Caddonfoot
Church
The Reverend Elspeth Harley, conducting Sunday’s morning service, based her talk on “trypraying”, a new booklet which was handed out to members of the congregation. The lessons were read by Margaret Blyth. Next week sees a series of services in the Galashiels churches to mark Holy Week. On Palm Sunday there will be an ecumenical service in Caddonfoot at 6.30pm and a Maundy Thursday service in Trinity with an informal supper and communion. This will be followed by a Good Friday communion service in Caddonfoot at 7pm. The annual Caddonfoot Youth home-baking stall raised £100 for Christian Aid as part of the Count Your Blessings project. Many parishioners attended the funeral service of Sheila MacCuish, widow of the late Reverend Donald MacCuish. The service was conducted by Reverend Harley, along with support from the Reverend Marion Dodd, the church’s recent interim moderator.
Canonbie
Soup kitchen
The soup and sweet lunches, run by the United Parish Church and enjoyed by 91 people in the village hall last Saturday, raised £401. This was the last of the five fundraisers held throughout the winter months – and £1,500 was made in total for the church. The Sunday school had a cake stall and the Guides also sold items, and Beth Todd held tombola to raise money for a local cause.
EARLSTON
Parish church
The spring coffee morning raised the sum of £325. The Palm Sunday service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods, followed by a Passiontide service in the church at 6.30pm that night. The last Lenten worship
service is on April 16 at 7pm. Maundy Thursday – communion and vigil at 7pm in the church; Good Friday – service with St Cuthbert’s at 7pm in
the church. The Easter Sunday early communion outdoors service – weather permitting – is at 8.30am, followed by bacon rolls before the all-age Easter service at 10.15am.
EDGERSTON
Postponed
The next hall lunch, which was to have been held on April 27, has been postponed.
Slide show
Chris Veitch will be presenting a slide show and talk entitled “Jed town walk 1913 revisited 100 years on” on April 25 at 7pm. Bring and share supper. Anyone interested in attending should contact Christine (01835 840246 or p10caw@aol).
Coffee mornings
Coffee mornings continue on the first Monday of each month at 10.30am.
Games night
A family games night will be held at Edgerston Hall on April 11 at 7pm.
fala
History society
The next meeting of Fala, Soutra and District History and Heritage Society will be held in Fala Village Hall on April 24 at 7.30pm. Sheena Irving, of Cousland, will talk on “Cousland Smiddy – Update”.
FOUNTAINHALL
WRI
Members meet in the village hall at 7.30pm on April 16 for a talk on Malawi. Competitions – three ginger snaps and a button. Competition results from the March meeting – traybake – 1, Fiona Walters; 2, Dorothy Small; elephant ornament – 1, Christine Neil; 2, Ireen McLachlan.
GALASHIELS
Camera club
Members held their last full meeting for this session on April 2, ending with the annual club competition, judged by Charles Summers. There is a committee meeting on April 28 at 7.30pm.
Inner Wheel
The Inner Wheel Club of Galashiels held its annual charity beetle drive and after an exciting evening, Onur Kurt, one of the younger players, emerged the winner. He was rewarded with a large Easter egg. Inner Wheel member LIz Ingoldsby added to her collection of wooden spoons, picking up the booby prize for the second time in three years. The money raised from this event will be sent to a school in Ghana to help install a water supply. Susan Boorman has been welcomed as a new member – she was presented with her membership badge by president Rosemary McCosh. The next meeting is on April 15 at 7.30pm when Margaret Tooth, from the Blythswood charity, will give a talk.
Glendouglas
WRI
A bead jewellery demonstration by Caroline McKendrick was the main feature of the latest meeting. The competition was won by Iris Willacy, with Sandra Jeffrey runner-up. Raffle – Cath Turner.
Dance
There is a charity dance on April 19 to raise funds in aid of tackling arthritis. It starts at 7.30pm.
Hawick
Camera club
The AGM took place last week with club president Anna Lee chairing proceedings. Trophies presented – Bill Ellis Shield, awarded to Bert Lancaster for projected sequences; Gaylor Cup, Sel (J.) Messer, projected image of the year; F-Stop Shield and the Challenge Cup, Brian Marriott, portraiture and projected images throughout the year respectively; Cummings Trophy, Derek Lunn Trophy, Hopekirk Trophy and Bill Nelson glass sculpture, Ali Graham, landscapes, prints throughout the year, print of the year and monochrome photography respectively. George Sudlow received a certificate in respect of his print sequences, while Norma Graham was awarded the Novice Trophy for best new member. The meeting continued with the election of office bearers – president, Anna Lee; vice-president, Dennis Laing; secretary, Bert Lancaster; treasurer, Sandy McVittie; syllabus secretaries, Norma Graham and Edith McLean; publicity secretary, Bill Neil; competition secretary, Ali Graham; website manager, Kenny Baillie; committee – Jimmy Anderson, Eric Scotland and (ex-officio) John Hill. Club meetings will resume at the end of September. There will be a summer outing in June, but a date has yet to be announced.
Bridge club
April 1 – 1 (equal), J. and M. Miller, V. Johnstone and D. Usher; 3 , M. Tuson and R. Witherington; 4 (equal), V. McPherson and R. Francombe, M. Millar and S. White.
Rotary
President Scott Elliot welcomed Andrew Farquhar to last week’s meeting when he talked about the Hawick Walking Weekend (July 5-7) which he and his committee had organised. Now in its fourth year, it is going from strength to strength and brings many visitors and much-needed trade to the town. The event receives community council funding, as well as support from Scottish Natural Heritage and SESTRAN. Entertainment takes the form of a ceilidh and concert held on the Saturday night. The Rotary club is donating £100 to provide medals for the P6 and 7 schools swimming gala. On May 17, a charity golf day has been arranged by Brian Beattie at Monksford Golf Club, St Boswells.
innerleithen
Community council
The monthly meeting of Innerleithen and District Community Council will take place on April 7 at 7.15pm in the council chamber.
Church services
There will be services on April 13 at 11.30am and Good Friday at 6.30pm.
Games committee
The next meeting of St Ronan’s Border Games committee will take place on April 16 at 7pm in the council chamber, Memorial Hall.
Coffee morning
St Ronan’s Border Games’ annual coffee morning will be held on April 19 in the Vale Club (10am-noon). Donations of cake and candy, and raffle prizes would be gratefully received on the day.
South Pacific
The final curtain fell on Innerleithen and District Amateur Operatic Society’s spring production of South Pacific on Saturday. Afterwards, long-service awards were presented to Angela Thomson (10 years); Esther Gilchrist, Ross McGinn and Sheila Smith (15 years); Claire Bell (20 years); Elma Belleville (25 years); Keith Belleville (30 years); Evelyn Grahame (45 years). The society’s AGM is set to take place on April 23 in the Free Library Hall, Buccleuch Street, at 7.30pm when the decision on next year’s spring production will be made. Anyone who is interested in the work of the society should contact Elma Belleville at secretary@idaos.org.uk or phone 01896 830577.
Fair
St Ronan’s Primary School Parent-Teacher Association will hold a spring fair at the school on May 8 (6-8pm).
Introduction night
St Ronan’s Border Games Introduction Night will be held on May 9 in the Memorial Hall from 7pm.
Concert
St Ronan’s Silver Band will give a spring concert on May 10 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at the Thrift Shop, Adam’s Bakery (Innerleithen) and Robb’s KeyStore (Peebles).
Jedburgh
Bridge club
March 31 – N/S – 1, V. Johnstone and M. Miller; 2, H. Long and M. Weightman; 3, A. Ireland and M. Miller; E/W –
1, R. Oates and S. West; 2, B. and I. Middleton; 3, M. Forsyth and M. Allen.
Coffee morning
Jedburgh Lunch Club is holding a coffee morning in the British Legion on April 12 (10am-noon).
kelso
Thursday Group
Members quartered the globe with Isabel Gordon and a history of tea. Today (Thursday), the Smailholm Stitchers will talk about the Great Tapestry of Scotland and the two panels the group stitched for it – 2pm, Abbey Row Centre. Next week John Gordon speaks about his “Life in Writing”.
Church
This Sunday (Palm Sunday) sees the normal pattern of services – Ednam (9.30am) and Kelso North (11am) – with an afternoon communion at Plenderleith Court (3.30pm). Last Thursday evening, the Women Together group were given a guided tour of Sainsbury’s. The Seder Meal and Ceilidh is being held tomorrow (Friday) at 7pm in Kelso Rugby Club. Tickets are still on sale from the church office, or pay at the door. Short Holy Week services, organised by Kelso Churches Together, will be held in St Andrew’s Church from 12.45 to 1pm, Monday-Thursday. next week. They will be followed by soup and rolls. A celebration of Holy Communion will be held on Maundy Thursday at 7pm in Kelso North, with services also being held on Good Friday and Easter Day.
Guild
At Kelso North and Ednam Church Guild’s annual business meeting, Miss M. Aitken presided and presented the accounts, which were approved. Mrs M. Donaldson was elected to the committee. At the March 28 gathering, members entertained the committee. Mrs W. Robson opened the meeting with a prayer, reading and hymn. Mr S. Yates presented a film clip selection, featuring music, humour and dance. Mrs G. Brimlow spoke of Miss Aitken’s year as guild co-ordinator, and looked forward to the latter’s second in the post. Saying grace, a hymn and supper, provided by members, ended proceedings.
U3A
The next open meeting of the Four Border Abbeys U3A group is on April 14 at 2pm in Kelso Rugby Club when John Nicol will talk about Ideoms Theatre Group.
Horticultural society
The town’s horticultural society has organised a presentation – “Photography Tips – How To See A Picture” – by Duncan Anderson in the Tait Hall at 7.30pm on April 16.
Bridge club
April 2 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; 2, Brian Saywood and Ken Ross; 3, Joyce Thomson and Helenor Pratt; E/W – 1, Annie Mitchell and Bob Stevenson; 2, David Harris-Burland and Ruth Mackay; 3, Gerry Eglington and Jon Bridger. April 3 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Jean McLaren and Ken Ross; 2, Rena Stewart and Maureen Weightman; 3, Val Johnstone and Mary Millar; E/W – 1, Gerry Eglington and Jon Bridger; 2, Colin McGrath and Brian Saywood; 3, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson.
Langholm
Umbrella walks
The Rotary Club’s annual umbrella walks once again attracted a good turnout of participants in both the town and at Canonbie. So far, £8,000 has been raised from the two walks which had 25 different organisations and clubs taking part. Money will be added from the three local charity trusts – Arthur Bell, John and Mary Elliot Memorial and David Stevenson. The cheques will be presented to the participating organisations at the Rotary meeting in May in the Crown Hotel.
Lauder
Church
Holy Week – April 17, 7pm, Lauder Church Centre, bread and cheese supper, followed by Holy Communion; April 18, 2-3pm, Lauder Church, music, meditation and reading of the Passion, according to St John; April 19, decorated egg competition, Church Centre, entries by 10.30am and judging at 10.45am; April 20, 9.30am, Chesterhill, Lauder, sausage sizzle, egg rolling; Lauder Church, 11am, Easter hymn singing with praise band;11.30am, all-age worship followed by informal communion service led by the Revernd Jim Wallace.
Beetle drive
Lauder Over-60s are having a beetle drive on April 25 in the Youth Trust Hall at 7.30pm – everyone and all ages welcome.
Historical society
Member Malcolm McVittie will give a presentation on the “Campaigns of Montrose” on April 16 at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens (01578 722559).
Melrose
Tennis club
Waverley Tennis Club marks the start of the season by hosting an American Tournament at the Gibson Park courts on April 20 at 2pm. This will be a social afternoon for players of all standards and ages. Prospective members are welcome. A group of seniors (over-70s) play several times a week and coaching programmes are in place. The club has its own website – www.mwtc.co.uk – and it is also on social media – https://www.facebook.com/groups/269160853239293. Information is also available via the clubhouse noticeboard or by telephoning the secretary, Pat Nicholson, on 01835 823924.
Trimontium
The Trimontium Walk season starts today (Thursday) at 1.30pm from the Heritage Centre, Melrose Square. Back by 5.15pm, with refreshments in Newstead at 4.30pm included. The Roman steering oar found by James Curle in a pit on ground sloping down to the Tweed in 1908 was installed for the 2014 season by two assistant curators from the National Museums last Thursday. Dr John Reid’s first lecture of the Trimontium spring series continued his investigation of that hotspot of anti-Roman agitation, the south-west of Scotland. The next talk, on April 24 and by Dr Nick Hodgson, of Tyne and Wear, will dovetail with Dr Reid’s and, from new research, reveal the impact of Hadrian’s Wall on the local people.
Coffee mornings
The coffee mornings at Bowden (overseas projects) and Melrose (arthritis research) raised hundreds of pounds for these causes.
Church
April 12 –Easter Pilgrimage Walk from Melrose Abbey to Holy Island; April 13 – services at Bowden (9.30am) and Melrose (11am).
morebattle
Surgery
Councillor Simon Mountford will hold a drop-in surgery at the institute from 11.15am-12.15pm on April 12.
Craft fair
The village hall will stage a craft fair and coffee morning in aid of St Aidan’s Restoration Fund on April 26 (10.30am-12.30pm).
AGM
The guild AGM was held last Thursday when Catherine Mabon welcomed everyone. The committee stays the same as last year and suggestions for next year’s syllabus were taken.
oxton
Channelkirk Church
April 18 – 7-8pm, service with hymns, prayer, scripture readings and special readings describing the events of Good Friday; April 20 – 8am, Sunrise Service, led by the Reverend John Riddell.
WRI
On April 16 at 7.30pm, Dinah Iredale will give a talk, illustrated by pictures, on bondagers. There will be a chance to buy her book or the DVD.
SELKIRK
Antiquarian society
The next meeting is on April 16 at 7.30pm in the parish church hall when the Reverend Tom Hogg will present a talk entitled “Border Churches”. Annual membership of the society is £6 – non-members, £2 per session.
Camera club
Annual exhibition results – monochrome – 1, Aileen Allan; 2, Bryan Johnstone; 3, Ati Johnston; HC, Bryan Johnstone, Jim Young. Colour, general – 1, Aileen Allan; 2, Jim Young; 3, Aileen Allan; HC, Eileen Nichol, Kevin Black. Colour, people and portraiture – 1, Helen Gray; 2, Ali Johnston; 3, Bryan Johnstone; HC, Bryan Johnstone and Jon Fair. Colour, landscape – 1 and 2, Aileen Allan; 3, Bryan Johnstone; HC, Jon Fair and Bob Brown. Colour, f lora and fauna – 1, Kevin Black; 2, Ali Johnston; 3, Aileen Allan; HC, Jon Fair and Malcolm Henry. Projected image – 1,2 and 3, Mike Reynolds; HC, Mike Reynolds, Ali Johnston, Bryan Johnstone. Best overall image : Aileen Allan (landscape)
STICHILL
WRI
Johnny Johnston, from Eyemouth, delivered a talk on his connections with boat-building and fishing. After retiring, he set up the Berwickshire Maritime Trust. Money was raised to buy a boat and, in conjunction with a youth group and the Employment Agency, the vessel was given a makeover. This gave eight unemployed youngsters work for six months. Johnny also has hopes of building a new boat which would be a team-building project to retain skills which otherwise would be lost. Competitions – four pieces of tablet – 1, Dawn Steel; 2, June Brown; 3, Kathy Wilkie; boat ornament – 1, Margaret Dutton; 2, June Brown; 3, Dawn Steel. The raffle was won by Elizabeth Topp. The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on May 6 in the village hall – a visitors’ night with entertainment by Heiton and Morebattle Choir.
Traquair
The next services in Traquair
Turn to page 30
From page 29
Kirk are on Maundy Thursday (7.30pm) and Easter Day (6.30pm).
YETHOLM
History society
Yetholm History Society last week welcomed back Clive Hallam Baker, from Branxton, an authority on the Battle of Flodden. This time his talk centred on the part played by women, including their position of power on the international stage at the time and referred to various queens in this country and on the Continent. The speaker then mentioned the part played by females on the field of battle, such as helping the injured.
St Trinian’s Night
The Plough Hotel has organised a St Trinian’s Night for April 19 from 7.30pm. Fancy dress is welcome, but not essential.
Coffee morning
The Floral Gateway coffee morning held last weekend raised in excess of £300.
Border Collie
The premiere of The Border Collie Story documentary film was held at The Maltings in Berwick last week. It featured four retired shepherds from Yetholm and the Bowmont Valley. Bill Elliot, from the village, had a leading role. It will be shown in the Wauchope Hall in May.
Palm Sunday
This Sunday sees a walk from Hownam via Morebattle, Linton and Hoselaw to Yetholm. Those not exhausted are invited to worship and a congregational meeting in Yetholm Kirk at 6pm. On the agenda is a proposal that the five churches in the parish be renamed Cheviot Churches Church of Scotland.
Surgery
Councillor Simon Mountford will hold a drop-in surgery in the Youth Hall from 10-11am on April 12.