouse shooting is a critical economic driver which provides economic benefits in rural areas.”

All in all, 2014 has been a remarkable year for Scotland.

Perhaps for 2015, we could hold onto that glorious weather and hope for a more ordinary year, both politically and in farming terms.

Some dull days to live and enjoy without external pressures or conflicts taking over our thoughts. What are the chances?

At home, an election will keep politics bubbling at the centre of the media, albeit at a slightly lower temperature than the referendum.

For many of us, now is the time to get on with real decision-making to take us forward. That, for Scotland, must mean taking steps to make the Smith Commission proposals work. Yes, of course, it is a compromise that attempts to bridge the views of both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns, but there are real powers with potential to drive change. With power, there is an opportunity and responsibility to use it for good.

As farmers, we need the marathon of a complex CAP reform deal to end and for the Scottish Government to be clear on what it can deliver. It is vital the system is made to work and uncertainty to be closed down. This European ritual of parachuting a new agricultural policy onto the rural economy may be good political theatre, but it is deeply uncomfortable for those on the ground. Changes in direction have the potential to shock long-term businesses like farming.

Perhaps Phil Hogan, the new agricultural commissioner, could move us away from agricultural policy revolutions and towards an evolutionary world where gradual change is a response to a problem or to meet a new challenge.

Commissioner Hogan plans to bring forward his simplification agenda in Brussels, including a review of greening. Our own Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead, now has an opportunity to adopt the recommendations in Brian Pack’s report to push back red tape. Together, they can start a journey that reduces bureaucracy on farm and relegates disproportionate compliance interventions to history.

The agriculture holdings legislation review group reports before Christmas, aiming to deliver a package that breaks through the conflicts that have overshadowed the tenanted sector. In 2015, that package, including legislation, must win wide support to create both stability and opportunities. To drive change, it needs a fast track through the parliament.

At an international level, after months of negotiation, the detail must be bolted down on robust trade standards to bring the proposed US trade deal to completion. A balanced trade agreement can open up opportunities for European agriculture if we get it right. Access to Europe, however, must be limited to products that comply with EU production standards. Peace in Europe with open trade and a growing EU economy can build value back into the food sector. Today that looks a difficult goal. However, without a more positive platform, trade shocks are likely to erode profitability throughout the continent.

At a personal level, come February, I will move on to pastures new with my very best wishes to whoever forms our new presidential team at the union.

As I ponder what may lie ahead, a glorious April for lambing leading into sunshine and long summer evenings will go a long way to making 2015 a good new year.

Less than eight years since it was founded, a Galashiels firm has been recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing technology companies.

The success of QubeGB Ltd, which is headquartered at the Gala Bank Business Park, has been acknowledged with its inclusion in the highly prestigious Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50.

Its listing, at number 24 (and third in the Scotland category), reflects a meteoric expansion since the enterprise – specialising in telecommunications and installation services for homes and businesses – was founded by Darren Bunker and Raymond Kerr in January, 2007.

From these small beginnings, QubeGB now boasts a workforce of 545, including more than 400 engineers providing in excess of 98 per cent geographical coverage across the UK, including Northern Ireland and the remote Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Following a recent recruitment drive, QubeGB’s Galashiels team – involved in a range of key functions from call centre operations to routing, marketing to human resources and finance to fleet – now numbers 58.

The firm also has a warehousing and IT facility in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage.

In a hugely competitive market, QubeGB has achieved its Deloitte status – and become the top UK telecommunications company on the listing - by dint of a remarkable 922 per cent revenue increase over the past five years.

It has done so not only by focusing on the basics of high quality customer care, but by assembling an impressive client list of internet service providers, including such global giants as BT, EE and Talk Talk, as well as carrying out work for smaller companies like the PH Media Group and XLN.

The firm is also an approved contractor for You View, the catch-up service offered by the main terrestrial television channels in conjunction with BT and Talk Talk.

Another measure of the firm’s accomplishment has come with the news that it has, for the first time, been included in Deloitte’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Technology Fast 500.

Commenting this week, Darren Bunker, who is now QubeGB’s chief operating officer, told The Southern: “We are absolutely delighted to have been included in the Deloitte’s UK Technology Fast 50 and to have been listed as the 24th fastest growing technology company in the UK.

“We maintain that the success of QubeGB is down to the team which we have created over the last seven years and we continually appreciate everyone’s hard work and effort.”

As the company has grown, so has its commitment to the region, not least in its strong links with Borders College and its support of local students through further education sponsorship.

Christine Grahame’s bid to stand as an SNP candidate in the English constituency of Berwick at the General Election has been scuppered – by her own party, writes Andrew Keddie.

The MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale had sought permission from the SNP’s National Executive to contest the seat, which has been held by the Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith for the past 33 years.

With Sir Alan standing down, Ms Grahame believed her candidature would help convince broadcasters of the “unfairness” of excluding her party’s new leader Nicola Sturgeon from participating in any of the UK-wide televised debates in the run-up to the Westminster vote in May next year.

But at the weekend, she revealed her proposal had been ruled out by SNP top brass, a decision, she claimed “which is likely to disappoint numerous local residents who had urged me to stand”.

She also insisted her bid had been well received by the newly-formed North-East Party which is seeking devolution for 12 constituencies – including Berwick – in that region.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised that the SNP’s governing body has rejected my offer,” said Ms Grahame.

“As someone who is English born, I had wanted to stand to promote devolution for the north-east and to lay to rest the scare stories about Scotland cutting itself off from England in the event of independence.

“I, of course, accept the ruling and have contacted Hilton Dawson, chairman of the North-East Party and former Labour MP, offering to assist them with their campaign if they think it would be helpful.”

One of the most vocal critics of the current ruling administration at Scottish Borders Council is due to chair its scrutiny committee, writes Andrew Keddie.

At a meeting of Conservative opposition councillors on Monday, Gavin Logan, a retired farmer who lives in Clovenfords, was the unanimous choice of his group to lead the watchdog, which is being revived two years after it was scrapped.

Although six of the nine members of scrutiny will come from the SNP/Independent/Lib Dem administration, it has already been agreed that its chair should be a member of the opposition and Councillor Logan’s appointment will be confirmed at today’s full council meeting.

The scrutiny panel is being revived as part of a revamp of decision-making which comes into force on January 1.

Scrutiny will monitor the performance of the council, undertake value-for-money investigations and have the power to call-in decisions of the 16-strong executive, which will replace the service committees for education, social work and roads.

A former licensing board chair and a member of the previous scrutiny-set up, Mr Logan, who has represented Tweeddale East since 2007, has publicly taken issue with recent council decisions, including the removal of garden waste collections and the refusal to block access to pay day loan companies from computers in council-owned buildings.

Meanwhile, the council will be asked next month to approve a new set of procedures governing the hearing of public deputations at Newtown.

Its brief will be to consider “issues relating to matters within the responsibility of the council or the general wellbeing of residents of the Scottish Borders”.

Oxton residents welcomed a new state-of-the-art community resilience vehicle last week – just in time to tackle the ‘weather bomb’ blizzard.

Oxton Community Council successfully applied to SSE’s Toddleburn wind farm community fund for a grant of £11,500 towards the specialist vehicle and related equipment as part of the village’s wider ‘community resilience’ plan.

The John Deere 1026R sub-compact tractor, which boasts a snow blade and gritter, allowed volunteers to clear snow around the local primary school and grit the main village paths during Thursday’s snow storm, improving safety for residents.

With most homes in the area at least 700 feet above sea level, Oxton experiences some of the harshest winter weather conditions in the Borders.

This can cause severe disruption for local people, particularly school children and the elderly, and creates a major safety risk during periods of heavy snowfall.

A team of 13 volunteers has been set up to use the tractor, with training given from a qualified instructor who lives in the village.

The path and snow clearing carried out by the Oxton resilience team will support the work of Scottish Borders Council in minimising disruption caused by snow and ice at this time of year.

Paul Docherty, of Oxton Community Council, told us: “The equipment was in action within a few days of delivery and the volunteers have been very busy clearing the snow and gritting the pavements – in fact they cleared and gritted around the school three times last week to allow it to open on time.

“Having this equipment means that we are better able to look after ourselves when bad weather hits and we’ll be able to help residents get in and out of the village safely.”

Ciara Wilson, community funds manager at SSE, added: “As an energy company, SSE is keenly aware of the importance of community resilience during storm situations. It’s great to see a small community like Oxton rise to the challenge and take action to prevent the kind of safety issues that can result from heavy snowfall.”

Prize winners from Kelso Horticultural Society’s autumn exhibition.

Results: Three vases of chrysanthemums, Jimmy Givens; most outstanding exhibit in classes 2-15, Alex Swanston; most points in floral art section, Moira Matthewson; most outstanding exhibit in floral art section, Moira Matthewson; most points in pot plants section, Alex Watson; collection of vegetables, Ted Low; three pot leeks, Rona Ridley; three blanched leeks, Jimmy Givens; six onions (The Kelsae), Ted Low; best exhibit in vegetable section (excluding collections of vegetables, and leek and onion classes), Ian Simpson.

Most points in honey section, Liz Howell; sticky toffee loaf, Joan Duncan; most points in baking section, Joan Duncan; best exhibit in baking section, Jane Bell; most points in industrial section, Helen Hope; best exhibit in junior section (under 5 years), Harry Fleming; best exhibit in junior section (5 to 10 years), Matty Fleming; best exhibit in junior section (11 to 16 years), Katana Evans.

Best exhibit cash prize winners – chrysanthemum section, Alex Swanston; floral art, Moira Matthewson; pot plants, Jimmy Colledge; vegetable section (excluding class 65 – Border Onion Championship), Ian Simpson; preserves and other produce section, Jane Bell; baking section, Jane Bell; handicrafts section, Lorraine Elliot.