The first of a series of autumn musical events at Ashkirk Village Hall gets under way on Friday, September 9, with the Borders-based band Real Time.

Formed in 2002, the band’s line up has evolved over the years, and Kenny Speirs and Tom Roseburgh have now been joined by the much-lauded Scottish singer Eilidh Grant.

Eilidh’s solo album Masks and Smiles won the 2011 New Music Scotland Award, and she is now regarded as one of the best singers of her generation.

Real Time’s latest CD, Shining Star, has received rave reviews in the music press too.

Also joining the line-up is Kelso fiddler Carly Blain, who has quickly built a great reputation in the UK folk and ceilidh scene.

She has travelled widely throughout Europe and further afield, including gigs in Borneo and Saudi Arabia.

She has completed tours of Germany, Holland and Denmark with Real Time in 2016.

Finally, an occasional performer with the band is guitarist John Rafferty from Moffat.

With a background in rock bands, he brings an extra edge to Real Time’s live sound.

Doors open at 7pm, and the performance starts 7.30pm. Tickets are £9 on the door or booked in advance by calling 01750 32396.

Selkirk group Frightened Rabbit will be banging to the beat of a different drum on their upcoming tour as drummer Grant Hutchison has taken a break from the band.

His brother Scott, the band’s frontman, appeared on his own at the Stowed Out Festival in Stow on Friday night and confirmed his brother won’t be travelling with them.

Scott said: “He’s taking a little bit of time out from the band. It’s been a hectic year, and it gets to you.

“It’s not a normal way of living – it becomes a bit of a bubble – and you always need to have a life outside of the band, or it can kind of consume you.”

On the band’s Facebook page, Grant said: “This band and the people involved with them are extremely important to me, and to avoid jeopardising those relationships and the future of the band, I’ve decided it would be best for me to take a break from it all.

“This is not the end of my time with Frightened Rabbit, and although the decision was difficult, I feel it is the right one for me to make at this time and will ultimately be good for us all.

“So as not to let anyone down, the band will be continuing without me for now.

“There is some rebuilding to do that will require time, but I’m confident this is just a minor wobble, and we’ll be strong and steady again soon.

“Thanks to the fans for your ongoing support – it means so much to me and to us all.”

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Plans for a wind farm comprising 13 turbines on Highlee Hill, near Chesters, have sparked no fewer than 117 letters of objection – plus two comments in support.

The proposal, submitted by Renewable Energy Systems, includes proposals to put up 11 turbines measuring 176m high to their tips, making them taller than any others in the Borders, and two standing at 150m high.

Associated works and infrastructure including compounds, buildings and tree-felling would also be needed.

The objection letters come from various community councils and individuals living close to the site.

Denholm and District Community Council gives several reasons for its “unanimous and resolute opposition”, namely visual impact and the potential effects on tourism, the local economy, roads and wildlife.

It also raises questions over the decommissioning of the wind farm in 30 years’ time.

Another objection advanced is the effect of aircraft warning lights on the turbines on the neighbouring dark sky tourist attraction in Northumberland’s Kielder Forest.

However, the company insists the proposal would be beneficial to the community.

“A wind farm at Highlee Hill could provide significant benefits to the local economy,” said Ruth Elder, a development manager with RES.

“We estimate it will bring £3.6m of inward investment to the area in the form of jobs, employment and the use of local services, alongside around £575,000 annually in business rates.

“The project has the potential to provide sufficient renewable energy to meet the average demand of more than 30,000 homes, and we’ve already undertaken a range of engagement activities to design a project which, we believe, reflects the best balance of economic, social and environmental considerations.”

The statutory expiry date of the proposal is Monday, October 31, and no date has yet been set for it to go before planners.

A chef who sat the driving test theory exam, pretending to be someone else, has avoided a custodial sentence at Selkirk Sheriff Court (pictured).

Chun Chung, 35, claimed he was persuaded by a migrant worker friend who had a poor grasp of English to take the exam in his place.

But the ruse was quickly uncovered and Chung, of Hogganfield, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to obtain a pass in a car theory test by fraud on January 28. He admitted inducing two staff members at the Driving Standards Agency offices in Galashiels to allow him to take the exam under the name of Qiao Hua Jiang, also 35.

Defence lawyer Colm Dempsey said: “He was a friend of a migrant worker who had come here with his family and needed a driving licence, but had failed the theory test due to his lack of English.

“At first the accused refused the request, but he eventually succumbed and agreed to do it.”

The lawyer went on: “However, it was an unsophisticated fraud which was easily detected and thwarted.

“He was just doing it to assist, rather than get financial gain. He would not have sat the actual practical test itself.”

Mr Dempsey said his client acknowledged the gravity of the offence, but said a community payback order could be imposed instead of a jail sentence.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said Chung’s actions were a “danger to the general public and could have had fatal consequences.”

He ordered Chung to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody and made a 20-month supervision order.

DEATH-CRASH ALLEGATION

A teenager has been accused of causing the death of his 20-year-old sister by dangerous driving following a head-on crash on the A1 in Berwickshire.

Fayyadh Alkhaeriji appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court where he was also charged with causing serious injury to another female passenger by dangerous driving and having no insurance.

It is understood the 19-year-old, from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, was on holiday in Scotland at the time of the accident, near Granthouse, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 21.

A Mercedes Vito van was travelling south when it was in collision with a red Scania lorry heading in the opposite direction. The 20-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the van, was pronounced dead at the scene and the road was closed for 12 hours for accident investigations.

Alkhaeriji made no plea or declaration during a brief court appearance and his case was continued for further examination. He was released on bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson to a hotel in Edinburgh on the condition he surrendered his passport.

THREAT TO KILL PARTNER

A 22-year-old man returned from an all-day drinking session and threatened to kill his partner while brandishing knives and an axe.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard how Zeth Gardner returned to the house in Galashiels at about 9.30pm and drank all the remaining alcohol in the kitchen. He then began behaving irrationally on the night of May 8 and picked up a knife and said he was going to kill himself.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “He had two kitchen knives in one hand and then reappeared with an axe.”

He added that Garner threatened to kill his partner before going on to damage property in garages in Waitknowe Terrace and Tweed Crescent.

Sentence was deferred for four weeks for a Caledonian Men’s Programme assessment to be carried out.

SEPTEMBER TRIAL DATE

Andrew Johnstone will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on September 29 on a charge of repeatedly uttering threats of violence and using abusive language towards his partner at a house in Bleachfield Road, Selkirk, on July 9/10.

The 45-year-old, who lives at Niddrie Marischal Crescent, Edinburgh, denies the offence.

BMW ENDED

UP IN A DITCH

A motorist gave a person a lift home, despite being almost four times the legal alcohol limit, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Alasdair Forsyth, 26 – who runs a car-cleaning business in Jedburgh – was drinking in the town when he made the offer for a trip to St Boswells. But he lost control of the BMW and crashed on the B6040 road on the evening of July 8.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “As a result of this the passenger was unable to get out of the vehicle. The car ended up in a ditch and it later transpired he was almost four times the legal limit.”

Forsyth, of Parkside, Gorebridge, pleaded guilty to driving with a breath/alcohol count of 81 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22.

Defending, Greg McDonnel said: “As a result of the inevitable disqualification he is going to have to relocate and is trying to find accommodation in the Borders.

“He is deeply apologetic for the offence. He did not realise how much he had to drink before he tried to drive to St Boswells.

“This will have a significant impact on him as he only started the business in July of this year.”

Forsyth was banned for 12 months and fined £300.

SET TO CLAIM SELF-DEFENCE

Gillian White, 31, has been accused of assaulting her partner by repeatedly punching him on the head and then striking him on the head with a jar, to his injury, at a house in Eildon Terrace, Newtown St Boswells, on July 2.

She has pleaded not guilty and lodged a special defence of self-defence for the trial which will take place at Selkirk Sheriff Court on September 29.

Stole from his parents

A Yarrow Valley man forced open a lockfast gun cabinet belonging to his parents and stole £2,800.

David Stephenson, 34, of Birkhill Farm, then falsely claimed to police that someone had broken into the house and stole the money.

He pleaded guilty to both offences which date back to November 2014.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told he was recompensing his parents.

Sentence was deferred until September 26 for a restriction-of-liberty assessment to be prepared.

£600 BILL FOR STREET ATTACK

An Innerleithen man who carried out an assault in the town’s High Street has been ordered to pay a total of £600.

Farm contractor Neil Cruikshank, 34, of Nether Horsbrugh Farm Cottages, pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching his 54-year-old victim to the head and causing him to fall to the ground.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard the incident happened on December 20. The victim had four stitches inserted to a wound above his eye which left a scar, but which has now disappeared.

Defence lawyer Fiona Hamilton said he got involved in a dispute involving one of the other group having a new partner, adding: “He picked a fight which was not his to pick.”

First offender Cruikshank was fined £400 and ordered to pay his victim £200.

PHONE CALL CHARGE

Philip McMillan, 19, will stand trial on September 29 on a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at his home in Back Row, Selkirk, on May 7 by making a threatening phone call to his former partner.

A continued intermediate hearing will take place on September 12.

OVERNIGHT STAY LED TO BUST-UP

An Earlston man was involved in a furious bust-up with his partner after accusing her of cheating on him, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Darren Crawford, 32, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and shouting and swearing in Gun Road, Earlston, on July 19.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said: “This has a domestic background.

“His partner had gone to Kelso to visit a friend. She decided to stay the night with her sister. She phoned him on the Monday to say that she was in Kelso and he appears to have been fairly angry about it.

“On the Tuesday at about 3.45pm, neighbours were in the garden when they heard the accused and his partner arguing in the street. He was accusing her of having sex with someone else.

“The partner was crying and he was heard to shout at her to get her clothes out of the house. She was very distressed by the time the police arrived.”

Crawford’s solicitor, Ross Dow, said: “He accepts it should not have happened.”

Crawford, of Summerfield Terrace, was ordered to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work over the next nine months.

NOT-GUILTY PLEA TENDERED

Alexander Nairn denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and struggling with a woman while she was holding a four-week-old child at a house in Tweed Road, Galashiels, on May 9. The 33-year-old, of Cheviot Road, Yetholm, will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on September 29.

MOTORING ALLEGATIONS

A Greenlaw man has pleaded not guilty to a series of motoring offences.

James Richardson, 24, of East High Street, denies careless driving on November 20 and then failing to give information to the police about the identity of the driver.

He is also accused of driving a car dangerously on the A68 in Earlston on December 31 and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, as well as another charge of failing to confirm the identity of the driver to police.

A trial date has been set for September 27 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

GALASHIELS MAN FACES TRIAL

A Galashiels man has denied driving while under the influence of alcohol and while disqualified.

Aramis Czyz, 34, of Beech Avenue, is alleged to have driven with a breath/alcohol count of 78 microgrammes in various roads in Langlee on May 28 – the legal limit being 22. He also faces a charge of wilfully and recklessly destroying property at a house in Beech Avenue on July 14.

A trial has been fixed for Selkirk Sheriff Court on September 29.

RACIAL REMARKS ALLEGATION

A man and woman from Innerleithen have been accused of repeatedly shouting and swearing, and uttering racially-offensive remarks.

Nikki Stark, 43, and Pamela Melrose, 38, deny the offence which is said to have happened at their home in Miller Street on August 8.

A trial date has been set for Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 10, with an intermediate hearing on October 10.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE

A Hawick pensioner drove while disqualified and with no insurance.

Keith Salmon, 68, of Sunnyhill Road, admitted the offences which happened in Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, last month. Sentence was deferred until October 24 for a personal appearance.

ASSAULT

TRIAL

A Hawick woman will stand trial on an assault charge. Antonia Robertson, 21, of Hillend Drive, denies seizing Clare Treanor by the hair and repeatedly punching her on the body, to her injury.

The offence is alleged to have been committed in Overhaugh Street, Galashiels, on March 5. A trial date has been set for September 27 at Selkirk Sheriff Court, with a continued intermediate hearing to be held on September 12.

KNUCKLEDUSTER ALLEGATION

A 28-year-old man has denied three offences at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Daniel Pierrepont, of Grantham, Norfolk, pleaded not guilty to being in possession of heroin, cannabis and a knuckleduster at a house in Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, on July 30. His co-accused – Nacisha Todd, 20 – denies being in possession of cannabis at her Glendinning Terrace home.

A trial date was set for Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 8, with an intermediate hearing on October 10.

MEDICATION MISSION

A Lauder man has been banned from the road for 16 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court after admitting driving a car dangerously.

John Anderson, 37, of Calfward Place, pleaded guilty to swerving about the roadway and driving at excessive speed on the A68 at Earlston on July 30. He also admitted struggling violently with police officers.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said Anderson had bought the car for £100, but police were made aware it was being driven erratically. He explained: “The police were on the lookout for it at about 10.50pm and spotted it coming into Earlston with the lights off.”

Mr Fraser said Anderson slammed on the brakes when he went past the officers. He told them he was in a hurry to get home to get his medication.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick admitted his client “appears to be experiencing one of his troughs when he is up and down”.

As well as the disqualification, Anderson was fined a total of £400. Forfeiture of the car was ordered.

POLICEMAN’S CASE DESERTED

A police officer has had a breach of the peace charge against him deserted at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Robin Litster, 42, had been accused of engaging himself in a course of conduct by repeatedly photographing and filming a man while he was undertaking grass cutting and general maintenance work at a neighbouring property in Buccleuch Chase, St Boswells, between August 2015 and May this year.

TRIAL FOLLOWS CYCLIST’S DEATH

A motorist will stand trial later this month accused of causing the death of a Peebles cyclist by careless driving following a road accident.

Carl Lane, 75, sustained serious spinal injuries in the collision with a Volvo XC90 on the A72 at Eshiels, near Peebles, on October 27, 2014. He died at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow six months later.

William Stewart, 54, of Mathieson Street, Innerleithen, pleaded not guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court. A trial date has been set for September 13.

Mr Lane was a retired RAF flight lieutenant and president of Peebles Cycling Club.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A Galashiels woman was involved in two disturbances at the same premises on the same day.

Barbara Greenhill, 51, of Wood Street, pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner at Addaction, High Street, Galashiels, on two occasions on May 6. She also admitted shouting and swearing and struggling with police officers in Market Street, Galashiels, on June 12.

Sentence was deferred for three months for good behaviour.

DENIES ASSAULT ON EX-PARTNER

A Hawick man will stand trial on a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Gaitshaw Lane in Selkirk on July 10.

Robert Kennedy, 24, of Trinity House, Weensland Road, also denies assaulting his former partner by pushing her on the body and causing her to fall to the ground.

A trial date has been fixed at Selkirk Sheriff Court for September 29.

SHOE-THROWING ALLEGATION

A Galashiels man has been accused of throwing shoes at his ex-partner, which struck her on the head, and spitting at her.

Daniel Stewart, 26, of Halliburton Place, denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in the town’s Gala Park on June 22.

A trial date has been fixed at Selkirk Sheriff Court on October 27, with an intermediate hearing on September 26.

SELKIRK MAN SET FOR TRIAL

Stuart Wilson, 57, of Market Place, Selkirk, has been accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the homeless department offices of Scottish Borders Council in Paton Street, Galashiels.

It is alleged he was repeatedly shouting, uttering offensive remarks, uttering threats to harm himself and uttering threats of violence to others.

A trial date has been set for September 15 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

ACCUSED OF BID TO SET DOG ON EX

A Newtown St Boswells man has been accused of attempting to set his dog on his former partner.

Scott Garment, 30, of Whitefield Crescent, denies the offence, as well as shouting and swearing and using abusive and threatening language in Park Crescent, Newtown St Boswells, on July 2.

A trial has been fixed for Selkirk Sheriff Court on September 29.

NEW JURY TRIAL DATE

A Hawick man’s jury trial on a charge of severely injuring a man to his permanent disfigurement in a bar has been moved to next month.

Garry Douglas, 34, of Paterson Gardens, is accused of assaulting George O’Rourke in the Exchange Bar in Hawick on September 12. He has pleaded not guilty and lodged a special defence of self-defence.

The trial was supposed to take place this week before a jury at Selkirk Sheriff Court. However, due to another case, there was not enough time for the trial to be heard.

A new date has been set for Jedburgh Sheriff Court on September 26, with an intermediate hearing on September 5.

BACKGROUND REPORTS

Background reports have been ordered into a Hawick man who appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the weekend.

Joseph Adams, 43, shouted and swore, brandished knives, challenged others to fight and kicked doors at a property in Ramsay Road, Hawick, on Saturday.

His lawyer, Ross Dow, said his client had foolishly accepted a tablet after drinking heavily, which led to his “bizarre” behaviour.

Sentence was deferred until October 3 for a restriction-of-liberty assessment to be carried out, along with other reports, and the case will recall at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Police are searching for the owner of an orange roan heffer cow that was found loose on the Langshaw road in the Galashiels area this morning.

The animal weighs approximately 500 kilos and has small metal button tag in left ear and yellow tag in right ear.

Anyone who may know the owner should contact Police on 101, quoting incident number 0837 of 01 September.

Tesco stores across the Borders have so far donated 533 meals to people in need, thanks to the supermarket chain’s surplus food redistribution programme, Community Food Connection, in partnership with FareShare FoodCloud.

That contribution, from its stores in Galashiels and Peebles, has helped the programme reach its first milestone of a million meals nationwide.

Rifka Chakkalakal, Tesco’s community food programmes manager, said: “We are delighted to see the Borders contribute 533 meals of surplus food to people in need. We believe that no food that could be eaten should go to waste, so we’re excited to continue to grow this initiative.”

Any charities or community groups interested in taking part should visit www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud

Four events are being held in the Borders as part of this year’s Suicide Prevention Week, starting on Monday, September 5.

Almost 700 Scots killed themselves last year, and the death toll claimed by suicide in the Borders increased by 50%, up from 12 in 2014 to 18.

NHS Borders, Scottish Borders Council and voluntary and statutory sector organisations are hoping to help reduce that fatality rate by backing Choose Life’s annual Read between the Lines campaign urging people to be on the lookout for warning signs.

Allyson McCollam, associate joint director of public health for NHS Borders and the council, said: “Suicide has an immense impact on society, on communities and on individuals, and we can all play a large part in preventing suicides.

“This week is a chance to remind people across the Borders of the support and help that is available to help them gain valuable skills in identifying the signs of suicidal intent in the people around them – friends, colleagues, family members or neighbours – and to encourage them to make contact and get them to talk about how they feel.”

Tweeddale West councillor Catriona Bhatia,the council’s executive member for health service, added: “Suicide Prevention Week is an opportunity for us all to come together to raise awareness and share knowledge about suicide prevention.”

Three events are being held in Galashiels as part of the week – a mental health strategy feedback session at the MacArts Centre, in Bridge Street, from 10am to 2pm on Monday; a five-mile walk beginning at the Scottish Association for Mental Health’s Fresh Start centre in Island Street next Wednesday at 6pm; and an advice session, lunch and outside DJ set at Heriot- Watt University’s Tweed Road halls of residence from 11.30am to 2pm on Thursday.

A suicide alertness training session will also be held at Eyemouth Community Centre, in Albert Road, on Tuesday.

For further details, call 01835 825970 or visit www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk or www.chooselife.net

Four vans were destroyed in an arson attack on a Borders business last Friday morning.

Cook’s Van Hire’s premises at Langbrae in Newtown St Boswells were targeted around 12.10am.

Detective constable Andrew Hope, of Galashiels police station, said: “The fire was started deliberately, and two vans were set alight, before the fire spread to a further two.

“This was a completely reckless thing to do as it’s destroyed the vehicles and damaged others nearby.

“If anyone remember seeing anything suspicious in the area around that time, please contact the police.”

Any potential witnesses are asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Selkirk Ex-Standard Bearers’ Association is holding its annual September rideout in aid of good causes this Sunday.

Starting at Station Road in Selkirk, at 8am, the route will continue to the Ettrick Road and onto Howden.

From there, the procession, open to all riders, will take in the Bowhill Estate and head onto the Duchess’s Drive, the Swire by the Kirkhope and Kershope junction, and then by Eldinhope, reaching the Gordon Arms Hotel by around 11.45pm.

After a brief stop, the cavalcade will kick on at 1pm, following the Yarrow water to Yarrow Kirk, then over by Fastheugh and Black Andrew.

The parade will then proceed via the General’s Bridge and along Carterhaugh to Oakwood Mill, where the Ettrick will be crossed, before heading for home by Hartwood Burn and Peel Gate.

The horses and riders will enter the town down the Kirk Wynd at approximately 4pm and head into Market Place.

Spectators along the route are being asked to respect the landowners’ granting of access to their land, to follow the instructions of the foot marshals at all times and take home all rubbish.

Refreshments and entertainment will take place afterwards in Selkirk Conservative Club.

Entry forms are available on the event’s Facebook page or from David Anderson at Tweedside Financial Services in Selkirk High Street.

Late entries after Friday lunchtime should be made by phone to Gordon Hislop on 07811 978410.

Entries for the rideout close at 8pm tomorrow.

Last year’s rideout raised more than £2,500.

A 21st century parish minister in Scotland is arguably a modern take on a man for all seasons, and as he prepares for his last sermon at the foot of the Cheviots, Reverend Robin McHaffie can look back on a career filled by ambition, faith and much colour.

Rev McHaffie came to the Borders from Glasgow with his wife Hazel and nurtured a young family from the Manse in Yetholm. His daughters have moved on, his wife sadly passed away, and on Sunday he will say goodbye to the Cheviot Churches congregation at the heart of the rural communities of Yetholm, Morebattle, Linton and Hownam, in a special service at 11am and afternoon fete open to all at Mainhouse, hosted by Joe and Christine Scott Plummer.

Now 68, he admits that when he left school with few qualifications, a young Glaswegian in a smart suit, this was not the path he envisaged his life taking.

“Not at all,” he says, with a laugh, sitting in the Yetholm Manse, amid boxes overflowing with memories, sitting in line, waiting for the removal van.

“But I look back now on a fascinating journey, for me and my family, from inner city Glasgow, what I thought would be my future in marketing, and then a mature student life and work across different churches, to a whole new adventure in this wonderful part of the country.

“There is definitely sadness now at it coming to an end, and I am sure it won’t be easy in my last Sunday service, but I have also come to terms with moving on, begun to enjoy reflecting on what we have done here, and I am looking forward to the next stage in my life.”

Born in Glasgow in 1948, his father a civil servant in the tax and excise department, Rev McHaffie did not hang around in school longer than was necessary.

“It bored me stiff,” he recalled. “I wanted to get out there and into proper work.”

He explained how he went into clerical management and marketign with Philips, as well as having a stint in the carpet trade, before his wife Hazel encouraged him to join her in working with a Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Dalmarnock, and their work in the East End brought them into contact with volunteers across different denominations.

“I started attending church then in Dalmarnock, joine,d and as our work continued I felt what you would say was a calling to the Ministry.

“It was a complete change of life for me, and for Hazel, and I came to reflect on this a few years ago, and how I never questioned it.”

He first needed qualifications, which meant returning to studies and entering Glasgow University at 25, studying Divinity for five years.

He started learning the ecclesiastical ropes at St Thomas’ Gallowgate, close to Celtic Park.

He and Hazel opened youth centres, ran children’s clubs, set up a community interest company to help the vulnerable and deprived and proved persuasive in attracting help from various trades to educate and upskill local people.

In 1981, he was ordained in his first proper church, Kinning Park, and spent 10 years there. It was no Sunday school picnic as communities were torn apart by a wealth of new development in the inner city and Rev McHaffie would become a leading figure in restoring communities across the Protestant and Catholic faiths with hundreds of social projects.

His biggest achievement, however, was the rebuilding of the Kinning Park Church.

Once that was completed, Rev McHaffie started to look beyond the city boundaries to new horizons and was intrigued by a note that had been

sent around ministers advertising a post in the Scottish Borders that sat on his desk for some time.

“I had become very busy with my work in Glasgow, and was quite forcefully ecumenical, which didn’t please everybody, as I tried to bring people together. It’s very varied but I was growing tired of being a minister in the city, with the pace of life, all the traffic, the work in night shelters, the funerals each morning of unknown homeless people who had sadly passed away the night before, often two at a time.

“The girls were aged three (Claire), six (Emma) and 10 (Sara) by then, and, while again we didn’t negotiate with them about a move, we thought maybe it’s time for a change, and we came to Yetholm.”

They moved into the big eerie manse, with its one working lightbulb on arrival, and listened to the quiet. No car horns, police sirens, screaming or laughter from the closes or fighting. The children wondered if they had arrived on a different planet. Hazel bought a book, ‘How to be a Good Villager’, set about learning recipes for jam, and spoke to her family about the importance of opening their minds to learn new ways. They loved the countryside, the freedom around Yetholm, and soon understoood that in rural areas of a few hundred the minister’s family are much more in the public eye than in a busy city of a million, with the manse door always open.

Robin grew to love his new, different congregations.

“I took to it like a duck to water,” he recalled. “The congregation probably took longer to take to me. I have never been a great traditionalist so I was happy to change how we worked in Glasgow and learn about country ways.

“I have always been a bit of the daft laddie, asking questions and wondering why we do things this way or that, and so I think people wondered where I’d come from at first. They probably still do. The move was great for us as a family, but I always think if you scratch a

Glaswegian you’ll find we’re only a generation or two away from Argyll or the Highlands.”

The Borders had its own challenges, he discovered, not least in addressing falling numbers, and Rev McHaffie has continued to try different ideas to bring people together in congregations, and, with nearly 25 years of children’s and holiday clubs, encourage young

people to find a home in the church.

A minister who strived to form a bridge from the church to local communities, he led trips to as varied places as Moffat, Lanark, Possilpark, Coldingham, Traquair and Holy Island; and relished around

25 years of school and hospital chaplaincy work, in seeking to develop the pilgrimage and hospitality blocks of a modern church.

He has faced personal challenges with cancer and a heart attack in the past decade, as well as the sudden loss of Hazel to cancer in 2013 as the couple worked on a French holiday retreat as a retirement dream.

He has savoured much personal joy too, unforgettably learning to ride and accompanying daughter Emma in the Yetholm Civic Week role of Bari Manushi, as the girls blossomed into strong women and moved on to good careers.

“I have so many great memories of my time here, so many christenings and weddings of course, special services in the church, and all the things we have done outside the church, too, that there is not the space here to include them all.

“Some new ideas worked and some didn’t, but that is what life is about. The church has changed so much in my time, attitudes are changing with apathy and antipathy and an increase in an aggressive atheism. For instance, people thought nothing of me coming around the doors to see how they were 20 or so years ago, but now you are viewed by many as someone trying to sell something.
“But we have stayed alive against the odds, what we’ve done in refurbishing the church at Yetholm I’d like to think can help the church remain an important place in the community with scope now for lots of activities, as well as broadcasting and taking what we do online.

“For me, there is a sense of ‘job completed’ here. There is a lot of life around these great villages and lots of wonderful people for another minister to come in and work with. I still have a couple of weddings to do and I’ll never be far away if I’m needed to step in, but I’m looking forward to spreading my wings again. I promised Hazel I’d finish our house in Brittany, I’d like to travel to parts of Scotland I’ve not visited and I plan to learn more about the early church in Rome.

“I have also developed a real desire to work in palliative care so I will be returning to studies there. It’s time to reboot as the kids say and look forward to the next chapter.”

There are few who could sum up the phrase ‘A man for all seasons’ quite like this Glaswegian who became a country minister.

A garden fete to mark the retirement of Rev Robin McHaffie will be held at Mainhouse, near Linton, with worship at 11am, followed by barbecue, teas and cakes, kids activities, tug-of-war, raffles and presentation.

Elderly residents staying in flats in Melrose’s Dingleton Hill area are in danger of being left stranded while the road connecting them to the town centre is closed.

Dingleton Road has been closed between the hours of 8am and 5pm since July for gas mains repair works, and it is due to stay that way for several more weeks.

Resident Jacky Hibbs called us to register her fears for her neighbours, many of whom are elderly and rely on the No 72
bus service to get them into town to do their shopping.

She said: “There was a big worry that the bus company would not come up this road after it was reopened as we had managed without it for so long, but for the elderly people who stay in the old hospital flats, it’s a necessity.

“The hill is so steep, and for those who are infirm and don’t have a car, the bus is a lifeline.”

Mrs Hibbs called for a separate service to run in the meantime even though it would have to go the long way round.

She said: “It would not need to run all the time, but a small bus doing two runs a day up and down would be sufficient. People could work their lives around that.”

A First Bus spokesman urged residents to support the service by using it to ensure it stays viable in the long term.

He said: “First Scotland East operates service No 72, which serves customers at Dingleton Hill, and this has been subject to recent disruption due to ongoing gas mains work.

“This service is operated on behalf of Scottish Borders Council and is due to come under review by the council in the coming weeks.

“We would encourage residents to support this and other services provided in the area, to ensure their long term viability.

“The service is running, but not between the hours of 8am and 5pm. We are committed to providing the service as best we can.”

A council spokesman said: “During the work being carried out by Scottish Gas Networks, Scottish Borders Council service 964 continues to operate up to four times a day on Mondays to Fridays, giving Dingleton residents the chance to travel to and from Melrose and Galashiels to do their shopping.

“Data supplied by First as part of the bus service review is for May – before the roadworks commenced.

“Service 72 will resume its full route between Selkirk Bannerfield and Melrose Buccleuch Street via Dingleton when the roadworks are complete.”

Borders MP Calum Kerr has added his voice to calls for a vacant site in the centre of Galashiels to become a permanent home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

The SNP member for Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk believes that urban location is preferable to Scottish Borders Council’s long-favoured £6m option at Tweedbank.

“It’s clear the presence of such a remarkable attraction in the heart of Galashiels would be transformative for a town centre which is still struggling to recover from long-term economic challenges in the retail sector,” he said.

“Although the site at Tweedbank may appear to be the more straightforward, I don’t think if offers comparable economic benefits.

“On the other hand, a site in the heart of Galashiels could kick off a new phase of town centre regeneration.”

Mr Kerr has expressed those views in a letter to Scottish culture minister Fiona Hyslop. Her department has pledged to fund a home for the giant artwork to the tune of £2.5m, but it has baulked at endorsing the Tweedbank site.

 Full story – Page 3

to which the council has already agreed to commit £3.5m of the expected £6m bill.

In June, the council announced the emergence of Galashiels as a potential alternative site and at the end of this month –Thursday, September 29 – it will decide which option, if either, to pursue.

In his letter to Ms Hyslop, Mr Kerr asks her to consider allocating more funds if necessary in order to secure the tapestry for Galashiels.

“It seems clear which option has the more compelling economic and social benefits, and I’m committed to doing everything I can to secure this outcome,” he said.

“If additional funding is required, all parties involved need to work to secure it.”

Energise Galashiels, a voluntary trust set up to promote urban regeneration, has painted a pessimistic picture of the town’s retail future if the central site – understood to involve the former post office property at the top of Channel Street – is not selected.

“While there is optimism that Galashiels may be attractive to some national retailers based on current footfall activity, the trends in retailing suggest that without a major intervention or an attraction to encourage more visitors, there is little chance of our old town centre being productively occupied,” said a spokesman for the trust.

“In the absence of a major intervention, it is doubtful that retail trading will ever resolve the current level of vacancies.

“Energise Galashiels believes that securing the Great Tapestry of Scotland in a town centre location will act as a catalyst for other projects and initiatives which offer the opportunity of transforming Galashiels and regenerating an area that is key to the overall prosperity of the town.

“A Galashiels location would be a major boost not only for the town but also, we believe, offer greater benefits to the Scottish Borders.”

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame, a fellow SNP politician, has already given her backing to proposals to find a home for the tapestry in central Galashiels.

Over the last three weeks, Borderers have been voting in a secret ballot held in Selkirk to gauge public opinion on whether or not the town should have a bypass.

The ballot papers asking if Selkirk needs a bypass were counted this morning at the Southern Reporter and Wee Paper offices ... and the results are in.

And, as in the straw poll conducted last month by members of the Selkirk Regeneration Company in the town’s pop-up shop on Tower Street, it has resulted in an overwhelming vote for yes.

A total of 451 votes were cast, of which 373 (82.7%) said yes, 66 (14.6%) said no, while 12 (2.6%) papers were void.

The papers were counted by Mr Edgar and reporter Kevin Janiak, and verified by the papers’ Derek Forrest and member of the public Nik Wirsten.

Mr Edgar said: “I’m really pleased with the result, and the fact that the folk have come out in their numbers to make their feelings known is exactly what we wanted.

“The A7 Action Group willnow put these results to the minister fro transport Humza Yousaf and hopefully it will influence his decision as to whether we go forward with a bypass or not.

“I would like to thank the 451 people who came out, because it is down to them that we may be able to bring the bypass to fruition.”

Mr Edgar said the ballot complements the straw poll held in Selkirk last month.

He said: “While the straw poll was evidence that there was support for the bypass, this was a secret ballot and gives a better reflection of how people want to take the bypass forward.

A look back through the Hawick News archives for the events of the first week in September.

10 YEARS AGO

Denholm is to get a new school costing £4.3million. The state-of-the-art building with five classrooms and capacity for 125 pupils, will replace the village primary which was destroyed by fire in April. The decision to go for a new build rather than a rebuild was welcomed by the Scottish Borders Council education executive who believed the new school would be up and running by 2008.

20 YEARS AGO

The Scottish Federation of Meat Traders have decided that the country’s best beef sausages are made by father and son Tom and Drew Lauder of Denholm Meat Suppliers, Main Street. Using an old family recipe, they beat off the challenge of 86 other competitors to lift the title by 15 clear points from the nearest rivals at the Federations annual show at Perth.c

High School rector, Neil Horne, has praised the “great presence of mind and common sense” of six Hawick pupils who were found safe and well after going missing over night during a Duke of Edinburgh bronze award expedition in the hills near Newcastleton at the weekend. The group, aged 14 and 15, had set off from Tarras Lodge, trekking cross country to Twizlehope Farm, but were reported missing at 5pm Sunday after failing to meet a member of the school staff. The teenagers were caught by mist and driving rain, and although on the correct course, decided to pitch their tent and settle for the night. Over 50 people were included in the search operation which ended at 8am Monday, including police, the Borders Search and Rescue Unit, the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue team and a helicopter despatched from RAF Leuchars.

The cenotaph in Wilton Lodge Park has been placed fifth overall, from 78 entries in the British Legion’s annual Best Kept War Memorial in Scotland.

25 YEARS AGO

Hawick born paratrooper, Sergeant “Chay”Blyth and fellow paratrooper, captain John Ridgeway, were given a heros welcome, when they landed on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Ireland, fit and happy despite rowing across the Atlantic in an open boat for 92 days. Twenty-six-year-old Sgt. Blyth who lived in Crumhaugh Road before joining the armed services, and 27-year-old Cpt. Ridgeway, were reunited with their wives when they arrived on the mainland at Galway and received a civic welcome from the Mayor. The pair will again be congratulated when they meet Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

30 YEARS AGO

The Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, was in Hawick yesterday as part of a 3-day visit to Scotland. Accompanied by her husband Dennis, she spent about two hours in the town, including a visit to the Conservative Club in Bourtree Place, chatting with numerous memebers including scrum half Greg Oliver who was playing a game of snooker at the time. Mrs Thatcher was presented with flowers and Lyle and Scott knitwear by clubs chairman Jeff Brown, before departing to meet waiting crowds. The Prime Minister surprised security officials with an impromptu stop at Houston bakers where doughnuts were sampled and Selkirk bannocks purchased before continuing to the Town Hall for a special luncheon hosted by the local Unionist Association. The visit was not without controversy, with an egg thown at the party as they departed the Town Hall.

The District Council are to hold a civic reception for Colin Deans in recognition of his achievements in rugby last season, captaining the Hawick, Scotland and British Lions teams.

In near perfect conditions and in front of a huge crowd, Hawick beat Jedforest in a pulsating final to the Bristol and West Selkirk trophy at Philiphaugh, beating Langholm, Kelso and Waterloo on route to the final.

40 YEARS AGO

Oliver Angus, Hawick Pipeband’s Drum Major has won the Drum Majors competition at the Edinburgh International Festival Pipe competition held in Princes Street Gardens. Hawick Boys Brigade Pipe Band were awarded forth prize in their section.

Hawick born Chief Inspector James Glendinning (44) of Hertfordshire has been promoted to Superintendant. A former Trades RFC player he was an electrician with Beryl Electrical in Loan before serving with the RAF and then joining the constabulary.

Employees of Messers John Laing, Slitrig Crescent, are donating 90p per week to the Public Library fund for newspapers for the reading room. Mr Harry Douglas, a borderer with the firm thought up the idea of asking for a penny every week from each of his fellow workers wages.

The Rev.T Hood of St George’s Church was bitten on the hand and leg by a dog which attacked him on a recent visit to a parishioner in the Langless Road area. He was treated at the Cottage Hospital.

Fine weather and excellent entries contributed to the success of the Liddesdale Agricultural Societies annual show at Newscastleton doubling the gate on last year. Truly a ‘Holm Show’ to remember.

Galashiels beauty specialist Misty Crew knew what she was doing when she sought a niche for her salon.

And it all came to fruition on Sunday evening in a glittering event to showcase the best in hair and beauty talent in Scotland as she won the award for best brow artist at The Scottish Hair And Beauty Awards, otherwise known as the quite superb acronym The SHABAs.

A delighted Misty, 31, told The Southern: “It was a real shock, I don’t mind saying. I was up against big salons in Edinburgh and Glasgow ... I was the only one from the Borders.

“What made this all the more special is that this is the first time they have given an award for brow art.”

Misty, who has moved into her new salon in Bank Street only recently, said that as there are so many beauty salons locally, it was important that she specialised in something different, which is how she became a brow specialist.

She said: “I found a studio group in Glasgow that was providing training specifically for eyebrows. It’s something no-one else is doing locally.

“It must have been the right move, as I’m fully booked all the time.”

That fact that her salon is constantly booked for reshaping, tints and epibrows is a reason for her surprise at winning.

She said: “When I entered I wrote a huge spiel about how I was juggling my job with having children and how I started working with brows, and how it has become so busy.

My clients also recommended me and I sent before and after shots of their brows.

“The next step was that the judges were supposed to send a ‘secret shopper’ type person, but by the time I entered, I was fully booked until the end of September and I still haven’t seen anyone that it could have been, so I think they must have struggled.

“But the fact that they could not get an appointment maybe told them what they wanted to know.”

However, Misty, who is married to school sweetheart Rick and has three children – seven-year-old Dryden, Korben, 6, and Lyra, 3 – says she is thankful that her customers don’t mind making their appointments to fit in with her own busy schedule.

She said: “The new salon works really well for me, as I have a treatment room at the back for doing epibrows [a semi-permanent treatment].”

Check out Misty’s Brow Specialist on Facebook for more information.

Borders police are appealing for information following the theft of a bronze book from the top of the Will H. Ogilvie Memorial at Horn Hill.

The book is inscribed with lyrics from Ogilvie’s poem, ‘The Road to Roberton’, and the theft is believed to have occurred sometime between 27 July and 24 August.

The memorial cairn is situated next to the B711 in the Horn Hill area, between the villages of Roberton to Ashkirk.

PC Lesley Shiell of Selkirk Police Station said: “The book is a very distinctive item which we’re eager to return to its rightful place on the road to Roberton.

“I’d urge anyone who may have information on its current whereabouts to get in touch.

“Likewise, anyone who may have seen any suspicious behaviour in the area during this time is asked to come forward.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A special ‘Riverside Ramble’ will take place on Sunday, October 2, between Melrose and Selkirk to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

The route will follow the Rivers Tweed and Ettrick, starting at Melrose Rugby Club and ending at Selkirk Rugby Club. The event is open to everyone.

Organised by the Selkirk Committee of Cancer Research UK as part of its 50 th anniversary celebrations, sponsorship forms are available for those wishing to help raise funds, but organisers would also be happy to simply receive a donation on the day.

Starting time will be between 11am and noon, with the route covering approximately eight miles along grassy tracks, hard paths and pavement.

The event is being sponsored by R. J. McLeod, main contractors of Selkirk’s flood prevention scheme, who are donating pedometers to the walkers (participants will need to register in advance to be eligible for one).

“There has already been a lot of interest in the event,” said secretary of the Selkirk Cancer Research UK committee, Mary Smail, “and it promises to be a fun day out for all the family, while at the same time raising funds for a very worthy cause.”

Anyone interested in registering for the walk, or who would like more information, should e-mail crukselkirk@gmail.com or telephone 01750 22682.

The 59 th Ettrick Flower Show, which was held at the Boston Hall on Saturday, August 20, was a great success despite the dreadful weather.

Both entries and visitors to the show were up on previous events, and the standard of entries seems to improve every year.

The excellent afternoon teas, as always, provided the perfect backdrop for a great community get-together.

Before presenting the trophies, chairwoman Roxy Stephen warmly thanked her hard-working committee, and conveyed particular thanks to the people who had helped stage the show, and all who had supported it.

A year ago, the committee feared for the future of the show and appealed to the community for more support.

Following an EGM in October, the committee worked hard to improve the show and make it more appealing to visitors. As well as the date and time, they made changes to the show format, layout of the hall and schedule, including as many of the suggestions made by the community at the EGM as possible.

As well as gaining several new enthusiastic committee members, the Ettrick Flower Show seems to have taken on a new lease of life, and it is hoped that it will sustain.

Trophy winners: Napier Cup – most points in flower section one – Roxy Stephen.

Thirlestane Hill Cup - best exhibit In flower section one – Roxy Stephen.

Pot Plant Trophy – most points in pot plant section two – Sheila Tyldesley.

Cacra Hill Cup – best exhibit in pot plant section two – Sheila Tyldesley.

Strang Steel Cup – most points in decorative section three – Maureen Ayling.

George Stephen Quaich – best exhibit in decorative section three – Roxy Stephen.

Flockfield Potato Trophy – most points classes 22-24 section four – Ian Monteith.

Macvicar Rose Bowl – most points classes 25-35 section four – Thomas Bryson.

Jack Goddard Trophy – most points classes 36-41 section four – Roxy Stephen,

Ettrick Pen Cup – best exhibit in vegetable section four – Thomas Bryson’

James Baird Sheild – most points in baking section five – Jeff Ayling/Anne Turnbull.

Tushielaw Cup – best exhibit in baking section five – Irene Mcfadzen.

Oliver Rose Bowl – most points in preserves section six – Roxy Stephen.

Brockhope Cup – best exhibit in preserves section six – Sheila Tyldesley.

Andrea Ashburn Trophy – most points in photography section seven – Sophie Speed.

Photography Trophy – best exhibit in each class of section seven – Sophie Speed.

Golden Anniversary Trophy – most points in craft section eight – Alma Dowle.

Ward Law Cup – best exhibit in craft section eight – Alma Dowle.

Juvenile Cup – first prize for a picture – Connie Turnbull.

Juvenile Cup – first prize for a model – Callum Hewson.

George Milne Trophy – best exhibit in juvenile art exhibition – Connie Turnbull.

Jim & Joan Dodds Trophy – most points in show – Roxy Stephen.

Most weight of potatoes – Sue Hickenbotham.

Essential maintenance on the A702 south of Carlops to West Linton will take place from 8am to 5pm, each day, commencing Monday, September 19 till Friday, September 23.

The work will be carried out under temporary traffic lights, with a convoy system in operation.

This scheme has been planned in consultation with Police Scotland and Scottish Borders Council.

An Amey spokeman said: “These essential works, with a value of £150,000, will benefit around 6,600 vehicles using this route each day by ensuring road users experience greater journey time reliability, continued safety and comfort.”

Real-time journey information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org or via Twitter: @TrafficScotland