Former parachute display team member Martin Young will touch down on the casting platform on June 15 to represent the Ex-Soldiers Association.

He was appointed at a meeting of the association in the Fleece Bar on Sunday, April 22.

It’s a posting that fills the 43-year-old police officer with a great sense of pride.

Martin told us: “Having been brought up with the history and traditions of Selkirk Common Riding, it is both a huge honour and a privilege for me and my family to have been chosen.

“Being a police officer, I’m well used to standing up in court so nerves won’t be an issue, but I can’t even imagine how emotional it will be to stand up on that platform, cast the flag, and dip it for the two-minute silence.

“I look forward to making new friendships, renewing old ones and creating a lifetime of memories.”

Martin was educated in Selkirk at Knowepark Primary School and Selkirk High School.

He enlisted in the Army in 1994, serving in the First Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers until 1997.

During his service, Martin was primarily based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, but in November 1995 he was deployed to Northern Ireland for a six-month tour of Belfast, during which time he was trained as team medic. In 1996, on his return from Northern Ireland, Martin was selected for a six-month posting with the Scottish Division Golden Lions parachute display team. In 1997, after a six-week exercise in the USA, Martin left the Army and returned to Selkirk.

After working in Viasystems in Selkirk and NEC Semiconductors in Livingston, Martin joined Lothian and Borders Police in 2001, and now works in the road policing branch at Galashiels.

Martin’s lady busser will be his girlfriend Gillian Harkness, who will tie his ribbon to the flag at the 2018 Selkirk Ex-Soldiers Association annual dinner, bussin’ and dance on Friday, May 25, and he says he can’t wait for his daughters Hannan, nine, and seven-year-old Rebecca to watch the spectactle.

Michael Pepper is about to be woven into the long history of Weavers standard bearers after being appointed at the Incoporation’s agm on Friday.

Michael, who is 27, lives in Galashiels, but he was born and brought up in Selkirk.

He began following the Weavers in 2013, when his partner Clare Shiels’ father David was standard bearer.

Since then, he has secured a modern apprenticeship at Anthony Haines Textiles in Level Crossing Road.

He said: “I love it, It’s great fun ... it doesn’t even feel like work.

“I’m the first of my family to be standard bearer, but I was eligible to join as my dad Brian used to work in Gardiners.

“I am really looking forward to it, meeting all the new people will be fantastic, but I’m sure the highlight will be standing on that platform and casting the flag.

“I think I’ll be feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

“I have had a few practices casting since I joined, but this year I am ready.

“I can’t wait.”

His lady busser will be his partner Clare, who is 23.

He was congratulated by new deacon Mick Quinn.

He told us: “Michael is a great lad.

“It really means something to me that the first standard bearer under my charge is actually an apprentice weaver, as I don’t think that’s happened for a while.”

Mick, 53, said becoming deacon was not really in his sights until recently.

He said: “I’ve never really thought about it up until the last year, when Keith Russell said he was standing down.

“When my name was put into the hat, I decided to go for it. It is a good thing to do.”

Mick, who worked in Laidlaw and Fairgrieve’s Selkirk mill when he left school, said keeping the tradition alive is very important.

“I’m going to be involved a lot more with the united crafts and looking to get a lot more youngsters involved,” said Mick.

“I’d like to explain to them how the weavers flag can be relevant to them and how they can be a part of the Common Riding.

“We need to keep this tradition going, or it will die.”

Some like it hot, and Borders MP John Lamont would appear to be one of them as he yesterday completed the hottest-ever London Marathon in under four hours, raising more than £4,000 for charity.

The Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP was among almost 40,000 runners braving temperatures of up to 24C – the highest recorded in the event’s 37-year history, to tackle the 26-mile run.

The 42-year-old finished in a time of three hours and 38 minutes, making him the fastest of the record number of 17 MPs taking part.

He has raised more than £4,000 for charities funding research into motor neurone disease, to be split equally between MND Scotland and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

John said: “It was far too hot to run a marathon, but I’m really pleased to have got round. It’s also a nice bonus to have been the first MP to have crossed the finishing line as well.

“The crowds in London were great. They really keep you going when your lungs and legs are telling you to stop.

“A huge thanks to everyone who has donated already. The support from Borderers in particular has been amazing.

“It was a huge boost to have reached my fundraising target before I started the race.

“Both MND Scotland and Doddie’s foundation do fantastic work to support people living with motor neurone disease and their families.

“Every penny raised will help pay for this support, as well as funding research into a cure for this terrible disease.”

To donate further, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JohnLamontMND

This was the MP’s third marathon, following ones in New York in 2011 and Edinburgh in 2012.

The first ever Borders Festival of Rugby is being hailed a huge success by organisers after it pulled in record crowds to Hawick on Saturday.

Incorporating round four of the Kings of the Sevens tournament, the Mansfield Park event also included girls and junior tournaments and coaches’ coaching sessions by former Scotland sevens stars Mark Robertson and Scott Wight.

Organiser John Thorburn said: “We were encouraged that for the first year trying the new initiatives it was a success and there were no major issues on the day.

“Numbers through the gates were certainly up on previous years so all the extra effort was definitely worthwhile.

“We’ve been asking everybody for feedback and whether they will come back and so far it’s all been good so we will be repeating it next year.”

“It’s always better when the sun shines too, and we are quite a fickle bunch in the Borders,” he added.

And while Watsonians triumphed on the field, off the pitch 190 guests filled the corporate hospitality area, while a further 70 ladies enjoyed the new afternoon tea in the marquee and 300 more saw the day out at the sevens after party.

John added: “I would like to thank everybody for their participation and our main sponsor BSW Timber from Earlston. The whole was great for our first year.”

“Watsonians are a class act at the moment. They are the team to watch. It was an all Edinburgh final, but it was a good final.”

Berwick-upon-Tweed played host to round five of the Kings of the Sevens tournament on Sunday.

And while the summer weather which graced round four in Hawick the previous day failed to make an appearance it did mean the club’s worries over pitch playability came to nothing.

Berwick RFC president Colin Frame said work had been going on behind the scenes all week amid fears April’s plentiful showers would put a dampner on the event.

“We had in place contingency plans for relocating the main pitch over to another pitch,” he said. “But the three days of good weather leading up to the day meant that the pitch was in the best condition it has been for many years for the sevens.

“So as far as the pitch was concerned, it was in immaculate condition given the amount of rain we have had.

“When it comes to sevens, you want to have some sunshine in the morning so that the crowds make the effort to come along, then a little cooler come the afternoon for the players, but you can’t have everything.

“Hawick could have shared some of the warmth,” he joked.

“The crowds were slightly down on last year overall, but I think the people that were there really enjoyed the day.

“We tried a different layout for the beer tent and barbecue this year which helped open up the area around the pitch and really allowed people to move about a bit more, so that worked really well.”

Around 90 supporters enjoyed the pre-match lunch which also featured a raffle, lottery and a draw which saw £1,000 donated to the chemotherapy unit at Berwick Infirmary.

Colin added: “That emphasises the community side of this club. That’s what the sevens is all about, not just getting big crowds but getting the people of Berwick out and involved with the club, so in that respect it was a great success.”

A redundant water storage tank built to serve the old Dingleton Hospital near Melrose could be set to be converted into two new houses.

Plans have been drawn up to turn the 140-year-old brick-clad building into two L-shaped sunken homes.

Applicant David Burgher wants to convert the building, set in a 31m-by-16.5m concrete basin 3m deep, into two three or four-bedroom homes with timber and glass panel walls arranged around a sunken courtyard.

The properties would have filtered views of the Eildon Hills from their upper terraces but would be largely invisible from public view.

A report by Aitken Turnbull Architects said: “The building is structurally sound below ground and makes for logical, sympathetic and highly energy-efficient conversion to residential use.”

Design plans show that the brick clad exterior would be kept and a barrel-vaulted pump-house would be retained as a store.

The design statement explains: “The plan form is a simple narrow L-shape which utilises the existing structure on two sides and allows for glazed walls to the south and west to maximise solar gain deep into the building.

“A staircase and service core is located within the hinge of the L plan and splits the wings into bedroom and living zones looking out into the sunken courtyard garden.

“The upper floor provides the entrance at natural ground level and has been designed as a simple square timber-clad pod which opens onto a roof terrace over the bedrooms.”

Discussing the application at Melrose Community Council’s April meeting, Robin Chisholm said: “It’s semi-derelict and these are interesting plans. It bears no resemblance to the surrounding properties, but due to the location, it shouldn’t have a visual impact.”

The community council had no objections but felt that, should the conversion go ahead, the 30mph limit should be moved up the hill, so that the proposed entry and exit would fall within it.

It will be 18 years this summer since Sean Hook first followed Kelso Civic Week on horseback at just six years old.

But come July the 24-year-old will lead that week as the 2018 Kelso Laddie having been unveiled in front of waiting crowds and given a rousing reception in the town square on Friday night.

And for the keen horse rider his appointment is a dream come true.

“I have always hoped to be Kelso Laddie,” he said. “I think deep down it’s one of the dreams that you have. But I never thought it would actually happen.

“The reception when I walked out on Friday is a feeling I will never forget.

“We were lucky with the weather, so fingers crossed it stays like that for the rest of the summer.”

He added: “I was youngest rider back in 2000, so I have been able to ride for a while. Rode Kelso to Yetholm at six-and-a-half years old.

“I have followed on and off since, took a bit of a back seat when the rugby took over.”

The former Broomlands Primary and Kelso High School pupil, who works with Coldstream-based electricians W P Purvis, is also a keen runner and played for Kelso Quins under 18s until injury put an end to his rugby days.

He will be supported this summer by his parents childminder and postie Keith, his younger sister Abbie and his lass, girlfriend of five years Leanne Woodruff.

Leanne, who works in accounts at Kelso’s Country Corner, is also a keen horserider and is looking forward to following on horseback beside Abbie this summer. The couple, who live at the Old Hospital, have two horses of their own.

Sean added: “Leanne is originally from Northampton but has been up here for a good few years now and understands what all happens. I’ve been making sure she comes to things over the past few years though so she is picking it all up.”

Sean was first approached and asked to take on the role back in February,

“It has been hard to keep it quiet”, he admitted. “That night I got a phone call from Ian who told me he was coming up to see me and that I should get my mum and dad up.

“So that’s how it all started and they knew straight away. My sister was sitting at home worried that something bad had happened, so we had to tell her too.”

He may be the first in his family to be named Kelso Laddie but Sean comes from a family steeped in Borders common riding tradition, with his great uncle Jock Murdoch serving as Jedburgh’s herald between 1971 and 1973 and his father following his native Hawick Common Riding on horseback over many years.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to the most,” Sean added. “Following the other towns’ festivals and seeing what they all do aswell will be very special.

“But carrying the flag in Kelso and being entrusted with that honour will obviously be a highlight.”

Sean’s lady bussers, also introduced on Friday, are Ruby Ward and Katelyn Guthrie from Broomlands Primary School and Abigail Hinnigan and Hayley Galbraith from Edenside Primary School.

He will be aided in his duties by his right and left-hand men Craig Logan and Ian Whellans.

This year’s 25th and 50th anniversary celebrants are 1993 laddie Michael Ballantyne and Jim Hoggarth, the 1968 laddie.

Borders Street Pastors attended Earlston Parish Church on Friday, April 20, for the commissioning of 11 new members.

The seven new street pastors and four response pastors were welcomed into the group by Rev Sandy Gunn of the Ascension Trust, Police Inspector Tony Hodges and councillor Euan Jardine.

The pastors’ growing numbers are in attendance every Saturday night in Galashiels and month in Hawick.

A team was present in Melrose during the sevens and one will also be in Earlston rugby tournament on May 6, while it’s planned to have a team present during Hawick Common Riding.

Kelso’s Lidl supermarket has announced a ecruitment drive for five more members of staff – to make a total of 25 – following in-store refurbishment.

The supermarket, which was the first to introduce the real living wage as recommended by the Living Wage foundation, is creating five new positions, which include a variety of customer assistant contracts at its Shedden Park Road store.

The shop – which recently completed a full refurbishment to bring it more up-to-date, creating a more modern shopping environment for its customers and staff –is looking for friendly, customer focused individuals to join their team.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to start straight away, where they will receive extensive training, excellent opportunities for progression and a warm welcome into a friendly store team.

A spokesperson for the retail giant said, “The shop floor is the beating heart of our business. It’s the front line, where all the action happens, so it’s only natural that we want to hire great people and provide the training, support and opportunities they need to be the best.””

Lidl prides itself on rewarding its employees with extremely competitive salaries, employee benefits including staff discount, and ongoing training and development opportunities.

Those who wish to find more information regarding the job roles available can do so by visiting www.careers.lidl.co.uk

The fate of a Hawick school is to be sealed this week.

A full meeting of Scottish Borders Council on Thursday is to consider a report recommending the closure of St Margaret’s RC Primary School.

Councillors are advised that the primary should shut and its pupils switch to other non-denominational schools nearby.

The Buccleuch Terrace site has capacity for 100 children, but its current roll is 14, with no pupils enrolled in primary one for the current academic year.

During consultation over the move, parents said they were happy with the learning provision at St Margaret’s but voiced concerns regarding the challenges their children faced with integration into the wider community.

An officers’ report concludes that while closing the school would mean there is no longer any denominational education provision in Hawick, there would be education and inclusion benefits for children attending their local catchment school.

The council has drawn up a programme to provide religious instruction for the St Margaret’s pupils.

Four high schools in the Borders need to replaced or undergo major repairs within the next decade and a half, a new report reveals.

Scottish Borders Council has carried out a review of the condition, capacity and suitability for learning of Galashiels Academy, Hawick High School, Selkirk High and Peebles High, and all have been found wanting.

The Galashiels, Hawick and Selkirk schools were given below-par C grades for their physical condition, meaning they are deemed to be showing major defects and signs of age.

Only Peebles High was assessed as being in good condition. Awarded a B grade, it is said to have experienced only minor deterioration.

It is in the frame for replacement or major repairs too, though, as only a grade A is deemed good enough.

The report, to be presented to members of the full council today, also considers the capacity of all four schools.

Galashiels, Hawick and Selkirk’s schools are currently well below capacity – with 825, 852 and 385 pupils respectively – but Peebles High’s 1,240-strong roll of pupils is the highest it has seen for over the last 20 years.

That puts the four schools at 68%, 64%, 53% and 86% of their capacities respectively.

In a report to councillors, Donna Manson, the council’s director of children’s and young people’s services, said: “It is our ambition that all four of these secondary-school learning environments are replaced or substantially improved at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Ideally, this timeframe would not stretch beyond 15 years.

“This aim is to ensure that the secondary school provision across the region is not only graded A for condition and suitability but will also provide the learning opportunities and experience that young people require to reach their full potential in the Scottish Borders.”

The report does accept that the proposed works would require significant additional funding from the Scottish Government, but it also notes that ministers are picking up the bill for two-thirds of the capital costs for the replacement of Kelso High School and the development of Jedburgh’s new intergenerational campus.

It adds: “The Scottish Government has not yet announced the latest education investment plan, which will include future funding for the Schools for the Future programme.

“In February, John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, advised that a detailed plan would be announced later this year.

“In order to ensure that Scottish Borders Council is in a position to respond to this announcement, the service directors are maintaining regular dialogue with Scottish Government officers.

“In seeking to progress an individualised strategic plan for each of the secondary schools, the council aims to be in a position to bid for investment funding when the government announcements are made.”

A progress report on plans for the four schools is to be brought back before the council in October.

Nationally, the condition of 83% of secondary schools in Scotland is rated as either A or B, with just 59, including three of the four Borders schools, receiving a C rating.

Today’s meeting, to be held at the council’s Newtown headquarters, starts at 10am.

These are the people most wanted by police forces in the UK in relation to alleged sexual offences.

They appear on the Crimestoppers Most Wanted page - a 160-strong list of men and women wanted in connection with crimes across Britain.

Crimestoppers is a registered charity helping law enforcement to solve crimes. Crimestoppers pay cash rewards of up to £1,000 for information and, since its formation in 1988, nearly 134,000 arrests have been made as a result of tip-offs to the charity.

Unlike some countries, the UK doesn’t rank its most wanted list - crimes are not ranked by their severity and there is no ‘most wanted individual’. But, according to Crimestoppers: “The nature of the crime or the investigation will influence whether an appeal is featured.”

The 13 people on the most wanted list for connection to crimes of a sexual nature:

Maciej Filip Szmurlo

Possession of Indecent Images of Children

Crime location:Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port

CS reference:CS1603-13772

Police force: Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=50766

Fatah Benlaredj

Wanted for the rape of a 7-year-old girl.

Nickname:Samir

CS reference:CS0909-3345

Police force: Other Law Enforcement

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=40273

Ali Benaun

Sexual Assault

Crime location:Timperley, Court Widnes

CS reference:CS1604-13788

Police force:Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=50782

Shaun Fox

Cambridgeshire Constabulary would like to speak to Shaun Fox regarding an incident which took place in Peterborough on 2nd April 2018

Crime location:Church Street, Stanground, Peterborough

Suspect name:Shaun Peter Graham Fox

Number of people involved:1

CS reference:CS1804-17277

Police force:Cambridgeshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=54272

Greg Ofulue

Rape

Crime location:Foregate Street, Chester

CS reference:CS1704-16064

Police force:Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=53059


Maiwand Abbasi

Police are appealing for information as to the whereabouts of Maiwand Abbasi, 22, from Archer Road in Stevenage, who failed to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 28/11/2014 in connection with a sexual offence.

Crime location:Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City

Suspect name:Maiwand Abbasi

CS reference:CS1704-16056

Police force:Hertfordshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=53051

Hannan Ahmed

The suspect is wanted in relation to inappropriate sexual activity with a minor.

Crime location: Moulton, Northwich

CS reference:CS1604-13802

Police force:Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=50796


Leandro Felipe Kontreras-Soto

The suspect is wanted in relation to the rape of a woman.

Crime location:Crewe

Suspect name:Leandro Felipe Kontreras-Soto

CS reference:CS1604-13801

Police force:Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=50795

Rezgar Zengana

Rezgar Zengana was convicted of raping a 25 year old female.

Crime location:Glasgow

Suspect name:Rezgar Zengana

Nickname: Zengana uses various aliases including Abdul Qadar, Rusheer Ahmed, Syed Waq and Ali Kermin

CS reference:CS1003-4049

Police force:Other Law Enforcement

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=40985

Costas Sampson

Crime type:Sexual crime

Wanted for rape and other offences.

Nickname:Kostas Sampson

CS reference:CS1208-8461

Police force:Other Law Enforcement

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=45431

Filomeno Francisco

The suspect is wanted in relation to a sexual assault involving someone who was unable to give consent.

Crime location:Walthall Street, Crewe

Suspect name:Filomeno Francisco

CS reference:CS1604-13786

Police force:Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=50780

Tarsem Najjar Singh

Crime type:Sexual crime

Police in the Devon and Cornwall area are seeking 56-year-old man Tarsem Najjar Singh who is wanted for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and immigration offences.

He has failed to register a new address and has absconded from immigration services. A location of this male is sought to enable police and immigration services to take appropriate action for the offences he is wanted for, but also to ensure he is risk managed appropriately.

Crime location: Plymouth

Date: 12/02/2016

Suspect name: Tarsem Najjar Singh

Nickname: Tarsem Singh

CS reference: CS1607-14246

Police force: Devon and Cornwall

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=51240

Paul Dunn

Suspect is wanted for the possession of indecent imagery of minors.

Crime location: Barnton, Northwich

Suspect name: Paul Dunn

CS reference: CS1604-13800

Police force: Cheshire

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/most-wanted/most-wanted-detail/?AppealId=50794


Police forces across the UK are responsible for the appeals that appear on the Crimestoppers Most Wanted page, uploading and removing entries and ensuring accuracy of any information provided.

Forces have strict controls to ensure that information provided is accurate. However, if you feel that an appeal is incorrect, contact Crimestoppers to let them know and they will pass this information to the relevant police force.

A Borders charity is riding high after a funding boost of almost £106,000 secured its future for the next three years.

Stable Life, which offer therapeutic and support activities with horses for young people, has been given £105,957 to fund its staff until 2021.

Based at Dryden Farm, near Ashkirk since 2013, the charity supports youngsters who are in distress, struggling with poor mental health or abuse, or are at risk of exclusion from school.

It offer sessions which help those young people feel happier, more confident and better able to cope, by teaching them about horse behaviour and engaging them in their daily routines at the stables.

It’s eight staff and additional volunteers hold sessions which encourage young people to use calm and positive communication techniques encourage bonds with the horses, and also to carry those techniques into their day-to-day lives.

The sessions are guided by experienced staff who also offer workshops on independent living, arts and crafts, volunteering, support with work placements and advice on helping the young people explore their feelings and discover strategies to better manage their emotions.

Stable Life’s chief executive and secretary Margaret Powell said: “You can visibly see young people relax as soon as they walk into the stable, which is really important as the horse will respond to positive cues and empathy.

“Ultimately, these activities can help young people become more self-aware of their own emotions, giving them greater perspective and control in difficult situations.

“We are grateful for this continuation grant from BBC Children in Need and the great work it will allow us to do in the years to come.”

The charity, headed up by a board of six trustees, is reliant on grants like this one to pay for everything from suppling riding gloves to buying wheelbarrows and feed, and does also bring in funds itself through hiring out of the indoor and outdoor schools and offering liveries at the stables.

Florence Burke, head of BBC Children in Need in Scotland, added: “We are delighted to fund the work of Stable Life and we look forward to seeing the difference they make to the lives of children and young people across the Borders who need it most.

“We are incredibly grateful for the public’s generosity as they make this possible.”

Many people think that cancer is due to chance, fate or just bad luck. But there is now convincing evidence that around 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented if our lifestyles were to change for the better.

Smoking is responsible for around 19 per cent of cancers but diet, inactivity, alcohol and excess body weight combined account for a further 22 per cent. If there was a drug that could achieve this level of prevention everyone would probably want to take it but there isn’t one. Lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of getting cancer significantly and that isn’t possible for every disease.

Scotland has introduced a number of policies like restrictions on tobacco use, minimum alcohol pricing and a range of action around food and drink available in the NHS and voluntary sectors. However, everyone has a part to play in supporting the changes needed to reduce their individual risk of cancer.

Professor Annie Anderson, of the Scottish Cancer Prevention Network (SCPN), said: “Obesity is growing within every community in Scotland. It is hard to manage your body weight and eating too much is a normal response when we are tempted by promotions, marketing and money off deals.

“Changing food and diet habits is likely to take time so start small.”

Here are some tips from the SCPN to get you started:

• No eating between breakfast and lunch;

• Trying eating/having two less biscuits, cakes or sweet drinks a day to start with;

• Always have a jug of cold water in the fridge;

• Use an old fashioned plate for dinner – and put less on it;

• Save cakes for birthdays.

Visit SCPN website for recipes, tips and much more www.cancerpreventionscotland.org.

Bill Culbard (pictured) was diagnosed with lung cancer after his wife encouraged him to get a bad wheeze checked out by his GP.

After being referred for an x-ray, Bill received news that a shadow across his lung had been found which was subsequently diagnosed as cancer.

As the tumour was inoperable, Bill’s treatment involved chemotherapy and radiotherapy which started just three weeks after his diagnosis. The treatment was successful and Bill received the good news the following year that the cancer had gone.

Bill, who has dedicated his time to raising awareness of the benefits of finding cancer early, said: “Being diagnosed early makes such a difference to your chances of survival and I’m just glad I acted when I did.

“There’s so much that can be done to treat lung cancer these days, but it’s important people play their part in getting any concerns checked out.”

Here are some potential signs and symptoms of cancer that are worth visiting your GP about. Remember, having one of these doesn’t mean you have cancer, it could be a sign of something else, but either way, it’s better to have your concern checked:

• A lump in the breasts, testicles or anywhere else that appears or an existing lump that gets bigger;

• A sore that doesn’t heal up – in the mouth, throat or on the skin;

• A mole that changes shape, size or colour;

• Any growth that appears on the skin and continues to grow;

• Coughing up blood, or blood in the urine or mixed through stools (poo);

• A cough that doesn’t go away, or a pain somewhere that won’t settle;

• A change in the pattern of going to the toilet;

• Unexpected weight loss (when you have not been trying to lose weight).

A former Kelso Rugby Club captain and his daughter have battled through a six-day, 250km run through the 45°C heat of the Sahara desert to raise more than £12,000 for charity.

What’s more, the duo, from Foulden, near Berwick, had to carry their 15kg kit and food, while navigating miles of sand dunes, salt flats, rocky planes and” jebels as high as the Scottish Munros”.

It’s a challenge that certainly isn’t taken lightly, and one that only ridiculously fit athletes can consider attempting.

But for 53-year-old farmer Clive Millar, who skippered the Tweedsiders 25 years ago, and his 26-year-old daughter Holly, it was a chance to spend time together and raise cash for their chosen charities – Cancer Research UK and Dementia UK – as well as letting out their competitive streaks.

Holly, who is a podiatrist now working in Yorkshire, told us: “Being with dad certainly helped us get through it ... there was no way I was going to let him beat me.

“And we had both raised so much money from people, neither of us wanted to let them down.

“We want to thank everyone who has supported us throughout our 18 months of training, the event itself by sending us emails of encouragement, and, of course, donating to our charities.

“The support from family and friends, local businesses and complete strangers has been very humbling and we count ourselves so lucky to have been able to take part in such an incredible race.”

The training the pair underwent included them running marathon distances with ever-increasing weights on their backs – often in the dead of night on Berwickshire’s rural roads.

And during the event, the race conditions were very testing to say the least.

Holly said: “Temperatures soared to 45°C during the day and dropped to 4° at night.

“Sand storms threatened the camps at night and anything that wasn’t battened down disappeared into the melee.”

Holly and Clive were among the 1,000 participants from 49 different countries who stood on the start line to listen to the traditional event song – ACDC’s Highway to Hell – fitting, given the heat and hardships ahead.

However, all their training saw them finish – something 40 of the athletes failed to do – a record low of drop-outs.

British competitors accounted for around 400 of the runners and collectively they raised more than £1.8m for various charities this year alone.

The race now has a charity stage which is compulsory for all competitors, which raises money to help educate underprivileged children in Morocco.

To donate, type Holly Millar or Clive Millar on virginmoneygiving.com

Many Borders customers of the TSB were still unable to access their accounts online yesterday (Wednesday) despite its chief executive Paul Pester claiming systems were “up and running” as the bank’s IT problems continued.

Planned work to upgrade the systems on Friday was botched and, as we went to press yesterday, its customers were becoming increasingly angry as faults continued.

Customers who logged into the app or online banking were either faced with a screen stating that the bank was limiting the number of users accessing the service, or simply that something had gone wrong.

Others were able to log in, but, when they did, some or all of their account details had vanished or, worse, they had worrying discrepancies in their accounts.

On our Facebook page, we asked readers how they were faring and several told us of the problems they had encountered. All but one who replied said something was wrong.

For instance, Andrew Poole said: “Logged in on Monday morning to find a £10,000 loan sitting there which I didn’t apply for, didn’t want, haven’t had the money for and won’t be paying back”, to which Chris Page replied: “Unlucky, when I logged into mine, my mortgage, which I have 20 years left to pay, has disappeared.”

Kelly Mitchell said: “Been awful, both me and my husband with TSB they deleted all his direct debits which means they’ve not been paid and I still have no access to internet banking. We both work away from home and heavily rely on internet banking. Calling the call centre leads to hours of waiting for someone to answer. Not good enough.”

However, Greg Borthwick wrote: “Never had a problem. They warned us weeks ago works were happening and then every time I logged in last week I got a message saying that work would be getting carried out and to avoid any issues with payments I should check when things were due.”

Pop star Will Young will have to wait until next month to find out if he is to be banned from the road after admitting careless driving in the Borders.

A man was forced to jump to safety to avoid being struck by a car being driven by the 39-year-old singer.

Young was due to appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday to be sentenced, but at an accelerated hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last week, lawyer Paul Mullen explained that Young lives in London and was unable to attend this week due to work commitments.

A new date has been fixed for Monday, May 28.

Young had previously pleaded guilty by letter at Selkirk Sheriff Court to entering a lay-by in error, having misread the road layout, at excessive speed for the conditions and colliding with a parked vehicle.

The owner of the parked vehicle had to jump clear, and both vehicles were damaged.

The accident happened on the A68 Edinburgh-Darlington road on January 21.

Charged under his full name of William Robert Young, he admitted careless driving at a northbound lay-by close to Sorrowlessfield Farm, south of Earlston, but as he already has 11 points on his licence, one short of triggering a ban, sentence has been deferred for a personal appearance as an accused cannot be disqualified from driving in their absence.

Berkshire-born Young shot to fame by winning the first series of ITV’s Pop Idol in 2002, beating Gareth Gates in its final.

Since then, four of his six studio albums have topped the charts, most recently his sixth and latest, 85% Proof in 2015. He has also notched up four singles chart No 1s, the last being Leave Right Now in 2003.

A man has admitted causing a disturbance at the office of a charity for people with alcohol and drug problems.

Frightened staff locked themselves in a room as Scott Morrison issued threats and threw computer equipment to the floor at Addaction in High Street, Galashiels, earlier this month.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty by video link from Edinburgh’s Saughton Prison to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and vandalism.

He admitted shouting and swearing, punching and kicking a door and uttering threats of violence towards a female employee.

Morrison, of Church Square, Galashiels, also admitted throwing the office’s computer equipment to the floor and causing damage.

Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said Morrison had a long-standing history of drug abuse and was on a methadone programme.

She explained that he arrived at the premises, a drop-in centre for people with drugs problems, in the afternoon and staff could tell he was under the influence of drugs.

He left the premises but then came back and appeared to be more lucid.

Ms Bradley continued: “He appeared to be under the influence of street drugs and was offered a cup of coffee to sober him up, but the staff member was concerned about his presentation and he was struggling to speak and falling into unconsciousness.

“She feared he had taken an overdose.”

Ms Bradley said ambulance staff were contacted, and Morrison was given a dose of moloxin to try to bring him round.

He was given an injection in his left thigh, and the medication worked as Morrison came round, but he jumped to his feet and started shouting and swearing.

Morrison was kicking the door of the premises while shouting and swearing and was clearly very angry and aggressive, she said.

The fiscal said Morrison issued threats to one woman, saying she was dead.

She added: “The worker was concerned for her own welfare and her colleagues, and they locked the door to prevent him getting in.

“He was kicking and punching the door, and they contacted the police.”

Police arrived at about 3.40pm and found Morrison sitting on a sofa.

He was still shouting and swearing, and the officers noted that a computer monitor was on the floor.

Ms Bradley said that while they were waiting for other officers to arrive, Morrison was shouting and swearing and told the female worker she was dead and that he knew where she lived.

She continued: “It was clear to the attending officers that all the people present were visibly shaken and frightened.

“He was taken to Dalkeith police station, where the usual procedures were followed.”

When cautioned and charged, Morrison replied: “I apologise because Addaction have been good to me.”

He later went on to claim that the staff were not being very helpful and were winding him up.

The cost of the damage Morrison caused in the office was estimated at £350.

A letter was read out to the court in which Morrison said he was “extremely embarrassed and ashamed at his behaviour”.

He said: “There is no excuse for my behaviour. I was well out of order because of the drugs.”

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said it was unclear whether Morrison would be allowed back at Addaction, but he called for a drug treatment and testing order assessment to be carried out instead of another prison sentence being handed out.

Sheriff Andrew Webster agreed but said: “It remains to be seen whether this is a viable option.”

Morrison was released on bail, and sentence was deferred until May 21.

A Hawick butcher struck gold five times over with his bacon and burgers at an award ceremony.

James Pringle, owner of Hawick High Street’s Robert Pringle butcher’s shop, took home nine accolades from a Scottish Craft Butchers presentation at the Carfraemill Hotel following an evaluation for beefburgers, speciality burgers and own-cured bacon judged at Forth Valley College, Stirling.

He won gold prizes for his cola-cured back bacon, dry-cured back bacon, treacle-cured back bacon, toffee-cured back bacon and Italian-style beefburgers.

James also picked up silver prizes for his premier burgers, Highland burgers, lamb and mint burgers and maple-cured back bacon.

“We’re quite pleased. It was the most awards anybody got on the night, and there was a big, big turnout,” he said.

“It had taken us years to get five golds, so to then get five on the one night was something else.”

Jedburgh butcher Allan Learmonth was also a golden boy at the awards handout, claiming a hat-trick of golds for his standard beefburgers and varieties with bacon and cheese and port and Stilton in.

He also won a silver prize for his chicken, haggis and peppercorn burgers.

St Boswells butcher’s shop JC Douglas and its Peebles peer WTS Forsyth were also keeping their eyes on the prizes, winning one gold and two silvers apiece.

The former’s gold was for its venison and sweet chilli burgers and its silvers for its unsmoked bacon and standard beefburgers.

The latter’s gold was for its Ayrshire middle bacon and its silvers for its standard beefburgers and Moroccan-style lamb burgers.

Adding to the Borders’ tally of titles was a silver prize handed out to Foston Fine Meats in Duns for its smoked bacon.

Scottish Craft Butchers president Paul Boyle said: “These evaluations always reveal really appealing products that craft butchers make and sell.

“The superior quality of home-cured products is widely acknowledged by customers, and the innovative ranges come as a response to customer becoming more adventurous with their tastes, and they are always keen to support local businesses who make their own unique quality products.

“It is always worth going the extra mile for something extra special.”

An alleged prostitute from the Borders has made her second appearance at a court in the US charged with having sex with an underage boy.

Sarah McGill, of Church Square, Galashiels, appeared in Orange County Court last week to appoint an attorney for her forthcoming trial.

McGill, 28, was arrested at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, April 7, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old.

She was later charged with lewd and lascivious battery, an offence carrying a jail sentence of up to 15 years.

Florida police say the teenager made contact with a woman named Sophia Belle, an alias used by McGill, while looking for prostitutes online.

The boy says he went to a hotel to have sex with her and paid her $480 afterwards.

McGill was released on bail on April 9 after posting a £1,000 bond but was ordered to stay in Florida to attend trial at a later date.

She has since returned to Orange County Court to appoint Donald Lykkebak as her attorney.