An argument over a text message resulted in a fine of £540 for a man at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Stephen Carver, 26, of McLaren Court, Hawick, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner towards his then partner and struggling with her.

That offence was committed at a house in Silverbuthall Road, Hawick, on April 15.

The court was told that the couple had been together for six years and had what was described as a volatile relationship.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley explained that at 8.30am Carver’s partner noticed a text message he had received the night before and contacted the person who had sent it.

She added that Carver was angry she had done that, and an argument broke out between the pair, resulting in a physical struggle.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said the relationship was now over.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre reduced Carver’s fine from £600 to £540 due to his guilty plea.

Walkerburn’s week-long summer festival never fails to pull the small town together and this year’s show of community spirit was as strong as ever.

Villagers enjoyed a packed programme of events, all led by this year’s principals Tiegan Hunter, who was Festival Lass, and Kayla Amos, essay prizewinner for 2018.

Both primary seven pupils at Walkerburn Primary School, the girls were unveiled by their head teacher Keith Belleville a month prior and took pride of place at Monday night’s festival concert and Thursday night’s principals party.

Before that the events kicked off with a church service and wreath laying on Sunday, June 24, followed by a community bike ride.

The school sports followed on Wednesday morning before that evening’s popular scavenger hunt,

The week culminated with a packed weekend which included highlights such as Friday night’s fancy dress parade, torchlight procession and fireworks display, Saturday’s football competition, family entertainment and barbecue and Sunday’s boat race.

Summer festival treasurer Dawn Rodger said: “We had a great week and the sun shone throughout. All our events were well attended the kids had a ball.

“The fireworks display was great as usual and the torchlight parade was well attended.”

Fancy dress results were as follows:

Girls under five: 1 Moana- Paton Anderson, 2 Little Bo Peep - Addison Preacher

Boys 5 - 10 years: 1 Stick Man - Charlie Nisbet, 2 Devil in disguise - Jack Ewart, 3 Jurassic Park - Declan Hunter.

Girls 5 - 10 years: 1 Miss Piggy - Alice Shoesmith, 2 Little Fairy - Ruby Burgess, 3 Cat in the Hat - Rachel Woodcock.

Couple under 10 years: Wildest kids in the avenue - Lillieanne and Andrew Hutchieson.

Couple over 10 yeras: 1 Caught in a trap - Skye Connor and Summer Spence, 2 Murray Anderson and friend, 3 Buckaroo - Melissa and Callum

Boys 11 - 16 years: Robin lost in hood - Thomas Wilson

Girls 11 - 16 years: Arcade - Kayden Hunter.

Adults: 1 Gladiator - Glen Stevens, 2 Butterfly - Natasha Rice, 3 Love Island reject - Morag Wilson.

Mixed ages: Popstars - Lees and Hardy families, 2 The Royals - Charlotte, 3 Cookie Monsters - Rachel Mays and Hazel and Johann Schofield

Decorated non-motorised vehicle: 1 Toy Story - Alfie Stevens, 2 Unicorn and fairy - Isabel and Charlene Weir.

Decorated vehicle: 1 Kindergarten cops - Esme Amos and Levi Hunter, 2 Trolls - Zokas, McDaid and Hunter families, 3 Walkerburn Festival 2018 - Houston family.

Outstanding entry: Kindergarten cops - Esme Amos and Levi Hunter.

A teenager broke a man’s jaw with a punch during an argument after this year’s Earlston Sevens rugby contest.

The victim had arrived at a party in Station Road, Earlston, to pick someone up on the night of May 6.

His vehicle was approached by Nathan Rice, 18, of Glenburn Avenue, Newtown, and the teenager started acting in an aggressive manner and tried to get into the vehicle where a woman was sitting.

The car’s owner then returned to the vehicle and told Rice to go away, prompting the pair to square up to each other.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that the pair began pushing each other, then Rice punched the man in the face.

The court heard that the victim woke up at 11.30am the next day and could not close his mouth, discovering, after attending hospital, that he had a broken jaw.

Defence lawyer Mark Harrower said the hotel worker felt bad about what had happened as he had not intended to inflict such an injury.

He added: “He is a young man of good character and has learned a valuable lesson of what the consequences can be.”

Rice pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assault to severe injury.

Sheriff Mark Thorley told him: “No doubt drink played a part in this, but at least you have shown remorse for your actions.”

Rice was given a 12-month community payback order involving 160 hours of unpaid work.

World-famous soprano Mhairi Lawson returned to her roots to raise some funds for her local church – and ended up raising the roof.

Mhairi, who has appeared in such esteemed venues as the theatre at the Palace of Versailles, found herself very much at home in the smaller and slightly less lavish proportions offered by Trinity Church, and the acoustics were highly conducive to Mhairi’s rich tones, with no need of a microphone.

She was ably accompanied by Paula Chatauneuf, who brought her cello-sized lute, known as a theorbo. Its almost medieval sound was the perfect accompaniment to the 17th century songs in the playlist, named ‘Mad Women, Queens and Lovers’ – leaving it up to the audience to decide which was which.

The Galashiels-born songstress began her set with a version of “Braw Lads o’ Gala Water” by Rabbie Burns ... one which was a firm favourite of Joseph Haydn.

A trio of Scottish courtly songs came next, followed by Giacomo Carissimi’s epic and stunning Lamento in morte di Maria Stuarda – the poignant and shocking account of Mary Queen of Scots’ last testament before her execution being the highlight of the evening, as can be seen from our video above.

To give Mhairi a breather, Paula came in with a theorbo solo by Bellerofonte Castaldi, before the pair rejoined for Maria, dolce Maria and Regina Laetare by Francesca Cassini.

The church’s own talented pianist Dorothy Howden gave an enthusiatically jaunty performance of a piano solo by Domenico Scarlatti.

Mhairi’s next number was Claudio Monteverdi’s Disprezzata Regina – Ottavia’s lament from ‘l’incoronazione di Poppea’.

The duo finished with a trio of English courtly songs. which rounded off proceedings nicely, Purcell’s Fairest Isle being my pick of the three.

The evening performance at the church was a bid to fundraise for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation for MND research and church funds, with the classical music lovers paying a donation to enter and get a free cocktail or two.

The event raised £600, which will be split 50-50 between the two charities.

Borders MSP Christine Grahame has hit out at Royal Bank of Scotland boss Ross McEwan for refusing to make what would be his third visit of the year to the region to discuss the uncertain future facing Melrose’s RBS branch.

The Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP invited Mr McEwan back to the Borders to give her a chance to state the case for keeping the Melrose branch open once its six-month stay of execution expires at the end of the year.

Mr McEwan, chief executive of RBS since 2013, declined to take her up on that invitation, though, saying he felt the two visits he’s already made to the region this year, to Peebles in January and Melrose in April, had given him enough of an insight into the issues at stake.

Ms Grahame is unconvinced, however, saying: “Given that he heads a company with 72% public ownership, I’m disappointed that Mr McEwan doesn’t deem it necessary to visit Melrose to understand the impact these decisions are having.

“The claim that post offices are a viable alternative is simply ill thought out. Often, post offices are in busy shops with limited privacy and, as talented as post office staff are, I do not believe they would have the same expertise as the local banking staff RBS are currently considering making redundant.

“Many people are still dependent on high street services, and this is a lifeline service for some.

“The claim that customers are opting for online banking is in part a consequence of closures. This option is not practicable for businesses lodging cash takings or, in particular, some elderly or vulnerable people who are not too content with online.

“I myself would rather use face-to-face services.

“These swingeing cuts further highlight the need for the Tory UK Government to start acting to ensure the industry is properly regulated and customers and businesses are properly catered for.”

Ms Grahame is urging customers to make sure they use the High Street bank over the next two and a half months to boost its chances of survival.

She is also calling on them to get in touch with her so she can compile a dossier of concerns about the possible closure to present to bank bosses.

“I want to hear from local people on the impact these RBS decisions are having on them, so I can raise this directly with the bank,” she said.

“I’d encourage anyone affected to get in touch either by email at christine.grahame.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone at 01896 759575.”

Whether the bank stays open beyond the half-year reprieve announced for it, and nine other branches nationwide, in February is dependent on a study being carried out by accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael.

It is carrying out a review of the branch’s viability until September, and RBS has agreed to be bound by its findings, so customers have the rest of the summer to generate enough business for it to be deemed viable.

Les Matheson, chief executive officer for personal and business banking for RBS, said: “I am confident that they will undertake a thorough review of these 10 branches, and whatever their recommendation, the Royal Bank of Scotland will accept it in full.”

All five other Borders RBS branches among the 52 being shut nationally – at Jedburgh, Hawick, Eyemouth, Duns and Selkirk – have now closed.

Melrose’s RBS has been the only bank there since the closure of the town’s Bank of Scotland branch in Market Square in October 2016.

Nine jobs have been created following the opening of an Edinburgh-based dental specialist’s new surgery in Kelso.

Vermilion Kelso, the only multi-disciplinary referral clinic of its kind in the Scottish Borders, is now taking on complex cases from general dental practitioners across the region including dental implants and restorative dentistry.

The clinic, which opened last month employs five existing clinicians working between both Edinburgh and Kelso, plus nine new staff including nurses, a dental hygienist, technician, administration and clerical workers.

Work began on the 250-square metre new-build clinic at Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate back in December and its first patients passed through the doors last month.

The building features three fully-equipped surgeries with views over the Kelso countryside, a dental laboratory, cone beam CT scanner, local decontamination unit, administration area, dedicated facilities for staff and a waiting room for patients and visitors.

It offers treatments including dental implants, restorative dentistry, endodontics, oral surgery, dental hygiene and anti-snoring solutions.

Rachael Hamilton MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire opened the facility last Tuesday, June 26 at a launch event attended by more than 60 guests including referring dentists, patients, members of Kelso Community Council and local suppliers involved with the project including Galashiels-based Camerons Architects, Berwick builder Cruickshanks and Co and Duns-based Fleming Homes were all involved in the build.

Team members from Vermilion’s Edinburgh clinic, which opened in 2011, also attended.

Dr David Offord, practice principal, oral surgeon and owner of Vermilion said: “After three years of planning, refining and building, we were delighted to welcome such a prominent member of the local community to officially open Vermilion Kelso.

“Patients are already commenting on how convenient it is to have our referral clinic closer to home and we are collaborating with local dentists to offer ongoing clinical support to continue to enhance the quality of dentistry in the Borders.”

Ms Hamilton added: “I’m delighted that the owners have chosen to invest in Kelso bringing new jobs and more visitors to the area.

“Vermilion is a real asset to Kelso and the wider Borders and I wholeheartedly wish this new venture huge support and success.”

For Gala’s Braw Lads and Lasses, there is always one thing about the Gathering that sticks in their minds, whether it’s the river crossing, Gala Hill or Scott Street.

But for Greg Kelly, it was the moment he was entrusted with the Burgh Flag by Bill White, the president of Braw Lads Gathering.

He said: “It was always the moment I pictured when I was younger, and receiving the Burgh Flag at 8am was superb. It’s a moment I will treasure for the rest of my days.

“And leading the cavalcade with Braw Lass Kim, it’s been a really great honour to represent my town and for so many of the townsfolk to come and support us meant so much.”

And he was full of praise for his Braw Lass, Kimberley O’May.

He said: “Kim has been terrific, I couldn’t have asked for any better.

“The support I have had from Kim and the other principals has been second-to-none.

And for Kim, her moment to shine was at the Auld Toon Cross, where her duty was to mix the red and white roses, a symbolic ceremony which commemorates the marriage of Margaret Tudor of England to King James the Fourth of Scotland in 1503, re-enacting the act of Sasine.

She said: “I’m absolutely speechless! It’s just been an absolutely amazing day from start to finish.”

“But during the roses ceremony, the crowd was absolutely fantastic.

“You can practise it and practise it, but it doesn’t really prepare you for the emotions that course through you on the day.”

It’s important to remember that for every Braw Lass who has just experienced her first Gala Day at the head of the cavalcade, there is another who has just fulfilled her third and final term of duty.

And for this year’s bearer of the white roses, Alex Mundell, it was a day that almost, but not quite, brought a tear to the eye of the unflappable 21-year-old.

Alex told The Southern: “There’s a lot of mixed emotions. I’m so excited and so proud to have done it all, but at the same time, just a bit tender and upset that it’s all finished.

“But I have loved every minute of it, it’s been great.

“Maintaining these traditions is very important indeed ... it brings the whole town out in support.”

It certainly was a Gala Day to remember. Conditions were absolutely perfect ... a hint of coolness in the air in the morning for the 308 horses and riders who took part in the mounted cavalcade, and almost Mediterranean sunshine in the afternoon for the 2,000-plus people who enjoyed the new family-focused activities in the Bank Street Gardens.

And for the thousands of people who lined the streets and followed on foot, it was, quite simply, the best Gala Day in recent years.

Large crowds watched the various events, such as the Raidstane ceremony, which marks the 1337 routing of English raiders by a group of Gala men while they ate the soor plooms off a tree in what is now Netherdale. To mark this historic victory, the female principals pin a sprig from the plum trees to their respective male counterpart.

Low waters on the Tweed meant the cavalcade could safely make the river crossing at Galafoot on their way to Abbotsford for the first time in several years, and this spectacle, too, sawmany of the public giving their support.

And on Gala Hill, it was very much a picnic atmosphere for the crowds, with the sun beating down and a panoramic view to savour.

After the poignant ceremony at the Auld Toon Cross and the visit to the Laird at Auld Gala House, the crowds were three or four deep all the way up Scott Street, to witness one of the most exciting parts of the day, as the principals led the procession in a breath-taking gallop up the steep hill to deafening cheers.

And then, the moving sight of the flag being dipped in front of the war memorial by the Braw Lad, alone for the first time that eventful day, before he handed back the banner in time-honoured fashion, unsullied and untarnished.

It marked the end of the ceremonial part of the day, but only the beginning for Gala folk.

The shows were in town, but by far the biggest party was in the Bank Street Gardens, as Edinburgh-based band Urang Mutang entertained.

It was certainly a fitting end to a fantastic week, with the Lindean and Torwoodlee rideouts also attracting a lot of support, as did the fancy dress on the Wednesday evening.

The family event in Bank Street has been described as a necessary link the festival has been missing for decades.

So, given its popularity, a new and exciting era has begun, ensuring an exciting futre for tomorrow’s Braw Lads and Lasses.

Our photographer Alwyn Johnston was out and about during the whole festival week ... we'll publish his pictures soon.

A cross-country bus service through the Borders feared to be facing the axe because of funding cuts looks to have been saved – but only at the cost of a third of its journeys.

The 101/102 Dumfries-to-Edinburgh service via West Linton is to continue beyond the end of its current contract next month, it has been confirmed, but two journeys daily are set to be withdrawn.

The South West of Scotland Transport Partnership (SWestrans) met on Friday to decide the fate of the Stagecoach-operated service after Scottish Borders Council withdrew £100,000 in funding.

It was agreed to keep it going, but it will run four times a day each way rather than six, as at present.

The service is currently jointly funded by SWestrans, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council.

Previously, Scottish Borders Council funded it to the tune of £135,280 a year, with SWestrans paying £113,386, SPT £142,318 and Midlothian Council covering the cost of departure charges at Edinburgh bus station, around £10,000 annually.

With Scottish Borders Council reducing its contribution to just £35,000, however, SWestrans chiefs were forced to tender several options for the bus service to ensure its survival, with the winning option including a reduced number of services along the route to make ends meet.

South Scotland Labour list MSP Colin Smyth is critical of that cut, saying: “This is a deeply disappointing decision which will see the number of bus services running between Dumfries and Edinburgh reduce to four on weekdays and Saturdays.

“Everyone knows that councils are having to make cuts due to the austerity being imposed by both the UK and Scottish governments, but sadly Scottish Borders Council are choosing to inflict their cuts on vulnerable people.

“It is those in the remotest areas, the elderly, those on low incomes and young people who rely on buses and often have no access to a car, so they will feel this cut most.

“I hope that the Conservative-run administration at Scottish Borders Council will reconsider their pro-austerity, anti-bus passenger policy in the future before they make more cuts affecting the vulnerable.”

However, Scottish Borders Council has defended its decision to withdraw three-quarters of its funding.

Council leader Shona Haslam said: “With the contract for the 101/102 service coming to an end, the council believed there was an opportunity to explore various options as part of the tender process.

“A number of options were tabled, and we are pleased that the proposal being taken forward will see the 101/102 not only retained but also provide a consistent new timetable with departures at regular times, with a saving of £100,000 to Borders council tax payers.”

“We thank our partners and SWestrans for their co-operation, which has ensured passengers from the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and Edinburgh can continue to use the service.

“Officers have worked really hard to protect this bus service, but we had to end the situation where Scottish Borders Council were paying over the odds thanks to poor decisions by the previous administration.

“A saving of £100,000 means that more vital services can be delivered by the council.

“I realise that this has been an unsettling time for the community, which has not been helped by attempts by opposition parties to scaremonger over this issue.

“However, I’m sure residents understand that these commercial negotiations had to be carried out with a degree of confidentiality.”

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, added: “As part of our subsidised bus services review, the council looked at our contributions to services across the Borders.

“We aimed to do this while minimising the impact on bus passengers.

“We believe the new timetable actually improves the service, with additional daytime and evening services.

“We thank the local community for their patience and constructive input during the tender process.”

Recently, residents fearful that their communities could be left isolated put together a petition calling for the service to be kept going, and so far it has gathered more than 3,400 signatures.

The petition was discussed at last Thursday’s full council meeting, and council leaders were forced to defend the cutbacks in the face of criticism from opposition councillors.

A new timetable is currently being finalised by Stagecoach before being registered with Scottish traffic commissioner Joan Aitken.

It is due to come into effect on Sunday, August 19.

Scottish Water is asking the public to use water wisely to help maintain supplies during the current period of hot summer weather.

Following a sustained dry period without any significant rainfall, usage of water has increased significantly.

With the current weather conditions forecast to continue, Scottish Water is encouraging people to take simple but important steps to conserve our public water supplies.

In some areas there has been a 30 per cent increase in demand for water, and an additional 140 million litres are currently being produced and pushed through the system every day to meet current customer usage.

People are being asked to reduce usage wherever possible. Businesses are also being asked to consider their usage and how they can use water more efficiently. Simple, practical steps which we encourage include:

• Taking shorter showers;

• Using a watering can rather than a hose to water plants;

• Using a bucket rather than a hose to wash vehicles;

• Only wash windscreens/lights instead of the whole vehicle;

• Turning off taps in the home whenever possible;

• Using washing machines and dishwashers fully loaded.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s chief operating officer, said: “Water usage levels during the current hot summer weather, particularly during peak times such as morning and early evening, mean we are working around the clock to get water around the system quickly enough.

“Scotland’s public water supply is the lifeblood of the country, for household and business customers. We usually supply more than 1.3 billion litres a day to customers.

“We have a strong and resilient distribution network to keep our customers supplied but we’re asking everyone to play their part in helping us as Scotland enjoys its hottest and driest summer in many years.”

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham added: “Scottish Water is managing current levels of water usage closely, and I encourage people everywhere, whether using water at home, or in their business, to work with Scottish Water and follow their helpful advice and suggestions to use water wisely.”

Advice is available at the Scottish Water website or call the Customer Helpline on 0800 0778778.

Four Borders beers feature in supermarket chain Aldi’s 15th Scottish Beer Festival promotion.

They are Broughton Ales’ Old Jock; Old Worthy Brewing Co’s Yuzu Lemon Scurvy, also from Broughton; Soma IPA, produced by Tempest Brewing Co at Tweedbank; and Summer Cloud, a new brew from Born in the Borders at Lanton, near Jedburgh.

Old Jock, an award-winning Scotch strong ale with an alcohol-by-volume content of 6.7%, is one of Broughton Ales’ core range of beers. It costs £1.79 for a 500ml bottle.

Yuzu Lemon Scurvy is a 5.5% ABV wheat beer infused with whisky and marmalade costing £1.49 for a 330ml can.

Also available in 330ml cans, Summer Cloud is billed as being exclusive to Aldi. It has an ABV of 4.5% and costs £1.29.

Soma IPA, pictured, another award-winner, weighs in at 6.8ABV. Previously known as Bomber IPA, it costs £1.99 for a 330ml bottle.

The four Borders beers are among 35 available as part of the festival, on now at the German-based cut-price chain’s two stores in the region, at Galashiels and Hawick, and 79 others nationwide.

The festival is expected to generate more than £110,000 for the 35 breweries involved.

Graham Nicolson, group buying director for Aldi in Scotland, said: “Over the past six years, the Aldi Scottish Beer Festival has become synonymous with bringing exciting new styles, flavours and breweries to fans across the country.

“The 15th festival is no different. We’re proud to stock a record number of exclusive-to-Aldi bottles as well as welcoming eight new Scottish breweries making their festival debut.

“Since the first Scottish Beer Festival launched in 2012, the festivals have generated in excess of £2m worth of sales for the breweries involved, helping to support and grow Scotland’s craft beer industry and placing Scottish beers firmly on the radar of countless consumers.”

A 95-year-old passenger died following a three-vehicle road collision on the A6089 Kelso to Gordon road yesterday evening.

The incident happened around 8.55pm on Monday, July 2 at Bulletloan, just outside Kelso, and police are appealing for witnesses.

A grey Seat Ibiza car travelling north was involved a collision with a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a black Ford Fiesta, which were travelling south.

The 95-year-old woman, who was a passenger within the Fiesta, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Borders General Hospital where she sadly passed away.

The road was closed in both directions for around seven hours while emergency services attended the scene and carried out a collision investigation.

Anyone with information that can assist with this ongoing investigation is asked to come forward.

Sergeant Neil Inglis from the road policing unit in Galashiels said: “This incident has tragically resulted in one woman sustaining fatal injuries and our thoughts and sympathies are with her family at this time.

“Our inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision and anyone who was on the road at the time and witnessed what happened, or who saw these vehicles travelling in the area beforehand, is urged to contact police immediately.

“In addition, anyone with any further information relevant to this ongoing investigation should also get in touch.”

Those with information is can contact the Road Policing Unit in Galashiels via 101, quoting incident number 4423 of July 2.

Rabbits running riot around Jedburgh’s Castlewood Cemetery are to be culled in a bid to solve one of a host of issues affecting the state of the burial ground.

The condition of the cemetery’s grounds has been criticised by townsfolk and community councillors unhappy not only about the effect of the council’s new grass-cutting schedule but also about the long-running problem of rabbits overrunning the graveyard and eating flowers and wreaths left there.

Scottish Borders Council did install rabbit-proof fencing, but it has proven ineffective, so it has now ordered a cull instead.

Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton, reading out an update from council officers, told the town’s community council that pest control company Surekill will be brought in to “euthanise as many rabbits as possible, including under the site shed.”

He added: “Once the gates are repaired, and we have taken all reasonable steps to exclude the entry of rabbits, we will instruct Surekill to carry out their work.”

That update follows a site visit by councillors and officers two months ago, prompted by a string of complaints about the state of the burial ground.

Community Council chairman Rory Stewart criticised the council’s response, though, replying: “It has taken seven weeks to get to where we were before you had the meeting with officers.

“It’s a very emotive issue. It’s not acceptable, and it’s something that the councillors need to work very hard on finding a solution for.”

Mr Hamilton added later: “Castlewood Cemetery has been a concern for some time, and I am very aware of the strong feelings surrounding the state of the cemetery.

“Myself and fellow elected colleagues, with the help of council officers, have been working together to try and resolve the matter.

“Areas including vermin control are being dealt with as soon as the gates and fencing are repaired.”

Mr Hamilton also confirmed repairs will be carried out to a damaged pillar and gate at the entrance, gulley pots cleaned and drainage in the cemetery re-established.

The council has also sought estimates for re-erecting around 12 headstones in the oldest part of the cemetery at a potential cost of around £4.300.

Parking restrictions are being introduced in Jedburgh to allow works access to the new intergenerational community campus site.

An 18-month ban on parking is being put in place near the entrance to the site of the new £2m school at Hartigge Park from later this month.

From 7am on Tuesday, July 17, parking will be prohibited on both sides of Priors Road, eastwards from Waterside Road, for 80metres.

This will remain in place until March, 7, 2020 to allow BAM Construction safe access to the works site.

The Scottish Government gave the go-ahead for the campus in February and, with work having begun shortly after, the campus is due to open in March 2020.

The project is being overseen by the council and development partner Hub South East Scotland, and Hertfordshire-based BAM Construction, part of the Dutch Royal BAM Group, has been given the contract to build the school.

A woman from Poland is hoping Southern Reporter readers will be able to put her in touch with her family members who were based in Galashiels.

Ewa Sochacka, who lives near the city of Łódź in central Poland, is trying to find the family of her great uncle, Josef Ciechanowski, who may have been known locally as Joseph Hamilton.

He was born in 1913 in the small village of Zawady, near Łódź.

During the Second World War, may have served as a tank commander in the Polish army under the command of General Stanislaw Maczek, based in Belgium, England and finally Scotland, where he met his future wife, Agnes McLaren of Galashiels.

Josef visited his brother Adam, who is Ewa’s grandfather, after the war, but his last visit was in 1960, after which the Polish-based contingent of the family lost all contact with him.

Ewa told us: “My mum and his sister wrote to the Polish Embassy in the UK to ask for help in tracing Josef, but they could not help them.

“All other efforts to try and trace Josef and his family have failed.

“I recently managed to find the records of Josef and Agnes’s marriage in 1943, and the birth records of their daughters – Janette Maria and Kazimiera Freda – on the Scotlands People website.

“I also have some photographs of the family which would possibly have been taken between 1944-58.

I am hoping you can help us find out what happened to Josef, and if we still have family members living in the Galashiels area.

Ewa, a teacher who is very interested in her family genealogy, said that it seems that after his marriage to Agnes, Josef changed his name to Hamilton, which was Agnes’ mother’s maiden name. The reasons for this are not known.

If anyone knows what may have happened to Janette Maria or Kazimiera Freda or their families, email kevin.janiak@jpress.co.uk and we’ll pass on the news.

The Gala Waterways Group is getting another work party together this Saturday to clean up a section of the riverside.

The team, which don their wellies and pull up their sleeves on a regular basis to improve the look of their town – and the scenic river that runs through it – for locals and visitors alike, are taking on another stretch of the river, and extra volunteers are made most welcome.

This Saturday, July 7, rubbish will be removed from the bed of the Gala Water and undergrowth will be cleared from its banks, downstream of the large car park on Currie Road.

Volunteers are asked to bring along secateurs, loppers, saws, gloves, wellies, waders and buoyancy aids, if they have them. If you are interested, you can meet up with the team in the car park on Currie Road (near the railway bridge) at 10am.

Jethart Callant Nick Arnold led his cavalcade in fine weather into the surrounding countryside this week.

And with another rideout under his belt, to Southdean on Saturday, the 21-year-old says the support from townsfolk so far has been “absolutely overwhelming”.

“Everywhere you go, everybody suddenly knows your name. It’s a strange feeling, but it’s absolutely amazing,” he said. “It’s great to see everybody, from older people to little children all getting into it.

“The reception at the hospital, homes and schools has been amazing, and it’s some feeling to have all the kids in front of you so keen to sing.”

A cavalcade of more than 60 horses followed Nick to Southdean on Saturday, and a short ceremony was led by the Rev Bruce McNicol at the ruins of Souden Kirk and a presentation was made by the community council. Riders enjoyed refreshments at Camptown from the town’s Royal British Legion and a rousing welcome back to town by the Jedforest Instrumental Band.

“It was a really hot day, and a lot of people don’t want to take their horses out in that, so I’m really appreciative of everyone that did,” Nick added. “It meant a lot to me. We’re getting down to the hard stuff now. I’m nervous for Redeswire but looking forward to getting up to the stane and doing the battle cry.”

Tonight’s rideout to Crailing and Nisbet leaves Back Bongate at 6pm and returns to the town at 10pm.

Saturday’s rideout to Redeswire leaves Back Bongate at 10am and arrive at Carter Bar for 12.30pm. This year’s address will be given by Roy Mack, an ex-Melrosian and former PE teacher. The cavalcade leaves Redesire at 1.20pm arriving at Dolhpinston Moor at 3.15pm, leaving again 4.30pm. There will be no races at Dolphinston this year due to lack of entries last year. The horses return to Market Place at 6pm.

A former home of author Walter Scott at Clovenfords is on the market for offers over £1.25m.

Ashiestiel House offers four reception rooms, seven bedrooms and seven bath or shower rooms, two secondary bedrooms, a one-bedroom gardener’s cottage, outbuildings, garage, trout fishing rights on the Tweed and more than 10 acres of land.

It was last marketed last summer as part of a 900-acre estate for offers over £5.5m.

It’s a grade-A listed stately home dating back to the 17th century.

Edinburgh-born Sir Walter, alive from 1771 to 1832, lived there from 1804 to 1812, writing The Lady of the Lake, Marmion, The Lay of the Last Minstrel and some of Waverley there.

So fond of the estate was he, according to some, that had he been able to buy it, he would not have moved to Abbotsford, near Tweedbank, in 1812.

The house was painted by Sir Walter’s friend JMW Turner in the 1830s as an illustration for Marmion.

Since 2011, Ashiestiel House has undergone a complete refurbishment project including rewiring, re-roofing of the main part of the house and installation of a new plumbing and new central heating system, double-glazed windows and four-oven electric Aga cooker.

The house is being marketed by estate agent Savills’ Edinburgh office, and Peter Strang Steel there said: “Ashiestiel House has an extraordinary history and an exceptionally beautiful setting.

“Quite apart from its status as a significant Scottish country house and its connections with one of our greatest writers, the superb quality of the refurbishment lavished upon it by the current owners, is quite outstanding.

“With 10 acres of grounds and the option to acquire further properties on the estate if desired, Ashiestiel is likely to cause a great deal of serious interest from far and wide.

“Scott’s eight years at Ashiestiel were among the happiest of his life. Indeed, the writer Theo Lang surmises that had Scott been able to purchase the property, ‘overhanging the Tweed and situated in a wild, pastoral country’, the later ambitious project of Abbotsford might never have been realised.”

Lang writes: “The study was both his dining and writing room, in which were composed the Lay of the Last Minstrel, The Lady of the Lake, and Marmion, as well as about a third of Waverley.”

He adds: “Much of Marmion was penned from the Shirra’s Knowe, a wooded knoll overlooking the Peel and Glenkinnon Burns, and the river walk towards Elibank Tower was Scott’s own favourite Sunday walk.”

For details, go to search.savills.com/property-detail/gbedrsedr160070 or call 0131 247 3738.

A small painting on show at Abbotsford, near Tweedbank, is causing a big stir amoing art historians.

Research and scientific analysis suggest that the postcard-size painting of author Walter Scott and his family at Abbotsford, the writer’s home from 1812 until his death in 1832 at the age of 61, could be a hitherto-unknown watercolour by JMW Turner.

The pocket-sized watercolour, measuring 5.5in by 3.5in, was discovered at a London auction house and is now on loan to the Abbotsford Trust as part of its current exhibition, Turner and Scott: The Painter and the Poet.

The trust suspects that the painting might be a family memento created during a visit by London-born Joseph Mallord William Turner, alive from 1775 to 1851, to Scott’s home in the summer of 1831.

It now hopes to shed light on the mystery 200 years after the artist and the writer first met in 1818.

It is backing ongoing research into the history and composition of the picture and is encouraging all those curious about its story to go and see it for themselves.

The little painting has been subjected to pigment analysis and infrared imaging in a bid to establish its provenance.

If genuine, it might be an early version of another painting of Abbotsford used as the inspiration for an engraving published in Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, a commemorative biography published after the writer’s death.

Kirsty Archer-Thompson, collections and interpretation manager for the trust and curator of the exhibition, said: “This painting is, quite frankly, electric.

“Everything about it, from the minutiae in the detail and the use of scraping out highlights, to the evolution of its composition from pencil sketch to painting – a whole world only visible through infrared scanning – suggests to me that it is not the work of a copyist.

“All of this analysis, including work by painting analysis expert Libby Sheldon, demonstrates that it was executed by an astonishingly skilled hand.

“Turner was a master of these highly intricate and delicate watercolour illustrations, two of which are already owned by the Abbotsford Trust.

“Everything about this little painting feels authentic and consistent with the great man.

“I hope that we can prove the theory with the help and support of enthusiasts and experts in the art world.”

“We know that when Turner stayed here at Abbotsford in August 1831, Scott was keen to point out particular artworks in his collection.

“One of the paintings Turner would most definitely have seen is a view of Abbotsford and the River Tweed by the Scottish artist Elizabeth Nasmyth. This painting is from exactly the same vantage point as the watercolour we believe Turner painted.

“Scott had a personal attachment to the Nasmyth painting and its composition, and my theory is that this gave Turner the idea to compose the same scene, which he based on sketches in the Abbotsford sketchbook used during his visit in 1831.

“These sketches can be explored digitally as part of our exhibition. There are plenty of examples of artworks gifted privately by Turner to his patrons, and I believe this painting of Scott, his family and his beloved home was a commemorative piece with a whole layer of hidden meaning.”

Trust chairman James Holloway, a former director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, added: “It is wonderful for Abbotsford to be able to show such a fascinating painting.

“It will intrigue and delight our visitors. To think that we are publicly displaying the watercolour for the very first time since it was painted by Turner is also tremendously exciting.”

Scott and Turner’s business partnership began in 1818 and culminated in the publication of Turner’s illustrated editions of Scott’s poetry and prose works after the author’s death in 1832.

The exhibition runs until the end of November. For further details, go to www.scottsabbotsford.com

Plans to put up promotional banners throughout Jedburgh’s town centre in a bid to boost tourism hit a stumbling block after planners gave the go-ahead for only eight of them.

Jedburgh Marketing and Tourism Group had hoped to erect a dozen 7ft-high lamp-post decorations around the Canongate and High Street areas of the town, paid for by part of a £10,000 grant from the £1.3m conservation area regeneration scheme approved last year.

However Scottish Borders Council has refused consent for some of the signs on the grounds of causing a distraction to drivers. It has okayed seven banners at the Canongate car park and one in Canongate but refused four at the foot of High Street claiming they “represent a potential distraction to motorists and road safety”.

Georgiana Craster, a member of the marketing and tourism group, told Jedburgh Community Council’s latest meeting: “The traders are not very happy with permanent advertising boards or banners. According to them, it’s free marketing which is not really fair on the whole of the town.”

The banners would advertise events such as the Callant’s Festival, Riverside Rock, the Border Rally and the town’s hand ba’ and sevens events and also feature the town’s website address. The plans received backing from Jedburgh Community Council.

Dozens of jobs are being created with the opening of a new £4m Home Bargains store in Galashiels this weekend.

The discount brand’s Stirling Street outlet, a replacement for its smaller Channel Street store, is due to be opened on Saturday at 8am.

The new store also brings back into use a retail site left empty for over a year since the B&M Bargains store there closed in December 2016.

Joe Morris, operations director at Home Bargains, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching this flagship store in Galashiels and look forward to welcoming customers through the doors.

“The 25,000sq ft store will offer a range of products including homeware, health and beauty goods, sweets, snacks and drinks, as well as fresh and frozen food.

“Stirling Street will be a great location for us, and we’re proud to be able to offer local people top-branded goods at exceptionally low prices.”

TJ Morris, the Liverpool-based company that owns the discount store chain, also owned the former B&M Bargains store open in Stirling Street for seven years after moving into a former Somerfield supermarket building.

However, this outlet is a complete new build as TJ Morris was granted permission to demolish the old building and begin construction work earlier this year.

Until now, bosses had remained tight-lipped about the renovation of the Stirling Street site and what it would mean for its Channel Street store, despite the TJ Morris name appearing on planning and licensing applications to the council.

It has now confirmed that its Channel Street Home Bargains shop will close tomorrow.

All staff there will transfer to the new store, and new jobs are being created too, adding up to a headcount of about 50.

The chain was unable to say how many of those posts are full time, though, or how many new recruits are being taken on.

The new store will also stock alcohol after being granted a premises licence by the council in March. That means the store will be able to sell off-licence alcohol on up to 5% of its shelving space, as well as providing car parking for its customers, something it couldn’t do at Channel Street.

Home Bargains is one of the UK’s fastest-growing discount retailers, opening around 50 stores a year and priding itself on its ability to buck current trends in the industry.

Established over 40 years ago in Old Swan, Liverpool, the family-owned and family-run business has grown to become one of the largest privately-owned companies in the UK.

Today it boasts more than four million customers each week across its 500 UK stores, employing more than 20,000 staff.

It intends to continue its rapid expansion and recently revealed plans to increase its retail reach to 800 stores and 35,000 staff.