Year of the dragon, day of the lions at Gala
THE sights and sounds of the exotic Orient came to the centre of Galashiels on Sunday as the Borders Chinese community gathered to celebrate the start of their new year.The centrepiece of the...
View ArticleDeadline set for awards which showcase business excellence
THERE will be eight categories in this year’s Scottish Borders Council Business Excellence Awards, entries for which are being sought ahead of the February 10 deadline.“Reflecting the diversity of...
View ArticleRonn’s wartime Spitfire story grows wings
OUR mystery story involving claims of a crashed wartime Spitfire near Selkirk and its Canadian or American pilot deepened this week.A number of Southern readers and website users got in touch with bits...
View ArticleVolunteer tradesmen to the rescue of Walkerburn social club
VOLUNTEERS have rallied to the call of a Walkerburn social club which faced losing its licence because of noise complaints, writes Andrew Keddie.The revocation, suspension or variation of the drinks...
View ArticlePraise and plenty of passmarks for Kelso High
HIGH levels of attainment and achievement by pupils at Kelso High have been highlighted in a report from government school inspectors, writes Mark Entwistle.The HM Inspectorate of Education’s (HMIe)...
View ArticleSpitfire story sparks more crash tales
OUR wartime Spitfire mystery story took another few swoops and turns this week, with several reports of aircraft coming down in the local area.Last week we told how former Selkirk photographer Ronn...
View Article£4.2M BGH palliative care unit is set to be in business
THE board of NHS Borders is today expected to approve the full business case for the construction of the Margaret Kerr Unit – a new £4.2million in-patient specialist palliative care facility at Borders...
View ArticleVandal attacks span three months
Police looking into a three-month spate of vandalism in the Woodside Place area of Galashiels have pledged to up their fight to collar those responsible.Between October and this month, 16 motor...
View ArticleWatson in cross-border forum call
efforts to represent the best interests of the Borders in tourism, economic development and transport are being hindered and dissipated by bureacracy and a lack of co-ordination among national and...
View ArticleTime to end bowel cancer taboo, says fundraising Karen
KAREN Raeburn from Peebles has good reason for organising a major fundraising event for Bowel Cancer UK in March.For the dinner dance she is staging at the Macdonald Cardona Hotel will mark the 10th...
View ArticleSBC ‘breaking demoted teachers’ pay pledge’
THE main EIS teaching union is on a collision course with Scottish Borders Council in a bid to maintain the pay levels of former principal teachers (PTs) whose roles, but not salaries, were downgraded...
View ArticleSeeing ourselves as Russians see us – through Scott’s eyes
Irn Bru and the Famous Grouse aren’t the only two Scottish icons big in Russia – so is Sir Walter Scott. This summer, his Abbotsford home in the Borders, opens a new, free visitor centre under its...
View ArticleSchool takes on bully battle
AN anti-bullying campaign being piloted in Peebles could be rolled out across the Borders if it proves successful.Lothian and Borders Police and their partner agencies in the Borders have launched the...
View ArticleShower of complaints going to ombudsman
A WALKERBURN woman is to launch a complaint with the Scottish Public Services Ombudman, despite earning an apology for a year-long dispute surrounding her elderly mother’s leaking shower.Julie Baillie...
View ArticleNo charges against Grahame
MIDLOTHIAN South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame will not face criminal proceedings over allegations by her former aide Mark Hirst that she misused election expenses.In November, the...
View ArticlePublic input sought as project bids to return Hawick’s ‘jewel in the crown’...
ARGUABLY the most impressive of all the public parks in the Borders, Wilton Lodge in Hawick is on the cusp of a major lottery-funded transformation.The 100-acre array of verdant open spaces, enhanced...
View ArticleRoyal Mail hits back in postbox communications row
THE Royal Mail has denied allegations that there was no local consultation over its decision where to site a new red postbox in Newtown St Boswells.Last week, TheSouthern reported on anger in the...
View ArticleKelso’s young were sounded out over play plans
YOUNGSTERS looking for something to do in Kelso can now enjoy improved play facilities at the town’s Shedden Park, writes Mark Entwistle.Scottish Borders Council staff have redesigned and upgraded the...
View ArticleHawick clothes shop raided
POLICE are hunting thieves who stole clothing worth £1,200 from a Hawick shop.The break-in took place between 5pm on Monday and 9.30am on Tuesday at EFM on Buccleuch Street.The culprits took Fox brand...
View ArticleBorders firm makes its mark on Iron Lady
BORDERS cinema-goers enjoying the new smash-hit biopic about former prime minister Margaret Thatcher can be forgiven for thinking they are seeing things if they notice a model of the reiver figure from...
View Article