Denholm

COUNCIL: At the end of last week's community council meeting held in Bedrule village hall, councillors Zandra Elliot and Stuart Marshall met with interested parties on Denholm Green to discuss the proposed no-waiting areas around the village. Double-yellow lines are to be painted at the top of the Canongate, at Kirkside across from the church, which will allow easier access to the entrance to the lane leading to the houses there, and also at the post office, one car length past the barrier. There is also to be a give-way sign at the junction of Minto Road and Canongate. Councillor Elliot also mentioned the successful Denholm rideout and the honour she felt in welcoming the Cornet and his followers to the village. New member David Reeves, from Towerburn, was co-opted on to the Council. The next meeting is on September 24.
PRIZES: The annual Denholm school prizegiving was especially poignant, not only for Primary 7 pupils about to embark on their transition from primary to high school, but also for head teacher Jeanette Gordon, who is leaving to take up her new role as head teacher at Drumlanrig Primary School, Hawick.
DONATION: A donation of £250 was presented to Ruberslaw Church from the Denholm Rideout Committee as a thank-you to members of the congregation who helped administer car parking and clearing up after the Cornet's visit to the village. The sum of £78 was raised in aid of church funds at last Friday's lunch in the church hall.

Eccles

PARISH CHURCH: Morning worship is at 9.45am on Sunday. Preacher – the Rev. Donald Gaddes.

Ettrickbridge

QUIZ WINNER: The winner of the pictorial quiz was Aileen Boyle, from Penicuik, who receives a £10 voucher from Marks & Spencer.
SALE: A car boot sale is to be held on July 12 in Ettrickbridge from 10am-2pm. Contact Alison (01750 52263) for more details.

Greenlaw

FAIRBAIRN HALL: The opening of the refurbished Fairbairn Hall and coffee morning in aid of church funds will be held on Saturday. The event will be opened by Peter Johnson, moderator of the Presbytery of Duns, at 10am. Donations for stalls and raffle prizes will be gratefully accepted.

Hawick

Bridge: Results from June 23 – N/S – 1, V. Johnstone and R. Francombe; 2, M. Tuson and R. Witherington; 3, P. Young and J. Beedle; E/W – 1, M. Crawford and M. Hearth; 2, H. and M. Ouldcott; 3, P. Gilligan and M. Millar.
PROBUS CLUB: President Tony Wilson introduced Arabella Lewis and Martin Scott to talk on the Samaritans. They are based in Selkirk and there are some 30 volunteers across the Borders. The organisation was founded by the Rev. Chad Varrah in London 30 years ago. The annual club outing is to Keswick on July 10, leaving the Common Haugh at 8.45am.
ROTARY: At last week's meeting, president Gus Neilson completed his final week in office, handing over his chain to incoming president Keith Bird, formerly a member of Chipping Norton Rotary Club. New vice-president is Scott Elliot, with George Rennie and Bob Kellett secretary and treasurer respectively. Robin Mason, from the vocational and community service committee, announced a programme of events which included another St Andrew's Night concert and literary lunch. The international committee, represented by Ron Sutherland, proposes a quiz night and duck race, among other items. Billy McWatters (foundation committee) revealed a golf fund-raiser was in the pipeline, plus a sale of children's good quality used items. Members agreed to support Foundation (Rotary's own charity) with cash raised from the club coffee morning. Foundation funds were used to support humanitarian projects, group study exchanges, the fight against polio and ambassadorial scholars. The sum of £500 had recently been sent from the club to Rotary HQ for use by Foundation. This was the profit from the recent film fund-raiser held at the Tower Mill cinema. Members of Galashiels Rotary Club recently visited the Hawick club, enjoying a meal.

Hownam

COFFEE MORNING: The church coffee morning will be held in Hownam village hall on Saturday from 10.30am.

Innerleithen

Community Trust: The 2008 series of historic walks led by members of the community trust continues on Tuesday, meeting at the Memorial Hall car park for a 6.30pm start. This walk will visit a part of Innerleithen which is mainly on the flat and should be suitable for all. A donation to the trust is expected.
MUSIC DATES: Both the Sunday afternoon programme of music (3pm) and the Retreat (Saturday, 7pm) will be held in the High Street further towards the Peebles Road once again this year, avoiding the built-out bus stop at the post office.
TORCH BEARERS: Parents of youngsters over the age of 12 who are willing to act as torchbearers on Games Friday and Saturday should give names to Johnstone Cox (01896 830657).
COLLECTORS: Volunteers are required to carry blankets for the collections during the fancy dress parade on July 17 and the flower parade on July 19. Those willing to help should give their names to Games treasurer Norman Scott (01896 830621).
DECORATED HOUSES: It is hoped that as many people as possible will decorate their homes to help brighten the town for Games Week. Anyone who wishes to have their house judged for the fancy dress parade must give their name to Games secretary Dorothy McKie (01896 830703) no later than 8pm on July 16.
HANGING BASKETS: Innerleithen Horticultural Society invites shops and businesses in the High Street and Peebles Road to enter the floral hanging basket competition which will be judged on the Monday of Games Week (July 12).
DRAW: Tickets for the Games Week Grand Prize Draw are available from local shops or from any committee member. It will be drawn at the ball on July 12.
ST RONAN'S GAMES RACE ENTRIES: Local entries for the American Cup (800 metres handicap) and the New Zealand Trophy (200 metres handicap) must be handed to sports secretary Sarah Lindsay (01896 831237) no later than July 12. No entries for these events will be accepted on the field on Games Saturday (July 19).
TIES AND FLAGS: Blue and white Games ties (£6) and flags (£13) are available from Norman Scott (01896 830621).

Kelso

ROTARY CLUB: Rotarians held their handover meeting for Rotary year 2008/2009 last Thursday. Outgoing president John Baxter looked back over the past 12 months, beginning with the organisation of the District 1020 Conference in Carlisle and numerous social occasions. He reminded members that Rotary International was more than a dining club or fellowship meeting, but a worldwide movement that embraced a philosophy of living – Service above Self. He handed over the chain of office to Gordon Euman for the year 2008/2009. The new president presented John with his Past President Badge. He then presented outgoing District Governor John Lafferty, a member of Kelso Rotary Club, with a plaque to commemorate his year in office. The next meeting is at 6pm tonight in Ednam House when Frank Neville (I., W. and T. Rotary Club) will talk about fireworks.
CHURCH: Kelso Old and Sprouston Kirk Session will meet tonight at 7.30pm in the Roxburghe Hall. Also this evening at 7.30pm, the Stichill elders will meet in the church hall to appraise the use of church buildings. On Saturday (10am-noon), the Roxburgh coffee morning will take place in the Abbey Row Centre. On Sunday, the services across K. O. and S. P. and Kelso Country Churches will be taken by combined worship teams from all five churches. Service times – Sprouston (9.30am), Smailholm (10am), Kelso Old (11am), Stichill (with Sacrament of Baptism) and Roxburgh (both at 11.15am). Kelso Old will take the Rutherford Square service in the afternoon. On Tuesday at 7.30pm, there is a community meeting in Roxburgh Church to consider future use and possible development of the church building. Due to redecoration work, the Celebrate concert scheduled for Sunday has been postponed and the Yetholm Sinfonia concert on July 12 will take place in St Andrew's Church.
CHESS CLUB: Another season over and congratulations once again to both Alan Armstrong and also his son, Sandy, for retaining their shields. Alan won the Border Insurance Shield in the knockout competition and Sandy lifted the Ken Hope Shield in the league competition.
BRIDGE CLUB: Results from June 25 – N/S – 1, Val Johnstone and Mary Millar; 2, Archie Stewart and Billy Potts; 3, David and Christina Elder; E/W – 1, Pam and David Palmer; 2, Ian Watson and Jack Moffat; 3, Lee Leeson and John Hayton.
HIP HOP: An adult hip-hop class will be held every Tuesday (7.30-8.30pm), starting next week, at Castlegate Nursery. Further information from Michelle Douglas (01573 470700).

Langholm

Street party: The residents of Academy Place and Douglas Terrace held a street party for Cornet Simon Richardson at the cricket club last Sunday. On behalf of the residents, Sheena Elliot, who, along with husband Arthur, have been neighbours of the Richardson family for around 30 years, presented Cornet Richardson with a figurine. Several children made presentations of bouquets – Emily Hislop and Rory Earsman to the Cornet's mother, Kate, and Katie Hislop to the Cornet's girlfriend, Jill Oxley. The Cornet's sister, Jen, received a bouquet from her little daughter, Bailie McVittie, and so did Margaret Richardson, the Cornet's grandmother. Kenneth Pool was MC for the occasion and Arthur Elliot gave a humorous talk on the Cornet and his recollections of him as a young boy. The Cornet cut a special cake, with him as a young boy on his pony going up the Kirk Wynd.
Marathon fund-raiser: Nicola Donald from Canonbie recently ran, and completed, the Edinburgh Marathon. Thanks to her efforts the local branch of the Alzheimer's Society benefited by £1,200, and Nicola handed over the cheque to chairman Eric Hislop last Thursday. Also there for the cheque presentation were her parents, Corrie and Marilyn Graham from the town. Nicola ran the marathon in memory of her grandmother, Mary Graham. She raised the money not only from sponsorship, but also from other sources, including having a baking stall at events in the hall at Canonbie. Nicola was running the marathon distance for the first time and finished in just over five hours. Also running were friends Jodi Pike from Canonbie and Dawn Jardine, who lives in the town, and the pair crossed the line together in just over four-and-a-half hours. Jodi raised £500 for Cancer Research and Dawn £330 for the Canonbie church development fund.
Sponsored toddle: Playcare Ltd raised £1,500 from a sponsored toddle on Sunday morning. The pipe band led 40 children, along with their parents, round the rugby ground at Milntown. There was also a sponsored beat-the-goalie competition and face-painting, and the barbecue was kept busy.
Concert: Last Wednesday's Academy concert raised £600. The evening of music and song heard both bands and individuals performing.

Langshaw

WRI: The last evening before the break-up for the summer holiday was spent at the Philiphaugh estate visiting the salmon viewing centre. Unfortunately, it was a damp and chilly evening and members were unable to go down to the riverside. But thanks to cameras installed at the estate's old threshing barn, they were able to see the underwater world of the salmon. A warm welcome at the County Hotel, Selkirk, more than made up for the dreich weather.

Lauder

COFFEE MORNING: Scottish Borders Community Orchestra is holding a coffee morning with live music on Saturday in the Public Hall (10-11.45am).

Melrose

PARISH CHURCH: July Life & Work available for collection; church office closed during school holidays; Sunday's services – 9.30am Bowden; 11am Melrose; no creche during school holidays; Traidcraft stall; scripture readers for services – list of dates in Gattonside porch.
TRIMONTIUM: Former treasurer Nancy Finlay's thanksgiving service took place at the parish church on June 24, with appreciations being given by five of her six grandchildren and the tribute by secretary Donald Gordon. The interment took place at the Wairds Cemetery. There were two 'firsts' last Thursday. A class from Yester School, Gifford – a new connection - arrived to undertake the Route March from Leaderfoot to Newstead; do the museum tour with worksheet, followed by sword drill and costumes; spend pocket money on souvenirs; and have lunch in the Gibson Park. The rain kept off till the very end of the afternoon's Trimontium Walk when Bill Watson made his debut as guide for the 10 visitors (and a dog) who stepped it out. He also took the first Tuesday walk of the season. Saturday night was scheduled as a visit to Members' Night at visitor-friendly Vindolanda, beside Hadrian's Wall. Seats are still available on the coach to Maryport fort on the Cumbrian coast on July 26.

Morebattle

CAMERA CLUB: The garden opening at the school house raised £115 for camera club funds.
FISHING: George Cessford won the Caverton Mill fishing competition on Saturday; 2, Stuart McNulty; 3, Jeanie McNulty.
GAMES QUEEN: This year's Games Queen is Jennifer Cessford. She will be crowned at the beginning of festival week, which starts on the first Saturday in August.

Newcastleton

School prizes: It was a happy, but also rather sad day when pupils attended the primary school prizegiving last Wednesday because head teacher George Gilchrist is moving to Jedburgh after the summer break. There was a short play, poetry, music and song, along with all the awards of certificates and cups. The P7 class, who are shortly heading for either Langholm Academy or Hawick High School, entertained the audience with a special song. To round things off, teacher Julie Robertson spoke highly of Mr Gilchrist and then called upon the youngest and oldest pupils, Michaela Richardson and Jack Goodfellow, to make a special presentation. Mr Gilchrist, thanking everyone for the gifts and praising the support he had received from parents during his time at the school, said that although he was going to teach at Parkside in Jedburgh, he would remain living in the village.

Selkirk

BLOOD DONORS: There will be blood-donor sessions in the Victoria Halls on Sunday, July 13, at 10.15am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

Stow

FITNESS CLUB: Galawater Health and Fitness Club restarts on August 20 at 2pm in Stow Town Hall.

Yetholm

GARDEN: The Fairfax family of Mindrum will be hoping for better weather this Sunday – when their garden was open two weeks ago under the Northumberland Gardens Scheme, showers were the order of the day. This Sunday the garden will again be open (2-6pm) in aid of the British Red Cross Society.
RABBITS: The number of rabbits in the village and surrounding area is a great talking point at the moment. Visit the playing field in the early morning and one can count more than 100 rabbits running around, and The Haughs are home to countless numbers. For the first time they are regular visitors on the village green and gardeners are wondering what to do about the menace.
PAVILION: There has been much talk recently about the playing field pavilion. A survey was launched seeking the public's views on what future uses might be made of it. An interim painting upgrade took place last weekend, involving a community effort.
HISTORY PAPERS: During the last couple of weeks, large packages of papers have been received by post at various houses in the village. These turned out to be a detailed history of Yetholm over the centuries. The work is entitled Yetholm Parliamentary Papers. The history of the community has never been narrated in such detail. The history has been written by Mr D. M. Young, of Edinburgh, whose family owned a home in the village's Main Street.
GARDENS: Nine Yetholm gardens will be open this year under Scotland's Gardens Scheme on July 20. The local charity to benefit is Riding for the Disabled, based at Monteviot. Donations for the stalls on the green, including produce and bric-a-brac, will be welcome. An innovation this year will be an open-air concert by the Yetholm Woodwind Quintet.