Hawick could be twinned with another Scottish town as part of a joint bid to boost its economic growth.

Regeneration group Future Hawick’s application to the Carnegie Trust earlier this year to be part of its Twin Towns UK project has been rejected, but it is now set to go it alone.

The project is encouraging 10 towns to try out bilateral twinning arrangements over 18 months, with the successful applicants receiving joint planning support and access to additional funding.

Future Hawick was only informed of the failure of its bid on Christmas Eve, but it has already decided it will now seek a town itself within a 50 to 100-mile radius to twin with.

Derick Tait, chairman of the group, said: “It was disappointing not to be chosen by the Carnegie Trust as they provide back-up, but we’ve decided that we can’t just give up, and we’re going to see if we can twin with a town experiencing similar problems to ourselves to share and develop ideas and work for the mutual benefit of each other.”

No list of potential twin towns has yet been drawn up, but committee members will be meeting early next year to start the search for the best potential partnership.

Future Hawick was formed with the support of Scottish Borders Council in 2006, following the winding-up of the Hawick Partnership.

The group’s itinerary for 2017 is centred around doing its utmost to support Scottish Borders Council’s Hawick action plan, drawn up this year in an effort to revive the town’s fortunes.

Its plans include a dedicated programme of street events, a further phase of shop-front improvements, applying pressure on unco-operative landowners to encourage them to carry out maintenance work and finding alternative uses for derelict properties.

Mr Tait added: “Future Hawick is fortunate in having a dedicated group of volunteers who give their time and energy freely to the regeneration of the town.

“No expenses of any sort have ever been claimed, despite extensive travel having been involved in projects and their research, and it is worth noting that had a remunerative value been applied to the hours committed, even at recognised volunteering rates, a figure well in excess of £20,000 would be involved.

“Future Hawick is a group that must continue to move forward to meet the newer and bigger challenges.

“With the introduction of the 2015 Community Empowerment Act, the group is committed to working with partners from the private and public sectors, and to seek the necessary funding from different sources, to ensure the betterment of the town and its people.

“The group intends to take an active role in the development and implementation of the Hawick action plan.”

A rail campaigner, ice-cream man and two charity champions are among the Borderers to feature in the Queen’s latest new year honours list.

Barrie Forrest, 74, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in his home village of Reston.

The father of two and grandfather of three, formerly an auction mart foreman in Berwick, has been a member of Reston and Auchencrow Community Council for almost 40 years, acting as chairman and vice-chairman during that time.

He is also an active transport campaigner and has been involved in calls to have Reston’s railway station reopened and safety improvements made to junctions on the A1 near the village.

Mr Forrest, vice-chairman of Rail Action Group East Scotland, was taken aback to be honoured, saying: “It came as a huge surprise to me.

“Obviously, it’s an honour, but there are other people who deserve honours far more than I have ever done.

“It’s nice to be recognised, though, I must admit.”

The UK’s oldest ice-cream man, 94-year-old Adam Kelly, has also been awarded a BEM.

His is for services to business and the community in his home town of Galashiels.

He has been selling ice cream from his van in Galashiels for over half a century, reputedly without ever taking a single day off sick.

He left school at the age of 15 in 1937 and began work on a farm, moving on two years later to a nearby creamery to deliver milk.

In 1941, aged 19, he was called up to the Army, but after being demobbed in 1947, he returned to his creamery job, and in 1964 he began doing evening shifts driving an ice-cream van for an ex-Army friend. He would start at 5.30am doing milk rounds, finish at dinner time, then go out in the ice-cream van at night.

In 1966, he went into business in his own right, as Adam’s Ices, travelling 20 miles on every round and going through up to four gallons of ice cream a day.

He is now a member of the Normandy Veterans’ Association and has been awarded a diploma by the French Embassy in Scotland for his wartime services.

Rhona Elliot, 64 this Sunday, has been made a Member of the British Empire for services to horseracing and her charity work for fellow multiple sclerosis sufferers.

Mrs Elliot, of Jedburgh, was born in Cheadle Hulme in Stockport and later moved to Scarborough and York but has lived in the Borders since marrying her husband Peter, 72, 37 years ago.

She founded the MS Borders Racing Club in 2004 and has raised more than £120,000 since then.

Mrs Elliot organises annual dinners at Kelso racecourse, featuring speakers, auctions, sponsored rides and fashion shows, and they raise up to £20,000 a time.

Keeping her honour a secret was no trouble for Mrs Elliot as she is a past master at keeping mum.

“I’m quite good at keeping secrets,” she said. “When I was first diagnosed with MS 27 years ago, I kept it a secret for 12 years.

“I wasn’t showing any signs at first, and I didn’t want to tell anyone. I was in denial really. I didn’t want to believe I had got it.”

She too was shocked to be honoured, saying: “I was very, very surprised. It was probably the biggest surprise I’ve ever had. I was totally flabbergasted.

“It’s a huge honour. I can’t really believe it.”

Fellow charity champion Jane Bannerman, a mother of four and grandmother of 13, has been given a BEM for services to community healthcare.

She has been a staunch supporter of children’s charity Action Medical Research for over 40 years and is a founder member of its Hawick committee.

Mrs Bannerman, 77, who lives in Hawick with husband Sandy, said: “I was overwhelmed when I received notification of the award, which I will receive in 2017 but, naturally, I am accepting it on behalf of our whole Hawick committee for Action Medical Research, for all the friends who have given their time, ideas and energy over these 40 years.

“One person does not make a committee. I just happen to be the person originally asked.

“I still don’t know who put my name forward, but I would say to them ‘thank you very much’.”

She can still recall how her involvement with the charity began, saying: “One sunny April day in 1976 when I was at home with our four children, there was a knock at the door.

“I opened it to a complete stranger, a bonny lass who told me she had been given my name as someone who might consider starting up a committee to raise awareness and funds for a children’s charity.”

“I resolved there and then to ask friends to join me in forming a local Hawick committee for this worthwhile charity that does positive research with the money raised.”

That charity, now called Action Medical Research, funds research to help sick and disabled babies and children through medical research, developing treatments, vaccines and cures.

“In no time 11 friends joined me,” Jane added. “We were up and running with a bank balance of £6, 50p from each member, and held our first event in May 1976.

“Two members of our original committee, Elizabeth Stanger and Marilyn Jarvis, have, like me, remained on the committee since day one.

“We’ve enjoyed every minute. We’ve had a good laugh.

“Hawick is just a small town in the Scottish Borders. This is not a me award. It’s an everybody award.”

Others Scots honoured included Edinburgh University chaplain the Rev Harriet Harris, of Berwickshire, made an MBE for services to multi-faith education and community cohesion, and Borders College admissions officer Fiona McAllan, of Greenlaw, given a BEM for services to education.

Scottish Secretary and Borders MP David Mundell congratulated the country’s recipients of honours, saying: “Scotland’s honours recipients are superb ambassadors for Scotland.

“They truly deserve their recognition today, and I congratulate each and every one of them.

“It is right that we recognise the unsung heroes of our communities.

“The length and breadth of Scotland, an army of volunteers shows unstinting dedication, commitment and compassion week in, week out. These awards mark that hard work and selflessness.”

Celebrities given honours include rock star Ray Davies, actors Mark Rylance and Naomie Harris, tennis champion Andy Murray and athletes Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill.

A special £5 note estimated to be worth up to 10,000 times its face value has turned up in the Borders, not far from where it was put into circulation a month ago.

It’s the second of four rare plastic £5 notes featuring micro-engraved portraits of novelist Jane Austen created by artist Graham Short to be found.

Two more are still out there and could even be inside the purse or wallet of an unsuspecting Southern Reporter reader right now.

The £5 note discovered last Thursday was stuck inside a Christmas card sent from one Borderer unaware of its true worth to a relative in the region as a festive gift.

The new owner of the note – put into circulation in Kelso on Monday, December 5 –wishes to remain anonymous but is said to have decided to keep it, frame it and hang it on a wall rather than selling it off for a speedy windfall.

The four notes featuring Mr Short’s engravings of Austen, along with a fifth donated to the Jane Austen Society, were created in collaboration with the Tony Huggins-Haig Gallery in Kelso as an art project echoing the golden tickets featured in the 1964 Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Mr Short came up with the idea of engraving 5mm portraits of Austen on the transparent part of the new plastic Bank of England £5 notes to mark the 200th anniversary of her death, at the age of 41, next year.

The 70-year-old, of Birmingham, said: “I’m always looking to do something different, and as soon as I saw the new £5 note, I thought ‘wouldn’t it be good if I could engrave something on it?’

“I didn’t know what, but then I found out it was going to be the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, and her image is also going on the new £10 note, so it ties in nicely with that.

“I don’t know whether I’m disappointed that they haven’t wanted to sell them because I wanted them to have some money for Christmas, but the fact that they are so happy to keep them, that’s nice as well.”

The £5 note first spent in Kelso and now found in the Borders was the second to be discovered, the first having been handed over by Mr Short to pay for a sausage and egg sandwich at a cafe in Blackwood, Caerphilly, south Wales, earlier last month and later given out in change to another customer.

Two more of Short’s special £5 notes, spent in England and Northern Ireland, remain in general circulation.

Their serial numbers are AM32 885552 and AM32 885554.

Mr Huggins-Haig, owner of the Bridge Street gallery bearing his name, said the latest finder had been to the gallery to have the note’s authenticity verified.

“They are completely delighted to have it, and it’s getting framed and going on the wall,” said Mr Huggins-haig, of Duns.

“They were given it in a Christmas card by a relative, and they are delighted as well because they didn’t know that’s what they were putting in the card. They knew it was a £5 but not one that could be worth £50,000.

“Of the two that have been found, both are with people who want to keep them as art. They’ve both been found by wonderful people who are very deserving.

“We’ve let the £5 notes go out there, and it’s been brilliantly received by people.

“That’s two down and there’s still two out there. Keep checking your change.”

The two notes still waiting to be found were spent in Northern Ireland and Leicestershire in England.

Short’s second most recent work, a portrait of the Queen on a pinhead, sold for £100,000, and Mr Huggins-Haig believes the engraved notes could be worth half that at auction.

“All of Graham’s work has an insurance valuation of about £50,000 at the moment. It’s a reasonable estimate,” he said.

Mr Short spent one of the notes in Granny Jean’s Home Bakery in the Square, Kelso, on December 5 to start the project, sparking a surge in custom there after he revealed the move days later.

Head baker Alan Malone said he was “gutted” to have inadvertently given the engraved fiver away in change.

Mr Short’s last piece of art, a portrait of the Queen engraved on a speck of gold inside the eye of a needle, sold for £100,000.

Scotland is set to pilot a radical scheme to give every citizen a universal basic income (UBI), regardless of whether they work or not.

Two Labour-run councils, Fife and Glasgow, are designing trial schemes following meetings held late last year.

What level the basic income would be set at is yet to be announced, but the councils are to go ahead with the pilots, subject to sufficient funding being secured.

Under UBI, welfare benefits such as working tax credits, Jobseekers’ Allowance and state pensions are replaced by a single, unconditional flat-rate payment, regardless of whether the recipient is in employment. Any money earned after this is subject to taxation.

Glasgow councillor Matt Kerr has been championing the idea and says his investigations into poverty convinced him a basic income was the way forward.

“Like lots of people, I was interested in the idea, but never completely convinced,” said Kerr, who added that he “kept coming back to the basic income”.

Kerr sees the basic income as a way of simplifying the UK’s complicated welfare system. “But it is also about solidarity: it says that everyone is valued and the government will support you. It changes the relationship between the individual and the state.”

Jamie Cooke, head of think tank the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Scotland, which conducted research into the scheme, attended a meeting with Fife Council about the idea, which is said to have been well received.

Speaking afterwards, Cooke said: “This is a significant step forward for basic income in Scotland, giving a very realistic chance of a pilot taking place in Scotland within the next couple of years.”

As to where the money would come from, Cooke replied: “It could be funding from particular trusts, it could be individual philanthropic funding, or it could be a redirection of the existing welfare state spend.”

Glasgow is the most deprived local authority area in Scotland, with one in three children in the city said to be living in poverty.

Brazil implemented a basic income for its citizens in 2003, but it has been heavily criticised and its continuation is now under threat. The country’s welfare system has been accused of discouraging citizens from looking for work.

Over 13 million Brazilian families receive funds from Bolsa Família, which has been described as “the largest programme of its kind in the world”.

Brazil’s impoverished citizens receive money from the Bolsa Familia programme, which is a private foundation. The amount of money transferred depends on family size and monthly income, with the average family receiving just over £50 a month.

Many Brazilians feel recipients are content to live on the programme’s wages and therefore stop looking for employment.

Borders police have arrested a 16-year-old male youth following housebreaking incidents in the Selkirk area early this morning (Tuesday, January 3).

He will appear in court tomorrow (Wednesday).

Chief Inspector Andy McLean said: “Several members of the public phoned us immediately when they saw a suspicious male in their street.

“This allowed us to narrow the search and apprehend the suspect.

“I want to thank the community for another outstanding example of working with us to keep the Borders communities safe.”

Lloyd Motor Group, the family-owned automotive group, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Clelands Jaguar, Galashiels and will relocate the showroom to their Land Rover Kelso dealership.

The new home for Jaguar in the Borders region brings the Jaguar and Land Rover marques under one roof for the first time, merging the two previously separate sites in to one convenient and luxurious site.

Celebrating over 40 years in business, this latest acquisition increases Lloyd Motor’s investment in Northern England and Southern Scotland to 22 dealerships. Operating centrally from Carlisle, the group represents an extensive prestige brand portfolio of Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, MINI, Volvo, Honda, BMW Motorrad and Honda Bikes.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bryan Lloyd, managing director of Lloyd Motors said: “As a family-owned and family-run business, our people are our most valuable asset in establishing a brand that our customers can trust. Clelands Jaguar is a great business and has a first-class team who share our passion for excellent customer service. We look forward to welcoming staff and customers to the Lloyd family.”

John Cleland, owner at Clelands, Galashiels said: “We are delighted that Lloyd Motors, along with our dedicated team, will continue to provide a great customer experience and service that we have been renowned for over the past 27 years.”

Rob Lindsay, franchise director for Lloyd Motors added: “In the coming weeks, both companies will be working together to ensure a smooth transition. It will be business as usual and we will ensure our customers’ needs remain our priority. Jaguar has a fantastic range of products and some exciting developments planned which, supported by our own ideas for the business, will enhance our customers’ experience.”

With many people suffering from flu-like symptoms over the festive period, at-risk Borderers are being urged to protect themselves.

NHS Borders has reminded everyone who is eligible for the annual flu vaccine, to make sure they make use of it.

Those who are at risk can be hit harder with the virus and can suffer further complications, so shielding themselves with the vaccine is heartily recommended.

Joint director of public health, Dr Tim Patterson, said: “Vaccination is needed every year because the virus changes constantly and you immunity reduces over time.”

Contact NHS Inform on 0800 224488 for more information.

More than 2,000 people braved wintry weather to see in 2017 as part of a sparkling new tradition in Peebles.

Now in its second year, the town Hogmanay torchlight procession created a dazzling river of fire through the town’s streets and along the banks of the River Tweed.

Organiser Chris Wright, of Hillside Outdoor, said: “It was much bigger than last year, and it looked quite impressive. The route was a little longer too, so you could see the snake of fire through the town, and it was that little bit more spectacular.”

With the new addition of children’s glowsticks going down a treat this year, Chris hinted at further improvements for next year’s event, saying: “We’ve no plans yet, but we have a few ideas to make it bigger and better.”

A community initiative, the proceeds from this year’s torch sales will be split between Peebles’ Beltane organisation, Christmas lights association, Round Table and peace group.

Background reports have been ordered into a Galashiels man who was found in possession of a knife on the town’s Langlee housing estate.

Gordon Ward, 35, of Hawthorn Road, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened in Woodstock Avenue.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told on Monday how police received a call shortly before midnight on Hogmanay claiming Ward was depressed and carrying a knife in his pocket.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said: “Police on mobile patrol found him at about a quarter past midnight on New Year’s Day and found the knife in the waist band of his trousers.

“When interviewed by police, he replied, “I should not have brought it with me.”

It was described in court as a kitchen knife around 20 centimetres in length.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said the father-of-three had no recollection of the incident.

Mr Hulme added: “This was due to a combination of alcohol and painkillers for an artificial hip. He apologises for his behaviour.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until January 30 for a criminal justice social work report to be prepared.

HAWICK MAN FACES TRIAL

A Hawick man will stand trial on a charge of being involved in a domestic disturbance with his partner.

Forty-year-old Christopher Skeffington, of Fisher Avenue, pleaded not guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to an allegation of threatening or abusive behaviour by shouting and swearing and struggling with his partner. The offence is alleged to have been committed at a house in Plora Terrace, Innerleithen, on New Year’s Day.

A trial date was set for March 14, with an intermediate hearing on February 13. Skeffington was bailed.

PRIVATE HEARING

A Kelso man appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court accused of three offences.

William Wilkie, 34, is charged with being in possession of a pointed article, threatening behaviour, and culpable and reckless conduct.

The offences are alleged to have been committed in Kelso during the early hours of Monday morning.

He made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

Wilkie was released on bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson.

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A 30-year-old man has been remanded in custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court after being accused of three offences.

Michael Stead is charged with spitting in a man’s face and also threatening or abusive behaviour in Talisman Avenue, Galashiels, on Friday. He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice at St Leonards custody centre in Edinburgh.

Stead, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

After being told Stead had just been released from prison a week earlier, Sheriff Peter Paterson refused a motion for bail and remanded him in custody.

ABDUCTION BID ALLEGATION

A 40-year-old man has been charged with an attempted abduction in Hawick.

Marcus Williams, of no fixed abode, is also accused of assault and robbery.

It follows an incident in Hawick on Tuesday, December 20, involving another male and a female.

Williams made no plea or declaration and was fully committed for trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court following a brief private hearing.

PLEADED NOT GUILTY

A 42-year-old man appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court charged with being involved in a domstic incident on Hogmanay.

Colin George, of Cairmount, Jedburgh, pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and making threatening comments in William Law Gardens, Galashiels.

A trial date was set for March 14, with an intermediate hearing on February 13.

MOTORING CHARGES

A Hawick man appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court accused of a series of motoring offences on Hogmanay.

Gary Crossett, who is 24, is charged with driving while disqualified, with no insurance, taking a car without the owner’s consent, failing to stop after an accident and failing to tell police who was the driver of a car.

The offences are said to have happened in his home street of Hillend Drive on Saturday. He pleaded not guilty to all five charges.

A trial date was set for February 23 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on January 23.

Sheriff Peter Paterson granted a Crown motion for the vehicle to stay in police custody.

PUNCHED PARTNER

A Galashiels man who assaulted his partner after claiming someone was flirting with her has been jailed for four months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Keegan Smith, 22, pleaded guilty to punching the woman on the head to her injury at a house in Morrow Gardens, Melrose, on December 6.

The court was told that Smith had become angry about a visit his partner had received from a friend, saying he thought he had been flirting with her. Later, during another row, Smith punched her to the face, causing bruising.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser explained that Smith had been in a relationship with the woman for 11 months. She suffered from Asperger’s syndrome and while she had difficulties with communicating, she was described as being intelligent.

He continued: “The accused was cross about a visit she had had from a friend. The accused thought the friend was flirting with her.

“Another argument broke out later on December 6 when the accused was upset and annoyed. He punched her to the face where she suffered some bruising to the left forehead.

“The accused hurt his hand during the fracas and was sent to Borders General Hospital for treatment.”

Ross Dow, defending, said the relationship was now over after Smith, of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, found out she had been unfaithful to him.

He urged the sheriff to impose an alternative to custody.

But Sheriff Kevin Drummond said: “This is the fifth time you have appeared before this court on a charge with a domestic aggravation in 2016, and there was another in 2015. In addition to that, the social work report expresses the view that you continue to minimise your part in all this and blame the victim of the assault.”

The sheriff added that it was likely Smith would breach any restriction-of-liberty order and took the view that all available community disposals had been exhausted.

Smith was jailed for six months, but the sentence was reduced to four months due to his early guilty plea. It was also backdated to December 7 when he was first remanded in custody.

CURFEW FOR FRAUDSTER

A Hawick man who was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody for benefits fraud is unable to complete the order due to ill-health, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told.

Glen Miller, 57, was selling dogs at the same time as receiving £15,161 in Jobseeker’s Allowance and £712 in council tax benefit.

He admitted failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Scottish Borders Council about his self-employed income between July 2009 and December 2012.

The court heard he was unable to complete the number of hours of unpaid work as stated in his community payback order.

To cover the balance, Sheriff Kevin Drummond imposed a restriction-of-liberty order, keeping Miller in his Ramsay Road home for the next two months between 8pm and 8am.

REMAINING IN CUSTODY

A Kelso man will stand trial after being accused of placing his former partner in a state of fear and alarm, and demanding money off her.

Robert Yule, 40, of Inchmead Drive, denies the offence which is said to have happened in Kelso on Friday, December 9.

The trial will take place at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on January 12.

Yule pleaded guilty to breaching a court order by contacting the woman and sentence was deferred until January 12. He will remain in custody until that date.

SHOP BAN FOR ACCUSED

A Tweedbank woman has been banned from a Galashiels store after being accused of two counts of shoplifting.

Stephanie Ritchie, 32, of Jura Drive, appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court charged with stealing confectionery from Home Bargains in Channel Street on November 17. She is also accused of stealing confectionery and a mobile phone accessory from the same store on December 17.

Both offences are alleged to have been committed while she was on bail.

Ritchie pleaded not guilty to both allegations and a trial date was set for March 2, with an intermediate hearing on January 16.

A condition of her bail is that she is not to enter Home Bargains.

STALKING ALLEGATION

An Innerleithen man appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court accused of stalking his former partner over the Christmas period.

Paul Thompson, 37, of Buccleuch Street, is charged with engaging in a course of conduct likely to cause fear and alarm to her by repeatedly sending her text messages. He pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set for February 16, with an intermediate hearing on January 16.

Thompson was released on bail with special conditions not to contact his ex-partner or enter a named street in Innerleithen.

A crowd estimated at almost 2,000 packed out Melrose’s Market Square for its now-traditional Hogmanay celebrations.

A fireworks display outside the town’s Ship Inn and live musical entertainment by Melrose Pipe Band were among the highlights of the event, organised by Melrose and District Community Council .

Entries from important statutory records have been released today onto ScotlandsPeople – the family history website operated by the National Records of Scotland.

Digital images of 110,000 birth entries from 1916, more than 47,000 marriage entries from 1941 and 64,000 death entries from 1966 are now available for members of the public to search, view and save, no matter where they are in the world.

Three entries give details relating to the lives of Scots of note. These are:

The birth of Jessie Grant Kesson (nee McDonald) (1916 – 1994), who wrote The White Bird Passes. Born in Inverness on October 29, 1916, Kesson rose from humble beginnings to become an acclaimed author receiving honorary degrees from both the University of Aberdeen and the University of Dundee.

An entry detailing the birth of Jack Milroy (1915 – 2001), the Scottish comedian, who was born James Cruden on December 28, 1915 in Govanhill, Glasgow. Being born so near to the end of the year, Jack’s birth was not registered by his father until January 17, 1916. Jack Milroy was best known for his double act with comedy actor Rikki Fulton. Jack played Francie in the famous comedy duo Francie and Josie.

The death record entry for Alexander Carrick, RSA (1882 – 1966), one of Scotland’s leading monumental sculptors of the early 20th century. Carrick’s extensive body of work includes war memorials at Fraserburgh, Berwick and Killin in Perthshire.

The 1941 marriage records reveal the details of those wed in wartime Scotland including one couple whose union was cut tragically short by the Clydebank blitz in 1941. They were married for just one month.

Alexander Clarkson and Margaret O’Donnell were married on February 12, 1941 in a civil ceremony by the Registrar in the district of Old Kilpatrick. Sadly, Margaret was killed when the Benbow Hotel where Alexander and Margaret were residents was hit by a bomb on the evening of March 13, leaving only the shell of the building.

Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “These records give us a richer understanding of Scotland’s story and our people. The marriage certificates from the early ‘40s in particular provide further insight into the consequences of the Second World War, and how it affected the things we take for granted today.

“I’d encourage anyone interested in finding out more about their local history or genealogy to have a look at the wealth of records now available as part of our new ScotlandsPeople website. No matter where you are in the world, you can instantly find out more about your own personal story.”

A pensioner has been left as good as housebound since the access to her Walkerburn home was damaged by builders renovating a neighbouring property.

The plight of Mollie McIntosh, made a Member of the British Empire for services to her community in 1991 and named as Tweeddale’s citizen of the year in 2008, was highlighted at Scottish Borders Council’s latest full meeting.

The 97-year-old lives at Stoneyhill Lodge – an A-listed structure in Galashiels Road directly opposite an identical building called Sunnybrae Lodge.

The houses, built in 1868 as part of the estates of the mill-owning Ballantyne family, share a driveway.

Sunnybrae Lodge fell into disrepair following the death of its owner and, last year, having been acquired by the council, an extensive programme of refurbishment was commissioned with a view to selling the property on the open market.

That work was carried out by a Galashiels firm of builders which has since gone into administration.

Councillor Gavin Logan, whose Tweeddale East ward includes Walkerburn, said extensive damage to the Tarmac around Miss McIntosh’s home had been caused by heavy plant during the renovation and called for action to put that right.

In a question to Hawick and Hermitage councillor Ron Smith, the authority’s executive member for planning and the environment, Mr Logan asked when the required repairs would be carried out, adding: “It is preventing her from leaving the house.”

Mr Smith gave a commitment that the matter would be investigated.

Miss McIntosh, who broke her hip in June 2015 after attending a social event in West Linton, said she hoped the work would be carried out quickly.

“I don’t drive anymore, so I depend on my mobility walker to get around,” she told the Southern.

“The trouble is that the Tarmac outside my house is now rutted and potholed, and I really struggle with my walker to negotiate a route to the pavement.

“Needless to say, I’m really scared of falling over after my accident last year, and things will only get worse when the winter weather bites.

“I appreciate that firms go out of business but, as the council contracted the work, then I feel it has a responsibility to put things right, and I welcome the fact my situation will be investigated. I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.”

Mr Smith later confirmed that Sunnybrae Lodge would be advertised for sale on the open market early this year.

A design for the repair and possible replacement of a collapsed retaining wall alongside the A72 road at Walkerburn is being drawn up by Scottish Borders Council officers.

That news, revealed at the latest full council meeting, does not mean the protracted dispute over who is responsible for the structure and who will pay for the required restoration work has been resolved, however.

The council insists that responsibility for maintaining the wall – a section of which was damaged when struck by a car three and a half years ago – rests with the owners of the adjacent properties at 34-41 Galashiels Road.

The owners have, in turn, denied liability and have appointed an Edinburgh firm of solicitors to represent them.

Patience, however, is wearing thin at the impasse amid fears that further deterioration of the wall, running the length of Galashiels Road, could result in the closure of the only route through the village.

At the meeting, Tweeddale East councillor Stuart Bell questioned the council’s position.

“It could be argued that as this wall in Walkerburn holds up the council’s road – the A72 – then it is the council’s responsibility to repair and restore it,” said Mr Bell.

“When will the council either repair this wall or constructively engage in mediation or arbitration to settle responsibility for repairing it?”

He was told by Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, that it remained the view of its officers that the council was not responsible.

“Under the terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, the responsibility for maintaining and repairing retaining walls which support adopted roadways falls to the owners of the particular wall,” said Mr Edgar.

“This responsibility is denied by the homeowners, who, through their insurers, have instructed solicitors to act in this matter.

“Council officers have been in discussion with these solicitors and, as part of that discussion, the matter of instructing an independent third party to settle the dispute has been raised.

“Council officers have offered to refer the matter to a third-party expert for independent resolution, but, so far, this offer has not been taken up.

“Council officers continue to monitor the state of the wall and, as a result of a review of the most recent inspection reports, it is proposed the council’s asset management section commences the design of the repair or replacement solution to the damaged wall.

“On completion of this process, the council will commence the legal process to have the wall repaired or replaced by the owners of the wall.”

Villagers are stepping on the gas in a bid to cut their energy costs and travelling time.

Newcastleton and District Community Trust, representing a population of 900 in 650 households scattered across 1,200 square miles, is kick-starting a project to reopen a former petrol pump station in the village after securing a grant of £51,000 from the Scottish Government’s land fund.

Since the station closed, villagers have had to travel further afield to fill up their cars.

As soon as more funding is in place, the plan is to create a community interest company called Newcastleton Community Trading to operate the petrol pumps and manage the volunteers manning the garage.

The trust is budgeting for a part-time paid job to support the operation, with the hope of creating further job opportunities in the future.

Before setting off on the project, the trust carried out research locally to find out how much fuel the 90% of members of the community, in the Hawick and Hermitage electoral ward, with car would buy from the village pumps.

A third of respondents said the price of the fuel would influence their decision, but two-thirds said that would make no difference, citing convenience and saving time as bigger factors.

The trust estimates that it costs local businesses more than £650 per week to travel to buy fuel, amounting to £34,000 annually.

Research has been carried out to work out the cost and travel time involved in buying fuel from nearby communities rather than in the village.

For example, a journey to Hawick is more than 50 miles there and back and takes an hour and a half.

Fuel bought in Hawick currently costs around £5.26, compared to the £5.62 it would be estimated to cost in the village, an extra 36p.

Steven Hartley, chairman of the trust, said: “We are delighted to receive the grant from the Scottish land fund enabling the community to purchase the old derelict petrol station site in the village.

“It is an environmental boost to our new community development trust that others recognise our efforts and are prepared to support us to overcome the challenges ahead.

“The prospect of having fuel again in our village is very exciting.

“It will bring a huge economic boost to all, especially our local trades and retailers who have seen declines in the spend made at their businesses as everyone has had to travel to get fuel.”

Cancer suffer Andrew Slorance is giving his backing to a bid to build a £1.2m extension to the Maggie’s support centre at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital as a show of gratitude to the charity.

The father of five, originally from Hawick but now living at Liberton in the capital, was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called mantle cell lymphoma in November 2015 and has often turned to the centre for help since then.

Prior to his diagnosis, the 45-year-old was the fittest he had been in years after giving up booze, taking up cycling and losing three stone in weight.

However, his wife Louise, 40, noticed he had been sleeping more than usual on a family holiday, so the discovery of a pea-sized lump in his groin prompted him to see his GP.

Within days, doctors discovered he had incurable blood cancer, and it had already spread to his intestines.

Andrew, formerly a journalist with our sister paper the Southern Reporter and now a communications manager for the Scottish Government, underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant to fight the disease.

Throughout his treatment, Andrew has been supported by the Maggie’s centre, particularly to help explain to his youngest children – Millie, nine; Olivia, seven; and Finlay, five – what is happening to their dad.

Another of our sister papers, the Edinburgh Evening News, has teamed up with the charity and fundraiser Lisa Stephenson to try to raise the £1.2m needed to pay for an extension to the centre, and former Hawick High School pupil Andrew is backing that campaign all the way.

The appeal has already passed the halfway mark, thanks to a £160,000 donation from the supermarket chain Morrison’s, putting Maggie’s a step closer to its goal of seeing an extra 5,000 patients a year.

He was particularly worried about how Olivia and Millie would cope with the news as both girls had both struggled with forms of anxiety.

Andrew, born and brought up in Hawick but a resident of the capital since the 1990s, said: “We didn’t want to hide things, but we wanted some advice on how to deal with them. We felt Maggie’s might be able to offer us something there, and boy did they deliver.

“The kids knew daddy had cancer. They knew I was popping in and out of hospital, and they knew I had stopped work.

“All of this was a big change for them.

“Maggie’s was hugely motivational for me and hugely beneficial for my family.

“For the children in particular, it has played a massive part in helping them deal with what could have been a hugely challenging year.

“When they see it on TV or in the paper, they ask if it is our Maggie’s.

“Children shouldn’t enjoy a place associated with cancer, but my children do because they get something precious out of it.

“The building provided them with a sort of sanctuary where they could go have a wander, go have a nose, get a bit of peace and quiet.

“We were always made welcome. It’s not just there for the patient – it’s there for the patient’s family or the patient’s friends, for anybody who feels affected by cancer.”

Andrew is now in remission and has returned to work on a part-time basis, as well as planning to add to the £6,500-plus he has already raised for Maggie’s by doing a three-mile sponsored run between bouts of chemotherapy.

“I’m not daft. I know it will return at some point, but I take a positive outlook,” he added.

“This has been part of the discussions I’ve had at Maggie’s, about not panicking if something doesn’t feel right.

“It’s about getting the balance right.”

To donate , go to www.lisasbuyabrickformaggies.com

To read about Andrew’s battle with cancer, go to sloranceblog.wordpress.com

A Bonchester school mothballed by Scottish Borders Council over a year ago is set for a fresh start under new legislation, it has emerged.

Hobkirk Primary School was closed in November 2015 after a dramatic fall in pupil numbers.

Five years earlier, the school roll had been 39 in two classes and a nursery, but when the decision to mothball it was made, only seven pupils remained, and parents asked for the remaining youngsters to be transferred to Denholm Primary.

Now villagers are poised to use the new 2015 Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act to take over the building to use it as an as yet unspecified community resource.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Watson McAteer believes the legislation will change the face of communities nationwide.

He said: “Hobkirk school is currently mothballed while the education authorities complete the formal closure process.

“The local community council is very actively pursuing options of taking over the redundant building from the council as an asset transfer, and the new Community Empowerment Act will help both organisations to make this happen.

“While the community is yet to decide what they will use this asset for, this is a great example of exactly why this legislation has been introduced.

“I fully expect the Bonchester and Hobkirk community to develop a meaningful facility that will benefit all in the area and beyond.”

Ahead of asset transfer requests coming into force later this month, Scottish Borders Council has already utilised the spirit of the legislation by helping the Hawick’s Men’s Shed group move from premises it had outgrown in Commercial Road, Hawick.

The authority offered the group alternative accommodation in the offices of the former Lyle and Scott mill, in Lothian Street.

Similarly, support has been offered to the town’s Escape Youth Services group by leasing a property in Havelock Street. The act aims to help community bodies grow through the ownership of land and buildings.

It extends community right-to-buy legislation, making it simpler for groups to take over public-sector buildings.

Crucially, the right-to-buy legislation is aimed at communities, such as Hawick’s, that have populations of more than 10,000.

The latest stage of the legislation to be enacted, coming into force on Monday, January 23, covers asset transfer requests relating to land or buildings owned by public authorities.

Mr McAteer said: “The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act is a very real game-changer for public-sector organisations and, more importantly, for communities and individuals.

“The asset transfer requests will help formalise and expand existing arrangements where the council and other public bodies can transfer ownership or lease land or property to local groups.

“The council has already been very helpful in Hawick supporting Escape Youth Services and the men’s shed group.

“I will expect various groups such as community councils, church organisations, local heritage and festival organisations and sporting clubs to take full advantage of the new legislation towards benefiting the entire Hawick community.”

A Hawick convenience store boss with 50 years in the trade is bracing himself for two new town supermarkets eating into his business and that of other local retailers.

A revamped Lidl store is to open in Wilton Path next month, and a new £5m Aldi store is to follow in Commercial Road this spring.

Both outlets will provide much-needed jobs for the town, but both will also remain open until 10 o’clock in the evening, offering stiff competition for the late-night trade that is currently the bread and butter of the town’s Spar convenience store in Dickson Street, run by George and Kathryn McCusker.

Mr McCusker and his wife fought a long but ultimately unsuccessful battle to prevent the Aldi supermarket from opening, launching a petition against it and enlisting the support of the Scottish Grocers’ Association in their campaign.

They claimed the new development represented unfair competition to other traders in an already-crowded retail market.

Veteran trader Mr McCusker also believes it’s not just his premises that will feel the impact of four big-name supermarket chains vying for custom.

“Every small business will be affected – the bike shops, the tool shops, everyone – and that’s before you consider the impact it will have on an already-struggling High Street,” he said.

Mr McCusker, also boss of Burnfoot Post Office, added: “I’ve just seen the sign saying Lidl will be open until 10 at night. That’s veering into the convenience store market.

“We’re open from 5.30am to 10pm every day, even over Christmas and new year. Now, the supermarkets are creeping ever closer.

“My argument has been, and remains, that there are just too many supermarkets in Hawick for a small town, and I know that Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and B&M are going to be hit by this new competition.”

A spokesman for Aldi said the firm would create 30 new jobs in the town and had carried out a public consultation exercise, with 92 per cent of visitors to a public exhibition expressing support for the new store being built on the former mill site.

Lidl plans to create 25 new jobs at its stores in Hawick and Kelso. The cut-price retailer is creating new positions including store managers, customer assistants and caretakers.

A Lidl spokesman said: “The shop floor is the beating heart of our business. It’s the front line, so it’s only natural we want to hire great people.”

Hawick’s Sainsbury’s store currently opens until 9pm and its Morrisons until an hour later, except on Sundays.

Aldi is to recruit 4000 new permanent workers in stores and warehouses across the country, as part of the supermarket giant’s plan to open around 70 new shops this year.

The German retailer, which already employs 29,000 people in the UK, will open its 700th UK store in February.

Aldi has also said it will become the UK’s highest paying supermarket when it increases its minimum wage to £8.53 an hour from next month.

The German supermarket chain said 3350 UK workers will benefit from the pay rise on February 1. Staff in London will be paid an hourly rate of £9.75.

The move comes a year after Aldi raised its minimum wage to £8.40 an hour, and to £9.45 an hour in London.

It also beats the Government’s national Living Wage of £7.20 an hour, which will go up to £7.50 in April.

Matthew Barnes, head of Aldi’s UK operations, said: “We recognise the valuable contribution that our thousands of store employees make every day”.

The company wants to open another 300 stores over the next five years to bring its total to 1000 in the UK.

Aldi has a 6.2 per cent share of the UK grocery market, making it the country’s sixth-largest supermarket chain.

Wojtek, a Syrian brown bear, was adopted as a cub by the Polish army in 1943.

Taught by his Polish comrades, Wojtek learned to wrestle, salute, smoke and drink and found fame after he reportedly carried ammunition under a storm of enemy fire during the 1944 battle of Monte Cassino.

That same year, after troops warmed to his larger-than-life personality, the bear was made an honorary soldier.

He and his comrades later spent time in the Borders following the end of the war.

Mrs Orr wrote the book six years ago, having been inspired by stories told to her by her grandfather, Jim Little, who served in the British Army all his life. As his only grandchild, she grew up listening intently to them.

She said: “He met Wojtek while in the Middle East, where he spent about eight months tasked with getting soldiers fit for battle.

“As with many who have served in the Army, he didn’t like to talk about the war, so telling these stories to me about the bear was a much easier way to do so.”

Mrs Orr visited the bear at Edinburgh Zoo as a child and was surprised to later learn that Sunwick Farm, near Hutton in Berwickshire, where she lives, was home to Winfield Airfield, where Wojtek and his team were flown to after the war ended.

The 500lb bear became popular among residents of Berwickshire before being sent to Edinburgh Zoo in 1947.

The upcoming film, Soldier Bear, will be directed by Brendan Foley, best known for movies including 2006’s The Riddle and 2005’s Johnny Was, both starring former footballer Vinnie Jones.

The Northern Irish director first came across the book after his wife recommended he read it.

The author said: “I have been approached twice in the past regarding deals from the book, but I turned them down as I didn’t like what they were doing to the story.

“Foley has already worked on war films and has a really good historical understanding and genuine empathy.”

Mr Foley said: “It’s just rare to find such an amazing, compelling story.

“War Horse is a very popular film, and I think ours has advantage that bears have much more relatable animals to humans.

“They have very human traits, walk on their hind legs and have very expressive faces that can portray many emotions – and people just love bears.

“Wojtek has a very large international fan club.

“This story has the advantage of taking him from a tiny cub who looks like teddy bear to a great 500lb bruiser with claws.”

Polish film company Filmpolska will co-fund the development of the film with a budget of more than £10m.

Pre-production is currently under way, and much of the groundwork has already been done.

Regarding the film’s director, Mrs Orr added: “I’ve got great faith in him, and I know he will do a good job of it.

“It’s a story that needs to be told, and it’s a very dark story.

“People here all remember the bear from when they were little children.”

Most of the film will be set in north Africa, Italy and Scotland.

Belfast-born Foley flew from the US this week to meet Mrs Orr to discuss the next stage of the project.

David Rowbotham, who recently rose to fame as part of BBC Scotland series The Council, has died in hospital.

A statement on the Raith Rovers site said that the lifelong fan had passed away.

It read: “It is with sadness that we report that life-long supporter Davey Rowbotham (60), star of the recent BBC Scotland programme, The Council, passed away on Monday evening.

“Our thoughts are with ‘Twiggy’s’ family and friends at this sad time.”

Davey featured in episode one of the three-part series, which followed council staff and service users in Fife during the early part of 2016.

Davey, who lived in Methil, had health problems which affected his mobility and hadn’t left his home in some time, due to being at the top of the stairs.

He won viewers over with his sense of humour, forthright approach to communications, and air-guitar antics while listening to Motorhead

The episode ended on a happy note as council staff were able to help Davey find a new home on the ground floor with a garden.

However, it was bittersweet as it was later revealed that Davey had been taken to hospital on the day that the episode aired in early December.