District News

Heritage launch

Ancrum and District Heritage Society’s launch meeting – open to everyone – will be held in the village hall on Monday, June 6, at 7pm (£2 admission). It features a talk by Dr Chris Bowles (council archaeologist) entitled “The Mantle Walls – 2012 Big Dig and Finds”.

ASHKIRK

Village hall

Kelvin Beattie will be the afternoon’s guest speaker for a gathering in the village hall on Tuesday, June 7. His topic is “The Men’s Shed”. Promoted as “part of a new movement which is gaining momentum throughout the region”, this is a chance to learn more about this initiative, where activities include carpentry, repair, tool renovation, furniture making, model engineering and gardening.

bedrule

SWI

Members and guests enjoyed the May meeting when member Adele gave a slideshow and talk about her recent photographic trip to China. Competition – loveliest china tea cup and saucer – 1, Molly Marshall; 2, Margaret Taylor; 3, Liz Ramsay.

Whist

Thanks to all who attended the May charity whist in aid of the BGH Lung Fund in memory of Jocky Palmer, a regular domino player. £200 was raised.

BORDERS

Hillwalking Club

Seventeen members of the Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club met at Vindolanda on Hadrian’s Wall on Saturday, May 14, in warm sunshine and under azure skies. It was the Allendale weekend based in Hexham, with Sunday being the official club walk. Optional extra walks were offered on Saturday and Monday. The Roman Wall walk was a very enjoyable day of hiking from Housesteads Fort along the Wall Path, near the crest of the ancient structure. After following the rolling contours of the Whin Sill on which the Wall was built, members left the immediate environs of the Wall itself and continued through the adjacent countryside in all its May glory and varied scenery. The weather just seemed to get better and better and many fragments of the Wall were encountered, passing a Roman milestone near Vindolanda before climbing up to the venerable barrier again and completing the 12-mile hike back at Housesteads. A wonderful meal at the excellent Beaumont Hotel in Hexham rounded the day off nicely. Sunday, May 15, dawned fine and sunny for the official walk and members travelled through beautiful Allendale to the start point near High Sinderhope. A footbridge over the East Allen Water led to the Blackway, a road and track into the hills. Passing Knock Shield and High Knock Shield members headed south west to find the road was becoming a track, waymarked as ‘Isaacs Tea Trail.’ This is named after an itinerant peddler of teas who wandered the paths and byways of the district in Victorian times, when life was invariably tough for ordinary people. Penetrating ever further into the high moors many shooting butts were passed, this being primarily a grouse moor. The calling of lapwings and curlews was much in evidence, as well as the loud, startled cry of grouse disturbed from their hiding places in the heather. All around was the wide sweep of Allendale Common and Swinhope Moor, the vistas being breathtaking below drifting, white clouds. At Carrshield Moor and Scum Hill, the route turned south east to climb up to Shivery Hill and a narrow, little-used hill road. A convenient hollow proved to be a good place for lunch. Thereafter everyone descended to the road and turned down a track into the valley of the Swinhope Burn to reach an abandoned mine, complete with spoil heap. The whole area had once been the scene of extensive lead mining and the evidence of this is still apparent. Keeping to the left bank of the burn, members reached Hope Head, Blackcleugh and High Hayrake, all small farms or farm cottages clustered near each other. Leaving the road on a marked path, it was then over fields and by skillfully built dykes to Elpha Green near the hamlet of Spartylea. From there they followed the East Allen Water again by Swinhope Shield and up Shield Bank to a stretch of woodland. After walking over more fields the Blackway was reached and the walk was completed down to the start point on the opposite side of the river. Once more the dinner and social evening at the Beaumont, was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Next walk: The Hirsel, Coldstream. Parking at Dundock Wood. Grid Reference: OS Map 74 – 819397. For more information, contact the walk organiser, D. Spence on 01750 32733 or E. Horsburgh, club secretary on 01750 76214. On Monday, May 16, some club members met in the pretty, stone-built village of Blanchland on the boundary between Northumberland and Durham for a final walk to complete the three day programme. It was another fine day and the woods around the village were bursting with life. The small group which had lingered after the challenges of the weekend, enjoyed this gentle walk and returned home with good memories of a very successful weekend. Many thanks to Rodger and Mike for their excellent organisation of what was a superb event.

BOWDEN

Coffee morning

There will be a coffee morning this Saturday, June 4, in Bowden Village Hall from 10am to noon in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Cogsmill

SWI

President Mary McTaggart welcomed members the introduced federation president Caroline Tullie, who demonstrated quick and simple cookery. The cream teas, in conjunction with the hall committee, is to be held on Sunday, July 10. The competition for open snack on biscuit or bread – Christine Laidlaw. Funny coaster – Chrissie Brain, Rae Wilkinson and Mary McTaggart. Next month’s outing is on Wednesday, June 15.

denholm

Queen’s birthday

Denholm’s contribution to the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations will be held on Sunday, June 5, from 1pm on the village green. A pipe band and Riddell Fiddles will make appearances at 2pm and 3pm respectively. Other attractions include five-a-side football (teams on the day), children’s games, races, rounders and a barbecue.

EARLSTON

Parish church

The service on Sunday, June 5, at 10.15am will be conducted by Rev Julie Woods. The next service in the lounge at Hanover Housing is Tuesday, June 7, at 3pm.

Paths Group

The Paths Group will hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday, June 14, at 7pm in the small lounge at the Black Bull Inn. The meeting open to anyone interested in the work of the group.

Lunch club

Earlston Lunch Club meets every Thursday at 10.45am in Hanover Close. On May 19, proceedings started with a game of dominoes, then lunch, followed by entertainment from Stuart Anderson on the accordion. The next gathering began with card bingo. After the meal, a quiz was held. A demonstration by hairdresser Morag from Aquarious is a feature of the next meeting on June 2.

edgerston

Callant’s visit

Jethart Callant Gary Hogg and his Henchmen will visit Edgerston Village Hall on Wednesday, June 8, 7pm for 7.30pm, for a buffet meal (£5), entertainment and a presentation. All welcome. Phone Christine on 01835 840246 for further information.

Charity shoot

Edgerston village hall held its second annual charity clay shoot on Sunday, May 22, at Edgerston Tofts by kind permission of the Anderson family. The committee is grateful to course designers Ian and Billy Braithwaite, and all volunteer helpers, including a contingent of 10 air cadets who were each given a free shooting lesson. Sponsors included Bisley at Braidwood, Cessford Motors and Roxburghe Shooting School. A cheque was presented to Help for Heroes and the village hall shared in the proceeds.

Ettrickbridge

Eco fun day

Kirkhope Primary School are having an eco fun day on Saturday, June 4, from 11am-4pm. Come along and enjoy eco-based activities for all the family. Entry is free. Refreshments are available all day.

Village Hall

The next monthly coffee morning and sale in aid of hall funds will be held in on Saturday, June 4, from 10am to 12 noon. Anyone with something to sell should turn up, take a table and give a small donation to hall funds.

galashiels

Probus

At the final meeting of the season last Thursday, members were addressed by Derek Phillips, in the guise of Captain William H. Wilcox of the Union army in the American Civil War. Captain Wilcox enlisted on December 1, 1861. He was a topographic officer and ranked as a second lieutenant. In April 1862, he arrived in Washington where he was part of the Washington Defences. The army received simple training which consisted mainly of drill. In the winter of 1862, Captain Wilcox was sent to Fredericksburg as a staff officer. The next Probus club meeting is on September 8 at the new venue of the Waverley Castle Hotel when Keith Robson will talk about walking in the Borders.

Trinity church

The Reverend Elspeth Harley led worship on Sunday, with Dorothy Howden leading praise. Ed Martin read the lesson. Session clerk Bill Cheyne announced that the joint guild

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coffee morning for Christian Aid had raised £336. There is to be a coffee morning in aid of church funds on Saturday, June 4, in the church hall. The following day sees a short communion at 3pm in Caddonfoot Church. Anyone who wishes to attend, but doesn’t have transport, should speak to Bill Cheyne or the minister. Bible study continues on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the church office.

St Peter’s Church

Communion will be held on Thursday, June 2, at 10am. The usual Thursday morning study group and soup lunch will not take place for a few weeks until the group finds a time and place that suits everyone. The Sunday, June 5, family service starts at 10.30am, followed by coffee. Thursday, June 9, at 10am sees communion, followed by study group and soup lunch. Saturday, June 11, 12.30pm, soup ‘n’ pud lunch; Sunday, June 12, 9.30am, Sunday Squad followed by juice and toast; 10.30am, sung eucharist followed by coffee; 6pm, healing and anointing service.

Glendouglas

Lunch club

The next lunch club gathering is on Wednesday, June 8, from 11.30am-1.30pm.

Callant

Jed Callant Gary Hogg will visit Glendouglas on June 22 with his Henchmen, Grant Raeburn and Jack Fraser. Christine Roger presented Gary with his Balmoral Hat and the new Herald, Brian Marshall, with his hat too.

Hawick

50+ group

The next walk will be held on June 5 in the Rothbury area with a 9am start.

Bridge club

May 31 – 1. George Graham and Bob Francombe; 2. (equal), Sam White and Richard von Slicher, Mary Millar and Patsy Gilligan.

iNNERLEITHEN

Church

There will a communion service on Sunday, June 5, at 10.30am in Innerleithen Church.

Public meeting

Local community group AimUp is holding a public meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, June 7, in the Memorial Hall to provide an update on the project. At the meeting, affirmation that the local and biking community continue to support the proposal to build a mechanical uplift will be sought. The gathering will also act as a call to action, seeking members of the community who want to get involved and help deliver a project that will have significant impact for the Borders. AimUp is currently part of a process together with Scottish Borders Council (SBC), Scottish Enterprise, Forestry Commission Scotland and other stakeholders to deliver a plan to develop the future of mountain biking in the Tweed Valley. AimUp recently suggested that SBC progress an application to fund the uplift project to the Edinburgh Region City Deal, where some £2billion is available for infrastructure projects in six council areas.

Games committee

The next meeting of St Ronan’s Border Games committee will take place on Wednesday, June 8, at 7pm in the council chamber, Memorial Hall, Leithen Road.

Football Fives

Entries for the Games Week Football Fives tournament (July 9) are now being accepted. To enter, contact Steven Notman on 07792 092118.

Overseas guests

Every year St Ronan’s Border Games committee tries to accommodate visitors from overseas who are staying in the town during Games Week as guests at the Cleikum Ceremonies. This year’s ceremonies will take place on Friday, July 15, and applications for overseas guest invitations are now being accepted by email – [email protected].

Patrons

Anyone who has not already done so and who wishes to contribute to the 2016 St Ronan’s Border Games and Cleikum Ceremonies Patrons’ Scheme should send donations (minimum £5 per person) to patrons’ secretary Ted McKie, 41 George Street, Innerleithen.

Jedburgh

Bridge club

May 23 – N/S – 1, J.Urquart and J. Kyle; 2, M. Weightman and H. Long; 3, V. Johnstone and M. Miller; E/W – 1, R. Oates and S. West; 2, K. Jackson and P. Nichol; 3, R. Stewart and S. Graham.

kelso

Anniversary event

May Well Road Productions delivered an interesting and informative presentation entitled ‘The History of Wool, the Sheep and the People in the Border Hills’ in the Cross Keys Hotel. This event, marking the 200th anniversary of the building of Kelso Town Hall, was illustrated with a series of images of the landscape and was accompanied by a lyrical soundtrack.

Bridge club

Match Pointed Pairs: N/S 1st Rena Stewart and Beth Stark: 2nd Dominic and Diana Alkin: 3rd Lesley Dick and Lynda Douglas. E/W 1st Miles Browne and John Urquhart: 2nd Brian Saywood and Ken Ross: 3rd Ian and Eliz Ross. Thursday May 26: Aggregate Pairs: N/S 1st Vanessa Wilson and Lynda Douglas: 2nd Bob Stevenson and Lee Leeson: 3rd Dominic and Diana Alkin. E/W 1st Annie Mitchell and John Loudon: 2nd Jean Henry and Myra Thomson: 3rd equal Michael Horwood and Alison Ireland and Margot McVie and Edith Hogg.

LANGHOLM

Probus club

President Harry Aitken welcomed 24 members and guest speaker John Gair to the Probus Club meeting in the Eskdale Hotel last Wednesday. John was a former history teacher at the Academy and he gave a presentation on the Quintinshill Rail Disaster which took place near Gretna on the May 22, 1915, with the loss of 214 lives of the Royal Scots Territorial Battalion on route to the front during WW1. Also killed were seven officers and 13 civilians, including a mother and child. John’s excellent narration of the events leading up to the disaster and the aftermath and consequences along with some black and white slides brought home the carnage and the mistakes that led to this happening. The presentation was engrossing to listen to and watch, thanks to the narrator. A vote of thanks was given to the speaker by the president and fully supported by the attending members.

Umbrella walk

The Rotary Club umbrella sponsored walk in the town and at Canonbie raised £20,000. The walkers raised £10,754 in the annual March event and this was generously topped up by £7,500 from the three trusts who again supported the event, the David Stevenson Trust, Arthur Bell Trust and John and Mary Elliot Memorial Trust. Another £1,750 was claimed on Gift Aid. The Rotary Club organises, promotes and administers the walk and deducts five per cent of the amount raised to cover costs. At a dinner in the Crown Hotel cheques were presented to 30 organisations who had took part in the walk. During the evening the Community Service Award was presented by president Jim Muir to David Gordon, who had been nominated by club treasurer John Elliot for his dedicated work to the Youth Rugby Trust. Being the driving force behind the youth rugby, Davie along with other volunteers had put in an amazing effort with the young people and along with help from the school had run teams from P2/3 up to the Colts. Davie received a framed certificate from the Rotary president and also £250 to go to a good cause of his choice, which of course went to the youth rugby trust.

LAUDER

Lauderdale News

A celebration to mark 20 years of the Lauderdale News will be held in the public hall on Friday, June 3, from 7pm- 9pm. All are welcome.

Initiative Group

Lauderdale Initiative Group has arranged a general meeting to discuss Lauder’s Christmas Light. It takes place at Lauder Town Hall on Thursday, June 16, at 7.30pm. .

Threepwood Night

A presentation was made by RWM Ian Brotherston of Lodge St Luke 132 to Cornet Greg Scott, Right-Hand Man Ex-Cornet Daniel Simpson and Left-Hand Man Ex-Cornet Craig Connel as sponsorship to the Ex-Cornets’ Association in respect of payment for their horses for the Threepwood Ride. This sponsorship has been in existence for 13 years and has totalled more than £4,000.

Church

Holy communion was celebrated by the Reverend Rae Clark at Lauder Church and South Gardens on Sunday, May 29, and at Channelkirk, the service was led by the worship team. A group of guild members travelled by minibus to the Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, for the “The Big Sing” on May 24 to enjoy, along with 1,200 others, an evening of hymn singing, readings and reflections. The guild coffee morning will be held on Saturday, June 4, at 10am in Lauder church centre.

melrose

Border Flower Club

‘Dance into Spring’ was the title chosen by John Dalton for the May demonstration. His first design was a trough for a mantle piece with mixed foliage, Texas red roses, purple statis and mixed mini gerberas. A wedding bouquet was next with palm leaves and fatsia leaves as the foliage, the flowers being vintage-coloured pink carnations and roses. The occasional table in the hall design was in an urn with ivy for the foliage and pink tulips were sprinkled throughout. The container for the all-green design was white wrought iron with an orchid and Anastasia green chrysanths. The final design was in two parts – the first in a small gold angel candlestick and the second candlestick was a double figurine, using mixed foliage and vintage-coloured Memory Lane red roses and pale pink gerberas. The next meeting is on Wednesday, June 8, in the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm when the demonstrator will be Mark Crawford. His title is ‘Every day’s a School Day’.

Trimontium

The title of Curle’s book, ‘A Roman Frontier Post and its People’, reflects his interest in the activities of the people of the past and not merely in the buildings in which they lived and worked. Visitors today are also varied and leave interesting comments in the Visitors’ Book. One recent continental couple’s entry was ‘Honeymooning with the Romans’. That is an advertising avenue which had certainly not been thought about. Running a museum is also a two-way process. A recent angler was keen to show on his mobile phone images of Humshaugh, the last fortlet, he said, to be built beside Hadrian’s Wall. Another visitor revealed in conversation that he had been involved in a dig at York of several young Roman soldiers. He didn’t think ‘gladiators’, but remembering that Caracalla, unpopular with the army, became emperor on the death of his father Septimius Severus in York, suggested that the group had made know their opposition to the succession – and had paid for it with their lives. A sprightly lady from a coach party the other day, having asked the elderly supervisor his age, was pleased to announce that she was beating him by quite a margin. ‘I’m 92’, she said, and to show she meant it, promptly bought a book and the pamphlet about the story of Pontius Pilate being born in Scotland. Well done, ma’am.

mINTO

SWI

The last meeting of the season was the guest gathering in Denholm. The president welcomed more than 20 SWI members from Teviothead and Burnfoot to Glendouglas, and several in between. They were entertained with a floral art display by Alison Cavers who showed some of the tricks of display, using tulips as her main flower. Her audience shared a tasty selection of goodies for supper and renewed friendships. Competition results were as follows: Floral arrangement in a tea cup for Minto members – 1, Pat Jardine; 2, Janice Palmer; 3, Mary Beck; 4, Dee Baxter; Best floral brooch for visitors – 1, Molly Marshall (Bedrule). The next meeting is on September 14.

morebattle

Fishing club

The annual fishing club coffee morning was held on Saturday when £250 was raised for funds. Competition winners were as follows: Lucky door number - Katy Milne; Plant - Linda Nairn; Sweets in jar - Lizzie Thomson; Basket of vegetables - Dorothy McNulty. The draw for the fishing club competition on Saturday, June 4, will be held on Thursday, June 2, in the Templehall. Names to David Gray.

SWI

Two teams from Morebattle took part in the SWI Olympics on Thursday night at Newtown. Although not medal winners, everyone enjoyed the evening. Morebattle SWI members are going to The Pirn at St Boswells for a meal for their annual outing on the evening of Wednesday, June 8.

Queen’s birthday

As part of the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, villagers are holding a garden party in the Templehall on Sunday, June 12, from 1pm, featuring a hog roast, salads, tray bakes, birthday cake, bouncy castle, face-painting, games, live music and fancy dress.

Coffee morning

Morebattle Institute coffee morning will be held in the premises on June 11 starting at 10.30am.

Newtown

Seniors’ club

The next meeting of Newtown and Eildon Seniors’ Afternoon Club will be in Newtown Community Wing on Tuesday, June 7, from 2pm. This is the last meeting before the summer break.

SWI

Members enjoyed supper at the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in St Boswells on Thursday, May 5. During the month members also attended a fashion show presented by Liba Kelso and hosted by members of Stichill SWI. The next meeting of Newtown SWI will be held on Thursday, June 2, in the community wing when the guest will be Joyce Luby who will demonstrate fabric card making.

Oxnam

Library cafe

The next library cafe is on Wednesday, June 8, in the hall from 11am-noon.

Selkirk

Fair

The children, teachers and parent partnership of Philiphaugh Community School are grateful to everyone who helped to make their school fair, which was held on Saturday, May 14, such a big success.

st boswells

SWI

A whist, with 15 tables playing, resulted – 1st lady, Janet Rodger; 2, Joan Kyle; 3, Ann Reid; booby, Jean Rae; highest first half, Janette Fell; highest 2nd half, Pauline Looker; 1st gent, Annie Coltherd; 2, Alistair Patterson; 3, Lynn Nichol; booby, Jean Paterson; highest 1st half, Marion Thomson; highest 2nd half, Jean Scott; card bingo, Wilma Burns. There were five lucky sweep winners.

TRAQUAIR

Church

The next service in Traquair Kirk will be on June 12 at 10am.