Last week I was pleased to host the Big Lottery Fund at a roadshow I organised for voluntary organisations and good causes from across my constituency.

I wanted to thank Cath Logan and Andrew Lindsay for coming down, but also to everybody who took time out to come to the event.

I really think that it is our sense of community spirit and volunteering that represents the best of the Borders. On Saturday, I was thinking of all those people helping out or going to a Macmillan coffee morning to raise money for cancer support and when I see that so far they’ve raised nearly £1million, I want to thank everybody involved in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

I couldn’t go to the Macmillan coffee morning this year because I was going to Peebles High School to celebrate the school being awarded a gold sports award by sportscotland and then onto Langholm Show in the afternoon.

Langholm Show is always a great day and a great example of community spirit. This year the weather was kind and, as always, a very busy day, and my congratulations to the committee for all their hard work.

I am a strong believer in voluntary action. Volunteers and community groups hugely benefit their local areas, whether by giving a spare hour or by attending to a coffee morning locally.

I think community groups deserve as much support as possible, which is why I was keen to organise the event with the Big Lottery.

The Big Lottery Fund has already supported some groups in my constituency, like Peebles High School, but I wanted to raise awareness about what’s on offer because there’s so many good causes locally.

If you would like to come to next year’s Big Lottery Fund roadshow, and want to make sure that you get an invite, then get in touch with my office by emailing david@davidmundell.com or calling 01683 222770.

Surgery

I hold regular surgeries in my constituency and if you couldn’t make my last one, I’ll be holding the next surgery in the Burgh Chambers in Peebles on Friday, October 23.

But if you’ve got a local issue that you feel I can help with, then email me on david@davidmundell.com or call my office on 01683 222746. You can check my website – www.davidmundell.com – for details. No appointment necessary, just come along – as ever, I’m happy to help.

Andrew McEwan

One quarter of all website visitors will abandon a website if it doesn’t load in under four seconds.

Not only does a slow site jeopardise a quarter (or more) of your traffic, it can signal to Google that your site has a poor user experience and dock your influence in the search engine results.

I had a chat with Singlehop Cloud Hosting’s Rick Talavera about the best practices for helping your website to run as fast as possible.

Following these general rules can not only increase your site speed, but also your potential reach and ultimately customer conversion.

Something to point out is that many of the points to check are definitely on the geeky side and will require the attention of someone who knows what they’re looking for.

Rule 1: Test, test, test

You can’t track improvement if you don’t have a base variable to compare it to. Regularly testing your website speed is crucial to developing a clean-up plan and monitoring all speed progress.

There are plenty of resources online to test the speed of your site for free – we suggest testing your site on at least two different platforms, e.g. Google PageSpeed Insights, Pingdom Website Speed, Yoast Google Analytics Plugin (for WordPress) and Speedy (for Drupal).

When testing your site speed and developing your blueprint, keep the following points in mind:

What errors are consistent among tests?

Could multiple speed bumps be resolved with one change?

Are there any old site functions that could be removed altogether?

Rule 2: Run a frontend
diagnosis

Running a website is a lot like owning car: if you invest in trying to make it look nice on the outside, but forego investing in the infrastructure under the hood, you run the risk of having a shiny but absolutely useless car.

A brand new spoiler isn’t going to save your car from a dead engine in the same way that an excessive number of plugins won’t save your website from outdated code.

What’s the use of having a great-looking website if your customers aren’t patient enough to load it? When it comes to optimisation, checking under the bonnet of your site a great place to start.

Take a good, hard look at both the layout of your content and code. Can your content be restructured?

Can your code be simplified? The world of web development is changing, so what made sense for your site five years ago might not make sense for it now.

Re-evaluate your site structure and remove any duplicate content to help reduce site “weight” and improve user experience.

Replace any dense plugins like Flash with HTML5. While Flash can breathe life into your pages, it brings with it a whole host of baggage, both in terms of actual weight and in terms of user experience.

As its name suggests, Flash has an infamous reputation for being a diva and hogging your PC in all the wrong ways: resource-hoarding, clunkiness, poor user experience.

HTML5 can not only do the majority of what Flash can do quicker, but it comes with a significant advantage: HTML5 is optimised for all mobile platforms, whereas Flash is not.

That means that if your site is dependent on Flash, you’re losing a significant amount of mobile traffic, which is one of the biggest reasons why many of today’s industry leaders are calling for an end to Flash.

Speaking of mobile, consider the mobile responsiveness of your website. This year, after a lot of anticipation, we’ve finally seen mobile search volume outweigh desktop search volume, and its upward trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. While you’re adjusting your site’s structure, be sure to take into consideration how your site currently reacts to being accessed through tablets and smartphones.

Optimising your website to go fully responsive – in other words, adaptable and accessible across many different platforms and devices sizes – can not only help improve your site speed on these platforms, but can give you a tiny boost in the search engine results over competition who have yet to make responsive site changes.

Next time, we’ll conclude this quick guide with some final tips on squeezing every bit of speed possible out of your website.

Andrew McEwan of And We Do This in Morebattle (www.andwedothis.com) helps businesses in the Borders and beyond with website design, ecommerce, digital marketing and video production.

A Borders sculptress has cemented her reputation as one of Scotland’s foremost civic space artists.

Angela Hunter, who has a studio in Innerleithen, has created a stunning bronze of two clasped hands to commemorate one of the darkest events in Scottish social history.

Entitled the Radical War Memorial, enshrined in a bronze ring and mounted on a sandstone plinth, it was unveiled on Saturday in the Inverclyde town of Greenock where, nearly two centuries ago, eight townsfolk were killed in a bloody riot.

The youngest of the victims was eight-year-old James McGilp and the oldest was 65-year-old John MacWhinnie – and it is their hands, linked in solidarity, which are symbolised in Angela’s poignant work.

The backcloth is the so-called Radical War, also dubbed the Scottish Insurrection, which saw widespread strikes and demands for reform, particularly from weavers impoverished by economic downturn, across west and central Scotland.

The unrest spilled into Greenock on Saturday, April 8, 1820, when a party of these dissidents was being escorted to the town’s jail by the militia set up to crush the movement.

Locals took to the streets to protest and, on their way back from the jail, the militia responded to insults and stone-throwing by opening fire – killing eight townsfolk and wounding 10 others.

Galashiels-born Angela’s sculpture forms part of a £20,000 memorial which includes a wall, containing the inscribed names of the fallen, which was created by Broughton-based landscape designer James Gordon.

The work was commissioned by local regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde in partnership with Inverclyde Council whose Labour vice-chairman Jim Cloherty had led a long campaign for a permanent memorial.

“It’s a fantastic reminder of the rights that have been built up over the last 200 years and the need to ensure our trade union rights and rights as citizens are upheld,” said Councillor Cloherty after the memorial was unveiled by Greenock Provost Robert Moran.

Angela told The Southern: “It was a very moving occasion with a local drama group re-enacting the bloody event, and its relevance to the present day was palpable.

“It was a great privilege to be asked to shed some light on a part of Scotland’s secret history which we were never taught at school. I’m delighted with the way it has turned out.”

It is the latest high profile commission Angela has undertaken.

In 2005 she completed five bronze penguins in Dundee city centre and in 2009 she created the immense bronze – Turning the Bull – which graces the civic space in the Heart of Hawick.

In 2013, her bronze bust of rugby commentator Bill McLaren was unveiled at Murrayfield.

Just as summer was about to bow out, it has come back again! Nonetheless, the autumnal harbingers are everywhere and there’s no going back now.

At the weekend, I saw my first big skeins of pink-footed geese heading westward, their evocative calls heralding dark nights and dropping temperatures.

The robins have now changed their tune and their more hushed winter song is now in favour.

All other birds with the possible exception of the dipper, have stopped singing until spring.

I took advantage of the fine weather at the weekend to bring in the first of my autumnal wild harvest.

With sloe berries scarce this year, I decided to make some rosehip wine, after a few years abstinence.

They are best gathered after a frost which sweetens them, but if you wait too long, they become too soft and messy to pick.

I managed to find enough firm ones to make a gallon of wine and a night in the freezer replicated a good frosting.

In previous years, I have found the colour of the wine a bit anaemic, so this year I have added some black rosehips, taken from cultivated plants.

It has only just started to ferment, but already the skins of the black hips have given it a beautiful rich red colour. I was beginning to despair of ever having a decent late summer display of butterflies in the garden, as the weather has been totally uncooperative.

My buddleia was past before the good weather came and I thought that my Michaelmas daisies were going to be frosted before they came into bloom.

My sedum, however, came to the rescue at the weekend, filling the gap nicely. Its flowering coincided with the sunny weather and at the weekend it was a magnet for bees and butterflies.

As well as the many small tortoiseshells, I was pleased to see a lovely fresh comma. It was very confiding and allowed me to approach quite closely to get some nice close ups – one of which I have used as my picture this week.

My rare marsh tit is still coming regularly to my garden feeders and I received an e-mail from John in Gullane, who has a similar visitor coming to his garden.

Don’t forget to let me know if you have any interesting wildlife encounters, either in the garden or the wider Borders countryside.

Drop me an e-mail (and picture if possible) to corbie@homecall.co.uk

Newsham Herbert and Becky Forster claimed the Aardvark Summer Series Show Jumping Junior Championship in fine style by winning all three classes entered in the final.

They finished the series on 33 points, 10 points clear of the reserve champion Katy McFadyen and Curly Q.

Becky and Herbie have enjoyed a very successful summer campaign as, amongst other things, they were also part of the Duke Of Buccleuch B team that won the Pony Club Junior area 19 team Show Jumping finals.

The Senior Championship went to Joanna Mitchell and Zante.

Joanna finished an impressive 28 points clear of the reserve champion Jennifer Little and Huckleberry Finn.

ISEC would like to thank all at Aardvark Safaris for their generous sponsorship and the many competitors who supported the series. Aardvark offer the fabulous tailor made safaris to 16 African countries. For more information visit www.aardvarksafaris.co.uk

The centre had a well-earned weekend off mid-September, while most Borders equine enthusiasts made their way north to witness Europe’s leading event riders battle for the European Championship title at Blair Castle.

This was the first time that the Europeans have taken place on Scottish soil and Ian Stark had the honour of designing the championship track, with Tim Stark being part of the building team.

The course received much praise in the run up to the event, with the ground team making sure the best going possible for these world class horses.

Cross-country day brought horrendously wet conditions, but the course stood up well, rode brilliantly and provided spectators with some fantastic thrills and spills.

The Germans continued their winning streak to take gold, with the Brits having to settle for silver.

The ISEC team are now preparing for the busy winter schedule, with the popular winter series starting this month.

Carrs Billington is generously sponsoring the Winter Show Jumping Series by donating at pallet of their own brand feed to the winner.

TopSpec is sponsoring the dressage series again, with fantastic prizes to the winners of all classes.

We will also soon be announcing more training dates and visits from top riders.

For more information and dates visit www.ianstarkequestriancentre.co.uk

z Ally Entwistle and The Shoogly Perch will be back next week.

Oregon Cake Club (Oregon Timber, Selkirk) presented Border Holiday Group with a cheque for £300 for a trip to Austria. The money was raised from weekly cake sales. Pictured are members of the group’s committee and Keith Lawson, from Oregon, and partner Pauline Smith.

Pictured are members of the group’s committee and Keith Lawson, from Oregon, and partner Pauline Smith.

A surge in the number of pupils qualifying for free school meals indicates a significant increase in low-income families in the region over the past decade.

A single-day census in 2014/15 revealed that a total of 1,557 pupils, comprising 997 primary and 560 secondary pupils, received the free meals.

This compares to the 771 pupils (529 primary and 242 secondary) who took the meals in 2004/05 – a rise of just over 100% over the 10 years.

A Freedom of Information response from Scottish Borders Council also reveals a 93% increase on the 834 students (641 and 193) who received free meals five years ago.

The council says that of the region’s 63 primary schools, 10 used an online payment and ordering system, with all others operating a weekly confidential envelope-ordering system.

All nine secondary schools in the Borders used cashless catering cards with three offering online payment for eligible pupils.

Defibrillators have been installed at strategic points in and around Kelso thanks to the fundraising efforts of a local charity.

Kelso Heartbeat have managed to raise enough money to purchase and install three defibrillators which will potentially save many lives.

The defibrillators have been placed in Kelso town centre (James Stewarts Woodmarket), Kelso Rugby Club (Poynder Place entrance located at turnstiles) and Kelso Swimming Pool (main entrance to the pool).

A fourth will hopefully be installed this week.

Chairperson Scott Forbes said: “The defibrillators that we have installed around Kelso are not inside buildings so the public will be able to access them all day everyday which they haven’t been able to until now.”

The defibrillators cost around £1,800 each so the group has worked hard to collect donations from local groups and businesses and conduced their own fundraising.

Most recently they took part in a two day charity walk between Dunbar and Kelso over a distance of around 40 miles.

The team of walkers managed to raise around £3,500 which was a great help.

Mr Forbes was inspired to start up the charity when his cousin Gregor Newton, who used to live in Kelso, went into cardiac arrest.

He said: “A year this past April, Gregor went into cardiac arrest but fortunately he survived.

“It made me realise that more needs to be done in local communities like Kelso.”

Mr Forbes was joined by Fiona Hall, a cardiac nurse who had plenty of experience in the field and like him wanted to make a difference in the town.

There are now five members who are trustees to the charity. They would like to thank everyone who has donated.

For further information visit the charities Facebook page.

The 2015 Hizzy Run raised more money than ever, with donations going to Borders General Hospital Macmillan cancer centre and Margaret Kerr Unit.

The annual loop in honour of motorcycle race ace Steve Hislop was dedicated to Dot Haig who passed away earlier this year. Dot, from Jedburgh, felt that the team at the cancer centre “was like a second family”.

The loop takes motorcyclists from Denholm up to Gifford and Carfraemill, finishing at Denholm. A team of volunteers collecting donations for the centre and unit in Denholm raised £2,000, giving £1,000 to each.

Pictured, from left, Wendy Oliver, Louise Lackie, Judith Smith and Neil Haig.

The streets of Kelso are buzzing as a huge new public artwork by local nine to 12-year-olds is about to be unveiled.

FAZ – the Friday Art Zone – is an art sculpture by the Kelso Youth Project, in which 14 budding Damien Hirsts and Tracey Emins started an artistic journey of discovery that will end with a giant artwork being unveiled and displayed at the town’s Sainsbury’s store, before it begins its tour of the Borders.

David Harvey, chair of Cheviot Youth, who manage the Kelso Youth Project, said: “This is a pilot project which will use the medium of art to encourage teamwork, improve social skills and boost confidence, while celebrating the children’s achievement.”

The FAZ will, over the next eight weeks, see the design and creation of a large artwork that will be made entirely from clean waste materials.

The children will take plastics, wood, metal and paper waste products and use these materials to make something unique and quite wonderful.

The project is being run in partnership with Penumbra Youth Project and Sainsbury’s, with help from local companies Forbes and Mainetti.

Will Pitcairn, store manager at Kelso Sainsbury’s, said: “We are pleased to be part of this excellent project and, like Cheviot Youth, recognise how important it is to play our part in making a positive contribution to our local community.

“I and all my colleagues wish the children all the very best for their art project and look forward to seeing the finished work in our store in eight weeks’ time.”

The pupils from Edenside and Broomlands primary schools are starting to talk and think about the design and creation of their artwork after an excellent start to the project saw them come together in a variety of introductory and team-building games.

Anja Raeburn, a Kelso Youth Project youth worker, commented on how well the children had worked together.

She said: “We were so pleased with the commitment shown, the hard work and maturity of all members of the group, and feel that we are going to produce something very special.”

She added: “I can’t wait to see what the children decide to make.”

Cheviot Youth is planning a similar art project for Jedburgh in the early new year and would like to hear from anyone who might be interested in receiving the end-of-project report from Kelso.

To get a copy of this report, to find out more about Cheviot Youth, or to be put on the Kelso and Jedburgh event and activity mailing list, email Ian at ianrendallreid@cheviotyouth.co.uk

Police hunting the thief who robbed a taxi driver have arrested a 16-year-old girl.

The incident took place in Grangemouth on Thursday evening.

The teenager is due to appear at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.

Detective Inspector Jim Thomson of Falkirk CID said: “I would like to thank the public for their response to the appeal for witnesses in this case which has proved vital in helping police identify the culprit.”

Works to improve the road surface on the A68 at Lauder have begun this morning. They will take place between 7am and 6pm today (Monday, October 12) and Tuesday, October 13.

A full closure of East High Street, from Factors Park to West High Street is required while this work is being carried out. However, the road will be open as normal outwith these times. A signed diversion will be in place.

Traffic going south will be diverted onto the B6362 at the Cafraemill Hotel and proceed via the A697/A6089/A6105 before re-joining the A68 at Earlston. Northbound traffic will follow the same diversion in the opposite direction.

Local access to adjacent properties will be maintained wherever possible, but some disruption may be inevitable.

A final day of works to re-line the road surface will take place on Wednesday, October 14, between 8am and 4pm, weather permitting; however the road will not be closed and instead a temporary traffic management system will be in place.

The benefits of regular 
exercise are well known – it helps with peoples’ health, fitness and overall well-being.

However Selkirk firm Spark Energy have gone a bit further and turned staff’s hard-work into a cash boost for a local charity.

Last week, employees at the energy supplier pedalled on two exercise bikes between 9am and 5pm in 15 minute slots. After calculating the total amount of energy generated, they converted the figure into cash, donating £516 to the Margaret Kerr Unit at the Borders General Hospital.

The feat was part of the company’s activities for National Customer Service Week.

The cycle challenge was organised in partnership with the Five Star Energy Saving Advice group, focused on promoting employee engagement.

Many activities took place during National Customer Service Week, focused around a variety of themes including customers, staff recognition and billing. Spark and the Five Star Energy Saving Advice group organised different fun-filled activities aligning to these topics such as quizzes, training, each designed to raise the profile of customer service within Spark, showing its commitment to providing a five star service while recognising everyone’s efforts.

Speaking about the donation, Chris Gauld, chief executive at Spark Energy, said: “Congratulations to the team for undertaking this challenge. Not only has it been a fun activity to take part in, it has raised £516 which can be given directly to this great cause.

“This facility carries out fantastic work and it is an honour to be able to support the incredible contribution it makes to the communities it works in.

“Customer service is a major focus for our business and we’re proud to be carry out a programme of activity to mark National Customer Service Week.”

The Margaret Kerr Unit, a building in the Borders General Hospital which houses a Specialist Palliative Care Team which provides assistance across the entire Southern region.

The site is named after the West Linton nurse whose legacy helped to kick-start fundraising for the project.

The remainder of the funds for the unit - which cost more than £4 million - came from a variety of sources including more than £1m from a public appeal.

The two exercise bikes for the event were kindly donated by Borders Sport and Leisure Trust.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has set up a programme of welfare benefits information sessions to help people with a learning disability and their family carers find out how they may be affected by continuing changes to the welfare benefit system.

T he sessions are free and open to anyone living in the Scottish Borders who has a learning disability and their family carers.

Advisers from Scottish Borders Council’s Welfare Benefits Service will provide an overview of the current benefits situation before being available to answer any questions. Anyone attending will also be able to meet advisers on an individual basis to talk about their own circumstances.

The sessions will take place on Monday, October 19 (2-4pm), at Old Gala house, Galashiels; Thursday October 22 (1-3pm) at Teviotdale Leisure Centre, Hawick; Friday October23 (2-4pm) at Abbey Row Community Centre, Kelso, and on Friday October 30 (2-4pm) at Peebles Community Centre.

Councillor Frances Renton, SBC’s executive member for social work and housing said: “There have been a number of changes to welfare benefits in recent years and this gives people with a learning disability and their family carers an opportunity to find out more about how they could be impacted and get the information and guidance they need.”

Councillor Renton went on: “Two of the main changes they might be dealing with include the recent launch of Universal Credit in the Borders and the transfer from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment.

“I would encourage people with a learning disability and their family carers to come along to their nearest session to make sure they are well informed about the changes and that they are receiving the benefits they are entitled to.”

wooler

At their annual Show and Sale of Suckled Calves and Store Cattle last week, John Swan Ltd, for the final time, had forward and sold 780 head.

The Show was again kindly sponsored by Barclays Bank and expertly judged by Alistair Patterson, Wallhouses, who awarded the Charolais Championship and Reserve Champion to Messrs Fawdon Farms. The Champion Steer weighed in at 440kg and sold at £1120 to Messrs Reay and Comber, Elwick. Champion Any Other Breed for the third year running was awarded to Messrs Howard, Chillingham Home Farm, for a Lim.x Steer weighing 555kg and selling to Messrs S. and J. Allen, Longnewton.

Cattle a quality show with trade remaining buoyant, buyers arriving from the south coast kept all classes in keen demand.

At their weekly sale of Primestock last Wednesday, 553 lambs and 190 ewes were forward and sold.

Numbers tight due to calf sale week but all classes sought after to increase returns on the week.

Leading prices per head: Tex.x:- £71, £68, £67, £66.50, £65 Elwick, £71 Lorbottle, £67 Bewick Folly and Cockhall, £66.50, £66, £65.50 West Longridge, £66 Lorbottle, £65.50 Cockhall. Suff.x:- £65 Biddlestone Home Farm, £64.50, £64 (3), £62 (2) Brockley Hall. C.M:- £65 Bewick Folly. Mule:- £61 Horseupcleugh.

Leading prices per kilo: Tex.x:- 169.1p, 158.3p, 158.1p Elwick, 166.7p Village Farm, Seahouses and Shipley Smallburn, 163.4p, 159.8p Cockhall, 159p Ladykirk, 157.1p West Longridge and Lorbottle Farm. C.M:- 160.5p Bewick Folly.

Ewe numbers also less, but dearer.

Leading prices per head: C.M:- £85, £75 Bewick Folly. Tex.x:- £83 Shipley Smallburn, £81 Cockhall, £79 Shepherds Cottage, £75 Lilburn Estates and Cockhall, £73 Shipley Smallburn and Hoppen Hall. Suff.x:- £83 Great Ryle, £80 Goswick, £79 Lilburn Estates, £77 Cheswick Buildings, £75 Springhill. Chev:- £67 Great Ryle. Mule:-£65 Brockley Hall, £63 Hoppen Hall.

Rams: Tex.x:- £105 Bewick Folly.

longtown

Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Auction Marts Limited had forward 6,520 store lambs at their weekly sale at Longtown on Tuesday, October, 6.

Another large show and an abundance of distant buyers attending for the first time this season, trade was sharper all round. Top of £63 for Masham from Powcrofts and Greyfaces from Crindledykes, other Greyface £59 Powcroft, £55 Meinbank and Gibbs Hill, £54.50 High Lovelady Shield; Texel £61.50 Crindledykes, £60.50 High Lovelady Shield, £60 Whitstone Hill; Suffolk £57.50 Whitstone Hill, £57 Barbuie; Lleyn £54.50 Espland; Charollais £52.50 Espland; Kerry Hill £47.50 Kilncroft; Swaledale £34 Ouston, £31.50 Parkhouse.

Feeding ewes to £64 East Foreshield. Cast rams to £67.50 Auchenfad. Hill Cheviots (2,091) a smaller entry and much dearer on the week. Top £56 Castle Crawford, Toftholm and Parkhill, £55 Glendinning. Blackfaces (2,140) a larger entry with all classes sharper.Top £51.50 East Fortissat, £49.50 Albie Rigg and Tweedshaws.

The annual Longtown Ram Fair on Wednesday, October 7, saw 938 head forward. The Ram Sale of 150 Suffolk, 113 Charollais & Charollais x, 137 Beltex and other Crossbred, and 351 Texels saw a full ring of local and distant buyers present, ensuring a good trade throughout with a healthy clearance rate. Best quality rams were keenly sought after and realised premium prices with five Texel shearlings realising over the £1,000 mark.

Other rams met a realistic demand with only the bottom end hard to cash. Also included were the annual shows for both Texel and Suffolk rams, sponsored by Trojan 4 x 4.

The sale topped at £1,800 by regular sale topper Mr A. Bell, Kirkton, Hawick to D. & D. Aitken, Uppercleuch, followed at £1,250 from the same home to J. Baty, Broomhills.

Mr Bell’s pen of 14 shearlings averaged an impressive £782.86.

The Texel judging was ably carried out by Mr J. Warnock MBE, Sandilands, Lanark, who awarded the championship to a shearling from Messrs Douglas, Catslackburn, from a massive class of 23 sheep, which realised £450 to J.N. Hall, Harelawhill, Canonbie. The reserve champion was awarded to the ram lamb from the marts own auctioneer Archie Hamilton’s Smyllum Flock, which went on to realise £400 to Mr Hird, Westend, Dovenby.

C & D Auction Marts Limited had forward 12 prime cattle, two young bulls, 28 OTM cattle, 4,261 prime lambs and 4,462 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday, October 8.

This was another good entry – just short of 30 head were offered to a full company of buyers with two new faces present.

Quality and breed were extremely variable, but all cattle were keenly bid for with competition strong throughout. The sale was topped at 146p for an Angus from Peter Dayson who sold others to 137p, Galloways from Keith Laurie sold to 108p with Whitebred Shorthorns from Mr Watkin selling to 104p. Continentals sold to 135p from John Pitttendrigh with BB/Friesian cows to 128p from Messrs Grieve.

Dairy cows were scarce, selling to a top of 110p (twice) from market regular Messrs Beard, with Jerseys to 49p from Mr Armstrong. Top prices per head were £1,017.60 from The Snab for a Continental suckler cow.

Limousin x sold to £931.50 from Horncastle Farm. Native breeds sold to £849.40 for an Angus from Whamtown, Whitebred Shorthorn to £655.20 from Ladybank Farm. Dairy cows to £775.50 and £748 Dormansteads for pure British Friesians.

Less cattle are on offer due to standstill restrictions, but the trade was dear for a mixed show and many more could have been sold.

The sale topped at 213.5p for a grass fed Charolais heifer from regular supporters E. & A. Graham, Upper Mains.

In the endless arguments about methods of renewable energy wind turbines have attracted most of the anger. Solar energy has, if it’s not too mixed a metaphor, managed to stay under the radar.

Many houses now have panels on their roof, dozens of farmers have them on shed roofs and in fields and now Mackies, of ice-cream fame, has completed a £4million installation of 7,000 panels on a field in Aberdeenshire.

That’s capable of converting huge amounts of sunlight to electricity. Solar enthusiasts claim that enough sunlight reaches earth every hour to meet world energy demand for a year if there were enough panels to convert it. So the market is theoretically limitless as well as being less obvious in the landscape than the wind turbines that attract so much venom. The increase and development of both methods, of course, as well as biomass boilers and various other minor forms of renewable energy have been, and are, related to subsidies for installation. Initially, subsidies were set at ludicrously attractive levels, but have now been scaled back, at least in England.

Not so in Scotland, where the government continues to subsidise solar panels. The result is mixed messages. For instance, senior staff at the National Grid claimed recently that solar panel installation costs have fallen rapidly and that even with lower subsidies solar power is the renewable energy method that will become the main source of our electricity.

Almost at the same time, two of Britain’s biggest installers of solar panels have gone into administration with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs because of, they claim, cuts in government subsidy.

So, the only certainty seems to be that the future for panels looks brighter in Scotland than England. As someone in the contradictory position of disliking solar panels on house and shed roofs while thinking that solar energy must be the most sensible renewable energy, I’m as confused as everyone else. The argument about genetic modification (GM) is another never-ending argument.

In contrast to approving solar panels as a good thing, the Scottish Government has banned GM crops and tries, with diminishing success, to ban GM human or animal food.

Professor Anne Glover, former scientific adviser to the European Commission, last week tried again to make the Scottish Government see it is wrong to try to stop scientific progress.

“Nothing has been more rigorously tested,” she said of GM food and crops.

Scotland, relative to its size, has more scientific clout than almost any other country, yet its scientists are being denied the chance to contribute to producing more, entirely safe, food for a growing world population.

Almost a year ago we first heard that auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington, Carlisle, might take over the long-established Borders auction company, John Swan and Sons of St Boswells. Then all went quiet. Now, after months of silence during which Swan’s hundreds of small-scale shareholders have had time to consider the offer, the grapevine suggests that takeover might be confirmed today (Thursday).

You’ve decided to adopt a dog. You can’t wait to get it home and it’s going to be so happy!

Well, maybe. Change can be very difficult for dogs, even good change, so you’ll need to think about how to introduce a dog into your home.

Consider the age of the dog. Senior dogs could have special health issues. Adolescent dogs test boundaries and need strong guidance.

Mature dogs will be used to a particular lifestyle and will need me to adjust.

Whatever your dog’s age, you have to consider its needs and help it adapt to its new environment. Before you bring the dog into the house, take it for a walk.

This will help to relax it. You should be calm when introducing the dog to your home.

Bring the dog into the house on-lead and let it start exploring one room at a time. Your dog will want to smell everything, so let it – it’s a good way to learn about its new home. Then allow it to explore off-lead one room at a time.

It may then want to sleep – it’s important to let it and to leave it alone. The dog will be exhausted from exploring this new place and disturbing it can make it feel stressed.

It is important that the whole family understands this, especially children.

Expect odd behaviour. Dogs that are normally active may become subdued, while dogs that are normally quiet may pace and whine.

A dog might urinate or hide under a table. However, some dogs are totally relaxed about it all and take it in their stride.

Whatever reaction a dog shows, don’t get angry or try to force it; being in a new place can be scary to a dog.

If it tries to hide, don’t try to drag it out. Give it time to relax and find its own way.

Establish ground rules from day one because dogs need clarity (e.g. if you don’t want the dog to sit on the furniture, never let it) and be careful not to let the dog ‘rule the roost’ because you could end up with a tyrant.

Lisa Tenzin-Dolma has written an excellent guide on this topic which covers what you need to do in detail – please read it.

It’s available to download free at www.tenzindolma.co.uk/ADOPTING%20A%20RESCUE%20DOG%20DOWNLOAD%20FILE.%20Lisa%20Tenzin-Dolma.pdf

bowden

Community cafe

The next community cafe will be held in the village hall at 11am on October 21.

Caddonfoot

Parish church

Parents Alistair and Christine Fisher joined the Reverend Marion Dodd for the baptism of Evie Davina May Fisher on Sunday. The Bible reading was delivered by Joyce Brown, while Ashleigh Doctor and Dorothy Howden played the organ. There is a hamper in the vestibule for gifts for the annual sale of work in the Volunteer Hall, Galashiels, on October 31 – see Christina Bird for more details. It was reported that more volunteers are needed for the BGH Chaplaincy Team to ensure that church services continue – contact Margaret Blyth for more information. There will be a choir social in Trinity on October 30 at 7pm – tickets are available from choir members. The previous week, the service was conducted by the Reverend Duncan McCosh, retired minister from St Peter’s Church in Galashiels.

COGSMILL

SWI

The October meeting was the AGM. After the annual reports from the treasurer and president, the election of the new committee was held – Mary McTaggart, president; Morag Forsyth, secretary; Elizabeth Calcroft, treasurer. Letters were read and arrangements made for the upcoming rural show on October 30 at Kelso. Louise Graham was thanked for coming along to count votes. After a supper and short quiz, the meeting came to a close. The November 11 meeting features Christmas decorations with M. Main. New members welcome. The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the hall.

Dances

Monthly old-time Scottish Country Dances start on October 30 with the Roger Dobson Band playing in the hall. The night starts at 8pm and a home-made supper is available. Phone Mary (01450 373722), Christine (01450 372921) or Margaret (01450 375064) to book or for more information, or visit the Cogsmill Hall Facebook page.

Earlston

Parish church

On October 18 the service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. A traditional hymns service will be held on November 22. Pass on requests to Julie.

AGM

Earlston Horticultural Society will hold its AGM at 7.30pm on October 20 in the Red Lion. The society appeals to residents to come along and support it in ensuring the continuation of the annual flower show.

FOUNTAINHALL

SWI

The next meeting is on October 21 at 7.30pm when there will be a talk about Guide Dogs. Competitions – knitted toy and a dog ornament. Last month’s competition winners – small quiche – 1, Dorothy Small; 2, Agnes Mathison; travel first aid box – 1, Dorothy Small; 2, Christine Sinclair.

galashiels

Probus

The latest meeting was held in the Kingsknowes Hotel last Thursday and attended by 61 members. Margaret Skea spoke about the Great Tapestry of Scotland. The tapestry project produced some impressive statistics – more than 1,000 stitchers were involved, aged from 3 to 94, producing a conservative estimate of 55,000 hours of work and using 300 miles of yarn, resulting in 160 panels stretching for 140 metres and covering 12,000 years of Scottish history. The next meeting will be on October 22 in the Kingsknowes Hotel when Nigel Miller will talk on “NFU Farming”. The club will also be playing host to its Hawick counterpart.

Studio club

October 15, Old Gala House, 7.30-9.30pm, pastel flavours workshop with Iain McCann. Enquiries – 01896 820023.

October 22, Old Gala House, 7.30-9.30pm, illustrated talk by professional artist Morris Manson on his contemporary and traditional artwork influenced by “Impressionism” through to “Pop”. Enquiries – 01896 820023.

Trinity church

On Sunday, the Reverend Marion Dod was back to lead worship. Music was led by Dorothy Howden and the lessons read by Jim Gilchrist. Any articles for the November newsletter should be forwarded to Sandra Aitchison ASAP. On October 18 there will be a soup lunch after the service. There is to be a choir social on October 30, starting at 7pm. Tickets can be bought from choir members. There is also a reminder to those people who took away a shoebox to fill for the Blythswood appeal that they must be returned by October 25.

gLENDOUGLAS

Dancing

Old-time and ceilidh dance classes start on October 22 and will then meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 8pm. In addition, A Reel Half-Hour starts at 7.30pm for learning new set dances.

hawick

Rotary

President Mairhi Trickett introduced Colin Purvis, a local man of many parts – boxer (now coach), scribe (local news reporter, would-be author, poet) – who spoke on the art/craft of drystane walling and dyking, at which he is an expert. He explained how dyking was at its most popular in the period from 1770 t 1870 when, as a result of the agricultural revolution, it became necessary to define owners/tenants’ smaller farms and, while ploughing fields for arable farming, stones were unearthed, so two needs were fulfilled at the same time – dykes built and fields cleared. Records show that in 1910 there were 30 dykers in Hawick. Colin said although new dykes are being built, he is usually employed repairing them. He also runs courses for the Drystone Wall Association as well as attending dyking competitions.

Camera club

Last Thursday’s meeting was a club practical night with Bernie Gajos doing a presentation about macro photography, using his own images along with on-screen videos. Also doing presentations were president Dennis Laing, who was in the studio taking macro images, while Gordon Gilfether and Kenny Baillie showed how to resize images using Photoshop so members can present their images correctly for club competitions. The October 15 meeting sees members viewing and judging last season’s Borders Digital Challenge images.

Heiton

Library cafe

The latest library cafe saw 24 visitors enjoy various choices of soup and cake. The next gathering is between 10.30am and 1pm on October 20 in the meeting room of Heiton Hall.

INNERLEITHEN

Countdown Club

Members next gather on October 28 in Innerleithen Church meeting room at 10.30am – bring along a pen and paper.

Coffee morning

St Ronan’s Future Band will hold a coffee morning on October 24 in the Vale Club from 10am-noon, featuring live music from band members.

PTA

St Ronan’s School Parent-Teacher Association will hold a coffee morning on October 31 in the Vale Club from 10am to noon.

Civic association

Work to put up the 2015 Innerleithen Christmas lights starts on October 18, and from then on every Sunday until December 6 when the lights are switched on. The Lights Gang volunteers are asked to be at the Hut up Leithen Road at 9.30am. The next association meeting will be held at St Ronan’s Community School on October 20, starting at 7pm. All committee members are requested to attend. The association’s annual coffee morning in aid of the Christmas lights will be held in the Vale Club from 10am till noon on November 7.

Jedburgh

Ladies Group

The speaker for the meeting in the Thistle Pavilion will be Emma Emmerson, from Woodside Nursery. Her talk is entitled “Spring Planting”. Programmes for this year are available and new members and visitors are welcome. More information from Evelyn Grierson (01835 863625).

Concert

A concert will be held in St John’s Church on October 18 at 3pm, featuring clarinetist,Joanna Nicholson. Music from Bach to Burns and Gershwin.Refreshments will be served. Entrance by donation.

AGM

Jedburgh Leisure Facilities Trust’s AGM for the Laidlaw Memorial Pool is on October 31 (10am) at the facility. Anyone interested in getting more involved with the trust should contact Christine Wylie (01835 840246/p10caw@aol.com) or chairperson John Sharratt for further information.

kelso

Youth project

Kelso Youth Project is looking for help to run pool and darts cup competitions on a Thursday evening at The Planet (next door to Border Ice Rink) – email Ian at ianrendallreid@cheviotyouth.co.uk or give him a call on 07958 277766 for further information.

Bridge club

October 7 – B.G.B. sim. pairs – N/S – 1, Jean McLaren & Alison Ireland; 2, Lynda Douglas and Jim Stone; 3 (equal), Mary Millar & Val Johnstone, Bob Stevenson & Annie Mitchell; E/W – 1, Ian Ross and Eliz Ross; 2, Jon Bridger & Gerry Eglington; 3, Sheila Urquhart & Sheena McPherson. October 8 – Millenium Trophy 5 – 1, Jim Stone & Keith Ackerman; 2, Bob Stevenson and Lee Leeson; 3, Annie Mitchell & John Loudon; 4, Maureen Weightman & Lynda Douglas; 5, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; 6, Shirley Armstrong & Moira Ayton.

Music Makers

At the first meeting of the season, participants provided a wide variety of musical contributions, including songs, guitar ragtime, Telemann Trio Sonata and piano. The next event in Abbey Row on October 30 will offer an evening of music making in a variety of acoustic styles – classical, traditional, contemporary. Contact 01573 224920 for more infromation.

AGM

Kelso Laddies’ Association AGM takes place on October 30 in the Dickson Room, Cross Keys Hotel, at 7.30pm.

Stitchers

Kelso Stitchers will meet on October 27 in the Abbey Row Centre at 7pm when Irene McFadzean gives a talk entitled “Cottage Dolls”. Members should remember their mug and name badge.

Langholm

Junior band

The junior band came away with a silver award from Innerleithen Youth Band competition. The band was under the baton of Christine Calvert, who teaches the young players each Tuesday evening.

Head teacher

Staff, parents and pupils have been informed that their cluster head teacher, Justin Sinclair, is leaving Eskdale to take up a new post – head at Earlston High School. Mr Sinclair became head of the Academy and primary schools in the town, along with Canonbie primary, two years ago.

LAUDER

Historical society

Ian Brotherston, Douglas Scott and David Wilkinson will look at the history of Lauder Scout Group by showing archive slides and memorabilia on October 21 at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. This is an open event. Further details from Joan Stevens on 01578 722559.

SWI

President Senga Towers welcomed a good turnout of members and visitors to the meeting held in Lauder Primary School before introducing Caroline Patey, a home economics teacher, also a “Fit 4 Fun” nutrition leader employed by the NHS. Her topic was “Healthy Eating”. She drew members’ attention to the manufacturers’ food package labels showing the sugar, salt and fat content levels. Helen Lumsden gave the vote of thanks. Caroline also judged the competitions – glass ornament – 1, Sandra Fullerton; 2, Christine Riddell; 3, Joanne Watson; celery soup – 1, Wendy Bryson; 2, Liz Dalgliesh; 3, Sheila Hardie. Helen Lumsden, hostess for the evening, provided members with supper. Sheila Hardie and Christine Riddell organised the raffle. The next meeting will be held in the same venue on November 10 at 7.30pm when the speaker for the evening is Jane Thomson on Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Competitions – decorated bra and two cup cakes.

Lindean

SWI

Irene Cotter gave the October meeting a talk about her walking holiday in Shetland in company with SWI members from all over Scotland. Her photographs gave a great impression of the wild scenery, despite the mist and rain. Competition – artificial corsage – 1, Valerie Mayo; 2, Edith Scott; 3 Margaret Inglis. Raffle prizes were won by Jennifer Barrie, Margaret McKinlay, Evelyn Douglas and Marjorie Mabon.

Badminton

The badminton season will get under way on October 26 at 7pm in the village hall.

Indoor bowls

Indoor bowls start on Friday, October 30, at 7pm in the village hall.

Melrose

Parish church

Refugee camps appeal still ongoing; October 18 services – Bowden 9.30am, Melrose 11am; October 23 – Arthritis Big Band Bash; October 25 – Macmillan coffee morning after church; October 28 – midweek service and lunch; shoebox appeal deadline November 1; foodbank contributions welcomed.

Trimontium

Old Melrose saw its last “first Monday” walk for 2015 under Ian Skinner, bringing a decent contribution plus last year’s Gift Aid to the funding of the hoped-for 2016 dig. Brian Mahler took a magnificent seven (and two dogs) on the Trimontium Walk, with three more Thursday walks and three museum weeks to go. The first lecture of the autumn season, on Roman York, was given by Dr Patrick Ottaway After many questions from the audience, Provost William Windram’s vote of thanks was warmly endorsed. On October 22, Peter Berridge, from Colchester, will speak about that first UK Roman town, and on October 29 Dr Reid rounds off the series with his adventures in Rome.

Lecture

On October 20 at 7.30pm, the first lecture in the winter programme of Melrose Historical and Archaeological Association will be held in the upper hall of the Ormiston. Alasdair Hutton, writer and storyteller, will present a talk on The Reivers and their lifestyle of stealth, treachery and deceit during one of the most intense periods of warfare and disorder in the Anglo-Scottish borderlands.

Morebattle

Concert

Roxburgh Singers’ concert in conjunction with Voices for Hospices in Morebattle Church on November 1 (3pm) features Faure Requiem and Vivaldi Gloria. It is in aid of the Margaret Kerr Unit at Borders General Hospital. Tickets (£8) at the door – accompanied children free. Contact – Margaret Moyes (01750 22418/ mmoyes2@gmail.com).

Newcastleton

Coffee morning

The village hall was the venue for a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, and along with donations, £520 was raised.

newmill

SWI

The AGM began with Dorothy Grierson – a founder Newmill member – giving a talk on the history of the SRI. She also brought along old books and syllabuses. Caroline Tully concluded the talk with proposed ideas from the federation for modernisation of the SRI. Competitions – ideas for syllabus – 1, Julia Templeman; 2, Muriel Baptie; 3, Jan Chetwynd; old recipe book – 1, Muriel Baptie; 2, Elsie Crouch; 3, Gill Francombe; poem about our rural – 1, Julia Templeman; 2, Muriel Baptie; 3, Gill Francombe. A new committee was elected and a meeting is to be arranged later this month to decide members’ positions and the new syllabus content. Members were delighted to win the Pringle Cup at Roberton Show, thanks to hard work on the “Royal Highland Show Picnic”. As part of this, Jan Chetwynd also won a trophy for handicraft in respect of a hand-painted tablecloth. Jan Little is organising a “clean-up Teviothead” day in honour of George Rennie. Members who have donations for the sales table at Roxburgh Show (October 30 and 31) should contact a committee member. It was agreed that this year’s November meal (on November 3) will be at The Woll.

Newtown

Plant sale

Newtown in Bloom coffee morning and plant sale will be held on October 17 (10am-noon) in the Community Wing, Sprouston Road.

OXTON

SWI

The next meeting is on October 21, celebrating Oxton SWI’s 91st birthday. There will also be a beetle drive and sales table. Members’ competition – small candle holder; visitors – pill box. At the last meeting points prizes were awarded, with Jackie Pinkerton winning the Mrs Mitchell Cup. Runner-up, Agnes Bell. The Rose Bowl was won by Margaret Smith. Runner-up, Jackie Pinkerton.

Selkirk

Coffee morning

Selkirk Ex-Soldiers’ Association has organised a coffee morning on October 17 (10am-noon) at St Joseph’s Church Hall. There will also be a sale of military cap badges and display of First and Second World War medals that the association need help in identifying relatives of the recipients. All funds raised will go towards mounting and presenting the medals to the recipients’ family.

Antiquarian Society

Members meet on October 21 at 7.30pm in the parish church hall when Ian Landles and Billy Young will present their talk, “Throuw tha Tunnel – A journey through Teviotdale”.

STICHILL

SWI

Lady McEwen gave a talk about Polish soldiers in the Borders during the Second World War. After the invasion of Poland in 1939, many had managed to escape by various

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From page 37

routes. Competitions – Polish headdress – 1, Brenda Waring; 2, Lyn Anderson, 3, Gaynor Taylor; red and white scarf – 1, Frances Rogers; 2, Pam Hall; 3, Kathy Wilkie. The next meeting will be in the village hall at 7.30pm on November 3.

teviothead

SWI

See Newmill section.

yetholm

SWI

Members meet on October 20 at 10.30am in Wauchope Hall when a DVD – “Village Praise in Yetholm” – will be shown. This is a change to the published syllabus. Competition – four pieces of shortbread

Choir

Yetholm Village Choir will be singing in Kelso Old Parish Church on Saturday, October 24, at 7.30pm. The theme of the concert is entitled “Golden Oldies”.

Yetholm show

The show committee will meet on October 22 at 7.30pm in the Wauchope Hall.

Bonfire night

Planning is well in hand for the November 5 bonfire (from 6pm) on the Playing Field. The public should not leave furniture, electrical goods, plastics or paint cans. If in doubt, ask a community councillor.

Surgery

Councillor Simon Mountford will hold a drop-in surgery in the Youth Hall from 10-11am on October 24.

When Angus Deaton’s phone rang shortly after 6am on Saturday with a “very Swedish voice” on the line, the economist thought it was a prank.

Eventually the mystery voice convinced him of its authenticity and that the professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University in New Jersey had indeed won the Nobel Prize for Economics for 2015.

“They spent a lot of time reassuring me that it wasn’t a prank call, so I then began to worry it actually was a prank, as that’s the sort of thing they’d say,” joked Professor Deaton at the weekend’s press conference at Princeton.

And nowhere was the news that it was not a hoax call met with more delight than here in the Borders, as Professor Deaton grew up in the small village of Bowden, near Melrose, where his late parents, Leslie and Lily, lived for more than half-a-century.

Speaking this week to The Southern from his home in the United States, Professor Deaton says he is proud to have grown up in Bowden and it, and the Borders, remain places very special to him.

And despite the whirlwind of global media attention, Professor Deaton said the idea of something about the award appearing in his old local newspaper, The Southern, was “terrific”.

“I do think of myself as having grown up in Bowden. I lived there before I went to Cambridge [university] - my parents lived there for 60 years and my sister, Mairi, still lives in the village.

“I think Bowden really was the place I grew up, in the countryside around there and it is a very important place to me,” he said.

Born in Edinburgh in 1945, Professor Deaton has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his “analysis of consumption, poverty and welfare”, according to awarding organisation, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

To give him his full title, Professor Deaton, who celebrates his 70th birthday on Monday, is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Economics Department at Princeton University, where his main areas of research have been in health, wellbeing and economic development.

His current research focuses on the determinants of health in rich and poor countries,

He holds both British and US citizenship and has also taught at Cambridge University and the University of Bristol.

He is a corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Econometric Society and, in 1978, was the first recipient of the Society’s Frisch Medal.

Professor Deaton was President of the American Economic Association in 2009 and was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in April this year.

The Nobel Committee said: “To design economic policy that promotes welfare and reduces poverty, we must first understand individual consumption choices. More than anyone else, Angus Deaton has enhanced this understanding.”

The award, which includes prize money of 8m Swedish kronor (£637,000), was not created by Alfred Nobel in 1895, but was added by Sweden’s central bank in 1968 as a memorial to the industrialist.

The Nobel Prizes will be given to winners on December 10 at ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo.

Professor Deaton told The Southern he was delighted to become a Nobel Prize laureate: “It continues a distinguished tradition of economics in Scotland and one of the joys, for me, is to have this Scottish connection.”

A large chunk of the southern Borders should be given National Park status to help protect and boost the region’s fortunes.

The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) and the Scottish Campaign for National Parks have been campaigning for more National Parks in Scotland and believe the Cheviot Hills is one possible area that would be suitable for NP status.

The APRS is now canvassing local community councils within the tentative boundaries suggested for a new National Park for their views.

In the letter to councils, Professor Jane Bower, vice-chair of the APRS and a Newcastleton area resident, says the Borders is already well supplied with the amenities, activities and facilities expected in a National Park.

“Public and private investment has already supplied the infrastructure. There is no need for massive expenditure. What is needed is the designation which it clearly deserves – National Park – which would highlight the merits of the area,” she states.

“The designation of the area would capture the attention of potential visitors and focus their interest on its assets and the facilities which make it attractive.”

The National Park designation, she says, would bring more visitors, in turning generating a substantial economic spin-off for the area.

Farms and forestry operations within the National Park, she says, would also benefit from increased grant aid and outlets for produce.

Professor Bower adds that, contrary to popular expectations, surveys of UK National Parks found that a higher proportion of planning applications within parks were approved than outside them. And she said most residents did not find restrictions excessive and, in general, planners were keen to encourage businesses and residents to stay and prosper within the park.

Quality of life for those living within the boundaries of a National Park were also rated as high.

“The quality of life in Scottish Borders is enviable, and worth keeping that way,” she added.

Rob Armstrong, a community councillor in the Denholm area, is one of those backing the APRS campaign: “It’s early days yet, but the aim is to raise awareness of the campaign and see what people think of having a National Park in the Borders.

“The Borders is such a beautiful place and being a National Park would help safeguard that, as well as create a major asset for the region. The Borders is still so unspoilt in so very many ways, but it is also changing in many ways and at a rapid pace.

“The Borders is starting to open up – the new railway will help that – but a lot could be lost unless it is protected now.”

z Anyone wishing to give their views on the proposal can submit them to robarm@btinternet.com