Ancrum
WRI
At the May meeting, Mrs Allan, president, welcomed PC Andy Loughlin who gave a talk increasing members’ awareness of “scammers”. Competitions – baby blanket – 1, M. Dorricott; 2, R. Walker; 3, R Sinton; winner of the Fete Cup for carrot cake – 1, J. Butler; 2, R. Sinton; 3, R. Walker. The next meeting is the annual outing on June 11 – meet at the bus stop at Ancrum at 6.30pm for transport to Carters Rest, Jedburgh.
Ashkirk
Parish church
Anyone wanting a lift to the June 8 service (noon-1pm) should ring 01750 32257.
Bowden
Coffee morning
There will be a coffee morning on Saturday in Bowden Village Hall (10am-noon) in aid of hall funds.
earlston
Parish church
The June 8 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. This will be Hanna Fawcett’s last service as trainee. The next stewardship meeting is on June 9 at 7pm in the church hall lounge.
edgerston
WRI
Members enjoyed a demonstration of container planting by Mary Beaton and her sister, Ina Lunn, at their latest meeting. Advice was also given on tackling diseases and pests. A collection was made as thanks for the talk and plants the pair had provided. This will be donated to Weens House care home at Bonchester Bridge, at their request. Member Marie Hogg was thanked for raising £104 from her musical quiz in aid of the rural’s funds. Competitions – flower arrangement in a teapot – 1,Marion Anderson; 2, Marion Miller; 3, Maggie Greenwood; cup cakes – 1, Marion Anderson; 2, Marie Hogg; 3, Maggie Greenwood. The raffle winner was Joan Badger.
Ettrickbridge
Coffee morning
The monthly coffee morning and sale in aid of village hall funds will be held on June 7 (10am-noon). Anyone with anything to sell should come along, take a table and give a small donation. At around 11am, John Anderson, who is organising the forthcoming cycle sportive “Tour of the Borders”on August 10, will give a brief chat about its organisiation and answer questions about the event.
FOUNTAINHALL
WRI
The rural’s summer outing to The Woll, Ashkirk, is next Wednesday (June 11) – meet there at 7 for 7.30pm. This is the last gathering for this session, but meetings will resume on Wednesday, September 17. May meeting competitions – tea loaf – 1, Dorothy Small; 2, Christine Sinclair; bud vase – 1, Christine Sinclair; 2, Dorothy Small.
Galashiels
Camera club
The club’s summer outing to New Lanark is on June 7. Any members planning to go should contact Alistair Peacock.
Probus club
John Rogerson, from Galashiels Historical Society, gave a talk, entitled “Border’s Tale”, which encompassed a virtual historical journey from Moffat to Peebles. Among many other stops on the route, the journey took members from the Star Hotel in Peebles, which, at just 20ft wide, is the narrowest, past the Moffat Spitfire, then on to Stobo, Neidpath Castle, which was bombarded by Cromwell, John Buchan’s house at the Peebles roundabout and the spectacular Peebles war memorial. The journey ended at the only Grade 2-listed, cast-iron public toilet. The next meeting will be in the Kingsknowes Hotel on September 11 at 10am when Mark Nixon will speak on “Local Political Agitation 1884”.
glendouglas
Whist
The monthly whist drive is on June 9 at 7. 30pm.
Lunch club
The monthly lunch club is on June 11 (11.30am-1.30pm).
WRI
The rural has organised an evening with Callant Jack Fraser on June 11 at 7.30pm.
hawick
Bridge club
May 27 – N/S – 1, John and Marian Miller; 2, John Urquhart and Sam White; E/W – 1, Malcolm Ouldcott and Bob Witherington; 2, Rob Goldie and Margaret MacLeod.
Rotary club
Vice-president Sandy Bannerman chaired last week’s meeting when he introduced member Mairhi Trickett who spoke on the subject of carers. Mairhi, who is on the board of the Princess Royal Trust Borders Carer Group, outlined the group’s role and the care on offer, whether it be a parent, child, sibling, relation or neighbour who takes responsibility for others unpaid. She explained the benefits available to the client and how they could be guided towards them. She also explained the different care groups in the system and what they offered. The coffee morning raised £600 and this is being disbursed 50/50 – to Go-go Olive, an Orkney charity which supplies wool and knitting needles to women in Namibia who knit toys to sell and raise money to help feed their families; and to supply 10 aquaroll water barrels to Africa in the Roll out the Barrel Trust project, the idea for which originated from a Hawick Rotary Club member.
innerleithen
Church
The service on June 8 starts at 11.30am. There is a coffee morning on June 7 (10-11.30am) in Innerleithen Church.
School quiz
For almost the last 10 years, Rotary clubs throughout the south of Scotland have run a primary school quiz – and this year was no different. Following local heats, the seven teams who had qualified for the Borders semi-final were invited to Innerleithen Parish Church. But Langholm primary was unable to attend and so played the tie a few days’ earlier under the close scrutiny of the local Rotary club. With an audience of about 75 friends and supporters in the church, the teams of four P7 children were challenged to answer four questions in the following categories – language, mathematics, health and well-being, expresive arts, science, technology, social studies and pot luck. Morebattle was unable to field its four players, but Selkirk’s Knowepark had a “spare” girl with them and so she joined the village school’s team – and ended up beating Knowepark. For the first four or five rounds, three teams tied in top spot on the scoreboard. The seventh round saw a resolution – and Peebles’ Kingsland took the honours with a four-point lead over Gordon. The other teams participating were Duns and Langlee. Kingsland (and possibly Gordon as a highest scoring runner-up) will be going to the final at Carluke Lifestyle Centre on June 7.
jedburgh
WRI
The WRI’s Roxburghshire federation held its spring rally in Jedburgh Town Hall when a large number of members enjoyed songs and sketches by Hilary Bell and John Nichol. Competitions – plain scones – 1, F. Armstrong, Towford; 2, L.Howieson, Newmill and Teviothead; 3, J. Stenhouse, Morebattle. Individual sweet – 1, S. Galloway, Midlem; 2, P. Kilpatrick, Newmill and Teviothead; 3, M.Hastie, Midlem. Fingerless mitts – 1, S.Morrison, Cogsmill; 2, L.Howieson, Newmill and Teviothead; 3, M.Taylor, Bedrule. Greetings card – 1, M.Taylor, Bedrule; 2, J. Little, Newmill and Teviothead; 3, R. E. Maber, Southdean. Foliage arrangement – 1, M.Blackmore, Morebattle. Floral arrangement in cup/saucer – 1, E. Rennie, Newmill and Teviothead; 2, M.Blackmore, Morebattle; 3, E.Thornton-Nicol, Newtown St.Boswells. Classes of stumpwork, glass painting and floral art are being arranged for the near future.
kelso
Quilters
Abbey Quilters will be having their AGM as well as a “show and tell” on June 10 at 7pm in Abbey Row Centre. For further details, contact Rineke Sangster on 01573 229414.
Quiz night
A quiz night in the White Swan in aid of the Scottish Borders Africa Aids Group raised £152.52, which was matched with a donation of £155 from the pub to bring the total for the evening up to £307.52.
Painting
The fundraising campaign to buy Margaret Peach’s painting of Kelso Abbey in the Middle Ages for the town is past the half-way mark. The painting is hanging in the library and for anyone who wants to contribute to the cash-raising efforts, there are three possibilities – postcards of the painting are on sale in H. Innes, Blairs Jewellers and Seasons Cafe; a limited number of reproductions of the painting are also on sale; or one can just make a donation. More information from C. Henderson, 21 Shedden Park Road (tel. 01573 224940).
U3A
The next open meeting of The Four Border Abbeys U3A Group will be the summer social with buffet lunch on June 9 at 12.30pm at Kelso Rugby Club.
Bridge club
May 28 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, John and Marian Miller; 2, Val Johnstone and Mary Millar; 3, Ian Watson and Stuart Graham; E/W – 1, Janet Kyle and John Urquhart; 2, Ian and Eliz Ross; 3, Sheena McPherson and Sheila Urquhart. May 29 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Jon Bridger and Gerry Eglington; 2, Bob Stevenson and Lee Leeson; 3, Alison Darling and Mary Logan; E/W – 1, Richard Oates and Sheena West; 2, Annie Mitchell and Lynda Douglas; 3, Sheila Urquhart and Ruth Mackay.
Langholm
Common riding
At the outset of the Common Riding committee meeting in the Crown Hotel, secretary Kenneth Hill called for nominations for the offices of chairman and vice-chairman. It was the unanimous decision that Roger Maxwell and Tommy Morrison would remain as chairman and vice-chairman respectively. Everything was in place for the Commonwealth baton parade and Cornet Dale Irving, and his right and left-hand men, will wear their ride-out jackets and bowler hats. Three helpers will be on hand to assist with the horses coming down The Wynd. It was agreed that the allowance for the Cornet be increased to £850, and to £425 for the right and left-hand men. The committee discussed a number of things that had been brought up at the public meeting, such as the re-instatement of the high jump, and the secretary said his nephew had expressed interest in running the event along with a number of his cousins. It was not in the poster, but flyers would be sent out and Ernie Blair would be asked to insert it on the Border athletics website. The prizes would be at the previous levels. The admission for the concert was raised from £3 to £4. There was no point in putting a loudspeaker up the Kirk Wynd as the fair crier did not have a microphone, but the committee will see if another speaker could be placed further along the High Street. There had been around 320 attending the dance which had gone without incident and the band had been paid £300. It was suggested that next year there could be a table reserved for the Cornet’s family. The Young family will continue to sponsor the heather besom parade. The arrangements were made for the Cornet’s spurs. Norman Maxwell has provided the nibby for semi-jubilee Cornet Andrew Johnstone and jubilee Cornet Irving Edgar had chosen a photograph which will be framed. Cyril Johnstone will hand a crop in to the secretary and, along with the the nibby
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and photograph, will be delivered for engraving. The chairman read out the list of officials and organisers, and Billy Young will be Castle Craigs Fair Crier this year. Following the retiral of Norman and Linda Imrie, a quote had been received for the catering, but things have still to be finalised. It was agreed that recently-retired treasurer Paul Davidson should be sent an invitation and given an M&S gift voucher for £100. A donation of £250 had been received from Irving Edgar.
Bruce Park suggested that a seat could be erected in the park at Rosevale Gardens in memory of Dick Hill, and this met with the approval of the committee.
Presentation evening
The Young Riders’ Club is holding a presentation evening in the Masonic social club on June 20 to mark Dale Irving being elected Cornet for 2014. Dale is the first Cornet to have come up through the ranks of the club.
Melrose
Art exhibition
Tweedbank Art Club will hold its annual exhibition in the Ormiston Institute from June 6-10 (10am-5pm).
Parish church
Church magazine available for distributors and online. June 8 services – Bowden, 9.30am; Melrose, 11am.
School fundraiser
June 6 – 1.30pm, Melrose PS Summer Extravaganza.
Trimontium
The trust’s summer outing is on August 2 to the Antonine Wall, recently-declared World Heritage Site. It falls into three parts for visiting purposes – and the Melrose party is to tackle the eastern section, starting at Kinneil near Bo’ness, moving on to Camelon, Falkirk and Bonnybridge. All being well, the outings for the next two years will cover the central and western sections. Today (Thursday) at 1.30pm sees the regular Trimontium Walk from the Heritage Centre.
morebattle
Coffee morning
The institute coffee morning will be held on June 14 at 10.30am.
WRI
The outing is to The Smokery on June 10, from 6pm – dinner 7pm. Names to Mary Pringle as soon as possible.
Fishing club
The coffee morning held last Saturday raised around £230. The fishing competition will be held on Saturday (June 7) – names to David Gray no later than 9pm today (Thursday) for the draw.
Newcastleton
Craft fair
A large number of locals, and visitors from both sides of the border, visited the annual craft fair in the village hall. This is the main fundraiser for the hall, which is constantly used by various clubs, groups and organisations. There was a large choice of items on the 38 stalls, including woodwork, horncraft, jewellery, paintings, photographs, hand-made products, cushions, soaps, chocolates and honey. There was also home-baking and preserves, plus various plants and hanging baskets. Tea and coffee, along with home-made scones and cakes, were on sale by the committee in the function room. Liddesdale Parish Church also opened its doors to sell jams and chutney, along with home baking.
Oxton
WRI
The outing is on June 18, not June 21.
St Boswells
Dementia night
June 5 – 6.30pm, Buccleuch Arms, Action on Dementia Night (0131 243 1453) to reserve a place.
Stow
Railway
Local residents have an opportunity to hear about the latest Borders Railway construction plans for the area, including Stow station, at a drop-in meeting hosted by the project team on Wednesday, June 11, in Stow Primary School from 3.30-7pm.
Tweedbank
Art exhibition
See Melrose section of district news.
Walkerburn
Service
The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on Sunday, June 15, starting at 10am.
yetholm
Plant sale
A Floral Gateway Gathering plant and bedding plant sale will be held on June 14 (10am onwards) outside the village shop.