BOWDEN
Cafe
The next community cafe will be held in the village hall at 11am on January 15.
CADDONFOOT
Church
New Year greetings were exchanged on Sunday at the morning service conducted by the Reverend Marion Dodds. The lessons were read by Christine Dorward. CY (Caddonfoot Youth) resumes next Sunday after the festive holidays. The induction of the new minister, Elspeth Harley, is on January 31 at 7pm in the linked church of Trinity in Galashiels. Anyone who wants to donate food for the induction social should contact Christine Riddell (01896 752609). Thanks go to everyone from Caddonfoot and Trinity who donated £400 to the Lavender Touch charity following the watchnight service.
Denholm
Quiz
A quiz in aid of Ruberslaw Church raised £115. The winner was Joan Hedley, Rochester, Northumberland.
earlston
Parish church
The January 12 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. There is a trustees’ meeting on January 14 at 7.30pm in the church hall.
Women’s group
Tonight (Thursday) at 8pm in the church hall, the speaker will be Donald McPhillamy from Earlston Orchard Town Project.
eckford
Hall show
The village hall is staging Men With Hats, a group of retired professional musicians, on February 15 at 7.30pm. Tickets from Sandra Kinnoch (01835 850324) or Annette Fraser (01835 862228).
edgerston
Games night
A family games night will be held in the village hall on January 10 (7pm) – bring and share supper. Clare (01835 840355) has more information.
Coffee mornings
Coffee mornings continue on the first Monday of each month at 10.30am.
No supper
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the village hall committee has decided that no Burns supper will be held this year, but will return in 2015.
ettrickbridge
Carpet bowls
The New Year’s Day carpet bowling tournament in Kirkhope Hall raised £143 for Radio Borders’ Cash for Kids charity.
Burns supper
The Macmillan Cancer Support Burns supper will be held on January 25 in Kirkhope Village Hall. Tickets are available from Marjory Tennant (01750 62327) or any committee member.
Lunch
On January 12 (noon-2pm), a soup and pudding lunch will be held in aid of village hall funds.
FOUNTAINHALL
WRI
Members meet in the village hall at 7.30pm on January 15 for a craft night. Competitions – knitted or sewn finger puppet and winter scene photograph. Competition results from the November meeting – small autumn arrangement – 1, I. Scott; 2, D. Wilson; teapot – 1, A. Mathison; 2, I. Scott. Last month members enjoyed a meal at the Kingsknowes Hotel and everyone received a gift from Santa’s sack. 2013 competition results – Dianne Wilson received the winner’s cup and runner-up was Agnes Mathison.
hownAM
Bingo
The village hall will host bingo and a raffle on January 17 at 6.30pm. Bring your own refreshments/nibbles.
Innerleithen
Service
The service on January 12 will be at 11.30am, followed by a light lunch in the hall.
AGM
St Ronan’s Piping Society will hold its annual general meeting on January 19 in the Vale Club at 1pm.
Race night
St Ronan’s Silver Band and Innerleithen Opera host a joint race night on February 1 in the Union Club – first race 7pm. Horses are on sale from band and opera members.
South Pacific
There will be a chance to buy tickets for Innerleithen Opera’s production of South Pacific (March 31-April 5) on February 19 in the Library Hall, Buccleuch Street, from 6.30-7.15pm, and at the society’s annual coffee morning in the Vale Club on February 22 (10am-noon). Anyone would like to become an honorary member and take advantage of preferential booking with tickets delivered to their door, contact the secretary on 01896 830577 or at secretary@idaos.org.uk.
Jedburgh
Bridge club
December 23 – 1, V. Fairbairn and M. Miller; 2, A. and R. Stewart; 3, P. Harris and M. Forsythe; 4,B. and I. Middleton.
Historical society
Chris Veitch took members on a virtual trip round 17th-century Jedburgh. Using computer technology, he followed a tour of the town conducted by Robert Waldie, of The Ramblers’ Club, in 1912 who described places of interest. The next meeting of the society takes place tonight (Thursday) at 7.30pm in the British Legion when Nancy McNicholl will give a talk entitled “Between the Walls”.
Kelso
AGM
Kelso Horticultural Society’s annual general meeting is on January 15 in the Tait Hall at 7pm.
Cricket club
The Kelso Cricket Club annual general meeting will take place on January 23 (7.30pm) in the club pavilion.
U3A
The next open meeting of the Four Border Abbeys U3A group is on January 13 at 2pm in Kelso Rugby Club. It will feature a talk from Clare Oliver on Borders General Hospital’s Margaret Kerr Unit.
Quilters
Abbey Quilters meet in Abbey Row Centre on January 14 at 7pm when Sandra Kinnoch will lead a workshop on making name badges. Members should remember their mugs. For further information, contact Sandra Kinnoch (01835 850324) or Rineke Sangster (01573 229414).
Thursday Group
Members meet today at 2pm in the Abbey Row Centre for a selection of film clips chosen by Stan Yates. Next week Duncan McCosh speaks about the Jaipur Limb charity.
Parish churches
There was a good attendance at Ednam Church last Sunday for the joint morning service. Ednam and Kelso North were busy over the Christmas period when the special collections raised £1,630 for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), based at Borders General Hospital. Kelso North was packed to the rafters with worshippers of all ages for the christingle service on Christmas Eve. Taking part in the proceedings were comedian and impersonator Rory Bremner, along with the head teacher of Broomlands Primary School, Michelle Matthews, and Gregor Forbes, a P7 pupil at Broomlands and member of Kelso North’s junior church. The church was also well filled for the watchnight service, and at Ednam on Christmas Day only a couple of pews went unoccupied for a family service. Some 60 folk descended on the Forestfield manse on January 2, following the now-annual “New Year Stagger”, to enjoy soup, crusty bread and a festive drink after a brisk walk around the town. The Men’s Group – men@kne – will be holding its Burns supper at the Forestfield manse on January 29 at 7pm – enquiries to Robert Pratt (01573 223080). The group had a curling evening at the Borders Ice Rink. The Friday film nights resume on February 7 at 7pm with a showing of “Seven Years in Tibet”, starring Brad Pitt. Others lined up include “Sunshine on Leith” and “Philomena”. This Sunday’s service at Ednam begins at 9.30am, with the Kelso North one starting at 11am. Later, at Kelso North at 7pm, Abbey Consort will give a performance of G .F. Handel’s “Messiah”.
LAUDER
Church
The kirk session is hosting a congregational consultation evening, “Time for Reflection”, in the Carfraemill Hotel on January 15 (7-9pm). The purpose of the event is to listen to the views of the congregation on a direction for the life and work of the church in Lauderdale and, in so doing, inform the nominating committee of the views of members of the church as they seek a new minister to fill the current vacancy. This is not a ticket event, but it would be helpful for catering purposes to have an indication of numbers (phone 01578 722422).
Historical society
There is an evening for members to bring and give a short talk about their memorabilia on January 15 at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens (01578 722559).
Melrose
AGM
Melrose in Bloom’s annual meeting is in the Lower Ormiston Room at 7.30pm on January 14.
Trimontium
Members and friends are responding to the request that they go online at www.archaeology.co.uk/vote to cast their vote for “Newstead:1911-2011”, the book published in January 2013 to celebrate the centenary of James Curle’s report of the 1905-10 excavation at Newstead. Copies are available and enquiries, without commitment, are invited at the museum or to the secretary on 01896 822651. The favourite nomination will probably be Charlotte Higgins’ “Under Another Sky” in which she went round what was Roman Britain. Arts editor for a national newspaper, she has promised to speak in Melrose.
Parish church
Amaya Elizabeth Murray and Georgia Beth O’Donnell were christened amid family and friends during the festive period. The Historical Jesus – January 9 (10am) and January 13 (7.30pm). Food bank donations welcome. The church magazine is accessible at www.bowdenandmelroseparish.org. The sum of £1,780 was raised at the Christmas Eve services for projects in Bethlehem, Malawi and under Aberlour. January 12 – services at Bowden (9.30am) and Melrose (11am); 2.30pm, Melrose Music Society, a piano trio, including J. Bryden; January 16 – guild at 2.30pm with Dr M. Collin on “Old Melrose”; 7.30pm, “The Visit to Malawi”.
Midlem
WRI
Members enjoyed a Christmas dinner at the Glen Hotel, followed by a quiz. Competition – hand-made Christmas card – 1, Helen Pierce; 2, Edith Scott; 3, Ella Nairn. The next meeting is in the village hall on January 14 when a beetle drive will be held.
Morebattle
Play
Morebattle school put on a nativity play performed by P1 and P2 pupils in the village church in front of a large turnout of family and friends.
Cool Club
The Cool Club staged its own interpretation of the nativity play entitled Angels Int. at the church service on December 22. A large congregation also sang carols.
Quiz
A quiz night was held in the Templehall Hotel on December 28 when £244 was raised for the Morebattle Community Defibrillator Fund. The winning team was Gail Gibson, Helen Fletcher, David Lang and Jamie Wilson. Runners-up and third were Nicky Stevens, Catherine Mabon, Jock Cessford and Steven Fox, and Annie Smith, Jennifer O’Mara, Jock Minto and Michael Gallico. Booby entry – Margaret Blackmore, Fiona Black, Stuart McNulty and Jack Sibbald.
WRI
Members met last night (Wednesday) in the institute for musical entertainment with Sally-Anne Scott and Family.
Guild
The guild gathers in the institute tonight (Thursday) at 7.30pm when the DVD of the 2013 annual guild meeting will be viewed.
Oxton
WRI
The first meeting in 2014 will be held on January 15 when Marion Gilchrist gives a demonstration on tray bakes. The competition is for a savoury scone.
Services
Channelkirk 10am church services will take place in the War Memorial Hall until the end of March.
Turn to page 28
From page 27
Church
See Lauder section.
Selkirk
Antiquarian society
The society’s January 15 meeting will be held at 7.30pm in St Joseph’s Church Hall when Katy Firth presents a talk entitled “Selkirk Castle Community Archaeology Project”. Details of the society’s syllabus are available on www.selkirkshireantiquariansociety.co.uk.
Burns supper
The Incorporation of Hammermen holds its Burns supper on January 24 in the Lesser Victoria Hall. The Immortal Memory will be proposed by Alan Bryden, with Alistair Craig toasting The Lasses. John Tullie will recite Tam o’ Shanter. Tickets are available from committee members.
st boswells
WRI
At the December meeting members enjoyed a Christmas night of games and supper. Competition – Jean Blackwood and Marlyn McCall finished equal first for their Christmas hats. The next gathering is in the British Legion on January 14 (7.30pm), featuring a speaker from the Vine Trust.
STOW
On song
A series of six song-writing workshops hosted by Sound Out for 10 to 18-year-olds starts on January 12 in Stow Town Hall, from 2-3pm. For more information or to book, call 01578730749 or email info@soundout.org.uk.
Traquair
Service
The service on January 12 in Traquair Kirk will start at 10am.
yetholm
Celebration
Yetholm residents have been congratulating Tom Tokely on his BEM in the New Year Honours. There was another surprise for Tom as his family organised a surprise party for him, also attended by villagers.
New elder
The local church has a new elder – kirk treasurer Brian Kelly, of The Haven, Morebattle Road. He was ordained at a service in Linton Kirk. The congregation came from all the villages in the parish. Hospitality followed the service.
Romany Ramblers
The local walking group began the New Year with a medium outing, starting and finishing in the village. Still in a festive mood, the walkers concluded the day with a soup and sandwich lunch at the Plough Hotel.
New Year
This was brought in via the traditional manner with various parties. The Border Hotel provided musical entertainment on Hogmanay and New Year’s Day, as well as running a quiz. The College Valley Hunt met on The Green during the morning.