Council officials have agreed to look into applying for a Scottish Government tourism grant to save visitors to the region wanting to spend a penny having to splash out 30 times that much.

At last Thursday’s full meeting of Scottish Borders Council, Jedburgh councillor Jim Brown put forward a motion calling for the authority to apply for money from Holyrood’s rural tourism infrastructure fund to save visitors lacking the right change getting caught short.

He said: “The Scottish Government has an allocated budget to fund projects in high visitor areas to improve facilities for tourists.  

“It is proposed that Scottish Borders Council take advantage of these funding opportunities and submit an application with the goal of improving and expanding public toilet provision in key tourist areas across the Borders.

“We know that the provision of public toilets is not a statutory requirement for this authority and that this makes the service very tempting for cuts and even for the removal of this service, but for areas such as my home town of Jedburgh, and for many other places throughout the Borders, the provision of good, clean loos is vital for drawing tourists.

“The current charging system of 30p has caused major problems, especially in Lothian Park in Jedburgh, where it has become a regular occurence to see gents going behind the building and ladies being forced to squat.”

In response to a nationwide increase in tourism, the Scottish Government has introduced a £6m rural tourism infrastructure fund administered by VisitScotland.

It is now set to reopen for a second round of funding, with assessment being completed in March 2019.

Speaking in support of Mr Brown’s motion, East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing said: “At the last meeting of the council in June, we heard from officers about planned changes to public toilet provision. Some of us expressed reservations about those proposals.

“Here in the Scottish Borders, there is evidence, both statistically and anecdotally, that we are experiencing our share of the tourism boom.

“Tourism has been boosted by the Borders Railway, by film companies using our beautiful locations and by concerted efforts by the Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership.

“This is great news, but with this increased interest in the Borders comes an increase in pressure on facilities and infrastructure.

“I get complaints about public toilet provision in my ward, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

“Such deficiencies in what we offer will most certainly put people off, no matter how special the experience is here.

“This motion proposes that Scottish Borders Council takes advantage of the Scottish Government’s rural tourism infrastructure fund to develop our public toilet provision, and maybe even a car park or two in various areas.”

Responding on behalf of the administration, Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison said: “I’ve had a look at this and investigated it. It is £6m but over two years, which is not a huge sum of money, and it is competitive, but saying that, I would put forward a counter-motion which would not commit us to anything but which will ask officers to investigate the possibility of submitting an application going forward.

“The problem we have with our toilet provision is the support that is needed, but this motion talks about expanding provision, whereas what we want is to improve it.”

Mr Brown and Ms Laing accepted the administration’s alterations to the motion, and it was passed.

Council officers will now investigate the possibility of submitting an application to the fund with the intention of improving public toilet and other tourism infrastructure facilities.

In June, councillors agreed to look into privatising the authority’s public toilet network following a report showing that the region’s public loos are failing to make enough money to cover their operating costs.

Council officers had hoped that introducing a 30p charge at 27 public toilets would generate income of £280,000 a year, but the controversial fee only raised £89,000 in its first year.

The juices are really flowing at an award-winning Borders business.

Greenlaw-based artisan apple juice producer, Laprig Valley, has received a gold Great Taste Award for its Bramley apple juice.

The news comes at an exciting time as the company anticipates the arrival of a new press to help expand production.

It has also been shortlisted within the non-alcoholic juice category of the Great British Food Awards.

Judge Valentine Warner also named some of the largest beverage companies in the UK within the shortlist, including Fentimans Ltd, Belvoir Fruit Farms and Square Root London.

Lorna Fleming, co-founder of Laprig Valley, said: “It has been a very exciting few months for us. Adding another Great Taste Award to our portfolio and being shortlisted in the Great British Food Awards with some of the leading brands in the industry is a real achievement. It is great to see our passion for great tasting artisan apple juice is being spread across the industry especially as we continue to grow our reach and production.”

Sukie’s Scones – a regular monthly visitor to Selkirk’s pop-up shop circuit – continues to be on the rise.

At this month’s opening, Sukie Barber of Hawick passed a fantastic new milestone, marking 25,000 scones sold since she and her husband Bill began selling in the town.

And with £1 per scone sold going to charity, that means the couple have sent just over £25,000 to Zambia.

Since first opening the shop in Selkirk’s Tower Street, the couple have raised money for children in Nepal and Zambia. Six of the couple’s eight children, aged 19 to 36, have visited Africa on volunteering expeditions, inspiring their parents to support programmes they’ve seen at work there.

On the day of the pop-up shop, Sukie gets up at 6am to cook three batches of scones for ultimate freshness. The rest are cooked in the shop, something she says her customers love.

All the money taken now goes to a feeding program at a school in Zambia run by Vincent Luwizhi which feeds up to 450 children daily.

Sukie and her pal Jess Talbot have often wondered if they would ever make the trip and see for themselves what goes on and what improvements might be made ... and this year plans were made and money for travelling was raised through sponsored walks.

Bill told us this week: “Right now, Sukie and Jess are somewhere in the African skies enroute to Zambia.

“In the hold of their plane, their bags are stretched to their physical and weight limit with little gifts to delight and others to help with school work, much kindly donated. These include hundreds of bouncy balls, as Sukie is determined to introduce the game of jacks to the children of Zambia.

“At Vincent’s request Jess and Sukie have taken lots of needles and thread in order to teach some of the local ladies the basics of sewing.

“As a compulsive cook, Sukie hopes to take part in making the children’s staple food, which is a porridge known as Sudsa, prepared by boiling maize flour water in vast vats and stirring it with what, in the photographs sent, looks like a canoe paddle, and also plans to buy ingredients to make jam and batter for drop scones/pancakes and feed the kids as near as possible on Sukie’s scones.

“She is also hugely grateful to all the regular customers and helpers at the pop-up shop and to those whose generous donations will make it possible to buy such things as drugs for the children’s health and material for the sewing project once in Zambia. Thank you all.”

From bucking broncos to soaking teachers, Earlston High students set their stall out at a fundraising fun day in aid of motor neurone disease research and school projects.

Organised by S4 pupils as part of a leadership programme, the East End school opened its doors to family, friends, alumni and the wider community on Saturday.

A range of activities, including a challenge to guess the teddy’s birthday, face-painting and a raffle helped raise more than £500, with quizzes, school tours and science lessons also entertaining the crowds.

Andrew Foggin, principal teacher of leadership for S1-S3s, said: “The S4 pupils did a magnificent job in organising a very successful event.

“Around 500 people came on the day, which was great.

“It was the first time we’ve had a day like this, so we weren’t sure how it would go, but we’re really pleased with how it worked out.

“S4 pupils were assisted on the day by S3, who will organise the event next year.”

A performance from the school show drew a crowd of 150 to the school hall, with sumo suits and a Gladiators-style challenge also proving popular.

“We had fun science lessons too, where we made slime and fireworks,” Mr Foggin said.

“The day raised £550, to be split between school funds and MND research.”

A woman died in hospital at the weekend after falling ill in a hot tub during the birthday celebrations of Lord David Steel’s son Graeme at his farmhouse home near Stow.

The 44-year-old woman, named in reports as Claire Maccabe, is thought to have one child.

Police have launched a probe into the incident and say they are treating the death as “unexplained, but not suspicious” and are continuing inquiries.

Claire is believed to have fallen ill at the party, which celebrated the host’s 52nd birthday, held during the evening of Saturday, September 1. An ambulance rushed her to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, where she died later that evening.

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating after a 44-year-old woman took unwell at an address in Stow during the evening of September 1, before passing away at the Royal ­Infirmary later that night.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious and inquiries are continuing.”

The death knell has been sounded for a Galashiels church after councillors voted to allow its demolition.

St Aidan’s Church, in Gala Park, is set to face the wrecking ball after its owner, Cumbria-based Book Development, concluded that renovating the B-listed Gothic building would be uneconomical.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s planning and building standards committee on Monday, principal planning officer Barry Fotheringham said demolition was the only economically viable option left.

He said: “The building is not physically incapable of repair, therefore the overriding principle that needs to be satisfied is one of economic viability.

“This application is supported by feasibility reports and valuations which estimate the building is beyond the point of economic repair.

“Various options have been explored, including the conversion of the church into residential properties, though this would incur a loss of £700,000, based on 2018 costs.

“An alternative scheme for a development which would retain the front facade of the church and the spire was also evaluated, and this would potentially result in a loss of around £1m.

“The applicant provided subsequent figures that would need to be invested in order to make a profit.  

“These assessments conclude that in order to make a reasonable profit, 29 units would be required on site, with 24 units behind the facade and five on the site behind the church.

“It is accepted that not all options have been explored, but it is reasonable to assume that the applicant has demonstrated that a substantial and likely inappropriate development would be required to make the scheme viable.

“I am satisfied that the viability argument has been met.”

Speaking in favour of allowing the demolition, East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing said: “I just think this is really, really sad to lose this fabulous building. It depresses me, but I can’t see any other option but to approve this as pretty much all options have been reasonably explored, so it’s with a heavy heart that I vote with the officer’s recommendation.”

Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison also supported the recommendation to allow the demolition but said he would be sad to see it go, adding: “There’s a huge emotional issue in terms of buildings and things which are of historic significance.

“I worry about the future of built environments. Take our capital city for example. There are some huge historical buildings, and the upkeep of these buildings is hugely expensive. What are we going to do with them? They can’t all be Wetherspoons.

“It’s a sad reflection of society that many have gone that way. I prefer to see it demolished rather than see it degraded, and that’s a sad thing to say.”

“I just want to stop the continuous pain of it degrading and just see it go, so I’m happy to support the demolition, but it is tinged with regret and sadness.”

The son of former Borders MP Lord Steel of Aikwood has told of his devastation over the death of a birthday party guest at his Stow home at the weekend.

Claire MacCabe, 44, died in hospital in Edinburgh after falling ill at Graeme Steel’s house on Saturday.

Police say her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

Mother-of-one Mrs MacCabe, of Haddington in East Lothian but originally from Northern Ireland, is reported to have taken unwell while using a hot tub at a party to mark the 52nd birthday of Mr Steel the day before.

Mr Steel, a builder and gardener, today issued a statement about what he described as an “awful situation”, saying: “The tragic death of Claire MacCabe has left me, my family and friends devastated.

“Matt has lost his wife, and their child has lost their mother. Words cannot express how we all feel about this loss.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in the Scottish Borders are investigating after a 44-year-old woman took unwell at an address in Stow during the evening of Saturday, September 1, before passing away at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary later that night.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained but not suspicious, and inquiries are continuing.”

Mr Steel is one of Lord Steel and wife Judith’s three children.

As David Steel, his father, made a life peer in 1997, was MP for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles from 1965 to 1983 and then for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale from 1983 to 1997, later serving as MSP for the Lothians from 1999 to 2003.

The Fife-born 80-year-old, now of Selkirk, was leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1988 and was the first presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, in that office from 1999 to 2003.

Jedburgh traders and residents tired of a scaffolding-clad dangerous building blighting the centre of their home town have been warned that it will remain an eyesore for the foreseeable future.

Scottish Borders Council has admitted that there is no end in sight for the scaffolding that has been surrounding the private property off the town’s market square for over three years.

Scaffolding was put up around the building, at the corner of Exchange Street and High Street, in June 2015, and it looks set to remain there indefinitely, councillors have been told.

At the full meeting of the council held last Thursday, Jedburgh councillor Sandy Scott asked the authority’s ruling administration for an update on the works.

He asked: “Would the administration please remind me how long the scaffolding has been in place on the building in Jedburgh square on the corner of the High Street and Exchange Street?

“More importantly, could they give an indication as to when it will be removed?”

Responding to that question on behalf of the administration, Leaderdale and Melrose councillor Tom Miers, the authority’s executive member for planning and environment, said: “I know that councillors are acutely aware that this is an incredibly serious matter.

“The scaffolding and works that you refer to are a real eyesore in the centre of Jedburgh.

“Having visited the site myself, you can see that there are very serious issues here that need to be resolved.

“It’s a matter that we’re all focusing on.

“The fact of the matter, in response to your question, is that the original scaffolding crash deck was erected in June 2015 to protect the public from falling debris.

“The scaffolding crash deck was subsequently extended with access scaffolding and further crash decks to allow for more detailed work to be undertaken and so that they could remove a corner chimney in December 2017.

“The scaffolding was strengthened in early 2018 to allow the proposed tie straps to be installed.

“Due to further movement of the building on the south elevation, the structural scaffolding was strengthened, and work for this was completed in early August 2018.

“The council is now in the process of reviewing options for this building, and the scaffolding will be required to be retained, in order to ensure public safety, until the building is made safe.

“It is not yet possible to confirm, unfortunately, how long the scaffolding will be required to remain in place.”

The extension of the scaffolding in June necessitated the introduction of a one-way system in the heart of Jedburgh as it now protrudes into the road.

The one-way order, expected to last until at least March 2019, makes part of High Street one-way southbound from Jewellers’ Wynd to Canongate southbound and a section of Exchange Street one-way northbound from High Street to Friarsgate.

In response to Mr Mier’s answer, Mr Scott said: “As councillor Miers will no doubt agree, June 2015 to August 2018 is a very long time indeed, sadly with no end in sight at all.

“Could I ask – please, please, a thousand times please, put this at the top of your priority list?”

Mr Miers added: “I couldn’t agree with you more.

“It’s a very serious matter that we’ll try to get to the bottom of in a safe manner.”

Taking over the former Halliwell’s butcher’s shop in Selkirk is something of a step back in time for Jedburgh man John Taylor.

He has reopened the Market Place shop, closed over a year ago, this week in a move which sees him back behind the chopping block of his own shop for the first time in over three years.

Halliwell’s, one of the town’s longest-serving businesses stopped trading in August last year, after a 14-year-long presence in Market Place, with the loss of two jobs.

Over the past two weeks, since John bought the shop, it has been reinstated to its former glory, creating at least two jobs.

“You’ve got to have the right location, and this was the perfect one,” John,46, said.

“It’s right in the hub of the main area of the town, and it was a ready-to-go butcher’s shop.

“I remember it always being a busy butcher’s, always thriving.”

John has been busy fitting the shop out with new equipment including a sausage-maker, mincer, scales, hot pie counter and a dry-aging unit.

Original features including a 40-year-old maple cutting block and the original Halliwell’s counters, however, will remain.

And those features are not new to John as it’s not his first time behind the Selkirk counter.

“I actually worked here helping out when I was young for a few weeks back in 1992 for David Palmer, so it’s something of a homecoming.”

Father-of-three John, now living in Kelso, was trained up at Jed Fleshing when he was was 15 and has worked in the butchery trade ever since, previously running his own shop for 13 years.

He will be sourcing his meat locally, with his cattle coming from Jedburgh-based Willowford Beef.

“They’ll be supplying native-bred beef from the Scottish Borders and north Northumberland,” he added.

“Everything will be aged for 28 days, and I have a dry-aging unit, which will be the focal point of the shop.

“You will see a lovely great lump of sirloin that has been hung, before the unit takes the moisture out of it, so it’s even more mature and tender.”

“It’s the latest craze, and, as far as I know, there’s nowhere else doing this in the Borders.”

The shop was Halliwell’s butcher’s for 14 years and Palmer’s butcher’s before then, and in the years before that was an ironmonger’s.

It went up for sale last August and sat empty for over a year after Halliwell’s owners shut up shop after fearing that the ongoing town centre regeneration works were going to hit their footfall too hard.

However, John is optimistic that the positive welcome he’s been met with so far means the new business should fare well.

“I am buzzing to be back behind the counter,” he said.

“The response I have had so far since announcing the new venture on Facebook has been great.

“People seem to be really welcoming the news in Selkirk.

“Folk here are very loyal, and they are just happy to have another butcher open again.

“My priority will be looking after the folks coming through the door.”

Taylor’s will be open from 7am to 5.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 5pm on Saturdays initially.

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Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol has vowed to carry on the battle to replace the Eildon medical practice in Newtown with a new purpose-built building.

Mrs Thornton-Nicol has been campaigning for the continuation of the service since January, when the current practice partners advised NHS Borders of their intention ot withdraw from the premises.

Several members of the community attended a meeting last Wednesday , as part of the ongoing option appraisal process.

Dr Cliff Sharp, medical director at NHS Borders, thanked those who participated.

He said: “Over the past six weeks we have received hundreds of comments from patients and other interested parties relating to how GP services are provided to Eildon Practice patients.

“There were 43 participants in the meeting, the majority of whom were members of the public, including practice patients, councillors and representatives from community councils.

“In addition there was representation from Eildon Practice staff, and colleagues who provide services from the surgery including district nurses and allied health professionals.

“Participants were reminded that this was just the first half of the option appraisal, with the second half comprising of a financial appraisal carried out by NHS Borders’ finance team. The scores will then be combined to arrive at a final ranking.”

Mrs Thornton-Nicol was also at the event, and was pleased to be able to represent her own views as a practice patient, as well as the views of her constituents.

She said that the meeting was “a positive event”, adding: “Consensus was the order of the day, and being asked a clear set of questions to score against meant everyone was focused on the future of the service that means so much to so many patients.”

Dr Sharp said: “The outcome of the option appraisal will be a recommended preferred option which I will present to the NHS Borders Clinical Executive Strategy Group at the meeting scheduled for October 11.

“I will issue a further update after that meeting and can assure people that the process will continue with full engagement with the public”

While 217 responses from the public have been received by the NHS, Mrs Thornton Nicol said she was working with the Newtown Community Council to edge that number higher before the next stage.

She told us: “Not everybody will reply to a letter, but we are looking at drafting a letter which will be kept in local shops, and which people can sign there and then.

“It was clear at the meeting that most people, certainly those at my table, were on the same page, in that the best, most practical option is to build a new surgery in Newtown, which could be future-proofed for the next 20-30 years, with the current practice staying open until the new one is built.

“I think that having managed to build new practices in Jedburgh, Galashiels and Lauder in recent years, they can manage to do the same in Newtown, with all the services in one place, such as a physio, speech therapist and breast screening.

“They just need to plan for it.”

The usually quiet area at the top end of the Kale Water came to life on Saturday for the annual show and sports at Pennymuir Hall, near Hownam.

Organised by Upper Kale Water Agricultural Society since 1906 it featured sheep and dog classes, industrial entries, children’s sports and after-show entertainment.

Show secretary Ailsa Tweedie said: “We had 750 entries in the hall and just under 300 sheep entered too.

“It was up on last year and we had a very big crowd. Everybody commented on how they had never seen so many people at the show. 
“The weather was fine and the children all had a good time doing their races.

“We had a hog roast after the show which everybody stayed for and that went on until well into the night.”

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This year’s champion cheviot sheep prize went to Craig Weir, with Gavin Douglas picking up the cup for reserve and Tom Elliot, taking the prize for most points in the cheviot sheep section.

William Thomson, from Hownam Grange, took the North Country Cheviot Lairg type’s top prize as well as the champion in the any other breed category, while Steven Mackay swept the board in the blackface section and won the cup for the most points between the blackface and cheviot sections.

Prizes were presented by Helen Cessford.

In the dog section, best collie in show went to Ken Hedley, Gordon McKenzie had the champion Border terrier with Jane McKenzie’s in reserve, while Moira Hall won the best other breed terrier class.

In the under eight-year-old hill race the winners were Rachel Elliot, William Hedley and Lucy Elliot, while the senior winners were John Tweedie, Sophie Smith and Harry Grant.

Children’s Hearings Scotland is currently recruiting for new panel members in the Scottish Borders.

Information evenings for the South East Scotland panels are currently taking place - at Council Headquarters, Newton St Boswells and at St Margaret’s Primary School, Loanhead both on September 12, 2018, starting at 7pm.

Decisions by the 2,500 specially trained volunteer panel members across Scotland are made to help protect the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people.

“There’s no one type of person or background that makes the ideal Children’s Panel Member,” said a spokesperson for Children’s Hearings Scotland.

“Your gender, religion, age, qualifications, employment status, and any previous criminal convictions (within reason) aren’t important. However, it goes without saying you’ll be a good listener, reliable and importantly you need to care.”

Panel members in South East Scotland are expected to commit to sit on one to two children’s hearings every month and also to attend five learning and development opportunities per year.

The area covers three local authorities - East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. Prospective panel members are expected to live or work within the geographical boundaries of one local authority area but may have the opportunity to sit as a panel member in any area within south east Scotland.

The Children’s Hearings Scotland Scottish Borders panel sits at Selkirk on Monday mornings and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. The East Lothian panel sits at Tranent on Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning and afternoon and Thursday afternoon; and Midlothian hearings are at Dalkeith on Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Thursday morning and afternoon.

Boyd McAdam National convenor of Childrens’ Hearings Scotland attended a long service awards event for panel members in the Scottish Borders recently to present certificates to members who have served five, 10 and 15 years on the panel.

If you have any queries, or would like to chat to someone about volunteering in the Children’s Hearings System, contact the clerk for South East Scotland Jackie Knox at jknox@eastlothian.gov.uk or phone 01620 827379. Applications are open until midnight Monday, September 24, 2018.

The colours of the Merchant Navy were flying high over the headquarters of Scottish Borders Council this week as around 20 ex-Merchant Navy personnel from the region were recognised for their services at a civic reception.

The ceremony at Newtown was held to mark Merchant Navy Day, which takes place on September 3 every year to honour the brave men and women who kept Britain afloat during both World Wars, and also celebrate the importance of modern day merchant seafarers.

Amongst those in attendant was Stephen Taylor Smith, a 95-year-old from Selkirk who is believed to be the last surviving member of the Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS) which operated during World War II.

He joined the DEMS in 1943 and made a number of voyages across the Atlantic to New York as well as the Mediterranean Sea, serving as a gunner.

It was dangerous occupation, with cargo such as aircraft fuel and ammunition making the DEMS a target for German U-boats, but Stephen successfully completed three years’ service with the branch.

A book on his career and life was published last year by Brian Parker, of Yetholm.

Stephen helped council convener David Parker raise the flag as part of the ceremony.

Councillor Parker said: “I was delighted to be able to host local ex-Merchant Navy personnel and their families and hear some fascinating stories about their time serving their country. Meeting the likes of Stephen Taylor Smith was an honour and I am proud the council will fly the Merchant Navy flag above our Headquarters this week.”

Councillor John Greenwell, SBC’s armed forces and veterans champion, added: “The Merchant Navy has provided an important service for the last century to Britain, providing vital supplies to the country particularly at times of war.

“This ceremony is a small thank you to Borderers who served in the Merchant Navy for their considerable efforts over a number of years.”

Jedburgh Horticultural Society’s annual flower show looks set for a bright future if last weekend is anything to go by.

Entries from the town’s youngsters helped ensure the town hall looked blooming lovely on Saturday despite entries in the floral section being down due to difficult growing conditions.

The children’s section was a resounding success, attracting entries from all the surrounding schools and collectively the biggest ever entry of fuschias, with pupils having grown the seeds gifted to them by the society.

Show secretary Ann Laidlaw said: “The teachers in the local schools, which included Ancrum this year, were asked to choose what type of entry their classes were going to submit and the result was that there was hardly a space left on the walls in the downstairs hall.

“It was a really brilliant display.

“Every year the Horticultural Society sends plants to the schools for the children to grow on and exhibit at the show - this year it was fuchsias and we had what was probably the biggest entry ever.

“The judges found it very difficult to pick the winners and the display on the stage was quite stunning.”

She added: “The number of entries was down compared to the last few years, particularly in the floral section, but considering the difficult growing conditions this was to be expected and seems to be the trend for most o this years shows.

“The standard of exhibits, however, remained extremely high.”

Best exhibit in the industrial section went to Betty Turnbull, of Melrose, and Jonathan Noble picked up most points in the TD8 section.

Sarah Purves, of Stichill, won best exhibit and most points in the floral art section.

Best exhibit and most points in the vegetable section went to Hawick’s Douglas Oliver, and the prize for best in the floral section went to Davy Rodgerson, of Selkirk.

Jedburgh men Dennis Laing and Bob Beaton were named best in the photography and stick sections respectively, and Jessica Stevens came top in the primary school section.

Best garden prize went to John Frater, of Priors Meadow.

The prizes were presented by Brian ‘Chico’ Woods and Roy Laidlaw and dressed in floral shirts to compliment the exhibits they made the lengthy presentation a very light hearted affair

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Full results were as follows:

The Hannah Dawson Memorial Cup for Best Exhibit of Pot Plants (Classes 1 - 14) Jean Wood, Eccles, Kelso

The Irvine Challenge Cup - Class 35 (6 Gladioli Spikes) Bill Cockburn, Yetholm

The Mark Rutherford Memorial Trophy - Class 40 (1 Gladioli Spike) Bill Cockburn, Yetholm

The Bill Byres Trophy - Most Points in Gladioli Classes (35 - 40) Bill Cockburn, Yetholm

Lady Lothian Challenge Cup - Best Exhibit of Chrysanthemums Maurice Wear, Hawick

The Bob Young Cup - Class 66, 2 Small Vases Decorative Dahlias Davy Rodgerson, Selkirk

Lodge St. John B-Centenary Cup - Best Exhibit of Dahlias Davy Rodgerson, Selkirk

The Rob Young Cup - Class 85, 6 Begonias shown on board Jim Mihulka, Redpath, Earlston

The Robertson Trophy - Best Exhibit in Begonia Section Jim Mihulka, Redpath, Earlston

Susanna Smith Memorial Trophy - Class 98, 1 Single Rose Bill Anderson, Clovenfords

The Laidlaw Cup - Best Exhibit in Floral Section Davy Rodgerson, Selkirk

The Palmer Trophy - Best Exhibit in Floral Art Sarah Purves, Stitchill

Special Prize for Most Points in Floral Art Section Sarah Purves, Stitchill

The Tulloch Potato Shield - Best Display of Potatoes Jim Kirkness, Oxton

Jedburgh Legion Challenge Cup - Best Exhibit of Onions Douglas Oliver, Hawick

The Jock Thomson Trophy - Best Exhibit of Leeks Jim Kirkness, Oxton

The Agnew Challenge Cup - Best Exhibit in Vegetable Section Douglas Oliver, Hawick

RHS Banksian Medal - Most Prize Money in Horticultural Section Douglas Oliver, Hawick

The President’s Cup - Most Points in TD8 Section Jonathan Noble, Jedburgh

Bill Turnbull Trophy - Best Fuchsia Margaret Wear, Jedburgh

Silver Rose Bowl - Most Points in Classes 225 - 253 Margaret Linton, Jedburgh

Runner Up Cup - Most Points in Classes 225 - 253 Helen Hope, Broughton

Millennium Quaich - Most Points in Classes 254 -277 Helen Hope, Broughton

Toc H Rose Bowl - Runner Up in Classes 254- 277 Maureen Mitchell, Jedburgh

Bi-Centenary Rose Bowl - Best Exhibit in Industrial Section Betty Turnbull, Melrose

Jedburgh Rotary Club Trophy - Best Exhibit in Stick / Men’s Handicrafts Section Bob Beaton, Jedburgh

Tom Lean Memorial Shield - Best Exhibit in Photography Section Dennis Laing, Jedburgh

Horticultural Society Cup - Best Exhibit in TD8 Photography Section Dennis Laing, Jedburgh

Tom McLeish Shield - Best Junior Floral Art Munro Currie

The Jed Eye Trophy (Children’s Pot Plants Lewis Ralston

Tom Pringle Cup - Most Points in 16 Years and Under Section Esmee Wragg

Jessie Scott Cup - Runner Up in 16 Years and Under Section Kay Sinton

Alice Nicol Cup - Class 320, Cross Stitch (or Committee’s Decision on Show Day) Esmee Wragg

Alistair McGinnis Cup - Best Exhibit in Primary School Section Jessica Stevens

President’s Cup (Junior) - Best Exhibit in Rainbow, Brownie or Guide Section Chelsea Lamb

First - Best Pot Plant Lewis Ralston

Second - Best Pot Plant Jessica Stevens

Third - Best Pot Plant Euan McKay

Fourth - Best Pot Plant Jake Leitch

Commended James Leitch

Commended Robbie Gordon

Best Garden

1st. John Frater 33 Priors Meadow

2nd. Ina Lunn 29 Lothian Road

3rd. Catriona Graham 53 Hartrigge Road

4th. Mary Beaton 22 Brewster Place

5th George Whitehead 44 Dounehill

Highly Commended

Margaret &Lawrence Armstrong 4 Allerton Court

Liz & Roy Spowart 6 Bongate

Carol Henderson Dunshill Drive

Harry Jeffrey 68 Howden Road

Commended

Billy Robson 89 Howden Road

Wattie Grieve 91 Howden Road

Jimmy Lauder Ryecroft, Ryerigg

Kelso’s Horsemarket will be closing to vehicles for four days later this month.

There will be no access for vehicles from 9am on Monday, September 24, to 5pm on Thursday, September 27, to allow for Scottish Borders Council to carry out carriageway repairs between its junctions with Rose Lane and Cross Street

The alternative westbound route is via Rose Lane, Shedden Park road, A698, B6352 Station Road and Bridge Street to point of closure.

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During the closure parking will be prohibited on Horsemarket from the Square to Rose Lane, on the north side of the road, and in The Square, from Mill Wynd southwards for 10 metres on the west side only.

The one way order from The Square to Cross Street will be rescinded during the closure.

Two Borders rugby players are attempting to climb the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours this weekend to support a friend left paralysed by a sporting injury.

Jamie Livingston, 27, of Galashiels and Russell Mackay, 23, of Melrose, are part of a team of former Stirling University Rugby Club players taking on the challenge in aid of Connor’s Journey, a fundraising campaign set up to support pal Connor Hughes.

Connor, 23, of Kelso, suffered a spinal cord injury whilst playing a pre-season friendly for his uni team four years ago. He dislocated two vertebrae in his neck and was left paralysed from the shoulders down.

Since then, Connor has visited Project Walk in the US in 2014 and Thailand in 2015 to be fitted with electronic implants along his spine, which have helped in his journey towards recovery.

And in a bid to support Connor’s Journey and raise awareness of spinal core injuries in sport, Jamie and Russell will be attempting to climb Ben Nevis, near Fort William; Scafell Pike in the Lake District; and Snowdon in Gwynedd within 24 hours.

The pair will be joined by pals Jamie Laughlin, 25, of Belfast; Tom Ritchie, 26, of Glasgow and Tom Ross, 27, of Stirling, for the challenge this Saturday.

To donate, visit their Just Giving page here: ‘SURFC Old Boys Connors Journey’.

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.connorsjourney.com

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Police Scotland are seeking to have Borders prostitute Sarah McGill registered as a sex offender here too following her convistion in the US for having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

McGill, 28, originally from Selkirk but now living in Church Square in Galashiels, was kicked out of the US last week after being found guilty of lewd or lascivious battery, known as statutory rape in the UK.

Police Scotland will now apply to a court here to have McGill included on the sex offenders’ register.

Though the force say they can’t comment on individual cases, they added that they always apply for a notification order if someone has committed sexual offences abroad.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Paterson, of the force’s national offender management unit, said: “Where persons have been convicted of sexual offences outside the UK which would have made them subject to the notification requirements of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act had they been convicted within the UK, police can apply to the UK courts to seek to have a notification order granted.

“If granted, this notification order makes the person subject to the notification requirements of the 2003 act for such a period as section 82 of the act dictates.

“On receipt of information regarding a person who has been convicted of a sexual offence outside the UK coming to reside in Scotland or residing in Scotland, Police Scotland will always apply for a notification order where the act allows.”

Back in June, the Schools Gala Day at Borders Book Festival had to be cancelled due to the wrath of Storm Hector, with winds far too strong for the marquees in Harmony Gardens.

But organisers were determined to arrange another event for the region’s schoolkids ... and it takes place next Wednesday, September 12, in Galashiels.

Festival director Alistair Moffat told us: “We were incredibly disappointed that it couldn’t go ahead this June, as it’s one of my favourite events at the festival.

“It’s so wonderful to throw open the gates of Harmony House and watch the hordes of St Trinian’s swarm in. The kids really love it, and it’s great to see.”

Not taking any chances with the vagaries of the Scottish weather, the event moves to Galashiels’ Volunteer Hall, as well as the MacArts building in Bridge Street, from 10am-2.30pm.

Alistair added: “What is even better is that all the children’s authors and performers booked for June are coming along.

“We’re expecting almost 800 kids to attend, which is perhaps not every child who was disappointed in June, but certainly most of them.”

Event sponsor, social landlord Scottish Borders Housing Association, is also still on board.

Five teenagers have been charged in connection with a shocking assault at Kelso Rugby Club after a video of the assault was posted on social media.

The incident took place at Kelso Rugby Club at around 8.15pm on Saturday, August 25, as reported in last week’s Southern Reporter.

A 47-year-old man was taken to Borders General Hospital as a result and four males, aged 14 to 17, have now been charged for the assault.

A 14-year-old female has been charged with a communications offence after the incident was filmed and posted online, causing alarm to the community.

Reports have been submitted to the Children’s Reporter.

Inspector Tony Hodges said: “Such violence is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community. Be assured that, when an incident like this occurs, we are committed to investigating it fully and pursuing charges.

“Like many people we were disappointed that, instead of a phone being used to call the emergency services for help, it was instead used to film as a person was being attacked.

“If footage has been captured of a crime, this should be passed to police to assist with the investigation and not posted to social media without the victim’s consent for potentially thousands of people to see.”

The near-700 servicemen from Hawick killed in the First World War are to be remembered at a poignant centenary service in the town later this month.

This autumn will see a range of special services to mark 100 years since the Allies and Germans’ guns finally went silent at the end of the 1914-to-1918 conflict.

In total 690,235 Scots served in the Great War, and more than 100,000 lost their lives.

In Hawick alone, 693 men died, and the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland plans to remember them all with a drumhead service at the Common Haugh on Sunday, September 16, from 2pm.

The service will replicate those held on the front line during the First World War, when, in long-held military tradition, piles of drums with draped colours were used in place of altars.

The salute at the subsequent march past will be taken by legion president Alistair Irwin, and the service will be conducted by the Reverend Michael Scouler, previously an Army chaplain and now chaplain at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

The Hawick Saxhorn Band will lead the parade, and a massed band made up of various Borders pipe bands will also perform.

Although the service will reflect on all those who lost their lives in the war, those from the Borders will be at the forefront of the thoughts of those present.

The memorial event will also feature the first public performance of the song Always a Borderer by Hawick musician Alan Brydon in memory of members of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers killed during the Great War.

Former legion chairman John Aitken added: “Sunday, September 16, will be a memorable occasion for Hawick and the Scottish Borders as people of all ages reflect on the end of the First World War, a war that was meant to to end all wars and resulted in the deaths of so many.

“The event will give a sense of what a drumhead service would have meant to the troops who served in the First World War and allows us, 100 years later, to remember and give thanks for their courage.”

Young and old are welcome to attend the event, including veterans from all services.

It is the only drumhead service planned in the Borders this year and the first to be held in Hawick for over 20 years.

The last to be staged in the town was in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.