bedRule
WRI
Tom Tokely gave a talk about his career as a joiner and undertaker. Competition – a wooden item – 1, Lesley Barnard; 2, Janet Alexander; 3, Margaret Taylor. The next meeting is the open night with Liberty Star Trading on May 21 at 7pm in the village hall.
Whist and dominoes
A charity whist and dominoes will be held in Bedrule Hall on May 5 at 7.30pm.
CADDONFOOT
Church
The Reverend Elspeth Harley preached the morning service on Sunday in Caddonfoot Church. The lessons were read by Jim Hayes. The congregation heard that St Peter’s Primary School pupils are collecting old mobile phones to help raise funds for children with autism. Contact Margaret Blyth for details.
EARLSTON
Wednesday Club
Members last week enjoyed a talk by Karen Ramoo, of the Red Squirrel Watch Project, on the importance of the work being done preserving the indigenous red squirrel population in Scotland. Competition – bird ornament – 1, Janet Watson; 2, Netta Fortune; 3, Sheila McKay. The next meeting will be on May 7. Competition – salad servers (this is an alteration to the schedule).
Parish church
The service at 10.15am on May 4 will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. Articles for the church magazine should be emailed to Julie by May 5. The congregational board meets on May 8 in the church hall lounge at 7.30pm.
ednam
Youth project
See Kelso section.
ETTRICKBRIDGE
Coffee morning
The next coffee morning and sale in aid of hall funds takes place on May 3 in the hall between 10am-noon. Anyone with anything to sell should turn up, take a table and give small donation to hall funds.
Musical duo
On May 17 at 7.30 pm, the village hall will stage The Boyds, a
musical duo just back from a tour abroad playing Beatles, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac,
Crosby Stills and Nash, etc. Tickets from Linda on 01750 52257.
Galashiels
Probus
Tony Taylor – who has been involved in business in this region for 25 years, having chaired Scottish Borders Enterprise and NHS Borders, and is currently depute chair of Borders Sport and Leisure – told last Thursday’s meeting about the German occupation of the Channel Islands. He has direct links with Guernsey and is a descendant of that island’s Bichard family. From an early age, he has been fascinated by the occupation and his illustrated talk demonstrated the extensive German administrative arrangements that they imposed on the people of the Channel Islands, especially with reference to postal services and money. He had examples of British stamps overlaid with the swastika, Red Cross notes, Gas Control certificates and Radio Collection certificates. The suffering of the islanders was highlighted by the revelation that the D-Day landings sailed past in June 1944, and it was not for another 18 months that they were liberated. The next meeting will be in the Kingsknowes Hotel on May 8 at 10am when Tom Burnham will talk on “Why I’m in Love With Iceland”.
Path closure
The Borders Railway project has been forced to extend a path closure over Redbridge viaduct to the east of Galashiels due to additional structural repairs identified during refurbishment works. The viaduct, which will carry the railway and a footpath over the River Tweed between Galashiels and Tweedbank, had been forecast to reopen at the end of April – however, the path will now be restored by June 16.
Camera club
Galashiels Camera Club held its annual competition in Langlee Community Centre – the last meeting of the session – where members presented their finest images in digital and print format. The event was judged by Charles Summers from the Midlothian club. Results – Projected Images – Landscape – 1, Bluebell Woods (Christine Swalwell); 2, Evening Glow (John Peters); 3, Morar Sands (Alan Kennedy). Nature – 1, Air Brakes (John Peters); 2, Emerald Damselfly (Christine Swalwell); 3, Nuthatch (John Peters). Open – 1, Making Air (Neil McLean); 2, A Plant in One (Katrina Slater); 3, Cockerel (Christine Swalwell). People – 1, Looking Out to Sea (Katrina Slater); 2, Old Man (Gordon Swalwell); 3, Enduro’s Hard Work (Katrina Slater). Print Images – Landscape – 1, Black Mount (Alan Kennedy); 2, Quiet Beach (Jim Paxton); 3, Bow Fiddle Rock (Alan Kennedy). Nature – 1, Tern in Flight (John Peters); 2, Blue Tit (Christine Swalwell); 3, Common Darter (Christine Swalwell). Open – 1, Flying (Alan Kennedy); 2, Westminster Bridge (John Peters). People – 1, Midday Cowboy (John Peters); 2, Sky is the Limit (Janet Kennedy); 3, Ahne (Gordon Swalwell). John Peters’ Tern in Flight won the best overall image and Paul Anderson was awarded best newcomer in the competition. The night also featured the announcement of club monthly competition winners and prize awards, before closing for the summer. A full list of winners can be viewed on the club website, along with all winning images – www.deanburn.f2s.com/news.htm.deanburn.f2s.com/gallery.htm.
HAWICK
Rotary
Pat Sutherland described a “Dander in the Dolomites”, which referred to a hiking holiday she undertook with her husband. With the aid of slides, she highlighted the mountain scenery and various routes they covered, including one where they descended a hazardous glacier. She accompanied the slides with songs which were applicable to the views.
Bridge club
Members were last week saddened to hear about the death of Evelyn Aitken. She was a long-serving member of the club, highly-respected player, teacher to many current players and had filled many positions on the committee, including being president at least twice. April 22 – 1, J. and M. Miller; 2, P. Gilligan and M. Millar; 3, V. Macpherson and R. Francombe; 4, J. and S. Law.
glendouglas
Charity dance
A dance at Glendouglas Hall in aid of Arthritis Research UK raised more than £500.
WRI
The meeting on May 7 will be a Summer Salads evening, starting at 7.30pm.
Distillery meeting
An open meeting regarding the proposed Mossburn distillery was held last Wednesday with a display of plans for the development.
Innerleithen
Service
The church service on May 4 starts at 10.30am.
Jedburgh
Bridge club
April 14 – N/S – 1 (equal), A. Stewart and R. Stewart, I. Weir and G. Young; 3, D. Cessford and M. Weightman. E/W – 1, P. Harris and M. Forsyth; 2, M. Purdie and O. Whillans; 3, R. Oates and S. West. April 21 – N/S – 1, V. Johnstone and M. Miller; 2, A. Stewart and R. Stewart; 3, D. Palmer and P. Palmer; E/W – 1, R.Oates and S. West; 2, D. Harris -Burland and I. Whillans; 3, H. Long and M. Weightman.
kelso
Bridge club
April 23 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Alex Jeffrey and Jock Dun; 2, Joyce Thomson and Helenor Pratt; 3, Val Johnstone and Mary Millar; E/W – 1, Lynda Douglas and Russell Watt; 2, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 3, Colin McGrath and Beth Thompson. April 24 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Jock Dun and Nancy Porter; 2, Rena Stewart and Val Fairbairn; 3, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; E/W – 1, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 2, Lee Leeson and Bob Stevenson; 3, Pauline Smart and Helenor Pratt.
Camera club
Kelso Camera Club is holding its annual exhibition at the Town Hall (May 3-10), featuring more than 150 images, representing members’ many and varied interests. A large number of the pictures are scenes of the life and landscape of the Borders. Ian Topping, club chairman, will be available at the exhibition on the morning of May 3 to talk about the growth in membership and the work produced. Exhibition opening times – May 3-10, 10am-4pm daily, with evening opening on Thursday (7-9pm). The club meets every Thursday (7-9pm) at the Abbey Row Centre and more information is available at info@kelsocameraclub.co.uk.
Credit note
Kelso Youth Project has a £72 Edinburgh Festival Theatres Credit Note which it is offering for sale at £50. The money realised will go towards funding a programme of trips and outings for young people this summer. Interested? Email ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com with telephone number.
Amateur dramatics
Kelso Amateur Dramatic Society has appointed Liz Hird as producer for its November production, Ena Lamont Stewart’s classic Scottish contemporary play, “Men Should Weep”. With a cast of nine women and seven men, the society is appealing for new members in order to bring this play to the Tait Hall. The play centres around the Morrison family in the east end of Glasgow during the 1930s. There are numerous roles to fill, so anyone interested should come along to readings on May 6 and 8, both at 7.30pm, in Abbey Row Community Centre.
Surgery
Councillor Simon Mountford is holding a drop-in surgery at Abbey Row Centre on May 3 (11am).
Youth project
Kelso Youth Project runs a Wednesday and Thursday after-school club (3.30-5pm) for P5-7, and a Thursday youth club (7-9pm). Drumming, animation and Zumba workshops are run at these sessions. For further information, contact Becki Hodgson – phone 07958 277766, email BeckiKelsoYouthProject@gmail.com or visit Facebook page www.facebook.com/KelsoYouthProject.
Langholm
Probus
Speaker Dennis Cockburn’s subject was “The History of Chocolate”. He told how chocolate was discovered, with the Mayan people of Central America the first to use cocoa beans as a drink. The beans were also used as currency by the Indians. In 1502 Christopher Columbus returned from his voyage of discovery to the New World with cocoa beans, and Spanish friars added sugar to sweeten the bitter taste, making the drink popular. Dennis spoke of the production process to turn the raw bean into chocolate. He said he had always been interested in chocolate, but only started his High Street business some seven years ago. A vote of thanks was given by Keith McCord.
Art exhibition
The Gilnockie art class will be holding an exhibition in the gallery at the town hall from tomorrow (Friday) to May 16. The official opening, at which everyone is welcome, will be by Mike Batey at 7pm tomorrow. Exhibition opening times – Monday to Friday, 10am-noon and 2-4pm.
Lauder
Hamper
The Lauderdale Macmillan Ruby Anniversary Easter Hamper raised £93.50 (including £14 from the Easter egg raffle at the Lauder Camping and Caravanning Club site, Carfraemill). Ruby’s birthday was November 16 and the winner Sharon Shaw.
WRI
St Boswells vet Andy Armitage delivered aninformative, interesting and humerous talk about his work experiences. It took the form of a quiz using Powerpoint, then giving the members answers, explanations and descriptions in each of the animal or bird topic questions. Jane Thomson scored full marks and Andy presented her with a small prize. Hostess for the evening was Janette Laidlaw who proposed the vote of thanks. Andy judged the competitions – Lemon Drizzle Cake – 1, Joanne Watson; 2, Kath Thomson; 3, Christine Brandeschi; animal ornament – 1, Joyce Black; 2, Wendy Bryson; 3, Christine Riddell. The date of the next meeting (AGM) is May 13 (7.30pm) in Lauder primary school. Sheila Hardie is organising bingo. Competitions – perfume bottle and best suggestion for the syllabus.
melrose
Border Flower Club
Audrey Buchan, from Montrose, was demonstrator for the April meeting with the title “Festival Fun”. She entertained with flowers, interesting containers and designs, and stories of her involvement in flower festivals.The next meeting – in the Corn Exchange on May 7 at 7.30pm – sees Vanessa Wellock, from Ilkley, with the title “The three Rs”. Watch out for the lonely bouquet on May 2 – you see one, pick it up and give it to someone special.
Activities
May 1 – 7.30pm, Corn Exchange, “Old Melrose: from prehistory till now”, Dr C. Bowles; May 3 – 10am, Bowden defibrillator coffee morning; project fund golf day, Monksford; May 5 – 2.20pm,Blythswood Collection, Greenyards; Zimbe deadline; foodbank priorities – jam, marmalade, tinned rice, tinned potatoes, Smash sachets, UHT milk, tea.
Hadrian’s Wall
Dr Nick Hodgson, archaeology manager for Tyne and Wear, spoke in the Corn Exchange last Thursday on the effect of Hadrian’s Wall on the people of the coastal plain of Northumbria. The conventional view had been that the wall had been a customs barrier and that life had gone on much as before. Few artefacts were found on native sites. Evidence of many more existing sites than had been imagined had arisen over the years. Ian Brown, who chaired the meeting, thanked both the speaker for his lecture and John Collin for allowing the illustrations to be shown. An application has been lodged with the Heritage Lottery Fund towards an archaeological investigation of the peninsula in 2015.
Malawi link
It was announced on Sunday that the congregation in Malawi with which the parish church has been closely associated had that very day celebrated the opening of its new church building. The site was presented to the congregation by the local tribal chieftain, a Muslim, in thanks for the church’s work in helping to feed the community during a famine.
Trimontium
Galashiels’ Burgh School was the latest to undertake the Route March from Leaderfoot to Newstead and on to the Trimontium Museum for worksheet, sword demonstation and costumes. Thereafter it was off to lunch in the open air and the ascent of the Eildons. The rain did appear, but the Thursday Trimontium Walk went on regardless.
Spring fair
The Holy Trinity Church spring fair will be held in the Corn Exchange on May 3 (10am-noon).
Turn to page 28
From page 27
morebattle
Cookery demo
A charity taste-and-try cookery demonstration with Vicki Hedley, from The Pantry, is being held in the institute on May 1 at 7.30pm. The event is in aid of Kilt Walk 2014.
Badminton club
Fourteen members enjoyed a meal in The Templehall Hotel on Monday night for their end-of-year dinner. Badminton restarts in October.
Craft fair
The craft fair/coffee morning held in aid of St Aidan’s Church Restoration Fund raised £1,150. Many thanks go to Margaret Blackmore who organised the event and all the stallholders and helpers, and those who donated. Annie Smith won the Valley Meats Voucher, Pam Gold the hamper and the quiz for a Teviot Smokery voucher, donated by Dennis Wilson, went to Keith
Hanson.
WRI
The next meeting will be held in the institute on May 14 at 7.15pm when Beadelicious demonstrates and members have the chance to make a bracelet/necklace. Competitions – edible necklace and a key ring. Members should remember to bring their syllabus for the lucky syllabus number competition.
Youth project
See Kelso section.
Newcastleton
Coffee morning
There was a good turnout for the old people’s welfare committee coffee morning in the village hall, which raised £435.
The money will go towards running the volunteer car scheme and providing trips and entertainment for the elderly.
Newtown
Charity car wash
Staff at Cook’s Van Hire have organised a fancy dress car wash on May 3 (12.30-4.30pm) in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. For a donation to the cause, motorists can get their vehicles cleaned up. Samantha Robson, daughter of garage proprietor Bill Cook, is running the Edinburgh marathon later this month, also for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Seniors’ Club
The next meeting of the Seniors’ Afternoon Club is in the Community Wing on May 6 (2pm). Copies of a book, “A View of Newtown St Boswells 1840-1920”, will be on sale at £6 each, with all profits going to the Newtown War Memorial Landscape Fund.
OXNAM
Owls
At the April meeting of Oxnam Owls, Sheena Hird, a social worker from Galashiels, talked about her experience in Ethiopia. She sponsors a boy through Plan UK and decided to go out and meet him. She and a friend travelled to Africa last year, met the teenager and his family, and visited the local village school. Sheena was impressed by the people she met who, despite having so little, are content and happy.
Oxton
Hamper
A record £258 was raised by Oxton’s Lauderdale Macmillan Ruby Anniversary Easter Hamper. The total included £83 from staff and customers at Stow post office. April 16 was the Oxton Easter Bunny’s birthday and the winner, Alexander, a regular Tuesday customer at The Lodge, Carfraemill, donated the hamper to Channelkirk Primary School, where Hamish Anderson was the luckyrecipient.
roberton
Turbines trial
A trial run for the turbines at SSE’s Langhope Rig wind farm will take place on the afternoon of May 6 and morning of May 7. This involves running a vehicle with an extendable trailer that simulates the longest and widest turbine components. On the return journey from the site, the trailer will be closed up and be no larger than a standard HGV. The route for the run begins both days at the Jedburgh exit of the A68, heading through Denholm and Hawick town centre. From the town centre, the run will join the B711 via Martin’s Bridge, travelling through Roberton to the Langhope Rig site.
Sprouston
Youth project
See Kelso section.
Traquair
Service
The next service in Traquair Kirk is on May 11 at 10am.
yetholm
Coffee shop
Work has started at the village shop to create a coffee shop. Proprietors Roy and Barbara Maltby said the village shop will remain open for business as usual while alterations are going on.
Quiz night
The Friends of Kelso Hospital is the latest charity to benefit from a quiz night at The Plough Hotel when more than £70 was raised. There will be a similar event on May 7, proceeds going to the BGH Margaret Kerr unit.
Film nights
The fifth successful film season has come to an end. Numbers attending have grown, possibly due to the quality of films and new comfortable chairs. Payment of hall charges, cost of hiring films and licences have been covered, leaving a surplus of approximately £400. This sum of money is being donated to Wauchope Hall funds. Film nights will resume in September.
Youth project
See Kelso section.
Installation night
Tomorrow (Friday) sees the announcement and installation of the Barri Gadgi and Manushi for 2014. Normally, this takes place outside The Plough, with a reception in the Wauchope Hall. This year the full event takes place in the Wauchope Hall, starting at 7pm.
AGM
The Youth Hall Supporters’ Association AGM takes place in the premises on May 19 at 7.30pm. Any proposed business should be intimated by May 5.