ANCRUM
WRI
Members discussed the entry for the federation show. Winner of the Fete Cup for Gypsy Creams was J. Butler; 2, R. Sinton; 3, R. Walker. Floral arrangement in an egg cup – 1, M. Dorricott; 2, C. Pringle; 3, R. Sinton; 4, E. Munro. The outing on June 12 is to Pirn House Interiors – meet at the bus stop at 6pm.
Caddonfoot
Church
The Reverend Marion Dodd conducted the service on Sunday in Caddonfoot Church, with the lessons read by Joyce Brown. The nominating committee for the vacancy with Trinity met this week, while Caddonfoot congregational board meets on June 13 at 7.30pm. There will be no Bible study during June and July. June 9 sees the CY prizegiving ceremony. Christian Aid donations in the Clovenfords district amounted to more than £600.
EARLSTON
Wednesday Club
The last get-together of the club year took the form of a coach trip to Fife, visiting Anstruther and Lundin Links. Members next meet after the summer break in September.
Church
The June 9 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods, with a congregational board meeting being held two days later at 7.30pm in the church hall lounge and communion service on June 16 at 10.15am. The congregational walk on June 23 leaves from the church at 11.30am. There will be two routes – round the Mill Meadow; and through Speedies Wood to Drygrange Orchard and back again. There will be refreshments at the church hall afterwards. The civic week service on June 30 will be in the marquee.
FOUNTAINHALL
WRI
The rural closes for the summer on June 12 with a meal at The Cockatoo (7 for 7.30pm).May competition winners – yoghurt loaf – 1, D. Wilson; 2, A. Mathison; family photograph – 1, A. Mathison; 2, C. Davidson. Meetings resume in the village hall on September 18.
Galashiels
Camera Club
The summer day trip to Crail and St Andrews will take place on June 9. First pick-up is at Newtown St Boswells (Waverley car park, opposite council offices) at 9am, then Melrose Square (9.07am) and Galashiels (next to fire station, 9.15am). Any questions – Ian Oliver (07778 383972).
Hawick
Rotary
President Tommy Mulvee welcomed several guests to last week’s club meeting. Eileen Smith accompanied her husband Ron, and Rotarians David Denier and Andrew Lister from Duns Rotary Club to hear the evening’s speaker, motorcycle racer Stuart Easton, with his sister, Linsey, who operated the digital projector. Stuart gave a talk on his sport which requires total dedication and concentration on top of an in-bred talent to ride machines in excess of 200mph. He started on motorcycles at five years of age in schoolboy motocross, with some success, and 10 years later, as soon as he was old enough in 1999, caught the bug of road racing on a 125cc Aprilia. His natural ability soon came to the notice of big teams and the following year he signed up with an outfit and came third in the 125cc British championship. His talents brought more success and two years later he was teamed up with his friend and mentor, the late Steve Hislop, both winning their respective championships. Success kept coming and in 2009 he was third in the superbikes and had the first of his three wins at the Macau GP where he still holds the outright lap record time. He also tried road racing and at the North-West 200 in Northern Ireland he holds the fastest speed-trap record of 204.7mph. However, it was there in 2011 that he had a near-fatal crash through no fault of his own. While slipstreaming a competitor at 160mph, the machine suddenly stopped and he couldn’t avoid a collision, resulting in multiple injuries and three months’ recuperation in a Belfast hospital. He is now in the process of re-establishing his career and has dropped to the 600cc class. Questions followed after which past president George Rennie proposed the vote of thanks to Stuart and Linsey.
heiton
Village hall
Heiton village hall committee met to discuss the autumn programme. Events are to include a concert in September, quiz with supper the following month and a 60s and 70s night in November. The Heiton newsletter is to be delivered soon, where details of these and other activities, with ticket information, will be found. Also discussed was the Heiton rideout on the Monday of Kelso Civic Week and the village dance the same night.
innerleithen
Walking guides
Pupils from P4 and P6 at St Ronan’s Primary School are working with Robert Smail’s Printing Works to put together two walking guides for the area. They have had help from Scottish Borders Ranger Service and Innerleithen Community Trust. P6 are extending a class project to produce a guide from Traquair to Dryhope Tower, based around Sir Walter Scott and his connections to the area. P4 are working on an historical route around the town, which will include points of interest such as St Ronan’s Wells, Runic Cross, Cuddy Brig and Jenny’s Well. The guides will be launched during Scottish Borders Walking Festival Week in September. The youngsters are keen to encourage people to get more active and also spend time and money in the town. They are hoping local businesses will sponsor these leaflets – anyone interested should contact Gen Harrison at gharrison@nts.org.uk.
Coffee morning
Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn Church will hold a coffee morning on June 8 in Innerleithen Church Hall (10-11.30am), the proceeds of which will go towards the training of a midwife in Malawi.
Pipe band
Innerleithen Pipe Band will hold a coffee morning on June 8 in Vale of Leithen Social Club (10am-noon).
Ball
Tickets for the Standard Bearer’s Ball on July 13 are still available – contact stronansgames@googlemail.com or 01896 870316.
JEDBURGH
Lunch club
The lunch club will be held on June 13, providing a nourishing meal for pensioners in the Jedburgh area. Anyone who knows someone who would benefit from this service, or wants to help as a volunteer, should phone 01835 862565. Transport can be arranged.
kelso
U3A
Four Border Abbeys U3A group’s next open meeting is on June 10 at 12.30pm in Kelso Rugby Club for the members’ buffet lunch and social.
Bridge club
May 29 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Mary and Nigel Lindsay; 2, Joyce Thomson and Helenor Pratt; 3, Alison Ireland and Evelyn Erskine. E/W – 1, Annie Mitchell and Bob Stevenson; 2, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 3, Honor Brown and Lesley Dick. May 30 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Bob Stevenson and Lee Leeson; 2, David Harris-Burland and Sheila Urquhart; 3, John and Marian Miller. E/W – 1, Shirley Armstrong and Moira Ayton; 2, Archie Stewart and Billy Potts; 3, Nancy Porter and Jock Dun.
Principals
Kelso Community Events Committee has selected the four principals for St James’ Fair on September 7 and 8. There were so many children wanting to be involved that a basket was needed rather than a hat to pick the names from. The king will be Matt Ballantyne and the queen Rosie Kelly, both from Broomlands Primary School. Standard bearer Andrew Lawson is from Edenside, while Sprouston provides the cushion bearer – Emma Scott-Watson.
Goalkeeper
Kelso Football Club is looking for a goalkeeper and outfield players for its under-15 team. Anyone interested should email ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com or telephone 01573 420703.
Dry bar
See Yetholm section.
langholm
Common riding
The common riding committee met in the Crown Hotel and at the outset of the meeting Roger Maxwell and Tommy Morrison were unanimously re-elected as chairman and vice-chairman respectively. On taking over the chair, Mr Maxwell congratulated Alasdair Cavers on being elected Cornet and said he could rely on the full support of the committee and hoped he would have a great day. The public meeting on the election night had been well attended and there were no complaints made about the running of the common riding. A point had been raised about the rental charges for the funfair at the Kilngreen and it was said that the cost for similar facilities at Annan was much less. There had been no response yet from Councillor Denis Male. The public meeting night dance had been well attended with 310 tickets sold and £1,550 raised. The band had been paid £300. It was agreed that a rope would be provided to keep a space clear for the horses in a bid to alleviate problems experienced last year at the handing in of the flag. The allowance for the Cornet and Right and Left-Hand Men will remain at £800 and £400 respectively. Norman Maxwell has provided the nibby for the semi-jubilee Cornet and Steven Ellwood said he would find out what his father, George, would like for his jubilee presentation. The vice-chairman will make enquiries with the family of diamond jubilee cornet John Paterson as to his presentation. The quote of £768 – £20 more than last year – by the North Lakes Marquee hire company was accepted. A sub-committee was formed for the Castleholm, and also for the athletics and bar. David Pool is Castle Craigs Fair Crier this year and Stuart Smith confirmed he would arrange for the supply of herring to assist Mary Musialowski. Stephen Rae said the posters had gone to print and the Castle Craigs Club race will now be a handicap, with no betting allowed.
Blooming
The Buccleuch Centre was busy with the Buccleuch in Bloom event. There was plenty to buy among the stalls which included Cochrane’s Nurseries, Latimers, Ian Waldie and Helen Knowles (both had stalls of plants and flowers), Magic Moments (baking), Abbotts (chocolates) and the Smith family (bird tables and nest boxes). There was also tombola and stalls of greeting cards, Graham’s timber products and Barbara Morris was promoting her new book. Langholm Playcare was on hand to keep the children happy with face-painting.
Sale
The local branch of Alzheimer Scotland is holding a mini sale in the Londis Annexe, High Street, today (Thursday) and tomorrow from 10am-4pm, and Saturday (10am-1pm).There will be nearly-new clothes and accessories, gifts, ornaments and toys, plus a raffle.
Libby’s visit
Paralympian Libby Clegg, who won silver in the T12 100 metres in the Paralympics in London when representing Team GB, visited the primary school. She showed the pupils her medals, having won her first silver in Beijing in 2008. Libby had visited the school prior to the Paralympics and was pleased to return and tell the children about her experiences competing in London.
LAUDER
WRI
Sheila Hardie represented the rural in the next round of the Gypsy Creams competition at the Berwickshire federation AGM and was awarded second prize. Thomson Trophy and SWRI Spoon for 2012/13 – 1, Wendy Paterson; 2, Mary Sked; 3 (equal), Kathleen Thomson and Anne Strangeways.
Historical society
The talk about Thomas the Rhymer has been rescheduled from June 19 to June 26 at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens (01578 722559).
Melrose
Church
The church magazine for June, July and August is available for distribution and via email. June 9 services – Bowden (9.30am) and Melrose (11am); June 16 – war memorial, 10.45am; Kirkin’ of the Melrosian, 11am.
Trimontium
As well as the expected arrival by July of the Synton Hill hoard of 228 denarii, the quarterly meeting of the Trimontium trustees had the usual number of mundane but necessary matters to consider, including the financing of and charges for the museum and its activities, including school visits. Twenty-five years’ work had resulted in the gathering of an archive and the possibility of external storage was being considered. The museum had been the first independent one in the Borders to be awarded accredited status in 2010, but in order to keep its laurels it would require to submit to an inspection later this year. The date for the outing is August 3 and it was hoped to announce the details with the imminent issue of the annual newsletter, Trimontium Trumpet 27. The trust was playing an active part in the steering committee of the ambitious Old Melrose and Environs Project which, it was hoped, would make a start this year. There will be a Trimontium Walk today (Thursday) at 1.30pm.
Morebattle
Dry bar
See Yetholm section.
Newcastleton
Craft fair
The village hall was a hive of activity last week with the annual craft fair, proving popular with visitors from both sides of the border. This event is the hall committee’s main fundraiser towards keeping the building in good order.
YETHOLM
Hill walking
The eighth hill walking weekend went off successfully, with many taking part. Buses were on hand to take participants to the start point or collect them at the end. There were refreshments in the Wauchope Hall and medical facilities were on stand-by, courtesy of Borders Mountain Rescue Team.
Lunch
The next village lunch will be part of the Festival Week activities. It takes place on June 13 in the Wauchope Hall (noon-2pm).
Council
With the deadline for community council nominations having elapsed, there will be no need for an election, but there is one new member joining – Russell Taylor of Main Street. One of his interests is the local environment.
Drama group
The local drama group had hoped to present a play – A Time to Dye –this evening (Thursday). But due to casting problems, this is not possible, although it is still hoped to produce the play at a later date. However, the show must go on and so tonight, in the Wauchope Hall, there will be An Evening of Music, Laughter and Entertainment starting at 7.30pm. Tickets at the door.
Butcher
There is much relief in the village as a butcher’s shop – Valley Meats and under the control of Eck Hogg – is trading again.
Gardens
Just down the Bowmont Valley are the gardens at Mindrum. They are open to the public, including every Wednesday (11am-4pm) until September. In addition there are special charity openings. One of these is on June 16 (2-6pm) under the National Gardens Scheme, with proceeds going to Kirknewton Church. There will be another 2-6pm opening on July 7 when the benefitting charities will be the British Red Cross Society and Royal British Legion.
Sale
A Floral Gateway Gathering sale will be held on Town Yetholm Green on June 8 (9am-noon). Plant and shrub donations needed – ring Ian Rendall Reid on 01573 420703.
Dry bar
Yetholm Dry Bar needs unwanted DVDs, CDs and books for its village green sale. Drop boxes are placed in Yetholm and Morebattle primary schools, and in Kelso at Seasons. Organisers hope to raise £500 towards the costs of their Summer Festival of Fun. For further information, ring Ian Rendall Reid on 01573 420703 or email ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com.
Fell running
Yetholm hosted the second round of the British Fell Running Championships on Sunday. A total of 238 competitors, including local runners, participated on the day. From entry fees, £1,000 and £500 was donated to Borders Search and Rescue Unit and Macmillan Cancer Support respectively.