THE Borders branch of the Order of St John raised more than £1,000 for local good causes at its first Christmas lunch and carol singing.
More than 50 people attended the event at Duns Castle and enjoyed a festive lunch, provided by branch members Jim and Judith Hettrick, before settling down by the fire to sing carols, introduced by the new branch chairman, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo presenter and former Scottish Borders Council convener Alasdair Hutton.
Former Lothian and Borders Police chief inspector David Lyle played piano for four carols and two Christmas songs, spicing the programme with Sir Arthur Sullivan’s Day Dreams and Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag.