COMPETITORS drove to Kinross to take part in the east region sports day when Ettrick and Lauderdale JAC came third in the hockey competition, beaten by winners Reston and Strathearn.

The Ettrick and Lauderdale team members were: Ben Moffat, Nikki Moffat, Kerry Sandilands, Katy Nimo, Cameron Pate, Ross King, Emily Douglas and Stephen Patterson.

Those competing for Reston were: Craig Patterson, John Orr, Duncan Orr, Graham Fleming, David Hutchison, Agnes Orr, Carina Calder, Kelly Aitchison, Hollie Wilson, Alex Prentice and Erin King.

Reston also lifted the seven-a-side football honours, their line-up being: Duncan Orr, Ross King, John Orr, Steven Patterson, David Hutchison, Craig Patterson and Graham Fleming.

z ST BOSWELLS mart hosted the Scottish Association Young Farmers’ east region beef cattle dressing competition on Saturday.

Judges Natalie Cormack, from Berwickshire, and St Boswells market chairman James Allan pulled a team from Bathgate in first.

ATTEMPTS are being made to resurrect two community councils in the Borders.

The Greenlaw and Hume council folded in March when not enough people came forward to form a council.

A petition signed by 20 residents in the area has now been received by Scottish Borders Council asking for an opportunity for an election to form a new council.

There are nine seats on the council community – six for those living in Greenlaw and three for residents in the Hume area.

Nomination forms are available from Blackadder Mini Mart and Romanes Pharmacy.

In order for the council to be reconstituted a minimum of six names are required.

A similar exercise is taking place at St Abbs where seven seats are available and the minimum number required is four. Forms are available from the Ebba Centre. Meanwhile, Duns Community Council has folded because not enough people had come forward when nominations closed last week.

Nine members of Selkirk-based Souter Quilters took part in a national quiltathon aiming to make the Guinness Book of Records for the most quilts made in one day in Scotland.

The quilts, all of the same supplied pattern, are to be included in the project to cover Hampden Park football stadium in Glasgow next year with 5,000 one-metre square quilts. They will then be sold or auctioned in aid of Alzheimer Scotland. Remaining quilts will be adopted by care homes.

The aim of the project is to raise awareness of dementia and how it affects not only the sufferer, but their families and friends.

ORGANISERS are expecting more than 250 people to enjoy a Night of Ghouls in Newtown St Boswells later this month.

Newtown Community Centre is holding its annual ghost walk on October 27, leaving from John Swans Mart at 7.30pm.

Organiser Sandy Bell said: “We are doing ghost stories and poems, including the witches scene from Macbeth. We are also telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood, in our own fashion, with our own wee twist at the end.

“The walk will take place after the performance, through the sheep pens and beyond. We will once again have our balls of fire and the burning of the witch.

“I am hoping that it will be as good as our last few years as we have been attracting crowds of about 250 plus.”

Doors open at 7pm.

THE CAMPAIGN to save the historic Crook Inn in Tweedsmuir received a boost this week when a Clyde wind farm pledged £25,000.

Locals are trying to buy the former coaching inn from owner James Doonan and have until the end of the year to raise £160,000.

Tweedsmuir Community Company (TCC) director James Welch welcomed the latest help, saying: “The campaign to save the Crook Inn is gathering momentum and the support to date from SSE Renewables has been critical through sponsoring activities such as the music festival and supporting our long-term plans through the Clyde Wind Farm fund.”

Local MP David Mundell said he was ‘delighted’, adding: “This important local project is all about restoring ‘the Crook’ as the heart of the community once more, and at the same time providing jobs and preserving history, and this latest grant brings that dream one step closer.”

TCC is about to launch a flier and letters campaign to raise the last £60,000.

ANIMAL lovers voted overwhelmingly to safeguard the future of Borders Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) by appointing a co-ordinator at the charity’s AGM earlier this month.

The new post will attract a salary of about £28,000 and trustees hope to appoint someone within the next few months.

New, formerly acting, chairperson Julia Romanes said: “It’s a fantastic chance to get somebody who has got the time and commitment to give to the charity to make sure we are running it in the best way possible.”

The charity wants to review what service local animals need in the next year, said Ms Romanes.

“We need to look at how we can fit better in the community and we really need to help people understand the most up-to-date way of looking after and training their animals, particularly dogs. We also need to be more involved particularly with the young and we want to encourage people to become members and participate.

“We also want to maximise our volunteers to deliver as much of the management and service as possible and we need to review the charity shop: it’s been an incredibly difficult year there, very few volunteers want to run it and we need to look at whether it’s the best use of our time and, in this day and age, whether it is the best way to get an income.”

The trustee/directors of the charity had been concerned that, if the required three quarters of members had not voted yes to employing a co-ordinator, they may have had to look at closing the charity and animal rescue centre. But only one member voted against the proposal.

BAWA runs its rescue centre and horse livery at Earlston as well as a charity shop in Galashiels. Since opening its Earlston centre the charity has rehomed more than 1,500 animals.

TRIBUTES have poured in for Colonel Clive Fairweather, former commanding officer of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and deputy commander of the Special Air Service (SAS), who has died from a brain tumour at the age of 68.

Colonel Fairweather, who often featured in TheSouthern, where his comments as a military expert were much valued, was taken ill in June.

Born in Edinburgh in 1944, he had enlisted in the KOSB as a private soldier, before rising to the rank of full colonel. He also undertook three tours with the SAS and was security adviser to the Iranian and Jordanian royal households during the early 1970s.

Colonel Fairweather was second-in-command of the 22nd SAS at the time of the Iranian embassy siege in London in 1980.

His last army posting was at Edinburgh Castle, where he was security officer for the capital’s world-famous military tattoo.

Between 1994 and 2002, Colonel Fairweather was Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland, quickly establishing a reputation as a champion of prison reforms.

Awarded a CBE in 2003 for his lifetime of public and national service, for most of the last decade he had worked as chief fundraiser for the ex-service personnel charity Combat Stress.

Fellow former CO of the 1st Battalion, KOSB, Brigadier Allan Alstead said Colonel Fairweather had been held in enormous regard by the men he commanded, and by every level of rank underneath him.

“The private soldiers adored him and thought he was a great leader,” he said. “He was a motivational leader, and a man who could take people forward and do things that they didn’t want to do, and do them very well.”

Local ex-KOSB officer Donald Fairgrieve, who led the campaign against the regiment’s amalgamation in the 1990s, said Colonel Fairweather’s many former comrades and friends in the Borders would be deeply saddened by the news of his death.

“We knew that the outcome of Clive’s illness, caused by an inoperable brain tumour, was death, but the speed of its coming has shocked his many friends,” Mr Fairgrieve told TheSouthern this week.

“The regiment has lost a man who was a soldier’s soldier, who was respected by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

“Clive was a thoroughly decent man, and a born leader. He will be sadly missed, not only in the regimental family, but in the wider community nationally.”

Colonel Fairweather was commissioned into the KOSB in July 1964, and it was after four years’ service, which included a year-long tour of duty in the Far East, that he applied for SAS selection.

He was one of only four men out of 42 candidates to make it through and was later promoted to captain.

Between 1969 and 1971, he was involved in a number of operational tours with 22 SAS, including Sharjah, Northern Ireland, Iran, Oman, Dhofar and Jordan. He was injured in a booby-trap bombing in Belfast in 1972, and investigated the capture and murder of Captain Robert Nairac by the IRA.

In 1979, he was appointed second-in-command of 22 SAS, a period most notable for the Iranian embassy siege in London.

In 1984, he was appointed CO at the Scottish Infantry Depot in Glencorse, and from 1987 until 1989 was CO of the 1st Battalion, KOSB. In March 1991, he was promoted to Colonel of the Scottish Division.

Although he was offered promotion to brigadier as well as defence attache posts in 1993, Colonel Fairweather turned these down, opting to take early retirement from the army.

A main board trustee of the KOSB regiment, recent years saw him turn his hand to broadcasting, journalism and writing, and he was a regular commentator on 
defence-related topics for a number of newspapers.

He was very familiar with the Borders, with one of his passions walking and running along the region’s old disused railway lines.

Colonel Fairweather married Ann Dexter in 1980 and he is survived by his former wife, son Nicholas, and daughters Charlotte and Amelia.

The homeless bum who beat alcoholism to become lucky mascot to every New York movie set will appear at Galashiels’ Pavilion Cinema this Sunday, following the Scottish premiere of a documentary about him by Jedburgh filmmaker Mary Kerr.

‘Radioman’ (also the title of the documentary) is described as “the world’s unlikeliest film star”, the “where’s Waldo of showbiz”, and the “celebrity’s celebrity”. “Hollywood’s dirtiest movie star alive,” as he describes himself, is also featured on the front cover of The Big Issue this week.

This Sunday the documentary receives its Scottish premier in Galashiels, at the local cinema where director Mary Kerr began her love of film when she was growing up at her family home at Jardinfield near Jedburgh.

Now 31 years old, the London- based filmmaker is receiving critical acclaim for her first movie.

The Guardian’s film critic Peter Bradshaw described Radioman as: “a shrewd insight into the sentimentality and superstition of the film business, and the brittle world of movie status and prestige”, while the BBC’s Mark Kermode called it “a charming, quirky documentary made very, very affectionately”.

Mary will attend a Q&A after the documentary – and so will the film’s subject, Radioman, straight from New York. 
“I first met him on the set of Indiana Jones in 2007,” Mary told TheSouthern. “He was eating out of the bins at Yale University, and talking to Steven Spielberg at the time. From then it took us four years to make the documentary.

“I used to work in a homeless shelter and liked the idea that everyone has a story. I felt his story should be told.”

She added: “We’re taking him round the Borders this weekend to visit castles. He’s very into ghosts and says he can feel spirits.”

“I believe in Nessie,” Radioman told us, “and I hope I’ll sense something in the Scottish castles.”

“It’s all a whirlwind, a hurricane: I never expected any of this,” he added about his fame. “I toured the House of Lords this morning. They were all thinking: ‘What is this bum doing in here?’”

According to the film’s website, “Radioman is the unbelievable story of an extraordinary eccentric – a New York street bum of the same (nick)name who overcame homelessness and addiction to become an unlikely New York City movie legend with over 100 small parts to his name”, including cameos in Zoolander, The Bourne Trilogy, Godzilla, Indiana Jones, The Sopranos, Elf, Two Weeks Notice, Ransom, and many more other films and television shows.

Every day the 61-year-old pedals across the Big Apple on his trusty bicycle (given to him by Whoopi Goldberg) from movie set to movie set, to hang out with the cast and crew between takes, land cameo roles, spy stars, collect autographs, and feed from the studio rubbish bins.

“The stars, filmmakers, and crew are the closest thing Radioman has to a family,” adds the film’s producers Ten Cent Adventures, “and he cherishes the time he can spend alone with them as one spent amongst equals, even if it involves waiting for them for seven hours in the freezing cold.”

Craig Castaldo, born in Brooklyn in 1951, earned his nickname ‘Radioman’ from the battered boom box he hung around his neck to deter thieves from stealing it while he was sleeping rough. According to his own website, Castaldo was homeless and struggled with alcoholism, and following an involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital, he decided to give up drinking more than 15 years ago.

The 68-minute documentary features interviews with many of the celebrities who know him, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Tilda Swinton, Robin Williams, Jude Law, Josh Brolin, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey and more.

“Radioman is the rags to (no) riches story of a human being full of dreams and contradictions, and of a life full of missed opportunities and unexpected blessings,” the film’s website continues: “It gives the audience unparalleled access to the everyday behind the scenes of showbusiness – of paparazzi, autograph collectors, premieres and film shoots – all seen through the unlikely eyes of an old New York street bum.”

The film was released in April 2012 and premiered at Toronto’s Hot Docs documentary film festival, and has just begun a UK tour.

The Pavilion cinema’s manager, Andrew Poole, said: “The Pavilion was Mary Kerr’s local cinema when she grew up in Jedburgh, and it’s great to see her now directing her own films. When we saw the trailer for Radioman it captured our imagination, and we are sure that this is a film our customers will want to see. Here’s a guy who came from absolutely nowhere, yet now seems to be absolutely everywhere, with a filmography longer than some of the biggest names in Hollywood. And he seems to have not just rubbed shoulders with these stars, but is on first name terms with them. We are looking forward to welcoming Mary back into her local cinema and, of course, Radioman himself for the Q&A after the film.”

You can view a trailer for Radioman at http://pavilioncinema.co.uk/radioman.htm and book tickets at the cinema box office, online at pavilioncinema.co.uk, or by calling 01896752767. Tickets cost £7.50 (adult), £6.50 (teen 15-17), or £6 (student/senior).

SOME children in central and eastern Europe will only be receiving Christmas presents this year thanks to the efforts of Selkirk Rotary Club’s Rotakids.

Rotakids groups at Philiphaugh community and Lilliesleaf primary schools have decided to fill Rotary Christmas shoeboxes which will go to youngsters who rarely get such treats. The boxes will be filled during the next few weeks and delivered by UK Rotary clubs, with help from international aid agencies.

Parents, grandparents and friends are being asked to help by providing small toys, games, knitted gloves and scarves, and anything else they think would be appreciated by youngsters (no food or liquids).

Both groups will also be raising funds for water projects abroad, as well as helping the young and old in the their own communities.

BORDERS MP Michael Moore was one of the architects of the referendum agreement signed in Edinburgh on Monday.

The Scottish Secretary worked with Scotland’s deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon to negotiate the details that will see Scotland voting on the independence issue before the end of 2014.

There will be a single ‘yes or no’ question on Scotland breaking away from the UK, and 16 and 17-year-olds will be allowed to take part in the ballot.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale SNP MSP Christine Grahame welcomed the agreement signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and the First Minister Alex Salmond at St Andrew’s House.

She described the vote on Scotland’s future as “the most important decision we will take in centuries”.

And she told TheSouthern: “I am pleased that all the speculation has come to an end and that there will be one question on the referendum ballot paper.

“I am particularly delighted that 16 and 17-year-olds will have the right to vote in what will determine not just the future of Scotland but their futures.”

The UK government is responsible for constitutional issues and part of Monday’s agreement – being referred to by some as the Edinburgh Agreement – is to allow the Scottish Parliament to hold a legal referendum.

A Section 30 order will be laid in the Scottish Parliament and at Westminster to confirm Holyrood has the power to hold a single question referendum.

After the order has been agreed, the Scottish Government will bring forward legislation to Parliament to allow the referendum to be run, which will set out the proposed date, franchise, the wording of the question, rules on campaign finance, and other rules governing the conduct of the campaign.

Monday’s deal also commits both governments to working together in the best interests of Scotland, whatever the outcome of the ballot.

Following Monday’s signing, Mr Moore said: “Now let’s get on with the real debate over Scotland’s future.”

He continued: “I am glad we have reached this agreement on the referendum process so we can now get on with the real debate over Scotland’s future.

“This is the most important choice the people of Scotland will ever face, so it is vital that both sides now set out their arguments clearly and robustly.

“I personally will be making the case for Scotland’s ongoing place in the UK family because we are better, stronger and safer together, and I firmly believe that Scots will vote positively for that future.

“I am also pleased that we will not be mixing two very separate issues of devolution and independence on one ballot paper. Devolution means strengthening Scotland within the UK whereas independence means taking Scotland out of the UK forever.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I am committed to the ongoing process of devolution and I will be campaigning passionately against the break-up of the UK which would herald the end of this process.”

Also speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Salmond said: “The Edinburgh Agreement, signed by the Scottish and UK governments today, marks a significant step in Scotland’s Home Rule journey.

“Importantly, it will ensure that the biggest decision the people of our country will make for many generations is made here in Scotland for the benefit of all of those that live and work here.

‪“This will be a referendum designed and delivered by the Scottish Parliament. Today’s accord marks agreement on the process and respect for the outcome, from both sides. In my view, it paves the way for a new partnership in these islands.”

Mr Salmond wants voters to be asked: “Do you agree that Scotland should become an independent country?”

But the wording has been criticised by pro-union supporters for being “loaded”.

Mr Salmond’s preferred date for the referendum is reported to be autumn 2014.

A REPORT published by The Bank of Scotland has shown that the Borders is the fifth least affordable area for new borrowers.

The study showed that first time buyers and those taking out new mortgages have 23.9 per cent of their disposable income taken up by mortgage repayments.

Although this figure is lower than the UK average of 26 per cent, it is the fifth highest in Scotland – East Ayrshire sits at just 15 per cent.

Local MSP John Lamont said:“Many of us know just how hard it can be to get onto the first step of the property ladder, so it is welcome that mortgage repayments for first time buyers take up considerably less of their disposable income than five years ago.

“To be lower than the UK average is also positive. However, new borrowers in the Borders are still paying more of their disposable income than the majority of Scotland and there is clearly room for improvement.

“We need to do more to help and encourage first-time buyers to invest in our housing market. We need to ensure that mortgage repayments become less of a burden, and to achieve this banks will have to take steps towards offering lower repayment schemes.”

Mr Lamont added: “The housing industry in the Borders is vital for our local economy, but we are discouraging new borrowers by being unaffordable compared to other areas of Scotland. The banking industry has the power to help this situation by offering better mortgage rates for our region and I hope they can take action to see this happen.”

NEW environment minister Paul Wheelhouse this week visited a climate change focus farm near Jedburgh.

The Berwickshire-based MSP heard from farmers Robert and Jac Neill at Upper Nisbet about how they are reducing their farm’s impact on climate change and improving efficiency.

The mixed beef and arable unit is one of four farms in Scotland involved in the Scottish Government’s “Farming For A Better Climate” initiative, run by SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College.

The Neills told the minister how they had measured their carbon footprint, carried out energy use and scope for wind power audits, and used “precision-farming” techniques. This means that after analysing soil fertility and using satellite mapping and a tractor-mounted GPS, they can target fertiliser use better, reducing waste, cutting costs and avoiding pollution.

Mr Neill said: “With a poor summer and bad harvest costs crippling farmers at the moment, anything we can do to improve farm efficiency and reduce costs is welcome.”

Mr Wheelhouse said: “Improving farm efficiency and, in turn, the bottom line is at the heart of the “Farming For A Better Climate” initiative.

“The farm demonstrates impressively that measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can reduce farm costs. Efficient fertiliser management not only helps the climate, but also improves water quality. And returning manures and straw from the cattle to the land helps soils fertility and locks carbon in.

“These are really good examples of win-win measures for farmers.”

THE local authority has been accused of using bogus health and safety claims to partly justify the possible spending of more than £50,000 to replace tables and chairs used in its council chamber at Newtown St Boswells.

The accusation comes from the panel set up by the Health & Safety Executive to challenge dubious claims that decisions have been taken due to health and safety rules.

Last month, TheSouthern reported local authority leader David Parker as defending the decision to spend more than £80,000 on improvements to offices, with a possible additional £50,000 to refurbish the main council debating chamber.

The figures were issued in response to a question from the Conservative group leader on the local authority, Councillor Michelle Ballantyne, at a full council meeting.

As far as the issue of refurbishments to the council chamber were concerned – which were estimated in excess of £50,000 – these have now been carried out.

The reasons given by Mr Parker in September were that the old tables were heavy and not designed to be assembled and re-assembled as frequently as they were and had been “condemned on health and safety grounds.”

Mr Parker told us back then: “They are more than 20 years old and have been routinely assembled and reassembled up to five times a day over that period so we have certainly had our money out of them. From a moving and handling perspective, we cannot continue with them.

“We will also replace the chairs which again are 20 years old and have seen better days, and we intend to replace the carpet as it is frayed, marked and very badly worn in a number of places.”

However, Mrs Ballantyne had slammed the spending of the money – on what she said were perfectly adequate areas of the council buildings – as a “disgrace”, coming as it did at a time when local communities were being advised to make do or wait because money is tight.

And this week news of the review of SBC’s spending proposals came from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

On the agency’s website, its ‘Myth Busters Challenge Panel’ called into question the claims made by Mr Parker that health and safety concerns were among the reasons the furniture may be replaced.

The panel was set up to provide a mechanism for anyone – whether on behalf of a company or organisation, or as an individual – who receives advice or is told that a decision has been taken in the name of health and safety which they believe to be disproportionate or inaccurate, to challenge that advice.

The panel stated: “If the council is purchasing new furniture and carpets because the current stock is old and worn out, it should declare this as the case. Not hide behind health and safety.

“There is no specific regulation which relates to the weight of furniture. The cost of replacement could be avoided if the council as an employer was to provide adequate staffing levels and training for the movement of the furniture and carry out repairs to the carpet.”

Commenting this week, Mrs Ballantyne said the present council ruling administration had promised transparency and that it should start by admitting the real reasons for the new improvements were that someone just fancied comfier chairs, better tables and a nicer carpet.

“If you asked most people what they would rather see £50,000 spent on, when we have schools needing classrooms refurbished and disabled access for toilets, I can pretty much guarantee comfier new chairs for councillors to sit on and a new carpet would not be a priority,” she said.

But responding to the H & S panel comments this week, Mr Parker told us: “We didn’t say that it was exclusively health and safety and accepted that part of the reason for replacing the furniture was that it was at the end of its useful life for the council chamber purposes.

“However, as part of the assessment we did look at the tables from a manual handling point of view and it was clear that we could not continue with our current practice of assembling them and reassembling them with the current staff compliment.

“Employing additional staff would not have been a cost effective solution and given the age and damage to the tables replacing them was the best way forward.

“The carpet again was in a poor state and the ongoing cost of repairs to it was seen as prohibitive.

“Before making a decision to replace we carefully looked at all aspects of the change and health and safety was one of the considerations, and that was supported by the assessment that we had carried out.”

RECOMMENDED restrictions on forestry planting on farmland have been welcomed by local MSP Jim Hume, writes Sally Gillespie.

The former Yarrow farmer was reacting to the Scottish Government’s acceptance of guidelines suggested by the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group (WEAG).

He said: “The type of land that is favoured for tree planting is commonly hill farm type land or moorland, which makes up a significant fraction of the Borders farming community.

“Parts of the Ettrick valley have been particularly affected by tree planting in recent years which is causing concern that the rural economy and landscape will be changed forever, losing traditional farming methods and skills.

“I welcome the recognition of the need for a sensible balance and the Scottish Government must now ensure that a proper balance is achieved.”

The National Farmers Union of Scotland’s policy director, Jonnie Hall, who sat on the WEAG, said: “The adoption of the WEAG report is a significant step with important principles, notably the presumption against whole-farm planting and the protection of a critical mass of farmland and the better land classes, which will allow a viable future for the extensive and moorland areas in Scotland’s Less Favoured Areas.”

But he cautioned: “The recommendations will mean nothing without proactive catchment-level and regional planning processes.”

Ettrick valley residents have been concerned by the number of farms lost to forestry over recent years.

From a reported 23 farms in the area 50 years ago, 10 remain with three being ploughed for trees and concerned local councillor Vicky Davidson and sheep farmers met the then Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead over the issue last year.

HEADWEAR using smart textiles is now a reality thanks to work by researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels.

The new soft material is being used to make headgear for women with cancer-related hair loss and 10 per cent of sales of the new products from Selkirk textile company Murray Hogarth will go to Maggie’s Centres.

The company worked closely with the university’s school of textiles and design and South of Scotland Business Solutions and launched the luxury headwear range, Asha last week.

The turbans, headscarf and accessories, which are being marketed under the name Asha, use micro-encapsulated textiles, which offer added comfort as well as aroma-therapeutic benefits to cancer. And they have a range of finishes such as lavender and other aromatherapy oils and thermo-regulated textiles, aimed at helping the women.

The School of Textiles & Design’s business development manager Jim McVee said: “My brief was to assist Murray Hogarth with the development of a well-being garment for women who are having chemo or radiotherapy and which could help with some of the side effects associated with the treatment.

“Fashion Technology at the school developed prototypes and we also recommended that an enhanced finish be added to the fabrics to add further value to the product. This would turn an ordinary garment in to one which would offer the customer different solutions to potential side effects of their treatment. We also helped Murray Hogarth to find a manufacturer who could produce the quantities they needed.”

One of the finishes incorporates small, airtight capsules containing a chosen scent, being welded to the textile fibre. When the garment is worn, friction causes the capsules to burst, releasing a subtle fragrance, such as aloe vera or lavender.

And researchers say there are many different types of micro-encapsulated textile finishes from UV ray management and temperature regulation to vitamins and moisturisers which could be incorporated to suit specific needs.

Maggie’s senior corporate fundraising manager, Gemma Branney, said: “Any kind of work or research to help women with cancer-related hair loss is hugely welcome. We are also delighted that Asha are choosing to donate 10 per cent of their sales to Maggie’s. 
We rely on the generosity of the communities surrounding our centres to ensure we can open our 
doors to support local people affected by cancer.”

LOCAL councillors in Peebles are lobbying politicians to save the town’s sheriff court.

Peebles Community Council has written criticising the proposal to shut the facility saying they “vigorously defend the right of the people of Tweeddale to have access to justice and strongly recommend that our court remains in Peebles”.

The letter has been sent to local MP David Mundell, MSP Christine Grahame, local Scottish Borders Councillors and Sheriff Kevin Drummond.

In it they say: “There will be no significant saving by closing the court in Peebles. In all likelihood costs will increase as there will be a marked increase in the amount of time spent by the police and Criminal Justice Services in travelling to alternate venues as well as the additional costs incurred by members of the public.”

Instead they point to the court already being co-located with SBC and police officers “on a site which only recently was modernised for exactly that purpose,” adding: “This achieves considerable cost savings and improves the administration of justice.”

The councillors are also concerned about people getting justice. They say: “The closure of the court will prevent large numbers of people having access to justice. Travelling time and cost will prevent some sections of the population from achieving access to the justice system.

“Over time it seems likely that associated services (lawyers, criminal justice teams) will migrate to the locality of the nearest court thus further reducing the access to justice for a large portion of the population.

“In addition some people will be limited in their ability to attend court because of disability or financial hardship. Locally administered justice is a significant and important objective.

“The court in Peebles has survived earlier threats precisely because the strength of the arguments in favour of preserving local courts were so compelling.”

And they also say: “Justice should not only be able to be done, it should be seen to be done. Moving court services away from the locality will prevent many people having access to court and will also reduce their access through reports in the press. It is important that the justice service is not undermined by any potential move and that access to justice remains fair for all members of the population.”

The threat to the court is contained in a consultation paper on the future of Scotland’s court structure published at the end of last month.

In it the Scottish Court Service (SCS) announced its intention to close the Sheriff Courts and Justice of the Peace courts in Peebles and Duns next year, transferring business to Edinburgh and Jedburgh.

The SCS cites “low volumes of business” as the reason to close Peebles and admits the cost-saving measure would increase travel distances and costs for people going to court.

The proposed cuts have been criticised by members of the legal profession who fear a loss of access to justice.

Earlier this month Sheriff Drummond told TheSouthern he believed both the Tweeddale and Berwickshire courts could be saved, telling us: “Peebles represents a model for the provision of rural justice services.... There are no building maintenance costs at Peebles and Peebles is run by the staff and sheriff in Selkirk.”

And he urged Borderers to make their views known. The proposals (Shaping Scotland’s Courts at www.scotcourts.gov.uk) are out to public consultation for 
three months. The deadline for responses to courtstructures @scotcourts.gov.uk is 
December 21.

THE popular Scottish Conker Championships has been cancelled just days before it was due to go ahead, writes Sally Gillespie.

Organisers Borders Forest Trust have been forced to pull the plug on the event scheduled for Saturday in Peebles because of a lack of conkers.

It’s the first time in the event’s six-year history that it has been cancelled.

The charity’s communications officer Louisa Finch said: “Despite many efforts to locate a source of suitable conkers in time to prepare for the event, this past summer’s weather has meant that too few are available.

“Many horse chestnut trees are bare this year or only have very small conkers which wouldn’t have fared well in competition

“The first five Scottish Conker Championships were a real success, so we are saddened that the event won’t be happening this year.

“We’d like to apologise for any disappointment caused and hope that the championships will be back next year.”

The popular contest is one of the flagship events of the Tweed Valley Forest Festival which starts this weekend.

The rest of the event is going ahead as scheduled, including the Wood Market in Peebles when wood product makers sell direct to the public and other woodworkers including chainsaw artists show their skills on Tweed Green and offer people the chance to try making a wooden spoon, bat box or witches broom for Halloween.

Organisers said there will be other children’s activities and entertainment at the weekend including the Woodland Puppets and music provided by Nomad Beat with drum workshops in the yurt.

For more information visit www.forest-festival.com

FIREFIGHTERS have described the survival of a family of three from a flat fire in Peebles this morning as a “very lucky escape”.

The three occupants - a 42-year-old man, 41-year-old woman and a three-year-old girl - managed to get out of the ground floor property on Elcho Street before firefighters arrived at 3.11am.

The family were all given oxygen after suffering from smoke inhalation and were taken to Borders General Hospital for a check up.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze using two high-pressure hose reels.

The fire extensively damaged the flat and the smoke affected surrounding properties. Five residents from neighbouring properties had to be evacuated.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “Early indications suggest the fire broke out as a result of a candle left burning in the property.

“This is something that we have seen before and we cannot stress enough if you use candles that you must make sure they are fully extinguished before going to bed.

“There was no smoke detection in the flat either and so it is fair to say the family had a very lucky escape.

“The family were alerted to emergency by the sounds of the fire crackling and banging. When fire breaks out, particularly in the early hours of the morning, it can be very disorientating and the risks of being overcome by smoke are significant.

“We believe every home should have a working smoke detector. It provides vital early warning if fire does break out, allowing you to escape from the fire safely and call us out.

“We are very relieved that the family in question managed to do this although they did suffer smoke inhalation.

“We wish them a speedy recovery and would take this opportunity to remind people of the need for vigilance when it comes to fire safety.”

“Get into the habit of making checks in your home before you go to bed or leave your home for the day. In addition, make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your house.

“It really could save your life one day.”

To arrange a free home safety visit and fitting of smoke detectors as required by calling 0800 169 0320.

SCOTTISH Borders Council have apologised after IT problems caused a delay to the introduction of chip and pin technology for its contact centres, registration offices and Jim Clark Room across the region.

The local authority had yet to set a date for the new device to be up and running but says its previous payment system will be retained until the problem is solved.

A spokesman said: “SBC apologises for any inconvenience.”

THE property marketing service ESPC today called on the Scottish Government to shake up current housing policy in order to stimulate sales of existing homes in a bid to rejuvenate the housing market.

In written evidence submitted to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s review of the government’s 2013-14 draft budget, the service, which comprises more than 160 solisitor estate agent members, called for a “radical rethink” of existing initiatives that largely incentivise the purchase of new builds at the expense of existing homes.

Urging the government to take “bold steps” to unleash pent-up demand in the housing market, ESPC drew attention to the benefits of a strong existing home market, which accounts for 80 per cent of total home sales, including greater confidence for homebuilders, increased labour mobility and providing a firm foundation for economic growth through greater household wealth.

Malcolm Cannon, Chief executive at ESPC said: “ESPC holds extensive data which shows that there is a strong desire amongst Scottish households to own a home. A robust housing market is of crucial importance to Scotland’s economic future and the Scottish Government must introduce policies that have the potential to turn this demand into a thriving sector and drive property sales.

“Initiatives, such as shared equity and mortgage indemnity schemes are important tools in getting the market moving again. However, the current policy emphasis is weighted too heavily in favour of new builds over existing homes, despite existing homes making up the greatest share of the housing market.

“If we truly want to breathe new life into the market, we are going to need policies that provide the right assistance to all households looking to move, regardless of the type of home they wish to purchase. To achieve that, the government needs to introduce new ways to extend the benefits of home ownership to as many households as possible.”

z Read all written submissions to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s scrutiny of the Draft Budget 2013-14 here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/54990.aspx