Souters have voiced dismay at Selkirk being swept from history in the exhibition about Sir Walter Scott’s life at Abbotsford’s new multi-million pound visitor centre, writes Sandy Neil.

“I am disappointed and disgusted,” Selkirkshire Councillor Gordon Edgar explained to TheSouthern: “We feel we were let down by the Abbotsford Trust, that it’s all purely about Abbotsford.

“Although we supported them to raise money, it doesn’t reflect the promises we got. We were told there would be links to Selkirk and all the other parts of the Borders Scott was associated with.”

Cllr Edgar raised the issue at a public meeting last week before members of Selkirk’s Chamber of Trade, which is trying to revive the fortunes of local businesses after a report revealed Selkirk had lost 30 per cent of its shoppers between 2008-2011 – the biggest drop of all Border towns.

Mr Edgar’s comments were later reinforced by Viv Ross, a volunteer organiser for the Scott’s Selkirk festival for many years, who is also now helping a group of Souters draw up a community action plan to regenerate the historic Royal Burgh and boost tourism, and apply for £1.4million lottery funding to pay for it.

“It’s a disgrace there’s nothing about Sir Walter Scott’s connection with Selkirk,” she told us. “We’re all pretty cross about it. We want to strengthen ties with Sir Walter Scott. We’re talking about links and paths to Abbotsford, but it’s all one-way traffic, sadly. Selkirk is pointing the way to Abbotsford, but we want Abbotsford to point the way to Selkirk.”

In 20 story panels and 10 glass display cases in Abbotsford’s new exhibition, TheSouthern spotted just three brief references to Scott as the “Sheriff Depute of Selkirkshire”, and no mention, or even a picture, of the town or courthouse where Sir Walter Scott dispensed justice for 33 years from 1799 until his death in 1832.

Both Mr Edgar and Ms Ross told us that while they’d enjoyed the exhibition, they felt a huge chunk of Scott’s life was missing, and that the point had to be made.

“They thought they had the be-all and end-all of Scott tourist attractions,” Mr Edgar added, “but it wasn’t true to his life: Scott spent half his life as an advocate and sheriff in Selkirk, yet nothing is written about it. He is revered as the ‘Shirra’ in Selkirk. Abbotsford would not have existed if Scott hadn’t worked in Selkirk.

“I told them this just wasn’t on. I want to see Selkirk represented in the permanent exhibition, and a better connection to the Borders. The Borders is proud of Scott.”

Responding in a statement, the Abbotsford Trust’s chief executive, Jason Dyer, spoke of the charity’s wish to rectify the situation, and keep good relations with the town.

“The Abbotsford Trust is very proud of and keen to promote Scott’s links to Selkirk and all the Borders towns,” he said, “and is working with organisations like the Selkirk Regeneration Committee and local community councils to that end.

“The exhibition in the visitor centre gives an overview of Scott’s life and legacy, and does include information of Scott’s time as Sheriff of Selkirkshire. This exhibition will be evolving and changing over time, based on responses from visitors and the local community.

“Our visitor centre staff are well trained and well aware of Scott’s link to towns and villages in the Borders, and actively encourage people to visit places with connections to him.

“In addition, once the main house opens next summer, there will be a dedicated temporary exhibition space, and we are already planning a special exhibition on ‘Scott as Sheriff’ to display here.

“We believe the restoration of Abbotsford will benefit Selkirk and the whole of the Borders region by acting as a magnet for visitors from across the globe, and we are working with as many organisations as possible to achieve that aim.”

Abbotsford’s new, free Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm.

In the dark room I am watching the front tyre of a scrambler bike trundle over grit, over stone. Then I see my toes in their sandals walking over sand, over cobbles. Then I am watching my feet stepping on grey stones, 
on snow. Then I remember his new work boots trudging through mud alongside me and there is not much light on the path between the conifers.

The day before I attended Richard Jeynes’ talk I had set out on a relatively short walk survey. I picked my camera, phone and tracker device up, but I had no inhaler.

Despite the horrible dampness in the air, I set off anyway; I had a meeting that evening in the same town. Fortunately for me a stranger caught up with me on the Cuddy Bridge. Johnny Walker is one of my angels that serendipitously came into my life just at the right moment. Having a wee blether for the following hour and a half on our route distracted me from my forgotten puffer.

My focus returns to the scramblers following old tracks and paths to archaeological sites in the south of Morocco. They duly arrive at their destination. At the south end of the Oued Guir valley there is a Foreign Legion fort, the nearest town is Boudenib. This area is near the French colony of Algeria. Richard tells us that the excuse for building over the border was to protect Algeria and possibly they thought they were on the border and not over it; this is what they told their head office.

As a youngster the seeds for Richard’s interest in the Foreign Legion (Légion Étrangèr) were sown when he read Beau Geste. More pertinent for his understanding of the Legion and its practical applications was his reading of a major’s diary. It was clear from this man’s accounts that much of their time was spent on construction works – roads, tunnels and forts in isolated places.

The forts were built to a plan, almost a kit house if you like. The building of roads allowed them to bring in building materials. The walls and living quarters were made of rough dressed stone, covered in white washed plaster. Of course, the thickness of the walls and the white would help to keep the interior cool.

In the event of the main door being breached there was a short section of wall parallel to the opening that housed light artillery. The battlements were covered with slits to allow rifles to be shot on to attackers below.

The towers were different. Much care was taken over their construction, the floors strengthened with pre-fabricated beams and the windows framed with more ornate stone and protected with iron bars. There was always one tower in the main fort and two or three outlying towers.

The outlying towers were the most vulnerable part of these remote forts. The 100 men garrisoned at the forts rotated their stay of duty in the out posts every four days or so. Being stationed at these towers was not something they volunteered for. You were more likely to be attacked while walking here.

The easiest way for the Berber to weaken and kill the garrisons was not by weapons. The most effective warfare was to stop their food supply and cut off their water supply. In fact, most legionnaires died from starvation. Often, to prevent being taken prisoner and being cruelly tortured, they would commit suicide either individually or blow up the fort.

Richard spoke in a candid manner – there is no romanticism here. Watching Richard’s slides appear makes you feel that you are at a briefing for a military sortie. This sensation is not surprising when you learn that this competent and clear speaker worked in intelligence.

Richard’s company, Trail Quest Archaeology, is now associated with three British Universities – Worcester, Bristol and Glasgow. Glasgow University is the leading academic institution with regards to modern conflict archaeology. Both students and interested persons can join Richard’s teams on digs.

Their next fact finding exploration will be to the Rif Mountains in the north of Morocco to visit a fort that was detonated to avoid capture.

For more information visit the website at www.trailquestarchaeology.com

SIR Walter Scott would have been impressed after the biggest salmon seen on the Tweed in recent years came from water below his favourite Borders viewpoint.

Ghillie Ian Farr helped land a cock weighing up to 50lbs, the largest salmon of his professional life, from a pool below the heights of Scott’s View last Wednesday morning.

Angler Jim Reid from Edinburgh, who hooked the fish, said: “This was by far the biggest salmon I have ever caught. It was an amazing experience and I can’t thank Ian enough for his skill, encouragement and moral support. There was no way I was going to land that fish if he hadn’t been there!”

The pair were fishing the Top Corbie, a pool below and to the left of Scott’s View, before the start of fast water on the Bemersyde beat of the Tweed, when something gave a pull.

Mr Reid said: “It took us some time to realise how big the fish was as even smaller fish can put up a good account of themselves in the streamy water.

“After a while, it decided to head back towards Berwick, and tore off 150 yards down the river into another pool known as The Dish. Ian had to quickly steer the boat down the river to catch up with it.

“At this point, an enormous tail appeared out of the water and expletives were expressed as we realised what we had a hold of!”

The fish made a second dash of about 90 yards down the river to another pool, The Copper Beech, where Mr Reid, who has been fishing Bemersyde since 2008, was finally able to steer it into Mr Farr’s net. The battle had taken 40 minutes.

The cock fish measured 50 inches long with a 25in girth and Mr Farr, a Bemersyde ghillie for a quarter of a century, initially estimated he might weigh about 37lbs. But looking at charts online and other guidelines, Mr Farr now believes it may have been nearer 47lbs.

He said: “It was a huge fish – I have never seen one that big in my life and I’ve been here 25 years.”

He described the big fish’s fin when he and Mr Reid first saw it, as being like: “a shovel coming out of the water”.

“Where it was is difficult to fish and land. We were very lucky to get it in but it didn’t do anything horrendously naughty and we managed to keep it on a tight line. That 40 minutes went past in the blink of an eye.

“You get carried away with a bit of emotion and the adrenalin was pumping: it was like winning the lottery.

“It was so big my guest (after his battle) couldn’t pick it up. I made sure I did to give the comparison between me and the fish. It wasn’t a particularly pretty fish but it was a once in a lifetime fish.”

Mr Reid was using a one-and-a-half -inch Gold Bodied Willie Gunn tube fly, which Mr Farr says is probably the most used fly on the beat. The last recorded big salmon from the beat was 25 years ago, and was a 39.5lbs trophy fish.

Catches this year have been between the five and 11lbs mark, with the odd 15 pounder, said Mr Farr and, as with many outdoors activities, the summer’s rain has also affected fishing.

Asked what the allure of fishing is, Mr Farr said: “You know what it feels like to walk in the countryside –peaceful, relaxed, enjoyable? It’s that and knowing something could pull on the end of the line. My job is trying to get my guests to catch a fish. I get as excited as they do when they do. It’s really good fun.”

The fisherman and ghillie returned the big cock fish to the river after they had taken photographs.

Mr Farr added: “It’s nearly a week ago and I’m still on a high. My guest and I are still texting saying ‘did we really get that in?!”

“I might never see that again in my career but I could catch one tomorrow – that’s salmon fishing for you, you never know what’s going to pull on the end of the line.”

After describing a woman as “a grass” James Armstrong threatened to stab her in the face before mimicking a pistol with his hand, adding that one move of his index finger and she would be dead.

Twenty-four-old Armstrong of Park Crescent, Newtown St Boswells, was jailed for 56 days at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, after he admitted threatening and abusive behaviour at Old Station Yard, Newtown St Boswells on September 30.

His chilling comments were also heard by the woman’s 83-year-old grandmother, who she was visiting at the time.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley told how the woman had gone to visit her grandmother at around 1.30pm.

“The house window looks out onto a car park, and the window was open,” explained Ms Bradley.

“Her grand-daughter spoke to someone she knew, through the window, when Armstrong appeared, walking through the car park.”

After a few minutes, the accused returned and “launched into a tirade of abuse”.

“He was screaming and shouting at her, calling her a f*****g grass,” continued Ms Bradley.

Armstrong told the woman: “You are a grass. That is why your car got done”, before adding, “I am going to batter your Mum’s boyfriend.” Armstrong continued: “I’m going to stab you in the face”.

“He then made a gesture mimicking a pistol with his hand,” explained Ms Bradley.

Armstrong continued: “One pull of my index finger and you will all be dead”.

“All of this was also heard by her grandmother,” added Ms Bradley.

The man she had been talking to, tried to calm the accused, but he walked away, continuing to shout until out of earshot. Police were contacted and attended at Armstrong’s home, telling him he was under arrest.

Solicitor Matt Patrick, representing Armstrong, said his client’s offending was sparked by a comment from the woman.

“This incident began because this lady was hanging out of the window and shouted to him that he was a junkie or a smack head,” said Mr Patrick.

“He says that he lost control and he regrets that,” added the solicitor.

“He has been on medication, but hadn’t taken it, which may go some way to explaining his behaviour,” he added.

Mr Patrick said Armstrong claimed the woman was “giving as good as she got”.

“He is in no doubt that what he did was wrong, and knows that he should just have walked away,” said Mr Patrick.

He said his client had already spent 28 days in custody in relation to the offence.

Sheriff Drummond back-dated the 56-day jail term to September 30, telling Armstrong: “You were on deferred sentence and on bail, and the message just doesn’t seem to get through.”

Carrying scissors in the waistband of his jeans, for his own protection, saw Darren Devlin jailed for 160 days.

When police searched the 22-year-old, he confessed he had the scissors to “scare off” any would-be attacker, having allegedly had a knife held to his throat the previous day.

Devlin, of Larchbank Street, Galashiels, admitted having an offensive weapon, a pair of scissors, at Meigle Street, Galashiels, on May 26.

“Police had cause to detain him and as part of the procedure, he was searched,” explained depute fiscal Tessa Bradley.

“They found a pair of scissors with a three-inch cutting edge in the waistband of his jeans,” she continued.

“He said that the previous night, a blade was held to his throat and they had threatened to slash him, so he took the scissors for his protection.

“He said he had had them in his waistband for the whole day, and was searched at 1.20am on a Saturday morning,” she concluded.

At an earlier hearing, solicitor Ed Hulme, defending, said his client had “panicked” when he left the house.

“He saw the scissors and took them with him, planning to bring them out to try to scare this person, if a knife was produced again.

“He didn’t intend using them in any other way,” added Mr Hulme.

On Monday, solicitor Iain Burke, representing Devlin, said his client was currently serving a 12-month custodial sentence for another matter.

“He has spent three weeks in custody in relation to this matter,” added Mr Burke.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Devlin: “You were on bail for an allegation of assault and are found in the street in possession of a pair of scissors, said to be carried for your own protection.

“Having regard to the nature of the offence, and your record, this requires to be dealt with by custody,” he concluded.

A vulnerable woman was left bleeding from her mouth after being attacked in the street.

Twenty-year-old Danielle Valentine of Bongate, Jedburgh, admitted pushing the woman, causing her to fall to the ground, and kicking her on the head with her knee, to her injury, at Channel Street, Galashiels, on December 11 last year.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley told how the victim, whom she described as “a vulnerable adult” had been walking in Channel Street where Valentine was part of a group of five on the other side of the street.

“The accused and two others crossed the road,” said Ms Bradley, “and without provocation, she pushed her to the chest, causing her to fall.”

As the woman tried to stand up, Valentine struck her on the face with her knee, causing her mouth to bleed.

The woman managed to get to her feet and dialed 999 as she walked away.

She was later taken to Borders General Hospital for assessment.

Defence solicitor Ross Dow said his client had been out drinking with friends.

“She says the complainer was aggressive towards her friend and, after an argument, she stepped in.”

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Valentine: “You were quite prepared to assault someone in a public street and kick them on the face.”

He sentenced Valentine to a six-month Community Payback Order, with a condition she completes 40 hours of unpaid work.

Driving a car when over twice the alcohol limit, cost Alexander Johnstone a £265 fine and he was banned from the roads for 18 months.

Johnstone, a 56-year-old 
first offender, of Gun Place, Earlston, admitted driving a 
car at The Square, Red Lion 
Brae and Gun Place, Earlston, 
on September 28, with a 
breath/alcohol reading of 
73 mcgs – the legal limit 
being 35.

The court heard how police received a report of an alleged drink driver and spotted the black Audi A3 car parked outside the White Swan pub.

At 11.40pm, they stopped the vehicle as it was being driven towards them, with the accused behind the wheel.

Officers noted Johnstone’s “eyes were glazed and his breath smelled of alcohol” and he provided a positive roadside breath test.

Defence solicitor Ross 
Dow said his client had been at his local pub, where he 
had intended to have just one pint.

“He had a meal and ended up having more drink, and took a chance to drive home,” said Mr Dow, “having intended to walk back.”

A 25-year-old man, charged with reoffending just two hours after being released on bail, has been remanded in custody for trial.

Twenty-five-year-old Andrew Atkinson of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, appeared from custody and denied attempting to steal a bicycle and repeatedly attempting to punch a man at Douglas Bridge, Galashiels, on October 25.

He also denies assaulting a police officer at Channel Street, Galashiels, and assaulting two police officers and a consultant at Borders General Hospital.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said bail was opposed by the Crown.

“He was liberated at 12 o’clock yesterday and at 2.15pm was back in Gala allegedly involved in drunken random violence,” said Mr Fraser.

Sheriff Donald Corke refused bail, remanding Atkinson in custody for trial on November 27, with an intermediate diet on November 12.

A 48-year-old, who denies being concerned in the supply of drugs, will stand trial by jury on December 3, at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

David Stephen, of Forest Hill, Galashiels, appeared on indictment and denied being concerned in the supply of cannabis and amphetamine at his home between December 16 and 30 last year.

He also denied offering to supply amphetamine.

A further first diet was set for November 16.

Making racist comments and committing a breach of the peace, cost Ricky Morrison a £165 fine.

Morrison, 22, of High Buckholmside, Galashiels, admitted disorderly conduct at Galashiels Police Station on January 7.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley told how Morrison was “extremely drunk” when he was arrested and taken to Galashiels Police Station.

“At 2.40am the same morning, he returned to the police station, and refused to leave, shouting and swearing, and making racist remarks about staff from a takeaway,” said Ms Bradley.

Morrison was warned about his behaviour and police tried to usher him away, but his “tirade of racial abuse continued”.

Defence solicitor Heather Stewart said her client, a first offender, had spent a weekend in custody as a result of his offending.

“He is disgusted and taken aback by his behaviour,” said Miss Stewart.

“He was a student at the time and had been binge drinking, and was shocked and upset by his behaviour,” she added.

Morrison, who had been of good behaviour during six months of deferred sentence, was told by Sheriff Kevin Drummond: “I take account of the fact that you spent a weekend in custody, but this was quite disgraceful behaviour.”

Breaking the front door window of his former girlfriend’s home cost Darrel Wyper a £180 fine and he was ordered to pay £95 compensation.

Wyper, 20, of Inchmyre, Kelso, admitted reckless damage at a house in Priors Court, Kelso, on August 22.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told how there was an argument between the two.

“The front door of the house was shut in his face and he punched it after he lost his temper,” said Mr Fraser.

Wyper required hospital treatment for a cut to his hand.

“This was more reckless conduct, rather than deliberate,” said defence solicitor Rory Bannerman.

Sheriff Donald Corke warned Wyper: “You can’t go around acting so aggressively, although this back-fired on you, in that you injured yourself.”

ENQUIRIES are ongoing after an Innerleithen farmer died in a quad bike accident last week.

Father-of-two Eric Simpson of Newhall Farm, Traquair, was in a field on his farm when the accident happened last Thursday morning.

Paramedics and a helicopter ambulance from Edinburgh attended, but the 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lothian and Borders Police attended after receiving a call at about 9.30am.

Health and Safety Executive officers are investigating the incident.

An HSE spokeswoman said yesterday: “We are liaising with police in this investigation.”

Mr Simpson is survived by his wife Lesley, children Ryan and Emma, mother Agnes, and brothers Robin and Colin.

May I say thank you so much to everyone who supported my Macmillan Cancer Relief Worlds’ Biggest Coffee Morning in Selkirk held in September. The final total was £632.03.

A very special thank you to Ali, Louise, Mags and Sal – I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you too to all the friends who couldn’t be with us but sent donations and all those who baked and brought friends along.

Annie Dickson

Selkirk

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borders are inspected by the Duke of Buccleuch at Hawick’s Volunteer Park in June 1989 when the Regiment was conferred with the Freedom of Roxburgh District. A short time later the soldiers exercised the regiment’s new right to parade with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying along a crowded Hawick High Street.

The regiment’s Colonel in Chief, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was unable to attend the freedom ceremony but the Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier Bob Riddle was there. Also present was the battalion’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Clive Fairweather, who died last month. The parade was under the command of Major Bob Andrew and the men were drawn from A and B companies of the battalion.

The granting of the freedom was part of celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the regiment being founded in Edinburgh. District council chairman Gideon Yellowlees from Jedburgh described the occasion as happy but solemn. The Freedom Scroll was read by council Chief Executive Ken Crammond which proclaimed the long history of loyal and devoted services given by the regiment. TheSouthern’s Linda Sawers reported how it was the second time Mr Yellowlees had conferred the freedom on the regiment having done so on the last day prior to the 1975 reform of local government as the Provost of Jedburgh.

Mr Yellowlees told 2,000 spectators and veterans: “In Border towns it is an honour which has always been conferred only infrequently and always in recognition of true merit.”

Accepting the honour, the Duke of Buccleuch commented: “This special honour will be the source of great pride to all ranks in the years to come.”

But that tercentenary year of celebration was to end in sadness. The soldiers – now under Lt. Col. Chris Darnell – were deployed to Northern Ireland and to the bandit country of South Fermanagh and County Tyrone. Jill Douglas from TheSouthern and myself from BBC Radio Scotland visited them for three days in December. We reported they were in good spirits despite the daily dangers. Just hours after our reports were printed and aired, the IRA launched a mortar and machine attack on a border checkpoint where we had talked with the troops. The ambush killed Lance Corporal Michael Patterson, 21, from Edinburgh and Private James Houston, 22, from Dumfries.

Roxburgh District Council observed a minute’s silence at its next meeting.

Compiled by Bob Burgess

IT looks like Kelso’s citzens will continue to face a 20-mile trip to use their nearest recycling centres for some time to come, after councillors were informed at this month’s executive meeting of the local authority that there was still no cash in the budget to provide such a facility in the local Cheviot area.

Although Scottish Borders Council deploys a refuse lorry every fortnight to a central point to which Kelso residents can transport their bulkier unwanted belongings for disposal, local councillors want a more permanent arrangement matching that already enjoyed in other Borders towns.

At last week’s October meeting of the full council, Kelso councillor, Tom Weatherston (Con) wanted to know what formula was used to determine which settlements in the region warranted recycling centres.

“Looking at the map, it seems strange that there is no facility in the Cheviot area,” Mr Weatherston said.

“People in Kelso have to travel 20 miles to Duns or Galashiels, while people living along the A7 have the choice of three centres in that distance.”

Mr Weatherston asked Environmental Services portfolio holder Councillor David Paterson (Hawick & Hermitage, Ind) if he accepted there was an imbalance in the distribution of local recycling centres and whether there were any plans to provide the Cheviot area with its own in the near future.

Replying, Mr Paterson said the location of the current recycling centres was partially historical.

“In the days of the district councils each district allocated an area for a civic amenity site,” he said. “These areas were generally located at landfills or depots where waste activities already took place.

“This explains the location of the sites at Duns, Eyemouth, Selkirk, Hawick and Galashiels.

“In 2002, an area waste plan was approved by council and this formed the basis of a bid for Scottish Government funding to expand and improve recycling centres in the region. The monies from this were received in 2004 and, based on the plan, used to upgrade the existing sites, and construct a new recycling centre and waste transfer station at Peebles.”

Mr Paterson said the council did recognise that Kelso has a significant population which travelled to nearby recycling centres. “Over recent years and in consultation with local members we have explored options for developing a recycling centre in Kelso,” he explained.

“However, we have not yet been able to locate a suitable area. Sufficient funding required to build such a centre has not been available.

“We have recently installed a recycling point for small electrical items in the Sainsbury’s car park at Kelso to enable residents to recycle these items locally. This is the first bank of its kind in the Borders, and Kelso has been chosen as the trial location as it does not have a recycling centre.

“In addition we have expanded and upgraded local recycling points: installing fencing, putting an additional point in at Sainsbury’s and added a book bank to the Spylaw Road recycling point.”

Mr Paterson said he would also look into Mr Weatherston’s query about whether SBC could access some of the £1.2million in new government money made available for recycling.

After the meeting, Mr Weatherston told TheSouthern he felt it important to highlight the situation in the Cheviot area.

“While the refuse lorry is welcome in the town on a fortnightly basis, it’s not ideal, but better than nothing,” Mr Weatherston told us.

“Twice in the last few years we have lost the funding for a centre in Kelso because of other pressures on the budget.

“I appreciate things are tight financially and this will not be easy to deliver, but I think if all three councillors work together with officers of the council and keep plugging away as we have with other projects, hopefully, we will have the same recycling facility as the other larger settlements in the Borders.”

Mr Weatherson’s fellow Kelso councillors are also both behind the call for a recycling centre to be on the agenda for Kelso.

Simon Mountford (Con) said it was unacceptable there was still no recycling centre in the Cheviot area.

“It is unrealistic to expect residents living in Kelso or Yetholm to drive to Duns or Galashiels every time they want to dispose of rubbish that is unsuitable for kerbside collection,” he told us. “It is simply an invitation to people to flytip.”

And Alec Nicol (Lib Dem) added: “Up to now there has been no revenue budget to provide a bring-site in Kelso but if we wish to improve our recycling rates, then this will have to happen.”

A PROBE is under way to trace a woman who was spotted selling puppies from the boot of a car outside a supermarket, writes Bob Burgess.

Officers from the animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA say the pups were probably bred for profit at a puppy farm Ireland.

They have studied footage from closed circuit television cameras provided by bosses at Asda in Galashiels. The cameras picked out the woman selling German Shepherd pups between 12.30pm and 1pm on Saturday, October 20.

Members of the public alerted the animal charity when she was spotted with the dogs in a silver Ford Ka. She’s described as white, aged between 25 and 35 with an Eastern European accent. Selling animals in a public place and without a license is a criminal offence.

Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We believe that at least one puppy was sold and we are very keen to speak to the person who purchased it – this is only to help us with our enquiries , they have not committed an offence by buying the dog.

“The vehicle appears to be from southern Ireland. It’s possible these dogs have been bred in a puppy farm in Ireland. We would have serious concerns for their health and welfare.”

Inspector Flynn said it was not known if the pups have been checked by a vet and vaccinated.

He went on: “Anyone who would sell a puppy out of a car boot to a complete stranger has no concern for their well-being and doesn’t care whether they are going to responsible owners. They are only interested in making a profit. It’s possible this woman also tried to sell these puppies in other car parks and public places over that weekend, so we are asking people to think back and call us if they remember anything. People who witnesses such activity should contact us or the police immediately.”

Contact the Scottish SPCA helpline on 03000 999 999.

TWO more Scottish Borders Council officers have raised concerns over plans for the new ambulance station at Borders General Hospital, writes Kenny Paterson.

A report by principal roads planning officer Derek Inglis has highlighted a series of issues on the proposed location at land north west of the hospital, which if approved will replace the current Galashiels depot.

And planning official Carlos Clarke has called for the new station application to be refused in a report submitted to SBC’s planning committee.

Mr Inglis instead suggested siting the station at a field west of the BGH beside Huntlyburn House – which SBC landscape architect Jim Knight has already tabled as an alternative. He wrote: “...there are several other roads concerns and constraints external to the site that need to be taken into consideration when assessing this proposal. “Regrettably, these important factors do not seem to have been picked up during the appraisal of this site.”

Mr Clarke added: “The benefits of the proposed development do not outweigh the significant adverse landscape impacts that would result and it has not been demonstrated that alternatives to the proposed site are not available or that the landscape impacts can be satisfactorily mitigated.”

The proposed location for the new facility is the closest of six options to the A6091 Melrose bypass, as the Scottish Ambulance Service attempts to improve its response times for attending life-threatening call-outs in rural locations.

But Mr Inglis argues that crews attending an emergency could be slowed down by the frequent traffic queues which form at the hospital and bypass junctions.

The roads expert instead believes the site alongside Huntlyburn House – previously ruled out by SAS for its unsuitable access – has fewer roads issues to overcome.

And despite being further away from the A6091, he thinks it would provide similar response times, with only one junction rather than two to negotiate.

Mr Inglis added: “Forward visibility is good, the road is lightly trafficked and the road is generally flat.

“Apart from a requirement for some minor widening on the public road and an alteration to the priority at the junction immediately to the north of the Careshare (nearby nursery) car park, it has direct and unimpeded access to the trunk road.

“Overall, I am of a view that there may be little to choose between the two sites in terms of response times.”

TheSouthern reported last month that Mr Knight called for the refusal of the application on its present location due to concerns about the effect on the nearby Eildon Hills. However, SAS claimed it was “absolutely critical” that its plans at the BGH go ahead. And NHS Borders says a delay would push back the building of its new health centre in Galashiels, which is set to be expanded onto the current ambulance station site in 2013/14.

An SAS spokesman told TheSouthern that all site options for the new ambulance station had been considered and the one selected was the preferred choice.

SBC’s planning committee will consider the application at Monday’s meeting.

During the meat and fish tasks the junior chefs were put to the test.

It is all well and good to carry out the requirements for a dish you have practised repeatedly and perfected, but to debone a leg of lamb and fillet both a flat and round fish, puts great strain on already stressed-out contestants.

These tasks were especially interesting. The vegetable task at Philiphaugh’s Plant To Plate festival required one savoury (vegetable dish) and one sweet (fruit dish). The candidates were completely out of their normal working environment, having to work with very basic, rudimentary kitchen facilities, but to top that, they were also put into two teams with chefs they had never met before. Very difficult!

Derek Johnstone, head chef at Chez Roux in Gullane’s Greywalls Hotel, was the primary judge at the event, and was incredibly impressed by the standard of the dishes produced. He was particularly impressed by the strawberry shortcake dessert, asking if he could ʻhave the recipe.

The strawberry shortcake stack, with fresh strawberries and cream and a grape jelly, was prepared by Laura Burrell, Jamie King and Susan Kay.

All the chefs were very close with Derek’s marks, but the two chefs who were given the highest marks in this task were William Cox and Susan Kay.

At Selkirk’s County Hotel, the chefs were given the opportunity to watch meat and fish demonstrations carried out by master butcher Gordon Newlands and Robbie Bunton, head chef at The Woll restaurant in Ashkirk, before carrying out the skills themselves.

Laura Burrell and Matthew Smith were given the top marks by Gordon, although he praised all the chefs for carrying out a complex task which his students were expected to master after a year of training. Robbie Bunton gave William Cox top marks for his fish skills.

“Finally, the icing task took place at the Cringletie House Hotel in Peebles, under the highly experienced tutelage of Patrick Bardoulet. The candidates were offered the opportunity to test their cake chocolate decorating skills.

Again, all the chefs demonstrated great ability, but the reigning chef in this task was Donna Colvine, who impressed Patrick with her very steady hand and artistic flair. I really look forward to seeing what these junior chefs have to show us in the future.

Well, both chefs won in a way, after the dramatic final cook-off of the 2012 Scottish Borders Junior Chef Challenge at the Peebles Food Festival last Sunday.

For while Matthew Smith, the 22-year-old chef de partie at The Horseshoe Inn in Eddleston, was the judges’ winnner – earning him the prize of a two-week placement at the Michelin-starred Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh – it was 24-year-old Susan Kay of The Lodge at Carfraemill who won a unanimous audience vote.

But in the end, the judges, led by the formidable masterchef Tony Borthwick of The Plumed Horse restaurant in Edinburgh, held sway.

Now, as many will know, there are few things tastier than Border lamb. So, the task the two finalists faced was to cook their own lamb dish – but in just an hour and a half, and in front of a hungry audience in Peebles’ Eastgate Theatre.

“I’ve been practising all weekend,” revealed Susan. “I think I’ve got it to perfection.”

“It’s going to be very close,” admitted Matthew as he sized up his competitor. Indeed, that’s how it proved to be.

In the time, Matthew created a pot roast rack of lamb, with pink fir apple potatoes stuffed with spiced lamb mince and lamb kidneys. Beside these delectables, the young chef from Dumfries & Galloway served a leek and raisin puree, and cavolo nero (black cabbage) wild mushrooms sautéed with capers.

Opposing him, on the other side of the kitchen, Susan prepared her own lamb wellington (a loin of lamb wrapped in mushroom and kidney pate and braised leek, and rolled in pastry), served with hasselbach potatoes, roasted beetroot and carrot, and a port and mint jus.

After two hours of irresistable smells and sights, competition organiser Will Haegeland, co-owner of Selkirk’s County Hotel, emerged from the huddled conclave of judges with their decision to name Matthew as this year’s winner.

Mr Haegeland paid tribute to the pair’s achievements: “Matthew and Susan were brilliant finalists. You’ve both done really well.”

“It was very close,” concurred one of the judges, Margaret Stewart of Quality Meat Scotland: “The best thing is that all of the chefs will learn from this. It just shows the young talent coming up in the Scottish restaurant system. It’s just great for the Borders. In two weeks at the Balmoral, Matthew will see everything from Michelin star dinners to afternoon tea.”

Lead judge Tony Borthwick also dished out lashings of praise: “To get to the final is a hell of an achievement: it takes guts and it takes courage, but unfortunately somebody has to come in second.”

His eye was on the competitors’ professional skills.

He told TheSouthern: “I was looking at how they operated as a chef. As finalists, they have to perform on a professional level, and I judged them on that. Matthew was my choice: his organisational ability and understanding of what he was putting on the plate had the edge.”

But on the audience’s taste test, Susan came out on top, as the words “excellent”, “wonderful”, “delicious” fell from the lips of those tucking in to try her dish, and a show of hands unanimously named her the favourite.

“It was a simple dish I knew would be tasty,” she told us.

“I genuinely thought I’d been beaten,” Matthew added. “but I knew my meat butchery skills would give me a head start. Then I just had to cook the lamb perfectly – which it was. I was chuffed with it. The prize is brilliant. I’m going to learn so much. I’ll go to the Balmoral for two weeks, and get blown away by it.”

The Horseshoe Inn’s head chef, Riad Peerbux, applauded his protege. He told us: “He did well. I’m pleased. He did the Borders proud.”

z Visit our website to see video coverage of the final cook-off – www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/latestvideos

FEARS that a ban on hunting would lead to job losses and hounds being slaughtered have proved groundless, according to new findings.

The Countryside Alliance surveyed UK hunts and found nearly a third have more followers now.

Buccleuch Hunt chairman Allan Murray said support locally for hunting remained strong since the ban 10 years ago, and that generally there had been a “huge upturn” in interest.

He said: “I think the community here welcomes the hunt for a variety of reasons – community spirit, the social gathering, as well as what it brings to the local economy.”

The local hunt goes out three times a week during the winter and offers a fox control service to farmers.

Of the 320 UK hunts, 123 responded to the Countryside Alliance questionnaire – four from Scotland, including the Border and Jed Forest hunts. Nearly 60 per cent of hunts thought they had the same supporters on horseback and on foot, while 30 per cent said they had more. Over 80 per cent did the same amount of hunting and 10 per cent, more. Over 60 per cent of hunts felt better supported by their local communities, while a third said support had remained the same.

Most hunts (over 85 per cent) still assist land owners and farmers culling foxes. Just two of the hunts which replied are always followed by animal rights activists, while more than a quarter were never targeted.

Over 80 per cent of hunts keep the same number of hounds since the ban, with five per cent keeping more and over 14 per cent, less.

Onekind’s (formerly Advocates for Animals) Libby Anderson said: “When the Scottish Act came into law 10 years ago, the hunting lobby made dire predictions of job losses and the wholesale destruction of horses and hounds, but in fact hunts are still active north of the border.

“It is still possible to hunt, if people want to, without subjecting a sentient mammal to a prolonged chase and a cruel death in the jaws of the hounds. That is a wildlife crime, and rightly so. However, foxes can be flushed and shot, although we do have concerns that this is not always done as quickly as possible.

“From our perspective, the Scottish debate was only ever about animal welfare.”