District News

Whist

There will be a whist drive and domino evening in the village hall on April 4 at 7.30pm.

Caddonfoot

Parish church

Easter Day was celebrated in Caddonfoot Parish Church when the congregation marked the resurrection of Jesus in hymns and words. The children handed out daffodils to everyone in the church, while teardrops and flowers were the theme of the Reverend Elspeth Harley’s address to the young people. Afterwards, despite the heavy showers, the children took part in egg rolling, while the minister read out a selection of Easter prayers written by the congregation. Bible readings were delivered by Jo Lawson and Atholl Innes. Birthday greetings were conveyed to George Wells and Suzanne Hume. Music was played by Andy Bird and Anne Grieve. On Good Friday, there was a special joint service of holy communion with Trinity in the church, conducted by the Reverend Harley, making her first visit to the pulpit after her holiday accident. Bible study resumes in the manse at Galashiels on April 20.

Hall show

The hall is being prepared ready for the arrival of Monkey, a comical superhero puppet. This show is suitable for adults who can bring one or more children aged four or over, who want to have an hour-long adventure. The event is on April 3 (3pm) and tickets (£5) will be available at the door.

canonbie

Soup lunches

The sum of £318 was raised at the last of the soup and sweet lunches in aid of the United Parish Church prior to the summer break. It was held in the village hall and attracted around 75 people. From the five soup lunches held throughout the winter, a total of £1,228 was realised for church funds. The collection of clothes and shoes etc. at the last soup lunch for the air ambulance raised £420. The Guides had a book stall which was well supported, as was the baking stall for Marie Curie run by Kirsteen Davies and Louis Lane.

EARLSTON

Parish church

The service on Sunday at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods and will include the annual stated meeting. Communion will be

celebrated at the service in Hanover Lounge on April 5 at 3pm.

Women’s Group

Members meet on April 7 at 8pm in the church hall when Lesley Manderson will give instruction on gentle yoga while sitting on a chair.

Wednesday Club

Hostess Agnes Penman welcomed members before introducing Mr M. Fraser from the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) who gave a slide-illustrated talk on his time at the Cape of Good Hope. Mrs S. McKay then, on behalf of all members, congratulated members Mrs A. Gilchrist and Mrs P. White and their husbands on the occasions of their diamond wedding anniversaries”. Competition – a little bird – 1, Mrs. A. Gilchrist; 2, Mrs B. Mason; 3, Mrs A. Thomson. The next meeting is on April 6 and the competition for a small wooden box.

galashiels

Trinity

Last week was a busy week at Trinity, with a service on Tuesday evening, the Maundy Thursday supper service and an Easter breakfast before the family service on Sunday. All of these were conducted by minister Elspeth Harley. On Sunday morning, the sanctuary was decorated with daffodils for the service and these were handed out at the end to be taken home. The choir, under the leadership of Dorothy Howden, gave the congregation a rendition of the “Power of the Cross”. The children then took a part in an Easter egg hunt and managed to find all of the eggs which had been hidden around the sanctuary. Joyce Lewis read the lessons. There was a makeshift tomb with stone at the front of the church, and Olivia from the Kidz Klub appeared from the tomb when the stone was ‘rolled away’. With the help of Katie and Annabelle, she then handed out A daffodil to each member of the congregation. The minister read out Easter prayers which had been written by members of the congregation. Trinity Church manned the foodbank last week. There is to be a kirk session meeting on April 5 at 7pm. Bill Cheyne reported that Jim Wallace had completed his swimathon, and that Trinity had contributed more than £300 to his fund.

Inner Wheel

The Inner Wheel Club of Galashiels held its annual charity beetle drive earlier this month. After a very noisy and exciting evening, the overall winner was Kay Maltman, with Onur Kurt winning the children’s prize. Lucy Robertson was, for the second year, winner of the booby prize – a decorated wooden spoon. The money raised from this event will be donated to Border Women’s Aid Ltd in Jedburgh. The next Inner Wheel meeting is on Tuesday,April 19, at 7.30pm in St Peter’s Church hall when Elaine Weellan will give a talk about It’s Good 2 Give – a teenage cancer charity.

Glendouglas

SWI

Members are holding their birthday party on April 6 at 7.30pm. Competition – prettiest ankle.

hawick

Rotary

Two guests were welcomed to last week’s meeting by president Mairhi Trickett. Tommy Stevenson, Hawick, and Joyce Wilson, daughter of past president John Robson and herself a past president of Whitehaven Castle Rotary Club and now of Workington Rotary Club. Member Linden Warburton gave her “job talk”. She qualified as a pharmacist in Liverpool in 1973 and was latterly employed at Boots in Hawick until she retired in 2010. She looked at the changes which had occurred during her career. All prescriptions were formerly hand-written as were the labels on the bottles. The hand-writing prowess of some doctors was notoriously famous and one GP had to be asked to print his prescriptions. In the 1980s computers came into use, as did repeat prescriptions. She explained the impact that methodone and needle exchange had for drug users and chemist staff, and also the minor ailment scheme where pharmacists could treat patients without referral to a doctor. Questions followed after which past president and Paul Harris Fellow Jack Swanston gave the vote of thanks.

Art club

On Thursday, April 7, local photographer of international renown, John Parris, will give an illustrated talk to members and visitors. The venue is Hawick High School lecture theatre with a 7.30pm start. Entry is free. Refreshments available for a small donation. On May 1 there is a trip to the Garden of Cosmic Speculation – open to the public from noon until 5pm – at Portrack House, near Dumfries. This 30-acre sculpture garden is the result of the vision and hard work of Charles Jencks and his late wife. Its lakes were designed by Maggie Keswick. Anyone interested in going should contact Jane Cochrane by phoning 01450 373029 no later than Monday, April 18.

Film and Video Group

Carlisle Camcorder Club asked if group members would judge its Raymond Key Prize Competition, which involved reviewing a collection of film entries. The screening began with “The Far North West of Scotland”, a coach tour of the area around Ullapool and its environs by Mary Atkinson. This was followed by “The Glorious Twelfth”, a short film about a small farm in Cumbria, cutting and bailing hay while the sun shines, using old-style machinery which still produces old-style bails. This film was by Mary Thompson. The third entry featured a visit to Kew Gardens by Sylvia Sisson. The “Sunderland Air Show”, recorded by John Wilson, included a demonstration of an air-sea rescue carried out by a coastguard helicopter. Next on screen was David Robinson’s riverside tour, “Following the Eden”, on its journey to the Solway. The “Treasures of Wight” was Bill McClintock’s visit to the Isle of Wight. “Holiday Highlights” of Italy was Dave Elliot’s colourful entry showing various festivals throughout a tour of the Verona region. The winning entry, “Down the Bay”, by Denis Westmorland, featured an informative commentary throughout the journey along the byways of the Lake District and on to the destination at Morecambe Bay. The meeting on April 3 at 2pm sees a visit from the Carlisle club, with the group’s AGM on April 12.

Probus

Shelagh Townsend-Rose spoke to the club about Scottish drove roads, a subject she has researched over the years. Droving was the means by which livestock, mainly sheep, cattle and geese, were moved around the country in the days before normal roads. Drovers lived rough and took their requirements with them. They covered around 10 miles a day. Hump-backed bridges appeared to facilitate getting smaller stock across water while cattle forded. Their trails are still to be seen across the countryside. Tony Wilson gave a vote of thanks.

Innerleithen

Service

The service on April 3 starts at 10.30am, followed by a light lunch. The church will be open from 2-4pm for visitors to view the refurbished building.

Jedburgh

St John’s

After successful Easter services, with the church beautifully decorated for the

occasion by the flower team, refreshments were taken in the centre by visitors and

parishoners alike. Members are looking forward to welcoming high school students on April 9 at 7.30pm when the Andante Choir will assist the pupils in providing a musical treat. There will be refreshments and a raffle in support of the students travelling to Tanzania with the Vine Trust in June, helping to provide

housing for local communities. Tickets (£5) will be available at the door. Services as usual this week. The next St John’s vestry meeting is on April 19 at 7pm when the subject of choosing a new minister will be discussed. If anyone has any queries about services and outreach in the community, approach any church member.

Rotary

The club received a visit from Neil Bruce, former head teacher of an Aberdeen high school who is now working in the field of mental hygiene. His talk and handouts covered ways in which we can look after our mental health. Statistics on mental health and suicide in the UK were presented, and Neil suggested ways in which older people, in particular, can live more fulfilling lives by having lots of hobbies and interests, living in a healthy way and cultivating a zest for life. Jedburgh’s blue plaques initiative was the theme of a presentation given by Moira Fleming. The plaques commemorate local people and mark places of interest. The aim is to renew and enhance historical information around the town, using digital technology to link those who have QR (Quick Response) codes on their phones, with further information from the Jedburgh website. The initiative envisages 30 plaques. Local Rotarians organised a collectoin for End Polio Now, with t.ownsfolk and visitors receiving purple crocus badges for their donations, inspired by the ‘purple pinkie’ of each child who is vaccinated against polio throughout the world. The collection raised £127.67. The Rotary pop-up shop in the Cannongate continues to do well with no let-up in the amount of stock donated and sold. The club has a number of other projects, including Sight for Life (Visionaid), which provides assistance to people in Zambia who are experiencing eyesight problems; Lend with Care, for small businesses in the developing world; an initiative to refresh and extend the hanging flower baskets which decorate the town; and providing books about the life of Mary, Queen of Scots for town primary schools via the museum service (this year is the 450th anniversary of her visit to Jedburgh). The young writers’ competition in Jedburgh schools has been a success and the club will present four students from S2 at Jedburgh Grammar School with prizes – the winning pupil going on to the south of Scotland final. The club holds its annual coffee morning in the British Legion Club on April 23, with the quiz (open to everyone) in the Carter’s Rest on April 29. Teams of four welcome. The annual clean-up of the riverside and other areas of Jedburgh will be on May 7 – see posters around the town and check the club’s Facebook page.

KELSO

Thursday Group

Isabel Gordon’s images showed the extraordinary buildings at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, dating from the same period as the Border abbeys, then the villages and

towns along the Mekong cruising down to Saigon in Vietnam. Today, Charles Burnett

(Ross Herald) will talk about Russia’s imperial family, The Romanovs – 2pm, Abbey Row

Centre. Next week – Shona Walker on Maggies Centres.

Museum friends

Friends of Kelso Museum’s fourth and final talk in the March series was presented by Margaret Fox who gave an insight into “Historic Henious Crimes at some Borders High Court Trials”. This was followed by numerous questions.

Bridge club

March 23 – annual social evening and prize-giving – Abbey Salver – 1 (equal), Alison Ireland and Jean McLaren; 3 (equal), Diana Alkin and Dominic Alkin. Calchou Cup – 1 (equal), Bob Stevenson and Lee Leeson; 3 (equal), Diana Alkin and Dominic Alkin. Millennium Trophy – 1, Lee Leeson; 2, Bob Stevenson; 3, Chris Anthony. Rose Bowl – 1, Mary Millar & Val Johnstone; 2, Lesley Dick & Lynda Douglas; 3, Diana Alkin & Dominic Alkin. Stewart Trophy – 1, Mary Millar; 2, Val Johnstone; 3, Bob Stevenson. March 24 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Dominic & Diana Alkin; 2, James Duncan & Ged McIvor; 3, Jean McLaren & Ken Ross; E/W – 1, Maureen Weightman & Rena Stewart; 2, Avril Ronald & Donald Swanson; 3, Annie Mitchell & John Loudon.

Langholm

Probus

A total of 27 members, including Ron Addison who had just joined, were welcomed to the club meeting in the Eskdale Hotel by president Harry Aitken. Speaker for the occasion was member Michael Taudevin, who gave a talk entitled “Bell ringing in Devon” – a cycling tour by a band of ringers to ring a selection of bells around that county. A little history was thrown in and explained by the speaker, along with a bit of bell technology and technique, aided by video clips. Charlie Edgar gave a vote of thanks.

Crookmakers

Student crookmakers from the Eskdale and Liddesdale area enjoyed success at a regional show in Selkirk High School. Robert Phillips was judged senior champion and Taylor McPherson novice champ. The event was held for people attending evening classes in the Borders. The pair attended the ones run by Drew Oliver at Sorbietrees, Newcastleton, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from October to March.

Umbrella walk

Local Rotarians held their annual sponsored umbrella walk in dry weather. About 28 clubs and organisations were involved, with around 200 walkers taking part. The David Stevenson Trust, John and Mary Elliot Memorial Trust and Arthur Bell Trust will help top up the money raised and give further help to the clubs who participated.

Lauder

Guild

The Ina Kerr Evening, entitled “Faith with Flowers”, is an event of floral art and song by Joyce Tinlin in Lauder Church on April 8 at 7.30pm. This is in memory of a guild member and elder.

Historical society

Committee member Michael Scott gave a presentation on the First World War Gallipoli Campaign which took place from April 25, 1915, until January 9, 1916. Both sides suffered horrendous casualties and on Lauder War Memorial there are the names of six young soldiers who died at Gallipoli.

melrose

Border Flower Club

Demonstrator at the March meeting was club treasurer Julia Louden. Entitled “A world full of interest”, her presentation opened by recalling a visit to Africa, depicting giraffes with her container being a tall china vase. The choice of flowers were akin to Africa, with Transval daisies, orange proteas and red chillies. Representing a badger’s wood using a crescent-shaped piece of driftwood and an urn filled with moss, her next design featured white lillies, and hydranges and teasels from the wood. A horizontal spring garden design with a mixture of foliage, pussy willow, blue iris and yellow roses and yellow orchid followed. A modern arrangement was next on the agenda, using a plastic tube filled with coloured oasis cubes, with skimia green carnations, pink stocks, deep red roses and green anthuriums bringing the design to life. Julia’s love of driftwood was apparent with her final design – three placements with mixed green foliage and red roses. The wood itself was like piece of sculpture. The next meeting is on April 6 in the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm when the demonstrator will be Dawn Weaver, from Chester. Her title – “Dance into Springtime”. Visitors welcome.

Trimontium

The Blue Guide qualification allows people to lead tours and visits, and is highly regarded among those in the tourist industry. The Trimontium season had a tremendous start last week when two groups (20 in each) of these guides were led by trustee Ian Brown on Tuesday and Thursday in a carefully-choreographed arrangement by train and bus to take in the museum, lunch in Melrose, walk round the site, have tea in Newstead Village Hall and set off back to the capital, having had a real taste of what can be offered here.

Parish church

Holy Week began with Palm Sunday, continuing with three mornings of prayers and reflective organ music, the Maundy Thursday commun

Turn to page 38

From page 37

ion and the stark Good Friday service, interspersed with moving music from the Abbey Consort under Jim Letham, with a string ensemble and Jim Marshall again on the organ. Then, after Low Saturday, it was on to the joys of Easter Day itself.

Tennis club

Melrose Waverley Tennis Club’s opening season event will be held on April 2 (noon-1.30pm) at the Gibson Park courts. Its aim is to encourage new members, highlighting opportunities for all ages to play at any level, from beginner to turning out for the club in Tennis Borders’ league games. The club offers coaching at junior and senior levels, club nights and other slots for social tennis. Anyone interested should ring club secretary Pat Nicholson on 01835 823924. Following this on the same day, the courts will host a Tennis on the Road session when Judy Murray and her team run a parent-and-child session (2-3.30pm). Places can be booked by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 8233 6410.

morebattle

Guild

Morebattle and Hownam Guild held its annual coffee morning which was opened by the Reverend Robin McHaffie. Competition winners – whisky, Joanne Gray; basket of fruit, Marcus and Nathan Cook; simnel cake, Olive Anderson; plant, Grace Cessford. The event raised £714.

Show

Morebattle Village Hall presented Jango Starr’s “One Man Shoe” last Saturday when a delighted audience watched a new show for children and families with puppetry, magic and juggling – all in mime.

AGM

Morebattle and Hownam Guild AGM will be held in the institute on April 7 at 7.30pm.

Coffee morning

Morebattle Village Hall coffee morning will be held on Saturday, April 9, in the hall at 10.30am.

Newtown

Seniors

The next meeting of the Seniors’ Afternoon Club will be on April 5 in the Community Wing from 2pm.

Traquair

Concert

The next event in Traquair Kirk will be the Scottish Vocal Ensemble in Concert on April 10 at 3pm. Entry free – retiring collection for church funds.

Walkerburn

Service

The next service in to be held in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on Sunday, April 17, at 10am.

Yarrowford

SWI

Members enjoyed a talk and quiz from Trevor Black, of Kelso. Mr Black also valued items they had brought along and gave the history of these. Margaret Methven won the quiz. The competition for a written health remedy was won by Shirley Macdonald, with Margaret Robinson second. The competition for the prettiest butterdish was won by Shirley Macdonald, with Margaret Glendinning runner-up. The raffle was won by Sandra Ballantyne. The next meeting will be held on Friday, April 15, and this will feature remedial exercise. Competitions – a slice of coffee and walnut sponge, and a Scottish ornament.

yetholm

Festival committee

The next meeting of the festival committee is on Monday, April 4, at 7.30pm in the Youth Hall.

History society

The history society meets on Tuesday, April 5, at 7.30pm in the Mission Hall. Sharon Mckee will give a talk entitled “Beyond the Beep” – metal detecting in archaeology.

Bingo

There will be a bingo night in aid of festival week on April 7 at 7pm in the Wauchope Hall. 
Film night

There will be a charity film night on April 9 at 7pm in the Wauchope Hall when The Railway Man will be shown. Entry (£7.50) to include refreshments. All proceeds will go the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.

AGM

Wauchope Hall AGM will take place on Tuesday, April 5, at 7pm.