Two Borders motorists awaiting delivery of brand new Range Rovers will have to wait a little longer after a lorry driver underestimated the height of his vehicle load when going under a railway bridge in Perth.

That mishap occurred at 8.30am yesterday when the vehicle transporter towing the 4x4s – some still in their plastic wrapping –got caught, the roofs of some of the luxury cars being ripped off.

Gareth Ruddock, 40, saw the accident, and he said: “I was just there dropping my wife off at the station and I did a double take. There are some open-topped cars now. Some of them still had their plastic on. They must have been getting delivered.”

The Southern understands two of the cars at the back of the top row were heading for Lloyd Land Rover in Kelso and that one of its customers had been waiting for their new car for over a year.

Police have confirmed that no one was injured in the collision.

Haylodge Hospital in Peebles has been closed to admissions, and visiting discouraged, after a number of patients experienced “gastrointestinal symptoms”.

A statement from NHS Borders this afternoon said: “Routine visiting is strongly discouraged at this time, and relatives and carers are asked to carefully consider their visits to the hospital.

“The general advice is to stay away from any hospital ward if you or anyone in your family has experienced symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the past 48 hours.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

One of the most common causes of diarrhoea and vomiting is the very infectious norovirus, which is more common in the winter months.

People are reminded to wash their hands with soap and water after contact with people with diarrhoea symptoms in hospital and at home.

Common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhoea and/or vomiting, generally lasting between 12-72 hours. Other symptoms can include headache, fever and muscle aches. Anyone can get the infection and it can be serious in the very young, frail or older people who are vulnerable to the effects of dehydration.

Treatment for norovirus in most cases requires drinking more fluids than usual and resting to give your body a chance to fight the infection. Because it is a virus, antibiotics will not help.

A war hero has been honoured in Jedburgh by the unveiling of a commemorative stone engraved with the Victoria Cross 100 years to the day after he earned that award for gallantry.

Sergeant John Daykins was awarded the military decoration for his actions at Solesmes, near Cambrai in France, on October 20, 1918, when his hand-to-hand fighting under enemy fire helped him capture 25 prisoners and an enemy machine gun.

The commemorative stone was unveiled at Jedburgh’s war memorial in Abbey Place on Saturday, with descendants of Daykins, traced after an appeal by the town’s Royal British Legion Scotland branch, in attendance.

Other guests included Major Pat Ralph of the Yorkshire Regiment Association, Colonel Geoffrey Norton of the York and Lancaster Regimental Association and serving soldiers from the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, formerly the Lothian and Borders Horse regiment.

Led by Legion Scotland standard bearers, a parade made its way to Abbey Place, where the Rev Andrew Cooper led a service with Borders author and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo narrator Alasdair Hutton.

Shaun Carroll, chairman of Jedburgh’s Royal British Legion Scotland branch, which organised the event, said he couldn’t have asked for any more.

“It was beautiful. I was chuffed to bits with it,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for more support from the townsfolk, and we had some lovely support from Edinburgh and Lothians through the legion too. It was really nice.”

After launching an appeal to find Daykins’ descendants earlier this year, Mr Carroll was introduced to genealogist Melvyn Park, who traced second cousin twice removed Gillian Bosner, of Leicester.

“She came with her son, and there was another family member that came from Glasgow,” he said.

“I showed them photographs of May 31, 1919, when John Daykins was given the freedom of the burgh. The historical society had given us a copy of the Jedburgh Gazette, and we presented them with a copy of the inscription from the burgess book.

“They said they hadn’t known what to expect, but they were really moved by the reception they got from Jedburgh.”

The eldest son of John and Bessie, John Brunton Daykins was born at Ormiston Farm, on the road from Hawick to Bonchester Bridge, on March, 28, 1883.

The family moved to Howden, near Jedburgh, when John was five and he worked on the farm there before enlisting with the Lothians and Border Horsemen when war broke out.

He served in France, Greece and Belgium, before being struck down with trench fever and discharged after the Somme in September 1916, later re-enlisting with the York and Lancaster Regiment.

At Solosmes, he took 25 prisoners and a machine-gun post single-handedly, for which he was later awarded the Victoria Cross. He was also awarded the Military Medal in November 1918.

Daykins died in January 1933 after a shotgun accident at his farm and is buried in Castlewood Cemetery.

Describing his heroics at Solosmes, Major General Robert Whigham wrote in December 1918 that the sergeant had “displayed the greatest dash, initiative and gallantry”.

“In spite of heavy machine gun fire, he worked his way to the post alone, and shortly afterwards returned, driving 25 of the enemy in front of him and carrying a captured machine gun,” the major general wrote.

“This action undoubtedly saved many casualties.”

The commemorative stone is one of 469 laid throughout the UK as part of the Government’s First World War centenary campaign,

A Hawick pub and cafe has launched a search for a piano man – or woman – to tickle the ivories on a vintage musical instrument.

13 Brew in Teviot Crescent has taken possession of a century-old piano, but it hasn’t brought the sound of music with it, much to the disappointment of any customers in the mood for a melody.

Pub boss Steve Anderson acquired the instrument in a bid to give the Teviot Crescent bar, opened earlier this year, some old-fashioned character.

The aim was for budding Billy Joels to stroll in and play and encourage locals to join in the occasional old-style knees up.

However, the piano has sat unplayed since it was delivered two weeks ago.

Steve said: “It’s sitting there waiting to be played, so anyone who fancies it can come along and give us a tune.

“I just got it because it popped up on Facebook and I thought ‘that would be pretty cool in my bar’.

“The piano is over 100 years old and it’s got the vintage ivory keys on it. I got it from a guy in Lauder. It was advertised as being free to a good home, and the guy delivered it for £60.

“Nobody has played it yet, so we’re looking for someone to come in and christen it.

“It adds a bit of character to the place.

“We have Jenny Biddle playing here in December, who is primarily a guitarist but also a great all-round musician. She said she would play it when she performs.

“It hasn’t been tuned for five years, but it still sounds OK. I play chopsticks, that’s about it.”

Steve, 34, took over what was formerly an Indian restaurant, and previous to that the Gretel Bar, in March this year and splits his time between working there and running a landscaping business.

He added: “Things are going pretty well. We’ve pretty much got the function room upstairs booked out for the rest of the year.

“Through the week, it’s coffees, cakes and lunches, and at the weekends, it’s more cocktails and meals, and we do live music every Friday night. We have Steve Morrison playing this week, who’s really good.”

South Scotland Conservative list MSP Michelle Ballantyne has come in for criticism for her defence of universal credit and its two-child limit for benefit handouts.

During a Scottish Parliament debate yesterday, October 24, on ending poverty and inequality, Mrs Ballantyne rejected criticism of the new benefit, insisting that is fairer and more cost-effective than the six previous ones it replaces.

That claim was called into question by MSPs of other parties, but it was the former Selkirkshire councillor’s defence of the credit’s two-child cap for payouts that sparked most anger, both in the Holyrood chamber and on social media afterwards.

Responding to a question by Clydesdale Scottish National Party MSP Aileen Campbell, Mrs Ballantyne said: “The two-child limit is about fairness. It is fair that people on benefits cannot have as many children as they like while people who work and pay their way and do not claim benefits have to make decisions about the number of children they can have.

“Fairness means fairness to everybody, not to one part of the community.

“Universal credit might have its flaws, but the thinking behind the system is sound.

“Governments cannot address poverty and inequality without improving people’s life chances. The reform process is about making it work better to be in work than to not be in work.

“Regardless of what others might say, it is a fact that universal credit is working for the many.”

First to respond was Lothian Green Party list MSP Alison Johnstone, saying: “Highly regressive and aggressive cuts to our social security system are driving increased poverty, including child poverty and rapidly burgeoning food poverty.

“The two-child limit is not fair. It is certainly not fair to the third child in a family.”

Renfrewshire South SNP MSP Tom Arthur went further, saying: “I have to say that the speech from Michelle Ballantyne was one of the most disgraceful speeches that I have ever heard in my two and a half years in this Parliament – six minutes of pompous Victorian moralising that would have been better suited to the pages of a Dickens novel.

“She suggests that poverty should be a barrier to a family and that people who are poor are not entitled to any more than two children. What an absolutely disgraceful position. She should be utterly, utterly ashamed of herself.

Pauline McNeill, Glasgow Kelvin’s Labour MSP, agreed, saying: “The worst element of the universal credit system is the two-child limit, which is the most draconian element of the reforms.

“Michelle Ballantyne says that parents should think about how many children they should have, but why should any policy ask children to pay the price?”

Fellow Conservative list MSP Maurice Golden, of the West Scotland region, defended Mrs Ballantyne, saying: “It is not acceptable that persistent and deep-rooted poverty and inequality persist. All of us across the chamber can agree with that.

“Michelle Ballantyne highlighted that universal credit is a better, modern benefit that replaces an old system that disincentivised work.”

That defence prompted a demand for an apology from Lothian Labour list MSP Neil Findlay, asking: “Mr Golden mentioned Michelle Ballantyne. Will he apologise on behalf of his party for her utterly shameful comment that people who are on benefits cannot have more than two children?”

Clarifying that she’d said she believes that families on benefits should only receive state handouts for two children, not that they should be restricted to having two offspring, the mother of six, of Ashiestiel, near Caddonfoot, refused to apologise, insisting: “I did not say that.”

Mrs Campbell was unconvinced, however, saying: “All parties bar one in this parliament recognise the brutal impact of universal credit, such as universal credit claimants being six times as likely to be sanctioned as claimants of any other legacy payment and the income of 3,800 Scottish families being reduced because of the two-child limit.

“Pauline McNeill was right that universal credit is hurting people and that its morality is questionable.

“Tom Arthur was also correct to get angry and call out the Conservatives’ moralising, which seemed to suggest that, if someone is poor, they are not allowed any more than two children. That view is utterly reprehensible.

“I think that we all heard the suggestion that if someone is poor, they do not deserve any more than two children. That is something that we need to call out because it is not right for Michelle Ballantyne to say that.

“If she did not mean that, that is fair enough. However, I think that it showed us just a glimpse of the Conservatives’ true reasons for pursuing these policies.

“The UK Government must halt the rollout of universal credit and the Conservatives here must face up to the impact of the ideologically-driven welfare reforms of their party.”

Mrs Ballantyne, 55, a list MSP since May last year, was previously Scottish Borders Council’s Conservative group leader and was one of the authority’s three councillors for Selkirkshire from 2012 until December 2017.

A man convicted of assaulting a woman by stripping her of her underwear while she was drunk has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work and put on the sex offenders’ register for the next year.

Andrew Wiseman, 56, carried out that attack on the woman, now 29, as she lay face down in a state of intoxication on a bed in his Anderson Road home in Selkirk in December 2016.

Wiseman pleaded not guilty, claiming to have been acting as a good Samaritan by removing her underwear and leggings too, but he was convicted of assault following a three-day jury trial last month.

Sentencing was deferred after that trial for background reports.

At his sentencing hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley said: “The accused admitted that he pulled off the complainant’s leggings and underwear.

“The leggings, he maintains, was deliberate, and the underpants came off unintentionally with the leggings.

“He continues to maintain that he did it for her welfare, to prevent her from overheating in her drunken state in a duvet.”

Allegations that he sexually assaulted her and carried out a sex act on himself in her presence, all with intent to rape, were deleted from the charge against him by jurors.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Wiseman that he could have been facing a custodial sentence had it not been for those deletions.

“He was convicted of removing the leggings and underwear,” said Mr Drummond.

“In those circumstances, what remains is undoubtedly an indecent assault.”

Now established as one of the leading agricultural events in the UK, Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway Agri-Expo will be held on Friday 2 November at Borderway Mart in Carlisle.

New classes have been introduced this year as a result of growing interest in this specialist industry show and exhibition.

The outstanding line up of judges travelling from Ireland, Scotland and England, now recognise this event as a major date in the farming calendar and will have the enviable task of ranking almost 1000 of the most impressive livestock from the UK. Judging the main cattle classes is Alan Veitch, from Drumlone, in Co Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland, the Baby Beef Classes by Craig Malone, from Fife, and William McAllister, from Ballymena in Co Antrim will be in charge of the sheep classes. Renowned Lancashire sheep farmer, Thomas Binns from Hecklin Farm in Clitheroe will judge the best pair of Mule ewe lambs.

For the very first time, Blue Texel’s will be represented with a class to award the best pair of lambs, a class which is sure to attract some fierce competition with breeders. In addition a new class for a pair of Herdwick cross lambs has been added.

Harrison & Hetherington’s Joint Managing Director and Event Organiser, David Pritchard, said: “The Agri Expo has become a unique event for the agricultural industry to come together to celebrate its achievements, meet with industry representatives to discuss current issues and gain knowledge and information about new innovations and technologies within livestock management.

“This year, more than ever, this event offers the farming community a valuable meeting point to remind ourselves, and our customers, about the fantastic successes of our industry and what we can offer.”

Three men have been charged in connection with the theft of almost £11,500 of mobile devices from a mobile phone shop in Galashiels yesterday.

It’s the second time in two months the O2 phone shop in Channel Street has been hit, with thieves stealing more than £11,000 of mobile phones in a distraction theft in August.

The latest incident happened at around 4.15pm yesterday (Wednesday, October 24).

Local police resources were supported by colleagues from the air support and dog unit in conducting searches following the theft, which resulted in an 18-year-old man being arrested in the Traquair area.

A further two men, aged 18 and 17, were subsequently traced during a road check in Peebles and arrested in connection with the incident.

A quantity of the stolen property was recovered a short time later in Walkerburn.

Chief Inspector Andy McLean, area commander for the Borders said: “We will not tolerate such unacceptable behaviour in our local community and the men are now held in police custody to appear in court.

“We are committed to tackling these type of incidents and will continue to use all resources at our disposal to investigate thoroughly.”

The men are expected to appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court tomorrow (Friday, October 26). They are also charged with road traffic offences.

Inquiries are still ongoing in regards to the theft in August.

Lack of maintenance of bridges across the Borders is storing up trouble for the future, a worried councillor is warning.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson has highlighted two footbridges over the River Teviot in the town as prime examples of structures being allowed to fall into a state of disrepair.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council today, October 25, he called on the ruling administration to act now or “pay the price in the future”.

Mr Paterson’s additional motion at today’s meeting was prompted by concerns voiced by townsfolk about the James Thomson Bridge and the Victoria Bridge.

The former, opened in 2006 and named in honour of the poet and songwriter Thomson, alive from 1827 to 1888, is rusting in several places. Also falling into a state of disrepair is the latter, opened in 1991.

Mr Paterson said: “The reason that I put in the question about the bridges, and other maintenance work that needs to be done, is that I have been approached by constituents who fear that work is being left and that it is eventually going to cost more to put things right.

“There is rusting in several areas of the Thomson bridge, and if it is left it just won’t get any better. It desperately needs to be done now.

“Also, the railings leading you into Wilton Lodge Park, on both sides of the river, are also in a shocking state.

“They have done a good job on the new gates at the park, but those railings really need some TLC.

“All the work that has been done on the park is fantastic, but surely there must be money put aside for the long-term maintenance of things.

“If the council can’t or won’t do this work, then the Hawick common good fund should be possibly contributing.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said defects to the 1,200 bridges and culverts in the region are carried out on a priority-need basis, adding: “Maintenance of bridges throughout the Scottish Borders is undertaken via a combination of planned and reactive work programmes.

“Planned works are based on known defects and required repairs, whereas reactive works arise from accident or emergency incidents which often require more urgent attention, such as flood damage.

“Defects on bridges are noted via inspections undertaken by the asset team, by other council colleagues or reported by members of the public.

“These defects are then prioritised against other required maintenance works on the council’s 1,200 bridges and culverts across the region.

“In regards to the James Thomson Bridge, the council is aware that some services beneath the bridge have been subject to flood damage.

“Officers are currently making contact with relevant utility bodies to have these repaired.”

A social landlord’s plans to build eight new flats in St Dunstan’s Park in Melrose in place of 13 garages have come under fire from residents.

Scottish Borders Housing Association, also planning a similar move at Mossilee Road in Galashiels, as reported last week, has written to the tenants of the garages to declare its intentions.

That letter, signed by head of asset planning and development Caroline Purcell, states: “Scottish Borders Housing Association intends to submit a planning application in the very near future to Scottish Borders Council to build new affordable homes on the garage site you currently rent from us.

“We would expect to hear by the end of 2018 if this application has been successful.

“Should planning consent be granted, it would be our intention to serve you legal notice to vacate the site.”

A planning application for the flats has not yet been lodged, but residents affected attended last week’s meeting of Melrose Community Council to record their concerns.

One said: “One of our worries is that it could have an implication for property values in the area.”

Another resident cited worries over safety: “Fire engines have difficulty turning around on the street, and this would no doubt make it worse.”

Other concerns include lack of parking and the impact on the environment, with parts of the banking behind the garages set to be excavated and fears that asbestos is present in the garages.

The association’s director of assets and property services, Henry Coyle, said: “Our housing needs analysis shows that there is considerable demand for affordable housing right across the Borders and as buying land is expensive, we are looking to make best use of the land we already own, as well as considering additional land acquisition opportunities.

“According to our housing register, housing in these areas is in high demand, and we have not so far been able to advertise these types of houses in these areas.

“We currently have just over 4,000 home-seekers on our housing register.”

“We appreciate that it may be inconvenient for people to make alternative storage arrangements. However, we feel that meeting housing need through the creation of well-designed, warm, affordable housing is of paramount importance.

“Parking re-provision will be addressed in the planning application, and we hope that by informing people affected so far ahead of the required 28-day notice period, we can assist them to make alternative arrangements.”

Council chiefs have come in for further criticism for granting taxi licences to applicants with criminal convictions and for insisting on doing so in secret.

As reported previously, burglars, arsonists, thieves and drink-drivers have all been given taxi and private-hire licences by the council in meetings held behind closed doors that the press and public are barred from attending.

Nearly half of all licences handed out in 2017 were given to cabbies with criminal records, with domestic abuse, drink-driving, wilful fireraising and speeding offences listed as prior convictions on their application forms.

One licence holder has even been convicted of indecent exposure twice, and another has a criminal record for carrying a pistol in public.

At a full meeting of Scottish Borders Council today, October 25, Galashiels councillor Harry Scott asked council chiefs how and why 155 licences have been granted to people with previous convictions.

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, told him: “When an applicant has prior convictions, has criminal prosecutions pending or the police object to the granting or renewal of a licence, then the application is referred to the civic government licensing committee to determine.

“It will then be for the committee to decide, based on all information available, whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

“Police officers will also be present and address the committee.

“The applicant will also be invited to speak to the committee and be subject to questioning.

“If the committee considers the applicant to be a danger to the public, or for any other reason decides that the applicant is not a fit and proper person, then the application will be refused.”

Following on from his first question, Mr Scott asked Mr Edgar: “How many holders of taxi and private hire licences have been convicted of criminal offences whilst employed as such during the past five years and what were the nature of those offences?”

Mr Edgar revealed that over the past five years, 20 taxi or private licence holders have been convicted of criminal offences while employed as drivers in the Borders.

Those convictions were made up of seven road traffic offences, four domestic breaches of the peace, three other breaches of the peace and one conviction apiece for threatening or abusive behaviour, assault, carrying an offensive weapon, theft, drink-driving and social security fraud.

The licensing committee also has the authority to suspend or revoke licences, and of the 20 drivers convicted while working here, 14 have had theirs taken off them as a result of their offending.

The six allowed to retain their licences were convicted of either road traffic offences or domestic or other breaches of the peace.

Mr Scott also took umbrage with the fact that the council refuses to allow such decisions to be subject to press or public scrutiny, saying: “I first heard of this from the media, but I’ve since seen the freedom-of-information request that the media had seen.

“I’m really not satisfied that we’re being as tight as we could be when we’re vetting these people – convictions for indecent exposure, for example. I really don’t want my wife and my daughter sitting in a taxi with a driver who has got a conviction for this offence.

“Another licence holder has convictions for theft, breach of the peace, excess alcohol, cultivating cannabis and possession of drugs. Do we really want somebody like that driving a taxi in our area?  

“There are plenty of reports coming from south of the border, mostly London and the Midlands, where taxi drivers have been involved in some heinous crimes, particularly against women and young girls. I really don’t want that to happen here.

“Previous convictions are a matter of public record, so there’s no reason that these applications should not be heard in an open session of the licensing board.

“If there’s still some doubt about that, then it should be made clear to the applicants that all of their previous convictions will be made clear in a publically-available meeting.

“It’s not acceptable that these are heard in private, and the announcement that the protection of the personal data of applicants outweighs the public interest in whether a licence holder has a previous conviction is also unacceptable.

“These people are in trusted positions, and we need to be sure that they are as trustworthy as they can be.”

A spokesperson for the council confirmed that it feels the need to protect the personal data of applicants outweighs the public interest in knowing if taxi licence holders have previous convictions.

Carlisle-based H&H Group, which owns Newtown St Boswells auction mart, has released its results for the year to June 30, showing an operating profit at £940,000.

Further strengthening the balance sheet, net assets have continued to grow and are now at £18.3m, up £582,000, and a final dividend has been recommended of 27p per share, making a total of 39p for the full year.

Chief executive Richard Rankin commented: “Despite the continued economic uncertainty, the group overall has performed well. Every business, with the exception of land agency, has repeated or exceeded prior year’s results.”

He went on: “Within our livestock auctioneering and marketing division, Harrison & Hetherington, we have seen continued growth throughout, trading over £178m of livestock.

“This growth in our core business can be attributed to a number of factors which include rising numbers of livestock and significant one-off sales and events.

“As the UK’s leading livestock company, our aim is to further develop the range of livestock trading opportunities we offer and increase the level of service we deliver.

“We are also now looking at further development and investment into our existing sites.”

Turning to the group’s land agency business, H&H Land and Property, Mr Rankin said there were strong performances by the Kendal and Durham operations, “and Newtown St Boswells continues to grow from its standing start”.

The chief executive highlighted the uncertainly created by Brexit, with many farmers delaying big decisions and investment, coupled with fewer farms coming to market. This had had an effect on the results.

“To take the business forward through what are both interesting and uncertain times for the agricultural industry, leadership in this division has been strengthened, and our competitive position in the north and the Scottish Borders enhanced,” said Mr Rankine.

Galashiels’ plans to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War continue apace with two separate projects.

An environmentally-friendly memorial made from hundreds of plastic bottles was unveiled last week.

The Poppy Teardrop was created by Jenni Golder after she, with members of Energise Galashiels and volunteers, collected, washed and reused the bottles over the space of a year as part of the Gala Remembers 2018 initiative.

The Galashiels artist’s work contains more than 1,750 poppies created from plastic that could otherwise have ended up in landfill.

It was revealed at Galashiels war memorial last Friday as a tribute to the 639 men from the town who lost their lives during the 1914-18 war.

The artwork was put together in July this year using the collected bottles, with the base and top of each bottle cut and then washed again. The plastic was then painted red and had holes drilled in each piece to create the teardrop.

Former councillor Bill White, Gala Remembers 2018’s chairman, said: “This has been a fantastic project which not only provides a unique and special memorial to those who died during the Great War but also reuses plastics at a time when the impact of the material on the environment is a huge issue across the globe.

“A real community effort was needed to collect all the plastic bottles required by Jenni to make the final design, which has impressed all those who have seen it so far”.

“We hope it inspires people to remember their past, as well as look to the future and the positive impact we can have on the environment.”

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s energy efficiency champion, added: “It is great to see Jenni Golder and her team of volunteers play their part by reusing plastic bottles which otherwise could have affected our local environment.

“For the material to then be used for such a worthwhile project is fantastic, and it should encourage the reduce-reuse-recycle message we want to get across.”

In another project, S2 pupils from the town’s academy were asked to design banners to mark the centenary, with the best 14 being hung up on poles throughout the town centre.

Mr White said: “The banners designed by the the local secondary school children were of an extremely high standard.

“They were all winners. However, only 14 could be selected for the final banners displayed in the town, and it was a very difficult task for the judges to select the winners.

“They should all be very proud of their work.”

One of the winning pupils, Finn Murray, 13, said: “”Our art class did research into Remembrance Day. I found images and photos which inspired me before I started work on my design. I was amazed that my design was chosen to go on public display.”

Gala Remembers 2018 is a partnership of community groups and organisations working together to create a respectful commemoration for all those who served the country during the war.

It aims to provide educational opportunities, as well as provide entertainment to attract thousands of visitors to Galashiels and highlight the importance of community engagement at the start of a major regeneration scheme for the town.

A Selkirk man who compiled the wartime letters home written by his grandfather for a book says he feels they have as much relevance now as they did 100 years ago.

Tim Brown became interested in the project after reading the letters sent by his paternal grandfather William Neilson Brown to his aunt Minnie McGillivray of Galashiels.

They were written, mostly from the front line trenches all over Europe between 1915-1918, by William, who quickly rose through the ranks to become Major. He volunteered for service with the Army Service Corps in Japan before returning home and joining the 2nd batallion, Gordon Highlanders in 1915.

Tim said: “With everyone now looking back to 1918, these letters – some of which are very graphic, yet are so moving.

“They are also well-written, with William being a writer to trade – he was editor of the Border Standard, which is now the Border Telegraph.

“Some of the letters were written as he was under heavy fire, and the handwriting shows the stress he was under.

“They are as evocative a record of what it was like in the trenches as anything else.”

During his service, William was wounded twice, and won the military medal for bravery in Italy, Belgium and France, as well as several other awards.

Most of his letters are prefaced with the three words “All well yet”, which is the title of the book,

The theme of freezing cold mud seems to be a constant.

One letter, written in France in 1916, states: “All well yet. The weather has been frightful and we are exposed owing to German frightfulness. Heavy snow has made everything very miserable. All signs of spring have disappeared, but the year is getting on and it is bound to improve some time.

“Everywhere are signs of the Germans’ two and a half years tenure here. Every village has miles of wire round it and heaps of refuse, graves well kept and covered with tributes to Fritz and Hans.”

It goes on: “The machine gun has made a revolution in warfare and the rear guards are now most formidable.

“We must hope for the best and a quick finish and trust we will not have another winter.”

Another, written on October 5, 1917, begins “All well yet. We have just come out of the worst action I have ever seen. I got through again, my luck is great. Many good chaps have gone out, some of my old friends, Callum Graham got his arm taken off and died. The mud is awful, it makes life impossible and yet we go on.”

But through even the worst of times, his dry wit shone through. Later in the same letter, he writes: “Winter is coming on us and there is not much hope of comfort for some time to come, however, we have got the thanks of parliament and that is always something. If you could send me a kippered salmon, it would be much appreciated, and a change.”

And in amongst the trials of war, he writes a passable travelogue. In another letter, he wrote of his visit to St Mark’s Basilica in Venice: “To our northern eyes, the decoration of church in the style of a first rate gin palace is a bit disconcerting.”

William Neilson Brown made it through the war, and died, aged 70, in August 1953, and was buried in Waird’s cemetery in Melrose.

Copies of the book can be purchased, for £9.99, at www.allwellyet.co.uk

Two of the three teenagers charged in connection with the theft last week of almost £11,500 worth of mobile phones from a shop in Galashiels have been named.

Eighteen-year-olds Iosif Pitigoi and Flip Flurea – who both gave addresses in Ipswich, Suffolk – are accused of theft by shoplifting at the O2 premises in Channel Street on Wednesday afternoon.

They also face a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Appearing from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Friday, both males made no plea and their cases were continued for further examination and remanded in custody.

A 17-year-old male – who cannot be named for legal reasons – also appeared on a summary complaint at Selkirk Sheriff Court in connection with the same incident.

Last week’s theft was the second time the O2 shop had been hit in two months.

The latest incident happened at around 4.15pm on Wednesday, October 24.

Local police resources were supported by colleagues from the air support and dog unit in conducting searches following the theft, which resulted in one of the 18-year-olds being arrested in the Traquair area.

The other two were subsequently traced during a road check in Peebles and arrested in connection with the incident.

A quantity of the stolen property was recovered a short time later in Walkerburn.

Chief Inspector Andy McLean, area commander for the Borders said: “We will not tolerate such unacceptable behaviour in our local community.

“We are committed to tackling these type of incidents and will continue to use all resources at our disposal to investigate thoroughly.”

A new hotel, filling station, food store and coffee drive-thru could be on the way in Tweedband if plans for a £12m development there, submitted to Scottish Borders Council this week, are approved.

Edinburgh-based developer New Land Assets unveiled plans to bring national hotel operator Premier Inn to the proposed Borders Gateway site in Tweedbank.

That 71-bedroom hotel forms part of a £12m development which also includes a BP petrol filling station, a Costa drive-thru coffee shop and M&S food store.

The investment on the currently vacant site, set aside for business and employment use in the local development plan, will also create an estimated 100 job, including 30 at the hotel.

More than 250 residents attended a public consultation in March of which 91% welcomed the Borders Gateway proposals.

Duncan Hamilton, managing director of New Land Assets, said: ““We are delighted at how the plans have been received by the Tweedbank community and the positive feedback we have received since we announced our plans earlier this year.

“We have listened carefully to the feedback and made some changes to the plans which have been backed by a range of local businesses.

“Premier Inn is a national brand that is recognised across the country and it will be the first Premier Inn in the Borders. Through our consultation local people recognised the need for more hotel accommodation and I am sure they will be delighted that we have secured such a strong brand to operate the hotel.”

Premier Inn acquisition manager, Nick Johnston, said it was a “promising time for the Borders.”

“We’re excited at the prospect of being part of the economic growth of the area,” he said. “The Scottish Government’s blueprint for the Borders Railway aims to increase commercial and tourism development and bringing Premier Inn and its associated benefits to the area aligns with this vision.

“The strategic location of the Borders Gateway development and its mix of uses make it a great site for a new Premier Inn hotel.

“If approved, the new Premier Inn will operate year-round, helping to support the local economy and benefitting tourist attractions by enticing visitors to Tweedbank and the Scottish Borders across all four seasons.

“The new Premier Inn will create approximately 30 new year-round jobs with recruitment focused locally through Job Centre Plus and other employment service providers. We’ve seen a very positive reaction from the local community to the prospect of working for Whitbread and the benefits that brings, especially among young people.

“Our presence also has a positive knock-on effect on local businesses as many of our guests visit local attractions and eat and drink out when they stay with us.

“Bringing Premier Inn to the Borders can be the catalyst for encouraging more businesses to invest in the Borders and its exciting future.”

The plans will go before the council’s planning and building standards committee in the coming weeks and work could begin next year.

Nick Eccles, acquisition manager for Scotland at BP, said: “BP are looking forward to developing a new BP and M&S facility as part of the Border’s Gateway Development during the course of 2019”

Local businesses and tourist attractions have welcomed the news this week. Chief executive of Abbotsford House, Giles Ingram, said: “We are a major tourist attraction in the Borders and as we continue to grow we need accommodation nearby, the hotel will be great for us the surrounding area and allow us to continue to develop Abbotsford and the Borders as a major tourist destination.”

Born in the Borders owner John Henderson added: “These plans demonstrate a positive addition to the area and much needed new facilities. They also show that the Borders is really developing and attracting private investment which will be key to grow the region, it’s a positive step in the right direction.”

Scotland’s largest building preservation company, Richardson and Starling, kick-started its latest expansion exercise on Monday, with the opening of its new office in Hawick.

Five new posts are being created, with the company actively recruiting from the local area. The firm is seeking four technicians to join its property surveyor, who is already in place.

The premises in Lochpark Industrial Estate will service Hawick and the Borders, and takes the company’s branch network to 14 across Scotland and the North of England.

“There is a strong market for our services in the Borders with a high demand to use companies who are locally based,” said Richardson and Starling’s managing director, Graham Duncan.

“Our Dumfries office has serviced the area until now, but we are keen to work more closely with local suppliers, so setting up an Hawick office was the next obvious step for us.”

The latest addition to the firm’s branch network comes after the announcement in August of a new Inverness office where seven new posts were created.

In July, the firm won a national trade body’s UK contractor of the year title for the record third successive year.

The Cambuslang-headquartered organisation retained the ‘Contractor of the Year, Damp and Timber Treatment’ title at The Property Care Association’s Best Practice Awards, held last month at The Slate, University of Warwick.

The firm also walked away with the ‘Innovation’ title as well as two highly commended accolades in the ‘Training and Staff Development’ and ‘Sustainability’ categories.

Richardson and Starling is the largest company within the Veitchi Group and has been providing preservation services since 1935.

It’s bonfire season ... and it’s generally accepted that the best and safest way to enjoy it is to go along to an official organised display.

And there is bound to be one close to you this weekend.

The village hall committee of Gattonside took the bull by the horns a few years ago and decided to hold their bonfire and fireworks event a whole week before anyone else, and as such merges it with a halloween-themed evening.

Co-organiser Anne Lyal told us: “We used to have it on the same evening as Galashiels, and it meant the crowd was split between here and there.

“So to get the most kids here we decided to have it at halloween, which means we can double up with a pumpkin competition and fancy dress, as well as our usual barbecue and mulled wine stalls.

“Eileen and Alistair Buchan kindly let us use their land for the bonfire – we put the turf back after it’s done – it’s just a community event with no other purpose than to get together and enjoy ourselves.”

Here’s a few of the other events under way in the coming days.

Saturday, November 3

Selkirk: Haining House, 6.30pm-9pm. A torchlight procession takes place from the Market Place at 6.30pm. Please note: No sparklers. Live music and refreshments available.

Hawick: Mansfield Park, 6.15pm.

Peebles: Victoria Park, from 6pm.

Lauder: Burnmill area, from 6pm.

Sunday, November 4

Oxton: Village green, 6.30 for 7pm.

Monday, November 5

Denholm: Auld Cross Keys Inn, from 6pm.

Kelso: Border Union Showground, from 6pm, when the bonfire will be lit. Fireworks will start at 6.30pm. Refreshments available.

Friday, November 11

Yetholm: Torchlight procession from the village shop at 5.45pm to the playing fields for bonfire.

Drivers on the A68 should be prepared for some delay on the bridge over the Tweed at Leaderfoot, from Monday, November 5, for two weeks.

During this time, two-way traffic lights will be operated at either side of the bridge to enable Scottish Water to progress a £4 million drinking water upgrade project – a new pipeline running between Melrose and Earlston.

The lights will be manually controlled during peak travel hours.

The 7km pipeline is nearing completion and will provide the local area with a more resilient network.

Scott Fraser, regional corporate affairs manager at Scottish Water, said: “We apologise to customers affected by this essential traffic management and endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum.

“The project aims to improve overall drinking water quality and ensure customers in the Borders continue to enjoy clear, fresh drinking water now and in the future.

“We want to thank motorists in advance for their patience while this upgrade work is taking place.”

Three young Borderers are on their way to becoming Douglas Home and Company’s next bookkeepers, thanks to a new traineeship iniative.

The chartered accountancy firm, with offices in Kelso, Melrose, Selkirk and Hawick, has recruited three new trainees to join their Kelso office.

Robbie Anderson, 17, and Jody Cree, 16, join the firm after it visited Jedburgh Grammar School in a bid to attract students into the financial industry.

They join Rebecca Johnston, 20, who moves to the company after working as an administrator, on the new training initiative.

The new recruits will work in a variety of disciplines over the next year, from tax returns to bookkeeping, to give them a flavour of the work as well as invaluable experience.

The firm’s managing director, Alan Drummond, said: “This is a great way for us to introduce new people to the company and give them the opportunity to learn about a career in the financial services industry.

“Our people are out greatest asset and providing opportunities to those at entry-level is a fantastic way to nurture new talent.”

Robbie and Jody heard about the opportunity to work with Douglas Home & Company through social media, and a careers fair at their school.

Robbie said: “I went along to our school careers fair and spoke to the team here and they told me they were considering recruiting school leavers. I kept an eye out for any opportunities after that and then saw the advert on Facebook. I’ve always been interested in working with numbers and I’d heard good things about the company so I knew this was the opportunity I was looking for. I live on a farm too which means I have a good understanding of a lot of our rural clients which is an added bonus.”

Jody added: “There’s a history of accountants in my family and my best subject at school was Accountancy and Finance so it’s no surprise that this traineeship felt like a great fit for me. I knew Douglas Home & Company has a great reputation as well which made the decision to apply easy. I’ve really enjoyed the work so far and everyone has been so welcoming.”

Rebecca wasn’t looking for a new job, but thought the opportunity was too good to miss. She said: “The opportunity to train in several areas and to do it with a professional company like this really appealed to me. I don’t know which area I’m going to enjoy most yet, but that’s why it’s so good being able to try so many different things. It keeps things interesting.”