'˜Library Launch' a new chapter for Burnfoot pupils

DISTRICT NEWS

BOWDEN

Coffee morning

Bowden and Melrose Church’s annual coffee morning in aid of special projects, including the Al Shurooq School for the blind in Bethlehem, will be held in the village hall on Saturday, March 4.

Camera group

The next meeting is on Monday, March 6, at 7.30pm when the AGM, followed by a consideration of image editing software, takes place. Members are also asked to bring three images of unusual weather.

CADDONFOOT

Theatre

Caddonfoot Hall – on Wednesday, March 8, at 7.30pm – hosts Owdyado Theatre, supported by Live Borders, in ‘A View from the Edge’. Tickets (£8) are available by phoning 07527 800301, or booking online at [email protected]

Parish church

Fair Trade goods were on sale at the church on Sunday at the start of Fair Trade Fortnight. The service was conducted by minister Elspeth Harley, while Anne Grieve delivered the Bible reading and music was played by Margaret Blyth and Fiona McDougal. Bible study continues this week in Clovenfords at the home of Sharon Hume. There will be an afternoon communion in Trinity Church on Sunday at 3pm. Member Gordon Hume is still collecting items such as kitchen utensils for Fresh Start, which helps people furnish their homes. Caddonfoot Youth (CY) has adopted Water Aid as its annual project and will hold a baking sale on April 9. To help support World Water Day, members were invited to wear something blue last March 26 and donate some change to the jar. Members are invited to attend the World Day of Prayer service on Friday, March 3, at 2pm in the church of Our Lady and St Andrew in Galashiels.

EARLSTON

Wednesday club

Curtis Welsh last week took members, through the medium of his camera, on a journey to Paris then India, the Outer Hebrides and Arran, finishing with photographs of a few of past fancy dress parades. ‘Bonny Babes’ photograph competition results – 1, Mrs M. Kirk; 2, Mrs G. Forsyth; 3, Mrs J. Watson. The next meeting is on March 8 and the competition is ‘An Old Family Photograph’.

Thursday lunch club

A game of card bingo began proceedings, followed by a meal and entertainment by Ian Alexander who played and sang a wide variety of music from classical to well-known Scottish songs, with his audience joining in at times. The club AGM was held last Thursday, followed by lunch and a Scottish karaoke.

Parish church

On Friday, March 3, a World Day of Prayer service is being held in the church at 7pm. On Sunday, March 5, the service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Rennick, while the following day, at 2.15pm in the church, there will be a guild parish council meeting and service. The congregational board meets on Monday, March 6, in the church hall lounge at 7.30pm.

Women’s Group

Tonight (Thursday) in the church hall at 8pm, Jim Cullen, from Cullen Kilshaw, will give advice about making a will.

EDNAM

Advice surgery

Councillors Tom Weatherston and Simon Mountford will hold an advice surgery in Ednam village hall on Saturday, March 11, from 11am-noon. No appointment is needed.

ETTRICKBRIDGE

Hall fund-raiser

The next fund-raiser on behalf of village hall funds is the monthly coffee morning and sale on Saturday, March 4 (10am-noon). Anyone with anything for sale should turn up, take a table and give a small donation to the hall.

Theatre tickets

There are still some tickets left for the visit of Cornwall Theatre Company on Friday, March 10, with its production of ‘View from the Edge’. These may be had from Linda on 01750 52257.

GALASHIELS

Studio club

On Thursday, March 9, Galashiels Studio Club is hosting an art DVD evening which is open to members and visitors in Old Gala House from 7.30pm. More information from 01896 757222.

Probus

The influence of the past and tradition on Chinese people throughout the ages was the theme of Oliver and Yvonne Eade’s talk to the latest meeting. The population of China is 1.4 billion, four times that of the United States, although this has been controlled by the one-child policy enforced for many years. Many older people live in rural areas and look after grandchildren while the parents work in cities. The past permeates every aspect of life – even modern writing characters show a link to those of 5,000 years ago. Yvonne spoke of her Chinese family. Her father came to Britain to work in the Chinese Embassy but, after the rise of communism, became the official representative of Taiwan, the Republic of China, in the UK. As well as his family in UK, he had earlier children in China and supported them with goods and financial sponsorship for his grandchildren to be educated. On her first visit to China, Yvonne paid her respects at her mother’s grave. On these trips, she has met her stepsisters and visited their homes. Oliver and Yvonne showed many pictures of Chinese people, street scenes and tourist attractions which they accompanied with informative and humorous comments. The next meeting, at the Waverley Castle Hotel, is on Thursdsay, March 9 (10 for 10.30am), when John Reid will speak on Burnswark Hill.

Camera club

The club was well represented last Wednesday at the Borders Photographic Exhibition held by Selkirk Camera Club and came away with a good share of the honours. Results for Gala members – DPI (digital projected image) – landscape – 1, Gordon Swalwell; 2 and 3, Alistair Peacock; highly commended – Ford Renton; flora and fauna – 2, Gordon Swalwell; highly commended – Christine Swalwell, Ford Renton; general – 1, Christine Swalwell; 2, Gordon Swalwell; highly commended – Ford Renton. Colour prints – landscape – 2, Alistair Peacock; people – 1, Alistair Peacock; 2, Christine Swalwell; flora and fauna – 3, Christine Swalwell; highly commended – Alistair Peacock, Christine Swalwell; general – highly commended – Christine Swalwell. Monochrome print – general – 1 and 2, Gordon Swalwell and overall best B&W landscape; highly commended – Ford Renton. The overall winner for the exhibition was Ronald Richardson of Duns Camera Club.

Trinity Church

Sunday marked the start of Fair Trade Fortnight and the minister, Elspeth Harley, spoke about fair trade in her ‘talk for everyone’. She conducted the service, with Dorothy Howden leading the music and Lorna Jones reading the Bible passages. Bill Cheyne, session clerk, appealed for volunteers to help with cleaning duties as the caretaker is still unable to return to work. He also asked for donations for Fresh Start, an organisation which collects used household goods to help people, who may have been homeless, to get started in a new home. The World Day of Prayer service is tomorrow (Friday) at 2pm in the Church of our Lady and St Andrew’s. On Sunday, March 5, the usual service will be held at 11.15am and there will be a short communion service in Trinity at 3pm.

St Peter’s Church

Thursday, March 2 – 10am, communion service; Sunday, March 5 – 10.30am, family service; Tuesday, March 7 – 7.30pm, vestry meeting; Thursday, March 9 – 10am, communion service.

Mill Lade Committee

The committee will meet at 6pm on Thursday, March 2, at Tesco. Agenda items include an update on Gala Hydro, and a discussion on the constitution of the committee and its relationship with other local organisations. All welcome. For more information, contact Alastair Lings on 07763 850087 and at [email protected]

GLENDOUGLAS

Lunch club

The lunch club meets on Wednesday, March 8, from 11.30am-1.30pm.

Dance class

The old time and ceildh dance class meets on Thursday, March 9, at 8pm, with a Reel Half Hour at 7.30pm.

Whist

A whist drive will be held on Monday, March 13, at 7.30pm.

HAWICK

Bridge club

Results from Tuesday, February 21 – Margaret Burgon Quaich (teams of four) – 1, Valerie Johnstone and Maureen Weightman, Helen and Malcolm Ouldcott; 2, Mary Millar and Patsy Gilligan , Sam White and Richard von Slicher.

AGM

The AGM of Macmillan Cancer Support’s Hawick committee will be held on Wednesday, March 15, at 7pm in Drumlanrig School.

Rotary

At last week’s meeting, Alan McCreadie gave an illustrated talk about the Rugby Memories Club which meets at Mansfield Park clubrooms for people who suffer from memory problems and is supported by Alzheimer Scotland. Old newsreels and photographs are shown, and a guest speaker is also involved, as well as a quiz to invigorate the brain cells. Alan showed a video of Langholm Sports in 1982 which Hawick won, defeating Melrose 24-10 in the final. Gus Neilson gave the vote of thanks. Last week’s quiz realised £402.14 which will finance a place on the RYLA adventure camp this summer, and the winning team was entered by Gus Neilson.

INNERLEITHEN

Guys and Dolls

Members of Innerleithen and District Opera are beginning to put the final polish on their production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ as rehearsals enter the final three weeks. The show features well-known numbers such as ‘Luck Be a Lady’, ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’ and ‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’. It runs in the Memorial Hall from Monday, March 27, to Saturday, April 1, nightly at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee (April 1) at 2.15pm. Tickets are available now at Graham McGrath’s, Eastgate, Peebles, and from the Thrift Shop, High Street, Innerleithen, from Monday, March 13. They can also be booked online – www.idaos.org.uk – or via phone – 0845 224 1908.

Service

There will be a Souper Sunday Service on March 5 at 10.30am in Innerleithen Church to support the Church of Scotland HIV Aids Project.

JEDBURGH

St John’s Church

Yesterday (Ash Wednesday), eucharist services were held, with the Imposition of Ashes, as the beginning of Lent. Today (Thursday), it’s holy communion at 10am, followed by the Lent course at 11am in the centre. Tomorrow (Friday) is World Day Of Prayer when Jedburgh Churches Together hold a service in the Old Parish Church at 2pm. Ladies from the Phillipines have provided the material for this ecumenical service worldwide. Refreshment will follow the service. Sunday, March 5 – 9am, holy communion; 10.30am, sung eucharist, celebrant and preacher is the Reverend John Evans. The following Sunday (March 12), the church is hosting the Mission Aviation Fellowship after morning service and a bring-and-share lunch at noon to hear about its work. Vestry has decided that the bringing together of the 9am and 10.30am services will take place when there is a fifth Sunday in the month – the first being April 30 when the usual refreshment will be shared in the centre. The St John’s coffee morning will be held on Saturday, June 10.

Bridge club

Results from Monday, February 20 – N/S – 1, J. Urqhuart and J. Kyle; 2 (equal), M. Weightman and H. Long, V. Johnstone and M. Miller; E/W – 1. R.Oates and S. West; 2, K. Sandford and A. Greenleaves; 3, M. and H. Ouldcott.

KELSO

Bridge club

Results from Wednesday, February 22 – Rose Bowl – N/S – 1, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 2, Mary and Nigel Lindsay; 3, Lesley Dick and Lynda Douglas; E/W – 1, Mary and Jim Stone; 2, Richard Oates and Sheena West; 3, Alison Darling and Stuart Graham. Results from Thursday, February 23 – Millennium Trophy – N/S – 1, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 2, John Urquhart and Janet Kyle; 3, Brian Saywood and Sheila Urquhart; E/W – 1, Avril Ronald and Donald Swanson; 2, Dorothy Graham and Lynda Douglas; 3, Gerry Eglington and Jon Bridger.

Thursday Group

Brian Coulson explained that for centuries there were many minor kings and chiefs of the region between the Forth and Tyne, as well as invasions by Romans and Vikings until the Treaty of York in 1237 effectively settled the present border. Today, Gerrie Fay will present ‘Send a Cow’ at 2pm in the Abbey Row Centre. Next week – ‘A Trip to Cuba’ with John Hennessey.

Quilters

Abbey Quilters meet on Tuesday, March 14, at 7pm in Abbey Row Centre when Sandra Kinnoch will demonstrate Red work. Members should remember their name badges and mugs. For further information, contact Rineke Sangster 01573 229414.

Funding invite

Applications for funding from Kelso-based Charity Begins At Home are being invited from clubs and organisations in the TD5 area. They must be sent to Penny Fleming, 51 Broomlea, Kelso TD5 7RB no later than Monday, April 3.

Broomlands SWI

Sarah, a member, showed February’s meeting how to decorate an Easter cake. The design was an Easter bonnet. The cake was raffled off and the winner was Helen Cavers. Sarah’s demonstration was changed to this meeting as the original speaker had to cancel. Gail will be at the March meeting instead. Competitions – knitted square – 1, Nancy Jerdan; 2, Jeanette Farquhar; 3, Elizabeth Bruce (the squares will be joined into a blanket and donated to a charity); flower vase – 1, Elizabeth Bruce; 2, Valerie Douglas.

LAUDER

SWI

At the February meeting, president Sheila Hardie welcomed members, friends and visitors before introducing Graham and Julia Stoddart, of Cuddybridge Apple Juice from Innerleithen. Graham spoke on its production, after which the ladies sampled two varieties of apple and one of pear juice. Cuddybridge Apple Juice has won three individual Scottish Food and Drinks Awards of Excellence. Helen Lumsden, hostess for the evening, gave the vote of thanks. Sheila commented on two members who recently passed away – Joanne Hogarth and Kath Thomson, an honorary member, past president and committee member. Liz Dalgliesh, secretary, read out and discussed the business matters. Competitions (judged by Julia Stoddart) – wine glass – 1, Helen Lumsden; 2, Sheila Hardie; 3, Liz Dalgliesh; individual apple crumble – 1, Christine Riddell; 2, Sheila Hardie; 3, Liz Dalgliesh. Annette Holton and Christine Riddell organised the raffle. Next meeting, in Lauder Primary School, is on Tuesday, March 14, at the earlier time of 7pm. It’s an open night with Liberty Star Trading. Competitions – pretty scarf and a gingerbread man. Guests’ competition – evening bag.

AGM

Lauder Flower Show AGM will be held on Tuesday, March 14, at 8pm in Lauder Town Hall. The show committee is urgently looking for help to keep the event running.

Trees

Lauder in Bloom (LiB) has organised tree-planting sessions for Saturdays, March 11 and 25, from 1-3pm at Burnmill. The group has been awarded more than 100 native trees from the Woodland Trust to help increase biodiversity. LiB is seeking volunteers to help – they should bring gloves, wellies and spades, if they have them. Accompanied children welcome.

Church

Worship will be celebrated by the Reverend Rae Clark at Oxton Memorial Hall at 10am and at Lauder Church at 11.30am on Sunday, March 5. A World Day of Prayer service will be held on Friday, March 3, in Earlston Church at 7pm. This is a joint service with Earlston, Channelkirk and Lauder churches.

MAKERSTOUN

SWI

The group met for its annual meal with friends and family, enjoying a Burns-themed supper provided by members. Geordie Duncan gave the address to the haggis and Roxburgh federation president Caroline Tullie read the Selkirk Grace. After the meal, the company was entertained by the One Acchord Ladies A Cappella Chorus and Margaret Blacklock provided an interesting insight into the bard’s life. On Wednesday, March 29, there will be a whist drive, with supper provided by members, at Makerstoun village hall, starting at 7pm.

MAXTON

Maxton Meets

The next Maxton Meets talk is on Monday, March 13, when Malcolm Lindsay will speak on ‘The Moths and Butterflies of the Scottish Borders’ in the village hall, starting at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.

MELROSE

Fairtrade Group

As part of its activity during Fairtrade Fortnight, Melrose and District Fairtrade Group is sponsoring a keynote presentation as part of the Greener Borders series of winter talks. As guest speaker, Nigel Miller, a past president of the Scottish National Farmers’ Union and Borders farmer, will highlight the current and future position of the British and Scottish farming industry. He will talk about change in relation to consumer loyalty, the growing use of technology in farming, future trade deals and the potential impact of Brexit. The talk is on Thursday, March 9, at 7.30pm in the Ormiston Rooms. Admission is via a small donation. This week sees secretary Dave Potts representing the group at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fairtrade at Westminster and at the Cross Party Group on Fairtrade at the Scottish Parliament. Fairtrade Fortnight continues until Sunday, March 12.

Trimontium
Trimontium representatives headed south last weekend to support chairman John Reid’s Burnswark/sling bullets bid for the Research Project of the Year Award at the Current Archaeology Conference in London University Senate House, beside the British Museum. It featured speakers on up-to-the-minute reports of the latest thinking on everything from Roman business correspondence to the devastating population drop for centuries after the Black Death. And the award? That went, not unexpectedly, to the latest work on Durrington Walls at Stonehenge. Getting to London was an adventure in itself, involving an unexpected overnight in Berwick to avoid the coming snow, the morning train being cancelled because of flooding, a bus journey to Newcastle where a train from Edinburgh was boarded to bursting, followed by a speed-restricted journey to the English capital and arrival in the evening. Latest news on the Lindsey Davis May 18 talk is that it alone will constitute her Great North Tour and the Scottish launch of ‘The Third Nero’. Tickets (£5) are available online, from the Trimontium Museum (send sae), and Melrose literary and historical, and archaeological societies.

MOREBATTLE

Playgroup fund-raiser

Morebattle and Yetholm Playgroup’s coffee morning was held in the institute last Saturday when Morag Thomson, playgroup leader, thanked everyone for helping to raise £390. Competition winners – treasure hunt, Jeannie McNulty; box of groceries, Annie Smith; knitted Peter Rabbit, Peggy Hall; guess the length of string round a bottle, Ian Dougal.

SWI

The March meeting will be held in the institute on Wednesday, March 8, at 7.15pm when Linda Lovett, of the Lovett Gallery, will talk about jewellery. Competitions – home-made lemonade and a small glass ornament.

Coffee morning

Morebattle in Bloom’s coffee morning will be held on Saturday, March 11, at 10.30am in the institute.

OXNAM

Library cafe

The library cafe resumes on Wednesday, March 8, in the hall from 11am-noon.

SELKIRK

Fairtrade

A ‘Big Brew’ will take place in the parish church hall on Saturday, March 4, from 10am- noon, when Selkirk Fairtrade group invites the public for coffee, scones and cakes, and the Sunday Gang will be operating a chocolate fountain – with Fairtrade chocolate, of course. There is also the opportunity to buy baking made with Fairtrade ingredients and help raise funds for Traidcraft, which supports farmers and craft workers in the world’s poorest countries. Selkirk Fairtrade group’s annual pop-up shop at 1 Tower Street will be open on Thursday and Friday, March 16 an 17, from 9.30am-5pm.

ST BOSWELLS

AmDrams

As the February topic was Russia, its history from its traditional start in 862AD was summarised. It had involved Slavic, Swedish, Viking and Mongol influences, with Ghengis Khan and his progeny controlling it for 250 years from 1240. The two Russian royal families, Ruriks and Romanovs, lasted for 750 years to 1612 and 304 years to 1917 respectively. Peter I, Karl Marx, Lenin and Engels were mentioned, plus the Russian trappers who settled in America as far south as present-day San Francisco before they retreated to continue work in Alaska, which Russia sold to the USA in 1867 for $7.2m. The gathering also heard about caviar, gulags, Russian dolls, the 11 time zones, how there are some 10million more women than men, and how the Volga is the longest river in Europe. Love in Russian fiction allegedly started with Vladislav Ozerov, whose second work, ‘Fingal’, in 1805 had been influenced by songs of Robert Burns, and members remembered Boris Pasternak’s ‘Dr Zhivago’ which had been filmed in 1965 by David Lean. One member read his own short story and excerpts from works by Olga Bergholz, Mikhail Bulgakov and the better-known Chekhov, Pushkin and Tolstoy were read by others. The next meeting is on Thursday, March 16, in the village hall’s Upper Room from 7.30-9.30pm when the theme will be Spirits.

STICHILL

Quiz

A quiz will be held in the village hall on Friday, March 10, at 7.30pm, with a supper provided. Tickets £2.50, tables of four £10 – contact Dave Waring ( 01573 470336).

TRAQUAIR

Service

The next service in Traquair Kirk will be on Sunday, March 12, at 10am.

WALKERBURN

Service

The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on Sunday, March 19, at 10am.

YETHOLM

World Day of Prayer

Yetholm Church stages a World Day of Prayer service at 7pm on Friday, March 3.

Concert

Tickets (£8) are on sale from the village shop or Susan Stewart for Swing into Spring with June James and her Swing Band on Saturday, March 4, at 7.30pm in the Wauchope Hall.

History society

The history society meets on Tuesday, March 7, at 7.30pm in the Mission Hall when Christine Henderson and Julien Baird will talk on The Kelso Archives Project.

Festival meeting

A festival meeting will be held on Monday, March 6, starting at 7.30pm in the Youth Hall.

Coffee time

Coffee in the Church is on Wednesday, March 8, from 10.30am-noon.

Quiz

Proceeds from a quiz night on Wednesday, March 8, at 8pm in the Plough Hotel will go to Floral Gateway.

Helper wanted

A volunteer from the village is wanted to take on the role of winter-watch helper at the school. It involves clearing a path into school ahead of the school day during snowy weather. It requires a short application, a PVG check and the volunteer is entitled to claim payment from Scottish Borders Council.