BOWDEN
Carols
There will be carol singing at Bowden Village Hall on December 22 at 6.30pm, accompanied by St Boswells Silver Band.
caddonfoot
Church
The third Sunday of Advent was celebrated in Caddonfoot Church on Sunday when the candle was lit by Georgie Bird. The Reverend Marion Dodd conducted the service and the lessons were read by Roddy Beatson. A joint meeting of the kirk sessions and congregational boards of Caddonfoot and Trinity was held this week at which details of the induction of the Reverend Elspeth Harley were expected to be announced. Sunday sees the presentation of the nativity play by CY (Caddonfoot Youth).
The church is looking for one or two people to join the cleaning rota – names to session clerk Anne Grieve. A Christingle service will be held in Trinity Church on December 24 at 6pm and a joint watchnight service in Caddonfoot at 11pm on the same day. Atholl Innes is collecting disused Christmas stamps to raise cash for the Eden Valley Hospice, Brampton.
Canonbie
Lunches
The United Parish Church in the village had its funds boosted by £250 from soup and sweet lunches in the hall. Church members and volunteers served up a choice of six soups and 10 sweets. There was also a table-top sale and a Fair Trade stall for the church. Among the other stalls, the Guides had baking and there was tombola to raise money for the village children’s party.
earlston
Wednesday Club
Members were joined by ladies from the Women’s Guild for Christmas lunch, followed by festive songs, at the Lauderdale Hotel, Lauder, on December 4. Members also attended a Christmas tea party, with entertainment, a week later at Earlston High School. The first meeting of 2014 will be held on January 15 at 2pm in the church hall. Competition – coffee cup and saucer. New members welcome.
Parish church
The December 22 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. The church will remain open during this day until 6pm for quiet reflection. On Christmas Eve there will be an all-age service for families at 6.30pm and a watchnight service at 11.15pm. On Christmas Day the present and praise service starts at 10.15am. Bring along a present to show. The end-of-year service of lessons and carols on December 29 will be conducted by members of the worship team.
Eckford
WRI
Members enjoyed a Christmas night out at The Waggon in Kelso. The 2013 competition results were announced – the silver salver was won by Christine Tucker, with Carol Wilson Green second and Isobel Henderson third.
ettrickbridge
Carpet bowls
A New Year’s Day open pairs tournament is being held in Kirkhope Hall, with the proceeds going to Radio Borders Cash For K ids. Entries to Linda (01750 52238) by noon on January 1.
fountainhall
Carols
Carol singing will be held tonight (Thursday) at 6.30pm, with mulled wine and mince pies, in the village hall.
galashiels
Probus
Club vice-president Bob McKendrick delivered a talk entitled “Three stops from Gala” at last Thursday’s meeting. Illustrated by photographs, it featured detailed and much-researched information about the old Waverley railway line, concentrating on stations not more than three removed from Galashiels. The vote of thanks was proposd by Frank Sharp. The next club meeting is at 10am on Thursday, January 9.
glendouglas
Whist
Monthly whist drive results – ladies – 1, Eileen Law; 2, Sandra Jeffrey; 3, Evelyn Taylor; booby, Rose Cameron; gents – 1, Mamie Hogarth; 2, Izzey Brodie; 3, Alister Hogarth; booby, John Currie. Bingo, Ena Lunn. The next whist drive is on January 13.
Lunch club
The lunch club resumes on January 8.
Party
Tickets for the Hogmanay party are available from 01835 863604.
WRI
Members enjoyed a Christmas lunch complete with festive gift.
Gordon
Service
A Christmas Day carol service will be held in Gordon Parish Church. It starts at 11.30am and when children and adults are welcome to bring along one of their favourite presents.
Hawick
Rotary
Members visited the Scottish Borders Brewery at Lanton last Thursday evening. Owner John Henderson showed them over the firm’s operation, explaining the procedures and effort involved in making and supplying real ale. Rotarians sampled the product and took bottles of beer away to enjoy at leisure. The members later went to the Buccleuch Hotel for their weekly meal where business matters were discussed.
Heiton
WRI
President Gill Harrop welcomed a good turnout of members to the Christmas party for an evening of games and supper supplied by the committee. Competition – Christmas tree decoration – 1, Hazel Nisbet; 2, Gill Harrop; 3, Jan McDonald.
Innerleithen
Service
Family Christmas services will be held at 10.30am on December 22 and 11am on Christmas Day.
Jedburgh
Bridge club
December 9 – N/S – 1, N. Porter and S. Graham; 2, I. Weir and G. Young; 3, A. and R. Stewart; E/W – 1, D. Cessford and D. Gray; 2, R. Oates and S. West; 3, M. Ouldcott and H. Ouldcott.
Carols
On December 22 at 3pm, the provost, Rotarians, the Reverend David Dalglish and church choir will lead the readers in the annual carol service at St John’s Church. This is the second of three choral services held during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
Kelso
Market
A farmers’ Christmas market will be held in The Square on December 21 (9am-1.30pm).
Carols
St Andrew’s Church will host a carol service on December 22 at 5pm.
Bridge club
December 12 – Millennium Trophy 7 and Scotsman Cup heat – N/S – 1, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 2, Nancy Porter and Jock Dun; 3, Rena Stewart and Val Johnstone; E/W – 1, Helenor Pratt and Pauline Smart; 2, Janet Kyle and John Urquhart; 3 (equal), Jean McLaren andKen Ross, Dorothy Graham and Georgina Hall.
Church
Part of last Sunday’s Kelso North and Ednam Church service included a presentation by Roger Dodd & Co about plans for the Bowmont Street Project, which would involve demolishing two former flats and replacing them with a church centre, incorporating meeting rooms, kitchens, café, toilets, office and storage facilities. Anyone wishing to find out more should contact the project group convener, Alasdair Hutton (01573 224369). Following the congregation’s Shoe Box Appeal and fundraising for Water Aid for harvest thanksgiving, £1,000 has been realised in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. The Men’s Group – men@kne – held a Christmas dinner at Kelso Golf Club and took charge of the Saturday coffee morning. The group next meets on December 23 for curling at the Border Ice Rink. The Burns supper takes place at the manse on January 29. Any enquiries about the group can be directed to Robert Pratt (01573 223080). December 22 sees a service of nine lessons and carols at Ednam at 9.30am, and an all-Age service for Advent at Kelso North at 11am.
Guild
Kelso North and Ednam Guild met for a Christmas celebration last Thursday in Kelso North Church. Miss M. Aitken conducted worship, then welcomed the Reverend Tom McDonald who entertained the company. Solos and humorous stories by the minister were interspersed with carol singing and a quiz. Supper was provided by the committee. The next meeting is a joint one with Women Together on January 9.
Langholm
Lights switch-on
The afternoon started with the Town Band leading Santa in his sleigh, accompanied by primary school art winner Molly Bell, from the Buccleuch Centre, to the grotto at the Crown Hotel. They were followed by children’s entertainers Daffy Dill and Circus Jim, along with groups of parents and youngsters. The children then visited Santa in his grotto and received a festive gift. There was a Punch and Judy show at the Crown, balloons and letters to Santa at the Cumberland Building Society, face-painting in Stevenson and Johnstone’s, and fund-raising stalls and crafts in the Eskdale Hotel function room.
Refreshments and mince pies, along with other festive goodies, were provided by various business premises along the High Street and the Esk Valley Jazzmen entertained throughout the afternoon.
The Pipe Band played for the crowds and then there was singing from the LAODS who then joined the Town Band for carols. After the prize draw, the Reverend Scott McCarthy blessed the Christmas tree, and it burst into light when Santa, along with Molly Bell, carried out the official switch-on. Billy Young was compere for the afternoon. The lights committee is grateful to everyone who donated or helped towards the event, including Ashley Bank Investments, Buccleuch Estates, local businesses and the staff from Dumfries and Galloway Council, all the volunteers and the people of the town.
Art exhibition
Members of the district art club have been showing their paintings over the past two weeks in the gallery at the Town Hall.
Fundraiser
Local minister, the Reverend Scott McCarthy, has completed a sponsored row over 100,000 metres for Save the Children in the Philippines , raising more than £1,200. Donations can still be made through his Just Give webpage, or to him in person.
Melrose
Trimontium
A dry morning last Thursday allowed a group of Borders home schoolers to tackle the Route March from Leaderfoot to Newstead, then double back to their transport and, via a stop at the Newstead Milestone, do a tour of the Melrose Museum. People hand in objects they have found to see if they can be identified or dated – but they have often to be scrutinised at the National Museums in Edinburgh. A number of items came back the other day and are being handed back, with the appropriate paperwork, to their owners. A year ago the book celebrating the centenary of James Curle’s report of 1911 was launched at the Ormiston. In the latest issue of Current Archaeology magazine, “Newstead 1911-2011” has the honour of being on the list of nominees for Archaeology Book of the Year.
Church
December 20 – Melrose Primary School Christmas service, 9.30am; December 21 – Scout post deadline; December 22 – services at 9.30am (Bowden) and 11am (Melrose); 6.30pm, Bowden carol singing; December 24 – christingle service, 6pm; watchnight service, 11.15pm (readers required); food bank donations, especially UHT milk and pasta sauces, needed.
MOREBATTLE
School fete
Primary 2-7 pupils at Morebattle school raised £894 at their fete on December 5. It was their idea and they baked (Sainsbury’s provided ingredients) and made decorations etc. The money is for school funds and the Philippines disaster.
Coffee morning
A coffee morning for the Sick Children’s Hospital held in the institute on December 7 raised £915. Rosie Girvan realised £250 by selling tickets for a Christmas hamper.
Dinner
Catherine Mabon welcomed everyone to the guild’s annual dinner which was held at The Smokery.
Quiz
There will be a quiz held in the Templehall Lounge on Saturday, December 28. The proceeds will go towards providing the village with a defibrillator.
Church
The Cool Club nativity service will be held in the church on Sunday, December 22, at 11.15am.
Walkerburn
Service
The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on December 29 at 10.30am.
Turn to page 28
From page 27
Yetholm
Bowmont Theatre
The village drama group held a Christmas dinner in the Plough Hotel. After the meal, Barbara Paul, who has produced various plays for the group over the years, indicated that she was keen to produce another one. This met with approval and is likely to be developed further.
Riding club
Horses, boxes and riders appeared in the Venchen Haugh the Sunday before last. They came from Jedforest Riding Club and were welcomed by Yetholm locals.
Pavilion
The state of the playing field pavilion has been a source of worry for community councillors for long enough – but there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon because Sainsbury’s has promised a grant. Yetholm has already benefitted from the supermarket giant which made contributions to Yetholm Floral Gateway Gathering and Wauchope Hall committee.
Christmas at the Kirk
Yetholm Primary School’s end-of-term assembly is tomorrow (Friday). On Sunday at 10 am, the usual service will be devoted to lessons and carols. Morebattle Church hosts a Christmas Day service at 11am. On January 5, there will only be one service in the parish – Yetholm Church (10am).