A DETAILED business case is to be developed which, if implemented, will see millions spent in the coming years to revolutionise street lighting across the Borders, writes Mark Entwistle.

Scottish Borders Council’s environment and infrastructure committee believes the plan could deliver more cost-efficient street lighting in the region.

Earlier this month, the committee received a presentation outlining the current costs and arrangements for ,street lighting and how savings might be achieved through the use of new fluorescent and LED lights.

Currently the local authority’s street lighting section manages 19,000 street lights, 1,157 illuminated road signs and 30 traffic light arrangements.

Committee members heard that around half of the cost of running traditional, low and high pressure sodium lamps is in the electricity needed to power these units.

The lights using new technology save money because they use much less power and have a longer life, so need to be changed less often.

Traditional street lights have a typical lamp life of four years, while the newly-developed lamps are much more efficient and long-lasting with a lamp-life of 80,000 burning hours, or 20 years.

The committee also noted that using less electricity for street lighting also considerably reduces future carbon taxation on the council, adding to future savings made via the new fluorescent and LED lamps.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, executive member for roads and infrastructure, welcomed the development of a detailed business case.

He said: “It is important that the council investigates alternative ways of providing its services and this ‘spend to save’ project shows benefits through reduced energy, routine maintenance costs, and future carbon taxation which, when set against the cost of investment, demonstrates that the investment should be paid back within eight years.”

The outline business case on the proposed improvements to the council’s street lighting asset formed part of the local authority’s Capital Financial Plan, which was approved on February 7.

The Environment and Infrastructure Committee then agreed on February 14 that the outline business case be further developed and risk assessed to produce a detailed business case for further consideration.

A SELKIRK joiner raised more than£1,400 at a race night in the town on Saturday.

The event, followed by a disco, at O’Malley’s bar raised £1,409 towards the £2,000 Philip Hermiston has to raise to take part in the London Marathon for the children’s charity NSPCC.

Mr Hermiston said: “It’s absolutely amazing we raised that much at the race night and I want to say thanks to the sponsors and to everybody who turned up.”

The 32-year-old ran Glasgow half-marathon four years ago and is in training for his first 26-miler in the capital in April.

The dad-of-two said: “I am running on behalf of the NSPCC as I feel it is a very worthwhile charity and hopefully will make a difference to some children who need help and support.”

He works for PJ and PA Hermiston in the town and he and wife Hayley have three-year-old Arran and Phoebe, who is just over six weeks old.

The Blood Transfusion Service will be holding a donor session in the Victoria Halls, Selkirk on Sunday, March 17 from 10.15am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm.

New donors are always needed, according to the organisers.

HEALTH professionals are running classes for stressed Borderers.

Following last year’s successful pilot, NHS Borders Psychological Services’ Helen Lynch and Rebecca Pryde are holding 
the one-hour sessions in libraries across the region.

An NHS spokesperson said: “People can come along to one or all of the classes to learn about the common effects of stress, and get some practical advice. These are classes, not group therapy. People will not be asked to talk about themselves or their problems. If people feel that they need one-to-one support then they will be encouraged to contact their GP for more appropriate support to be arranged. Support group contacts, self-help leaflets and DVDs will also be available at the classes.”

The following libraries will be hosting the stress management classes: Peebles – today (February 28), March 7, 14 and 21, 5.30pm- 6.45pm; Hawick – Tuesdays March 5, 12, 19 and 26, 5.30pm-6.45pm; and Duns Library and Contact Centre – Tuesdays April 2, 9, 16 and 23, 3.30pm – 5pm.

The classes will cover understanding stress, improving sleep and relaxation, managing thoughts that bother you and feeling better about yourself.

Ms Pryde, clinical associate in applied psychology and one of the organisers of the programme, said: “Stress is a commonly experienced problem. Feeling under pressure managing life’s everyday challenges can lead to problems such as: disturbed sleep; an inability to relax; feeling tense, anxious or irritable; persistent worrying; or loss of self-confidence.

“Through our stress management classes we hope to educate people about the common signs and effects of stress, equip them with some practical skills and techniques to relieve the symptoms, and give advice to help manage stress more effectively in the future.

“Our evening classes are open to everyone. You may want to come along for your own benefit, or to gain knowledge and skills to help you support a family member or friend overcome stress. In either case, you are sure to gain some value by coming along.”

Ring libraries to book places but those attending Duns sessions can turn up on the day.

TICKETS are on sale for a performance of A Tale of Two Cities in aid of Borders Children’s Charity.

Pupils from St Mary’s school in Melrose will take centre stage on March 20 (7pm) as they present the classic Charles Dickens tale.

Bronwyn Coggan, the charity’s chairperson, said: “We were so delighted when we heard that the St Mary’s senior school drama group has chosen us this year. It’s a great example of children supporting children.”

The show is in the school’s Morrison Hall and tickets can be bought at the school office or by emailing office@stmarysmelrose.org.uk.

Galashiels Health Centre has been evacuated with a patient inside with a container believed to be filled with petrol, writes Bob Burgess.

Police have sealed off the Currie Road complex in the town centre and fire and ambulance crews are standing by.

Emergency services were alerted at 2.30pm and staff and patients were moved out of the building.

Early reports said the man was armed with a petrol bomb but Lothian and Borders Police say a bomb is not involved.

But they say the man is in possession of a liquid – but would not confirm if it is petrol.

Calum Campbell the chief executive of NHS Borders which operates the centre is at the incident.

He told our reporter at the scene Kenny Paterson that the person inside had threatened to harm himself. He added no staff from the centre were in danger.

Shortly after 4pm a trained negotiator arrived to begin talks with the man who remains inside the building.

Galashiels Health Centre is home to four GP practices and is adjacent to the town’s Tesco and Asda supermarkets.

A PATIENT who doused himself in petrol while holding a lighter and who forced a three hour stand-off at a health centre in the Scottish Borders has surrendered to police, writes Bob Burgess.

Around 30 staff and an unknown number of patients were evacuated from the Galashiels complex at 2.30pm.

Shortly before 5.30pm the man was brought from the centre by police and taken to a waiting ambulance.

A few minutes earlier a policeman came out of the town centre building holding a screen wash bottle in which it is believed the petrol had been contained.

One of those evacuated told our reporter at the scene Kenny Paterson that the man had been in a doctor’s surgery when he poured petrol over himself.

He said the patient was holding a lighter in his other hand and told how staff managed to evacuate everyone from the complex, leaving the man inside.

Police sealed off the area and closed the adjacent Asda petrol station while staff were taken to Tesco supermarket.

A trained negotiator was alerted and arrived shortly after 4pm and began talking to the man.

Calum Campbell the chief executive of NHS Borders which operates the centre was at the incident.

During the stand-off he confirmed that the patient inside had threatened to self-harm.

Fire crews ran out hoses to the building and ambulance crews stood by.

Galashiels Health Centre is home to four GP practices and also provides other health care services.

LAST year, at exactly the same time, conditions in Callendar Park were as muddy as they could possibly be for the last and toughest event in the national cross-country calendar.

This time, the underfoot terrain was firm and, although cold, there was no wind to speak of, so it was a perfect day for the largest field of runners for more than 15 years, which included 26 Gala Harriers.

The junior races kicked off Saturday’s action and despite some grand individual performances from Gala juniors, only one age group was able to muster a complete team so the medals of previous years were sadly not going to happen for 2013. In the under-13 boys’ race over 3,200m, Andrew Hogg (13 minutes 51 seconds) and Jamie Logan (14.04), competing at national level for the first time, nevertheless ran very strongly to finish 23rd and 31st out of 130 runners.

Cara Hogg ran well in her first under-13 girls’ race in this competition to finish in 16.19 over the same distance, well inside the top half of the field of 127 runners.

A complete team of under-15 boys did very well to capture sixth team place over the 4km course, with Thomas Otton securing an excellent sixth place in 14.09, ably supported by Jason McIntosh (15.04) Joe Agnew (15.41), in his first ever national competition, and Nathan Cox in 15.48.

With 2.4km being added to the course, the under-17 Gala men, Rowan Marr (26.55) and first-timer James Mercer, ran solid races, as did the under-17 women Kerry Sandilands (19.54) and Karen Maxwell (21.34).

Coaches Neil Renton and Graham Capper paid credit to all the juniors who had represented the club and Team Borders so ably over the cross-country season with so many good results in a variety of arenas, including the Borders Winter XC series and the District Championship and Leagues.

The senior women’s race covers 8km of the attractive parkland and seven Gala women took on the distance amongst the large field of 214 runners.

Last year, two regular team members, Dianne Lauder and Gillian Duncan were absent due to injury and the team were only able to finish in 18th place overall.

This year, with both Dianne (31.02) and Gillian (35.31) in good shape, as well as in-form Fiona Dalgleish (33.46), Anya Campbell (36.20) Fiona Shepherd (38.06) Eileen Nicol (39.03) and Anne Weir (39.05), the team climbed to an impressive eighth place, beating some large well-known clubs such as Shettleston and Bellahouston into the lower places.

A huge field of more than 500 senior men included eight Harriers who took on the 12km as the last race of the day. Fergus Johnson led the team home in 45.19, followed by Colin Welsh (46.48) and some greatly enhanced times from Colin McCall (46.50), Graham Manczak (47.32), Dave Nightingale (51.09), Paul Daly (51.23), Martin Clarke (51.24) and Billy McCulloch (54.19) bringing home a team place of 17th, again much improved from 2012.

There’s no accounting for how some folk choose to spend their Sundays, but Harrier Keith King opted for some downhill bike action, followed by a scamper around the often-treacherous terrain of Bowhill in the last of the series of Durty Duathons. Keith kept upright to complete the arduous adventure in 1 hour, 51 minutes and 23 seconds, coming home 51st from 124 starters.

And earlier this month at the Masters Indoors Championships, at the exciting new Emirates Stadium in Glasgow, Harrier Bob Marshall achieved an impressive silver medal in his age group over 3,000m, with Wayne McIntosh running well over the same distance in his age category, finishing only just out of the medals.

A VERY sociable evening was enjoyed by EFRA members and friends at the annual get-together, held at the Woll Golf Club on Friday evening.

It was good to see lots of new faces as well as some ‘weel-kent’ ones.

After an excellent meal, the winter league winners were presented with their awards by club chairman Fiona Busby.

Team training officer Anne Millar then announced Pamela Turnbull as this year’s recipient of the Catriona Arres Memorial Training Grant – awarded annually to a member who has, through training and competition, progressed their horse and themselves.

Delia Job was also presented with the Jean McAulay Memorial Trophy for her achievements on her horse, Player. The winner of the John Payne Memorial Shield for 2012 was Angela Barrowclough with Willow (presented at 2012 AGM).

After the raffle, a fun quiz took place, hosted by club secretary Janet McRitchie.

2012 Winter League winners – Dressage: Preliminary (Class 1), Sarah Thomson (Mickey Bow); Prelim (class 2), Tessa Harrison (Borthwickshiels Floyd); Novice, Alison Buchanan (Come ‘C’); Elementary, Delia Job (Player).

Show Jumping: Nursery (Whitfield Cup), Jane Douglas (Sioux); Novice (Millar Cup), Tessa Harrison (Borthwickshiels Floyd); Intermediate (Club Quaich) Nina Cessford (Cowdenknowes Tikka); Open (Tigger Tray) equal, Nina Cessford (Cowdenknowes Tikka) and Sarah Page (Paper Classic).

Next event on the EFRA Calendar is the Spring Showcross Competition at Haughhead, Ashkirk, on Sunday, March 17. See www.ettrickforest.co.uk for further info and schedule.

WITH the end of the indoor bowling season edging closer, Saturday past saw the last of the Scottish playdowns take place.

This time it was the fours category for both ladies and gents and in the case of the ladies, Tweedbank Bowling Club was represented by Sheena White, Rita Jefferson, Margaret Aitken and Sue Davis. For them, it was an early start, travelling to the East Fife stadium in Methil to face a four from East Lothian.

This was a close match, and with one end left to play, the Borders ladies were one shot behind. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure that all-important single and their opponents proceeded.

For the Tweedbank men there was a bye into the first round for Ben McGregor, Ross Nichol, Malcolm Thin and Kenny Johnstone. They travelled to the Abbeyview stadium in Dunfermline where, as suspected, they faced a four from West Lothian. This was expected to be a tough match for the men, who had already faced two of their four opponents in the triples playdown in January.

Neither team was playing to their full potential and although West Lothian appeared to be the stronger team, an early gap built up by them was reduced to a single.

With the match still finely balanced, the Tweedbank four were lying well until a firing shot forced the end to be replayed. At this point disaster struck as all four Borders players produced their worst bowls, allowing West Lothian to pick up a count of seven. Despite their best efforts they could not recover the situation in the remaining ends and West Lothian progressed to the next round.

This defeat completes a disappointing season in Scottish competitions ... with the one exception. On Saturday, David Miller Snr will travel to Glasgow to contest the semi-final of the seniors singles and, if successful, he returns on Sunday for the final.

At club level, lists are on the noticeboards for two-bowl pairs for ladies and gents also the under-25 singles. In addition, there is the Nan Wintrup pairs competition in respect of which more names from the ladies are required.

Early notice is also given of the annual general meeting which will take place on Sunday, March 31. In the meantime, the minutes of last year’s meeting will be displayed on each of the noticeboards from next week. z Tweedbank Indoor Bowling Club, in partnership with Borders Sport and Leisure and the Scottish Association for Blind Bowlers, will host an open day for the visually impaired on March 17.

The free session will run from 2-6pm and is the first step towards offering visually impaired Borderers the opportunity to regularly participate in para-bowls.

Alan Oliver, Borders Sport and Leisure’s disability development officer, said: “The Borders hosted the first para-bowling coaching workshop in Scotland last November and it is brilliant to see Tweedbank Bowling Club embrace the sport and set up this session to try and attract potential players.

“Bowling for the visually impaired is a really enjoyable, sociable activity and it is suitable for people of many different ages and fitness levels.

“The bowling coaches who attended the workshop have been inspired by it and Tweedbank Bowling Club is committed to being a community inclusive club, giving blind Borderers the chance to get involved.”

Anyone interested in attending should register by contacting Tweedbank Bowling Club on 01896 756396 or aoliver@bslt.corg.uk by email.

LAST week’s Agrii Border League saw Roxburgh propelled to almost unknown heights in the Section One table after beating Foulden 6-4, writes Alistair Lindsay.

Glendale notched up their second win of the season, overcoming Duns 10-6.

Coldstream further consolidated their Section Two lead, going 7-5 up against Lees, a hard game if the score is taken into account, likewise Selkirk, at 8-6 over Chirnside, could have gone either way.

In the Dickinson quarter-finals, Lammermuir and Foulden put up the tightest game at 8-7 to the hill squad, Duns shut Swinton out quite thoroughly on sheet two and, on sheet three, things were close up to the fourth end between Chirnside and Earlston II before the wheels and at least one axle detached from the Chirnside wagon, when the Rhymers hit some big ends.

Coldstream kept Greenlaw at arms length and Duns were shut out of their semi by Coldstream II, while Earlston and Lammermuir were nip and tuck to the fourth end before the Rhymers broke away enough to win 9-3.

In a very tough final, Coldstream just made it by a single shot in which game there was a blank end at an early stage just to show the close nature of things. Rhona Fleming very graciously accepted the instant conscription to present the trophy and prizes.

ATHLETES from in and around the Selkirk area have been pounding their home terrain for the last two and a half years in a valiant effort to raise funds for local charities.

And last weekend it was the turn of the British Heart Foundation to benefit from their exertions.

A total of 31 runners and walkers plus a couple of quad bikers set off from the Corby Linn car park, close to the Rugby Club, before taking to six miles of hills, including Peat Law and Foulshiels, for the inaugural, and aptly named, Heart Attack Hill Run.

The weather on the day was lovely, although the going did become rather muddy in places.

Local man Kevin Fairburn came home first in one hour and four minutes, while Vicky Forbes, also Selkirk, led the ladies in 1.06.

Other prizes were awarded for various efforts at the prize giving at Selkirk Cricket Club and £170 was raised for the British Heart Foundation.

Prize winners: male winner, Kevin Fairburn; female winner, Vicky Forbes; first couple, Martin and Fiona Murray; longest detour, Fiona Miller and Louisa Lightfoot (quad bikers); first male walker, John Black; first female walker, Hazel Jack; first couple (walking), Andrew and Maureen Duncan; oldest competitor, Alan Hulme; youngest competitors, Lily McKenzie, Emma Duncan.

Go to www.facebook.com/selkirkfundrunners to find out more about the club’s activities.

NINE Teviotdale Harriers made the trip to Falkirk to take part in the Scottish Cross-country Championships, held for the eighth consecutive year in historic Callendar Park, writes Alan Inglis.

Conditions were near perfect with firm underfoot conditions and the sun even made an appearance.

The event was hosted by Falkirk Victoria Harriers, who once again did a fantastic job. This was the largest field entered since 1996 with 1,955 athletes listed to run which shows the enduring popularity of cross-country running and the continuing strength of club running in Scotland. The venue for the event was ideal for both competitors and spectators, with many good viewpoints.

First off for the Harriers were Jamie Waugh and David Mercer in the boys’ under-13 race over a 3,200m course. Waugh was first home for the club in 111th position in a time of 16 minutes and 40 seconds, closely followed in 119th position by Mercer in 17.41.

The under-13 girls were next off over the same course. First home for the club was Ishbel Inglis (71st in 16.49) while Emma Grieve finished 93rd place in 17.37.

Catherine Mercer was next to compete in the girls’ under-17 competition, run over a 4,800m course, and finished 48th in 23.04.

In the senior ladies’ event it was a very closely-fought battle over the 8km course, with Beth Potter of Victoria Park-Glasgow (28.14) picking up the gold from two more GB internationals, Rosie Smith, Hunters Bog Trotters (28.20) and Susan Partridge, Victoria Park-Glasgow (28.27). Sylvia Grieve was sole Teviotdale representative and finished in 213th place in a time of 48.26.

In the final event of the day it was the turn of the senior men and it was a fine victory for Tafese Wegene from Ronhill Cambuslang in a time of 38.41 on the 12km course. He won by 14 seconds in the end from Robbie Simpson (Deeside AC) with Joe Symonds (Hunters Bog Trotters) taking third place. First home for Harriers was Craig Grieve (181st in 47.44) followed by Alan Inglis (280th in 50.52) and then Alan Coltman (490th in 1.04.48).

GALASHIELS

John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Galashiels Seniors Winter League: Winner, G. Turnbull nett 37.

HAWICK ROYAL ALBERT FC were hit with a £1,000 fine by the Scottish FA last week following a complaint by Selkirk FC concerning the conduct of their players, writes Fiona Scott.

Representatives of both clubs travelled to Hampden last Thursday night to give evidence at a disciplinary hearing at which Selkirk coach Mike McKinnon told of instances of verbal and physical abuse towards him and his team during an East of Scotland First Division clash at Albert Park in November. And, after hearing both versions of events, the governing body handed the Hawick outfit an immediate fine of £500 and a £500 12-month suspended fine.

McKinnon told TheSouthern this week that he was disappointed that the matter had to be taken as far, but that he had felt like he had been left with no choice.

He said: “I never wanted to be having to give evidence at a hearing. We tried to sort it out there and then at the game, but when approached at half-time, the Hawick coach and committee did not want to know about it, so we felt forced to make it official.

“I take absolutely no pleasure in making a complaint against another team, but at the end of the day if I walked up to someone on the street and punched them I would be taken to court and be made to pay for my actions.

“It should be no different in football.”

McKinnon claims that his side were subject to verbal abuse by the opposition players and that one of them attempted to punch him in the face while another “took his studs down the back of my shin”.

The former Cowdenbeath player also denies a counter complaint that he had been gesticulating to the home supporters.

“The Hawick supporters were tremendous throughout the game,” he added.

“I totally deny taunting them in any way. They are only 11 and 12-year-olds for goodness sake!

“They were high-fiving us at the end and behaved admirably. It’s a pity some of the players couldn’t set a better example.

“I have been involved in the sport all over Scotland and have never been involved in anything like this before and I hope we can all draw a line under it now.”

Royal Albert refused to comment on the matter.

This weekend, Selkirk face Premier Division opposition when making a trip to Edinburgh to square up with Civil Service Strollers in the second round of the King Cup.

Albert are in First Division action, welcoming Gala Fairydean to Hawick.

The Teries will include a trialist in their squad and Greg Young returns from his ban.

Raymond Fleming remains suspended.

Fairydean have Gary Lothian back from suspension.

Peebles Rovers bid to get further points on board, taking on bottom-of-the-table Ormiston at home. Rovers are hoping to have signed Hawick Royal Albert forward Bobby Nwanze, who has been released.

In much need of a victory to haul themselves from their lowly spot in the Premier Division, Vale of Leithen entertain Lothian Thistle/Hutchison Vale at Victoria Park, while Kelso United are at full strength for their meeting with Whitehill Welfare in the King Cup first round at Woodside Park.

BY 4.30pm on Saturday, at least one Borders rugby club will have sealed a place in the RBS National Cup semi-finals and, with a bit of luck and some good play by George Graham’s men, there may even be two.

Being the only National League side, Selkirk perhaps have the toughest challenge ahead of them, but as far as coach Brian Cassidy is concerned, it will be business as usual down Philiphaugh way when Melrose come calling on Saturday.

“They are certainly favourites to win the game and quite rightly so,” he told TheSouthern.

“On our day, though, we will take anyone on and we feel if we can cut down our penalty count and keep with them going into the last quarter, then we may well be in with a shout.”

Melrose are certainly not taking anything for granted, but for player coach John Dalziel, the prospect of making it through to his fifth cup final in six seasons is incentive enough for both him and his team.

“We are certainly not underestimating the task,” he told us. “Selkirk are a good team and it’s a huge game for both sides.

“We have been playing with a relatively new team this season and now we are at a stage where we have to dig in and show what we can do. We still have a chance of securing a British and Irish Cup place and progressing in the RBS National Cup. Both mean a lot to the club and we will be doing everything we can to achieve both.”

Gala make the long journey north to face Aberdeen, and after missing out on a much sought-after league title to Ayr last weekend, the team will be going all out to retain the cup.

Influential captain Opeta Palepoi is ruled out with a knee injury, but the adopted Galalean will be on the sidelines lending his support. He told us: “I wouldn’t miss it. I feel really good about this game and I know the boys do too. We were very disappointed at getting so close to the league title and then losing it and individually everyone still hurts from that.

“As a team, however, it has made us all the more determined to come back fighting. We have been under-performing a bit and Saturday is our chance to rectify that and move on.”

The other two quarter-final ties are Currie v Dundee and Ayr v Stirling County. The semi-final draw will be made after Saturday’s fixtures are played out.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Jed-Forest continue their fight to stay in the National League, when they take on fellow stragglers Biggar at Hartreemill.

z Gala are to lose their star fly half Lee Millar at the end of the season.

Millar, who has scored 287 points for his club in all competitions this season, including 217 in the Premiership, has signed up with English Championship outfit London Scottish.

CRICKET SCOTLAND’S new eastern participation manager wants to turn around the governing body’s reputation in the Borders.

Ex-New Zealand under-19s cricketer Ian Sandbrook was appointed this month to the newly-created role, which covers not only the Borders, but also East and West Lothian, Edinburgh and even Fife.

He will take on some of the remit held by Neil Cameron, after funding for his development manager post was controversially ended last year by Cricket Scotland and Borders Sport and Leisure Trust.

But with a Borders-dedicated community coach, part-funded by both organisations, soon to be appointed for this year, Ian insists the area’s clubs have not been forgotten.

He told TheSouthern: “I know there is a perception here that Cricket Scotland sits in Edinburgh and does nothing.

“They are aware of that, so part of my remit is to get down here and break that image down to show we are making attempts to grow the game in the Borders.

“It is a new role and I have a large area to cover. But a big part of the job is to work in the Borders and other areas outside of the city. Edinburgh already has some really strong clubs and probably a lot of saturation in terms of cricket.

“The community coach will do a lot of the hands-on coaching, going into schools and working with clubs.

“I will be managing the coach’s role, as well as going into clubs and running courses.

“I hope to get down here regularly and be visible and accessible.”

Sandbrook’s on-field sporting CV is impressive.

From Palmerston North, a town near Wellington with a population of 85,000, the batsman featured for the Kiwis in the Under-19 World Cup in 2002, but never made the step-up to the senior team.

Among those to come through the system alongside Sandbrook was New Zealand internationalist Ross Taylor, while he attended school with former Celtic striker Chris Killen.

He went on to sign with YoungHeart Manawatu, a semi-professional side in New Zealand’s top league, but work commitments meant he had to end his career in 2008.

Off the field, he spent six years as cricket development manager with Manawatu Cricket Association, where he had a reputation for his hard work.

He moved to the UK in March last year with girlfriend Fran to play as a pro with Stony Stratford in Northamptonshire, before his Cricket Scotland appointment this year.

His immediate aim is to get more youngsters playing the game, and he says he is up for the challenge.

Sandbrook told us: “I know the money was pulled out for a development post down here and there has been a little bit of toing and froing going on.

“We really want to get the juniors set up right and get the clubs to support us. The onus is on us. We have to make sure the experience that kids have is enjoyable so they want to come back to cricket.

“From football and rugby to skateboarding – the choices are limitless to kids these days.

“It is a battlefield out there to get them, and I see it as a challenge.”

Stevie Halls, chairman of the Scottish Borders Junior Cricket Development Group, said: “Ian has a lot of experience and ideas and is a very positive guy.

“My fear was, with such an overarching position, we would not see much of him, but he is very keen to get involved in the Borders.”

A LOCAL retailer is appealing for help from the people of Selkirk and the surrounding area in helping them pay tribute to one of the town’s most celebrated rugby players.

Son of John Waters, founder of J. A. Waters Butchers, Jack Waters earned 16 caps for Scotland between 1933 and 1937 and toured twice with the British Lions in 1936 (Argentina) and 1938 (South Africa).

To coincide with the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer, Waters the Butchers is looking to put a display in the window of their premises across the road from their High Street shop in memory of Jack and the 75th anniversary of his second and final Lions tour, where he scored twice against Rhodesia and once against Natal.

Jack’s selection for the Lions was notable since there was no Four Nations committee in those days and sides were picked by the RFU in Twickenham. Though assistance was given by the SRU and the Welsh and Irish unions, it’s reasonable to assume that it was fairly challenging for a Scot to gain selection, and more difficult still for a butcher from a small club in the Borders. Jack, who played at No8, was the only Borderer aboard on the 1938 tour.

It was also the last time the Lions toured wearing a blue jersey. In 1930 the Lions played New Zealand. As it is custom for the home team to change their strips it was up to the All Blacks to change. After much resistance, they did and played in white for the first time.

A return to New Zealand in 1950 was accompanied by a desire to avoid the controversy of 1930 and so red replaced blue for the first time.

Readers are asked to hand in any memorabilia or artefacts they have of the tour or of Jack to Waters the Butchers, 65 High Street or phone 01750 20242.

CALEDONIA BEST, the Official Beer of Scottish Rugby, has once again teamed up with TheSouthern to offer fans the chance to win a pair of tickets to the sell-out Scotland v Wales clash at Murrayfield on Saturday March 9.

After recording back-to-back wins in the 6 Nations for the first time in over a decade, Scott Johnson’s men will be eager to extend that winning run to three matches and go into the final weekend of the Championships in contention for the title.

To enter, all you have to do is answer the following question and send your answer, along with your name and daytime contact number, to fiona.scott@jpress.co.uk by 11am on Thursday, March 7:

Who scored all of Scotland’s 12 points in the victory over Ireland?

Ts & C’s Apply and Editors decision is final. Over 18s only. Drinkaware.co.uk

visit www.caledoniabest.com

Terms and Conditions – Ticket Competition

Open only to UK residents aged 18 or over excluding any employees of C&C Group and their families or anyone professionally connected with this promotion.

No purchase necessary.

The prize is two tickets to Scotland v Wales on Saturday 9th March at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh - Kick Off 2.30pm

Third party terms and conditions will apply.

Prizes must be accepted as offered and are not transferable. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered.

The promoter reserves the right to substitute any prize with one of equal or greater value. The decision of the promoter is final and binding in all matters.

All conditions, warranties and representations expressed or implied by law or otherwise in relation to the prizes and/or the Promotion are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Promoter shall be under no liability whatsoever or howsoever in connection with any loss, damage or injury which is suffered as a direct or indirect result of any of the prizes and/or the Promotion except that the Promoter makes no attempt to exclude or limit its liability for death or personal injury arising as a result of the negligence of the Promoter.

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Lothian and Borders police were stunned this week by the news that 17 officers and four civilian staff based in the Borders are under investigation over emails said to be of a “racist and sexual nature” circulating on an internal police computer system.

And prior to TheSouthern going to press yesterday, Scottish Borders councillor Donald Moffat (Mid Berwickshire, SNP), the current vice-convener of Lothian & Borders Police Board, told us that the staff involved were being transferred away from the region as a result.

That Lothian and Borders Police have acted quickly to stamp out this kind of behaviour has to be commended, and shows that the force recognises how such attitudes can not only damage public confidence, but can also damage an employer in the eyes of their work force, the majority of whom would never think to carry on in this manner.

Susan Hart, chairwoman of Scottish Borders Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equality Forum, agreed with Mr Moffat’s view on the issue of confidence, saying: “We have never had any reason to lose confidence in the police here in the Borders and they have always been very pro-active in picking up on anything derogatory towards members of the LGBT community.”

It’s all too easy to see how misguided ‘jokes’ can soon turn into bullying and harrassment, and, in this day and age when people’s conduct – or misconduct – over the internet, including Twitter and Facebook, is often under scrutiny, it’s hard to understand how anyone, let alone officers in our police force, could think this appropriate behaviour.

It is hard enough to stamp out such attitudes and behaviours in society, but if the people we are relying on to ensure laws and standards are upheld are failing to adhere to some basic principles, then it makes it all the harder to get the message across that such attitudes are not acceptable. Period.