ANCRUM
Wood show
Furniture-makers’ collective Real Wood Studios is getting ready for a summer celebration of locally-produced furniture and crafts. The works of resident craftsmen Stephen Finch, Ross Ketteridge, Graham Murdoch, Graeme Murray, Anna Nichols, Neil Norris and Alasdair Wallace will be on show. The Real Wood Studios showroom will also be presenting selected works from the Reivers Moon Gallery, including Ruth Johnston, Michael Booth, John Martin, Jean Haldane, Mary Goulden, Ann Smith, Sue Evans, and Smitten and Sandy Jarvis. Also exhibiting are CorraStar Designs and Kenny Scott – Caddon Design. The show runs from July 6-21, with opening times Monday-Saturday (9am-4pm) and Sunday (10am-3pm).
Bonchester
Exhibition
Hamilton-based Banks Renewables is staging an exhibition about its proposed Birneyknowe Wind Farm, near Bonchester, today (Thursday) at Tower Mill in Kirkstile, Hawick. The event runs from 3-7pm.
Bowden
WRI
Members enjoyed a summer outing to Edinburgh, comprising a tour around the Royal Mile and Grassmarket, followed by tea at the Royal Museum.
Exhibition
Bowden Village Committee is holding a Pant Well Restoration Exhibition on June 22 (10.30am-4pm) in the village hall. The event is a showcase of the Pant Well – past, present and future. On display will be a range of images, materials and information on the heritage of the Pant Well, its significance in Bowden’s history and recent restoration. Also showing will be Newtown Primary School’s project (including a visual display) on the Pant Well. There will be a free, guided Restoration Ramble (no dogs)at 1.30pm to walk the water courses on the common that fed the original Pant Well supply. Meet at the Pant Well in the village square at 1.20pm. Stout waterproof footwear is advised.
EARLSTON
Paths Group
The Paths Group’s annual general meeting will be held on June 25 at 7pm in the Black Bull Inn.
Coffee morning
The Earlston branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland women’s section is holding a coffee morning in aid of ex-servicemen’s charities in Hanover Close on June 22 (10am-noon).
Auld Earlston
The first annual general meeting will be held in the Red Lion function suite on June 25 at 7pm.
Church
The June 23 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods and Sunday school will finish until August 18. After the service, refreshments will be served before the congregational walks. Two are available – a longer one through Speedies Wood to Drygrange Orchard and back, or around the river and haugh, then back to the church hall. Picnics can be left in the hall before walkers go. A session meeting will be held on June 26 at 7.30pm in the church. The Civic Week service on June 30 will be in the marquee at 10.15am.
hawick
Exhibition
Hamilton-based Banks Renewables is staging an exhibition about its proposed Birneyknowe Wind Farm, near Bonchester, today (Thursday) at Tower Mill in Kirkstile. The event runs from 3-7pm.
Rotary
It was down to business at last week’s club meeting when, after dinner, members convened into their various committees. Ideas and plans were discussed and formulated for the new Rotary year which starts in July, and these would be presented to the club assembly in two weeks’ time.
Innerleithen
Service
The next service in Innerleithen Church will be on June 30 at 10.30am.
Jedburgh
WRI rally
Jedburgh Town Hall was the setting for the Roxburghshire federation WRI spring rally. Denholm butcher Drew Lauder and chef Robbie Bunton, Woll, Ashkirk, gave the ladies a taste of what is available and how economically it could be cooked, using only hot plates. Robbie created dishes in easy time, giving some good ideas. Drew talked about how he sources his meat and what he looks for to get the best. Joyce Tinlin sang, accompanied by Drew Gibb. Competition winners – fruit loaf – Caroline Tullie (Newmill and Teviothead); three dropped scones – Helen Cessford (Morebattle); scissor case – Kath Runciman (Langshaw); child’s jumper – Ann Reid (Minto); arrangement in a jug – Mary Pringle (Morebattle); table decoration – Gweyn Williamson (Midlem); Ann Wallace sugar sifter competition (four gypsy creams) – Joan Duncan (Makerstoun). Judges were Marjory Tennant, Jean Guthrie and Alison Blackadder.
Kelso
Bridge club
Results fromKelso Bridge Club’s annual congress held at the racecourse on June 9 – pairs competition – 1, Bett and Norman Morrison; 2, Marjorie and Harry Dooley; 3, Maureen McMillan and Jennifer Marshall; 4, Marian and John Miller. Swiss teams – 1, Margaret Morton, Ian Morton, Bett Morrison, Norman Morrison; 2, Liz Barr, Ritchie Thompson, Margaret Anderson, Anne Harvard; 3, Annie Mitchell, Bob Stevenson, John Hayton, Lee Leeson. Club nights – June 12 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Sheena McPherson and Sheila Urquhart; 2, John and Marian Miller; 3, Jim and Mary Stone; E/W – 1, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; 2, Archie Stewart and Billy Potts; 3, Ian and Eliz Ross; June 13 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Archie Stewart and Sheila Urquhart; 2, Jim Stone and Annie Mitchell; 3, James Tweddle and Ernie Hopkins; E/W – 1, John and Marian Miller; 2, Alison Darling and Mary Logan; 3, Nancy Porter and Jock Dun.
Market
A farmers’ market will be held on June 22 in Kelso Square, running from 9am until 1.30pm.
AGM
The AGM of futureKELSO will be held at 7pm on June 27 in the Abbey Row Centre – all welcome to this open meeting.
Sale
See Yetholm section.
LANGHOLM
Probus
The club met in the Eskdale Hotel last week when president Jim Thomson welcomed 23 members, along with guest Eric Hislop. Members were reminded that the AGM is on July 3, to be followed by the 30 years commemorative lunch. The annual outing is to Ocean Terminal, Leith, on August 14. The cost is £12 and is open to members of the public. The president introduced the guest speaker, Nick Rodger, who was born and brought up in the town and is golf correspondent for the Glasgow-based Herald. He gave a light-hearted and able talk on his life and experiences as a sports correspondent. He spoke of his school days when he first became interested in journalism, reporting for the Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser on junior league football and at college he continued reporting on this sport. One of his friends heard that a reporting agency was looking for a sports reporter, so he applied and got the post. Much to his horror he was assigned the task of golf reporting, a sport on which he had never written. He obviously developed a flair for the sport and remained as an agency golf reporter for 10 years, submitting copy to numerous newspapers under various pen names. When a vacancy came up at The Herald, he applied and gained the post as golfing correspondent. A vote of thanks was given by Harry Aitken.
Fete
The primary school fete – run by the teachers, children and parents – raised £1,072. The money will help towards subsidising transport costs for trips to such as the theatre and sports events. Throwing the wet sponge at school staff proved popular.
Ride-out
An extra ride-out is being organised by the Castle Craigs Club in the lead-up to this year’s Common Riding – a pony ride on July 10 – and with the young riders’ club having been run in the town over the past few years, it should prove popular.
Lauder
Historical society
Gwen Hardie will give an illustrated talk about Thomas the Rhymer on Wednesday at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens (01578 722559).
LEGERWOOD
Choir
The parish church welcomes back the Andante Chamber Choir on June 29 (7.30pm).
mELROSE
The kirkin’
The tribute to the town’s fallen of two world wars by the Melrosian’s laying of a wreath on the Weirhill preceded the kirkin’. There will be services on June 23 at Bowden (9.30am) and Weirhill (11am), plus a midweek service on June 26 followed by lunch.
Trimontium
The Architectural/Archaeological Society of Northumberland and Durham was the latest group to visit Melrose on the sunny Saturday of the Borders Book Festival, with both pipers and a string orchestra playing in the Square. The Thursday Trimontium Walk had also been blessed with decent weather and this year’s Roman soldier at the Trimontium Stone on the Saturday had come in for a fitting of his uniform. Preparations continued for the installation of the 228 silver denarii of the Synton Hill hoard in the museum after the children’s Welcoming Exhibition at Melrose primary school tomorrow (Friday). Today’s (Thursday) Trimontium Walk leaves at 1.30pm from the square.
Morebattle
Coffee morning
The coffee morning for institute funds raised £390.
Fishing
Winner of Morebattle fishing competition was Brian McNulty, with Drew Gibson runner-up. Tieing for third spot were Stuart McNulty and Colin Cessford.
Sale
See Yetholm section.
OXNAM
Oxnam Owls
The Owls held their annual charity event when Quintessence entertained a packed hall with music and songs, and this was followed by supper. As a result of this event the Owls are able to give a donation of £500 to the Borders Children’s Charity. First prize in the raffle – a hamper – was won by Jane Douglas.
Selkirk
Christian Aid
The final total for money collected from Selkirk and the Valleys for Christian Aid was £2,246.13.
St Boswells
WRI
Rural members enjoyed a meal at The Gordon Arms in Gordon. At the H&H rally, held in Jedburgh Town Hall, members enjoyed success in various competitions – Rose Cameron clinched third place for her pancakes and flowers in a milk jug, while Janet Irons took the runner-up for her gypsy cream biscuits. On Friday, June 28, the rural members will be holding a whist drive in St Boswells village hall at 7.30pm.
STOW
Fitness
Galawater Health and Fitness Club’s last session before the summer break is on Wednesday, June 26. Classes resume in the Town Hall (1-2pm) on Wednesday, August 14.
Traquair
Service
The next service in Traquair Kirk will be on July 7 at 10.30am.
Walkerburn
Service
Walkerburn Festival Sunday service starts at 10.30am on June 23.
Yetholm
Kirk
The church summer dance and supper takes place at Springwood in Kelso on Friday (June 21). Anyone without a ticket and wanting to go should contact any church official. The spring coffee morning was enjoyed by those attending, but numbers were disappointing. The event coincided with the Yetholm Hill Walking Weekend and this clash should be avoided in future.
Peace march
Yetholm was on the route of the a peace march from Iona to London via Lindisfarne. Local walkers met the marchers as they made their way along the Back Ditches.
Sports day
Now that there is no football club and the archery sessions have been discontinued, coupled with the fact that the pavilion is out of action, the village playing field is not being used as it should be. It was therefore refreshing for villagers to see and hear the local primary schoolchildren enjoying their annual sports afternoon.
Concert
Taking part in a concert – the opening event of Festival Week – was singer Anne Renshaw from Edinburgh. It turned out that she used to live in the village. Her father, Jim Stirling, was the local policeman and the family lived in the police station, now the village post office. Anne will be singing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Wednesday, August 14.
Yellow and green
There could be no doubt about the Yetholm Festival colours – Main Street was ablaze with yellow and green. This ranged from the bunting to the decoration of the Bari Manushi’s house, to the new Festival Week flag flying throughout – even above the new butcher’s shop.
Sale
The Great Borders Summer DVD, CD and Book Sale will be held on Town Yetholm Green on June 22, running from 9am until 1pm, raising funds for summer activities for the young people of Morebattle, Yetholm and Kelso. Donations are still needed and can be left at Yetholm and Morebattle primary schools, Greenbank (next door to the Yetholm village shop) and Seasons in Roxburgh Street, Kelso.