Quantcast
Channel: The Southern Reporter SBSR.syndication.feed
Viewing all 21846 articles
Browse latest View live

Player unease adds to Netherdale turmoil

$
0
0

THINGS aren’t getting any easier down Netherdale way, writes Fiona Scott.

Following the departure of their manager the previous week, the club have been interviewing for a replacement, but further disquiet among the players is causing concerns in the committee room.

During the second half of last week’s game, which Gala lost 4-2 to Kelso United, centre back Darren Bowie tore off his shirt and walked off the pitch, while interim manager Ger Rossi declared he would be rethinking his position (see report on page 28).

This week, the focus has been on finding a new manager, something which chairman Jos Ritchie admits cannot be hurried.

“It’s never easy for the players when there is no-one to steady the ship, but whoever takes over must be the right person to drive the club forward,” he told TheSouthern.

“We have had three interviews already this week and have another one to come, so we are pretty hopeful of being able to fill the position in the not-too-distant future.

“In the meantime I would ask everyone to be patient.”

When asked about the situation with Bowie, Ritchie replied: “He will not play for Gala Fairydean again.”

This weekend Gala Fairydean tackle Ormiston at Recreation Park.

As far as results are concerned, Selkirk also have been having a lean time of it and are still hovering at the bottom end of the First Division table.

Despite this, however, there is little sign of despondency in the Souters’ camp and Selkirk defender Jason Inglis told TheSouthern: “There are 14 games left and the squad is now back to full strength for the first time for a while. Morale is high and I am confident that we will turn things around in the next few weeks.”

Selkirk are away to Eyemouth United on Saturday.

Peebles Rovers, who have risen from bottom place to a respectable league position in a matter of weeks, tackle Leith Athletic at home.

Talking of his side’s chances in this one, Rovers boss Jason Girdwood said: “We will be massive outsiders, but we are in almost every game and it doesn’t bother us.

“I would like to think we could compete with Leith, though, and who knows what might happen?”

Hawick Royal Albert travel to face Easthouses Lily. Struggling Albert – who have yet to win an East of Scotland league match at home this season and have fielded more than 40 players during the term – are minus the suspended Ronald Fleming, while skipper Kyle McCulloch has quit the club.

Kelso United entertain Burntisland Shipyard at Woodside Park.

Supporters of Vale of Leithen could be forgiven for thinking their team were filming an episode of Casualty over the last couple of weeks, such is the extent of their injury list.

Last Saturday, they postponed their away match with Gretna 2008 due to nine players being missing due to a variety of reasons, mostly medical. This week, the Innerleithen outfit host Tynecastle at Victoria Park, determined to get a team out.

Four of the nine will be back, while Vale are looking to have a couple of players on loan. Bad weather may cause the match to be switched to Fernieside. Details will be on the Vale website after 9am on Saturday morning.


Hawick sailor prepares for new adventure on the ocean waves

$
0
0

HAVING single-handedly sailed the ‘wrong way’ round the world and smashed an Atlantic crossing record with Richard Branson, a Hawick man is preparing for his next adventure on the high seas.

However, when Sir Chay Blyth hits the water later this year it will be at a somewhat more leisurely pace.

Chay and his wife Felicity will cruise the world for around three years, including crossing the Atlantic as part of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, an event that Chay established.

“We leave here after the common riding in June and will sail from Turkey through the Greek islands, working our way down the Mediterranean to Portugal,” Chay told TheSouthern.

“Then we will go down to the Canaries to join the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and will go across the Atlantic with a couple of friends, arriving in St Lucia in the Caribbean for Christmas.

“Then we go through the Panama Canal and to the Gallapagos. Then ... we’ve got no idea – the world is our oyster!

“We will just spin around the Pacific for a while and eventually get back to Britain.”

He added: “It won’t be a continuous trip, we will fly back now and then. It will be fun, but the big thing we will miss will be the Borders, and Hawick in particular, although we will be back for the common riding weeks.”

Born and brought up in Hawick, Chay, 72, became an apprentice frame maker at Lyle and Scott. In 1958, he became a paratrooper and from there he got the opportunity to row across the Atlantic with Captain John Ridgeway, his first challenge on the water.

“That’s what kicked the whole thing off,” Chay said. “I became a bit of an adventurer, and from rowing it doesn’t take a lot of brains to work out that sailing is easier!

“So, I went off sailing, and became really quite successful at it.”

That is something of an understatement, for Chay went on to be the first person to sail round the world east to west, the so-called ‘impossible voyage’. He also skippered a crew of paratroopers on the first Whitbread race, becoming the fastest yacht to sail around the world in the process.

Following his experiences, Chay decided to try and make sailing more accessible to the general public.

“I had the idea to build a fleet of yachts and get people to pay to learn how to sail and race around the world.

“I sold the concept to British Steel and launched it at the 1989 London Boat Show. We sold out in three weeks.

“It was an amazing success and it introduced thousands to sailing who didn’t have any experience. We had everyone imaginable take part – lorry drivers, secretaries, ballerinas and dentists.

Looking ahead to the trip, Chay said: “It will be a real adventure. I’ve never done cruising before and though Felicity has crossed the Atlantic, she has never been cruising either.

“It will be great fun, it is like something you would see in a magazine, it is what people dream about.”

Chay is also looking forward to having more time to spend in port on the upcoming trip.

“Every time I raced I used to get into port and it would be a quick turnaround, so I never used to see anything other than the parties.”

Felicity added: “I have done a lot of travelling on land, so this is going to be a different way of doing it for me.

“Because Chay has sailed for so long in all sorts of wind and weather there’s no problem, I just do as I’m told, which is not normal when we’re on land!

“It does sound awfully romantic to just go wherever the wind takes us.”

Casting The Net catches Selkirk and Eyemouth’s imagination

$
0
0

Selkirk and Eyemouth are hosting a unique event, weaving together contemporary art, traditional craft, heritage and local industry.

Looking at links between the coast and inland, and the flow of ideas in both directions, Casting the Net hopes to bring spaces left empty after a decline in the towns’ fishing and textiles industries back to life between March 23 and April 6 in Selkirk, and March 30-31 in Eyemouth.The project, devised and curated by Borders Arts Trust (BAT), aims to cast a fresh light on the rich cultural heritage of land and sea.

Co-leader and Borders artist Helen Douglas explained: “There has been a huge swell of support for this project locally. It’s about valuing communities and their industries, and how one shapes the other. And, through contemporary art giving visibility to this, remembering, rediscovering and celebrating the lost and found.”

Casting the Net will launch in Selkirk on Saturday, March 23, with the opening of several exhibitions in disused shops and shop windows, featuring sculpture, photography, film and the premier of James Wyness’ soundpiece inspired by Eyemouth’s ice plant. Former fisherman Billy Aitchison, who now drives a fish van, will tell of his journeys from Eyemouth to inland, and the lore of the land and sea. Alice Francis’ contemporary performance piece Fish out of Water also sees her travel inland from Eyemouth to Selkirk, by foot and wearing a sculptural fish dress. She will make a collaborative film about her encounters, to be screened at her destination, Selkirk.

Visitors to Eyemouth can see the unveiling of a newly restored ‘Fifie’, a traditional wooden fishing boat, reconstructed by former Harbour Master Johnny Johnston and his team of young local apprentices and retirees from the boatbuilding trade. This will appear alongside a nautical mixed media work by Borders artists Sam Bain and Mary Morrison. Sculptor Natasha Smith is creating a collection of contemporary fossils, inspired by geological finds of sea creatures inland and the tools and debris of modern seaside life.

Filmmaker Catriona Taylor and poet Stuart Delves will collaborate on an installation of words projected on water, sited in a large tank representing thoughts and ideas about the demise of traditional fishing in Eyemouth.

Mark Timmins, working in textiles and photography, is gathering the colour, pattern and textures of fishing nets, boxes, letters and stripes found in Eyemouth and bringing these inland to Selkirk.

Selkirk has been shaped by mills, weaving, knitwear and textiles industry, so over Easter weekend, textiles and fishing will be woven together with story, memory and song at Eyemouth’s Fisherman’s Mission as a group of professional knitters from Eribé in Galashiels, meet up with skilled local knitters, netters and ‘natterers’, including retired fisherman Alex Thorburn, who will tell his yarns.

An exhibition of local ‘ganseys’, or traditional fishermen’s jumpers with their own unique designs, will go on show at Eyemouth Museum from March 30 through the summer.

Other works by invited artists include Jill Watson’s bronze relief of widows and children from the Eyemouth Disaster of 1881, when 129 fishermen drowned in the Great Storm, devastating the community. Freshly back after filming sharks in the Bahamas, underwater photographer Lawson Wood will also exhibit a series of his photographs and films in Selkirk.

Casting the Net closes with a Fish Supper at Selkirk’s County Hotel on Saturday, April 6, to celebrate Eyemouth’s fruits of the sea. To book, contact The County on 01750 721233. All other Casting The Net events are free.

Amateur players urged to sign up for “FA Cup” of darts

$
0
0

BORDER’S amateur darts players can enter the “FA Cup of Darts” next month when the UK Open sponsors Speedy host an official qualification event in Glasgow with the help of the reigning champion, Scotland’s own Robert Thornton.

Players hoping to realise a lifelong dream to play in one of the world’s most famous tournaments can now take their first steps by clicking on sports.speedyservices.com and registering for the Scottish qualifier which takes place at Hampden Park on Monday 15th April.

An Official Partner of the PDC, Speedy will be hosting four Regional Qualifiers in total where registered entrants will embark on a 15 dart challenge. On the night, the highest 16 scorers will go on to play in best-of-three leg games of 501 to decide which eight players will make it through to play at the Speedy Services UK Open in Bolton from June 6-9.

Attendees at Hampden Park will also have the chance to pick up tips and advice from the 2012 UK Open winner Robert Thornton, who defeated world number one Phil Taylor to win the tournament’s final last year.

Speedy, the UK’s leading equipment rental and support services company, has enjoyed a highly successful sponsorship of darts’ UK Open since 2011 and is hoping that this year’s competition will be an even bigger success.

Speedy’s Head of Brand Marketing & Communications, Dan Walmsley, said: “We can’t wait for the qualifiers to begin! We will be supported by Robert, who will be sharing his professional advice with our Scottish qualifiers.

“In previous years we have held the qualifiers at our depots, but due to the overwhelming response we’ve had over the past two years, we’ve had to look for bigger venues, and that’s why we have chosen to visit some of the UK’s most iconic homes of sport.

“There are a limited number of slots available for our qualifying events so players will have to be quick. Anyone who wants to take part will need to pre-register at sports.speedyservices.com.”

The Speedy Services UK Open Qualifiers will be held on the following dates:

Monday 15th April – Hampden Park, Glasgow

Wednesday 17th April – Old Trafford football ground, Manchester

Monday 22nd April – Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Wednesday 24th April – Alexandra Palace, London

Tickets for the Speedy Services UK Open are now on general sale. Full details can be found by visiting www.pdc.tv/speedy-services-uk-open.

A council that listens –what a refreshing thought

$
0
0

People power has come to the fore this week after social work director Andrew Lowe announced he was planning to drop his report recommending a radical redesign of the service at Galashiels Ability Centre, and promising instead to talk to centre users to discuss their own six-point plan for the future of the complex.

The move has been widely welcomed, and while Mr Lowe has cautioned that the fresh proposal by the centre’s management committee will have to meet some strict tests of affordability, equity and inclusion, he should be commended for delaying any decision so he can hear what the management team has to say.

Too often we hear of changes to our services or working environments, where management have taken executive decisions, mainly driven by cost, without speaking to the people who matter – those who use the services, or those who are on the ground delivering these services.

We all understand that in these difficult financial times hard decisions have to be made. And that you will never please all of the people, all of the time. However, giving people who use Borders services the opportunity to have their say on how changes could be made while minimising the impact seems a no brainer.

Too often accountants are pulling the strings and have no idea or concern, it seems, about how it will affect people.

The price of change is very rarely just financial, and can often prove far more costly.

Galashiels road closure

$
0
0

A SECTION of a Galashiels street is to shut for five days later this month.

Scottish Borders Council have applied for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order to complete roadworks in Balmoral Place.

The closure will be from the junctions with Scott Street and St Andrew Street, and will begin on March 25, running between 8am and 4pm.

A diversion along St Andrew Street will operate.

Ettrick Valley tree trouble growing

$
0
0

AN issue is overhanging the Ettrick Valley, writes Kenny Paterson.

The problem of overgrown trees and hedges alongside the valley’s roads has led Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne to approach Scottish Borders Council for help to get landowners to cut back their vegetation.

She said: “I have been in touch with SB Local about the issue.

“These are overhanging branches which are damaging cars, such as scratching paintwork. The roads are very narrow in places and if a vehicle is coming the other way, you are forced to pull in alongside a hedge which is often not cut back.

“It may seem trivial, but it can cost car owners considerable sums of money.

“This is a problem we are experiencing in the Ettrick Valley, but I expect it is an issue in a number of other areas of the Borders.”

Under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, local authorities can order landowners to cut back obstructing trees and hedges. If they do not comply, councils have the power to carry out the work themselves and charge the owner.

An SBC spokesman told TheSouthern: “Officers carry out inspections on roads and the issue of overhanging trees and hedges is included in these inspections.

“If an area is causing concern we will engage with the relevant landowner as the responsibility to maintain these hedges and trees lies with them. We would then monitor the situation, which would hopefully be resolved.

“In this instance we will look at any specific area that is causing concern.”

Heriot wind farm plan goes to appeal

$
0
0

THE Scottish Government will decide the fate of a 16-turbine wind farm near Heriot after an appeal was lodged with the Holyrood administration.

Plans, which include seven turbines within Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) boundaries and nine in Midlothian’s area, were thrown out by the local authorities.

But applicants RidgeWind Limited have taken the fight to the Scottish Government for both sections of the development.

SBC has 21 days to respond to the appeal, followed by the appointment of a reporter to decide the case.

Councillors rejected the application for a site near Gilston Farm on the Borders side of the boundary in December, just days after Midlothian turned down the other half of the renewable energy scheme on Fala Moor.

Although the proposed 170-hectare location lies outwith designated landscapes and conservation areas, Borders councillors were told the western edge would have been adjacent to the Fala Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Fala Moor Area of Great Landscape Value. There were also concerns about run-off into the River Tweed catchment, as well as the scheme’s proximity to the Roman road of Dere Street and the site of the medieval hospital at Soutra Aisle.

And fears were expressed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) about the impact on the regionally-important black grouse population.

Other birds the RSPB felt would be affected by the 115 metre-high turbines were pink-footed geese, wading birds and large heath butterfly, with the area one of only 18 recorded sites in the Borders the species inhabits.

In addition, the surrounding community councils of Heriot, and Oxton and Channelkirk both opposed the bid.

As a result, councillors backed a recommendation from its planning department to refuse the application.

However, RidgeWind argued the development would boost local community coffers through its benefit payments of an estimated £100,000 per year.

The firm said significant employment for Borderers would be created through the project, as well as providing business for local hostelries and added that any environmental impacts would be reduced by the company to acceptable levels.


Ancient cross being rebuilt in the Borders

$
0
0

THE world’s first Celtic high cross is being reassembled in the Borders before being returned to its home on the island of Iona, ahead of a special anniversary.

St Oran’s cross dates back to the eighth century and is being carefully cleaned and put into a specially-designed steel structure before the 1,450th anniversary of the arrival of St Columba on Iona.

It is to be re-erected for the first time in centuries to celebrate the occasion and will feature in a new museum display on the island.

The work to create the steel support for the cross is being carried out in the Selkirk workshop of freelance museum mountmaker Richard West.

Mr West has been working with Historic Scotland since September last year, creating mounts for other carved stone pieces in the museum on Iona.

His work on the steel structure for St Oran’s cross will enable it to be free-standing in the refurbished museum, due to be reopened later this year.

Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland’s head of cultural heritage, said: “The complete cross originally weighed in excess of one tonne and was 4.4 metres high. We believe it was commissioned by a king around the mid-700s.

“It is beautifully carved with biblical scenes and Celtic interlace patterns. Just below the centre of the cross arm is an extremely rare and early image of the Virgin and Child sheltered by the wings of angels.”

Mr Yeoman added: “This monumental, powerful and decorative use of the Christian cross had never been seen before anywhere in western Europe. It’s one of the largest and finest in the collection of early medieval carved-stone grave slabs and crosses to be found at Iona Abbey.”

The cross, in five large pieces, had been displayed horizontally in the island’s museum. It has now been pieced together with matching, but uncarved, stone to give visitors an idea of the scale of the cross.

Once Mr West completes his work, the cross will be transported 160 miles from Selkirk to Oban before two ferry crossings take it back to the island ahead of the anniversary celebrations in May, when the Iona Community also celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Historic Scotland’s experts have been cleaning, studying and conserving the museum’s carved stones before they go back on display in a new exhibition in time for the anniversary. In addition to the work on St Oran’s cross, Historic Scotland is investing in new interpretation and visitor facilities at Iona Abbey and for the carved-stone collection.

Hawick-BGH bus trial begins

$
0
0

A NEW bus service is being trialled between Hawick and Borders General Hospital.

Scottish Borders Council, in partnership with the Reshaping Care Change Fund and The Bridge Community Transport Initiative, is running the five-month pilot, which began on Monday.

The service follows complaints from Hawick residents who argued that there was no direct bus to the BGH, affecting appointments and visiting times.

The bus will operate four times a day – Monday to Friday – on a set route linking Wellogate, Mart Street, Burnfoot, Hawick Community Hospital and the BGH. It will also serve The Loan area of Selkirk.

Ashkirk A7 repairs overrun

$
0
0

TRAFFIC disruption on the A7 as the result of a £240,000 resurfacing programme is to continue beyond the scheduled period because of this week’s snow. The project began last week to improve the A7 at Ashkirk – and was scheduled to finish today.

BEAR Scotland, which is responsible for maintaining the trunk road, said this week: “The works at Ashkirk have been delayed slightly because of the recent wintery weather. Resurfacing works are now expected to be completed by Friday (March 15). We plan to return to the site next week to complete the road markings.”

Motorists travelling between Selkirk and Hawick were told to expect delays of up to 10 minutes, but drivers have reported longer waits, while First Bus say its X95 service has been 15 minutes behind schedule because of the disruptions.

Disabled woman’s home plight

$
0
0

A LILLIESLEAF mum has won the backing of villagers in her fight to build a home for her disabled daughter, writes Kenny Paterson.

Carole Andrew’s dreams of constructing a bungalow for 23-year-old Rachel on a plot beside her own home have so far been ruled out by Scottish Borders Council, with the site lying just metres outside the village’s Local Plan boundary.

However, that has not stopped residents showing their support, with a petition signed by 58 people and 22 letters of support reaching SBC’s Newtown headquarters.

Mrs Andrew said: “The village has been brilliant and everyone thinks the situation is ridiculous.

“It has been very emotional speaking to people and hearing their support. All we want is a bit of common sense.”

Carole submitted the bungalow plans in January for Borders College student Rachel, who has epilepsy and additional needs, after her daughter suffered a fit and fell down a flight of stairs in their current home.

But SBC told Mrs Andrew that developments outwith a Local Plan can only be supported when it can be proved it would either generate jobs, create affordable housing, if there is a shortfall of available housing land, or if the application provides significant community benefits.

Duke of Buccleuch joins panel set up to mark WWI centenary

$
0
0

THE Duke of Buccleuch has been named as a member of a 12-strong panel of experts from across Scottish society set up to look at how Scotland should mark next year’s 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

As well as the duke, whose Borders home is at Bowhill outside Selkirk, the Scottish Commemorations Panel includes a mix of professionals from the military and veterans’ communities, community leaders, clergy, media, historians and education specialists.

Among them are former newspaper editor Magnus Linklater and historians Trevor Royle and Professor Sir Hew Strachan.

The panel chair will be former army chaplain Norman Drummond, and will work to recommend a preferred approach for Scotland’s commemorations. They will also oversee the delivery of the programme.

The current Tri-Service Heads in Scotland – Rear Admiral Chris Hockley, Major General Nick Eeles and Air Commodore Gerry Mayhew – will advise the panel.

The panel’s first meeting is in Edinburgh today and is expected to consider how they can best support the development of the commemorative programme, and which key dates or themes could feature within it.

Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said panel members had an an exceptional range of skills, experience and expertise across many fields.

“Their wisdom and advice will be extremely helpful in guiding Scotland’s approach to commemorations sensitively over the period to 2019 and ensuring that Scotland’s commemorative plans are relevant to all parts of society,” she said.

Mr Drummond added: “Scotland’s commemorative programme must provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about the war in meaningful ways and so to enable them to explore the resonance of the First World War and its aftermath to contemporary life here in Scotland and beyond. This view is shared by the panel.

“Within the panel, Commodore Charles Stevenson, Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin and Group Captain Bob Kemp, from the Tri-Service Veterans community, will help to determine how best to recognise the sacrifice of Scotland’s servicemen and women and the appropriate commemoration of the battles in which Scotland played a key role.

“I am joined from the world of education by Dr Louise Richardson, principal of St Andrews University, and by Dr Bill Maxwell, chief executive of Education Scotland.

“Both will help to ensure that the commemorative programme takes full account of how our pupils, students and teachers learn about the First World War.

“We shall also consult our local authorities. In this regard, the Duke of Buccleuch, in addition to his valuable links with the network of lord lieutenants across Scotland, will ensure that the train crash at Quintinshill near Gretna on May 22, 1915 – with the loss of 214 officers and men of the 7th Battalion Royal Scots Territorial Force – will be suitably commemorated.

“Professor Sir Hew Strachan and Trevor Royle will set the context of our commemorations and ensure we maintain historical accuracy and perspective in all that we do.

“Brigadier David Allfrey, producer and chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Maggie Cunningham, chairman of BBC Alba, and Magnus Linklater, former editor of the Scotsman and the Times Scotland, are from the arts and broadcasting fields and will undoubtedly inject creativity into our collective thinking.

“Ron Ferguson, as a former leader of the Iona Community and minister of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, will help us to consider how to commemorate the momentous role that Orkney played during the war and in particular within the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

“The panel is committed to developing a programme of which Scotland can be rightly proud.”

Hannah does the bard proud at annual Burns competition

$
0
0

JEDBURGH school pupil Hannah Wyness took home top honours at the Borders Burns Competition held last week.

The annual contest, held in Hawick, was a great success again, with schools from across the region taking part.

Jedburgh pupils enjoyed significant achievement, with Hannah, a Parkside Primary pupil, scooping the title of Young Border Burnsian 2013.

Hannah also won the instrumental title for P6/7 pupils.

Eryn Rae, of Jedburgh Grammar, was voted best instrumentalist in her age group for her fiddle performance, and Murray Armitage, also of Parkside, was the winner of the P6/7 recitation competition.

Other success for Jedburgh youngsters came in the form of a second place in the P6/7 singing category for Jessica Leggate, of Howdenburn, and third places for Abbie Feeney and Calum Wyness, both from Parkside, in their respective recitation and instrumentalist sections.

Winners from each of the categories will go forward to represent the Borders in next month’s Robert Burns World Federation Schools Festival at Dunfermline.

Council amends chaplain policy

$
0
0

FEARS that school chaplains could preach their views on issues such as gay marriage to pupils has led Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to alter its guidelines, writes Kenny Paterson.

Parents will now be allowed to see the written agreement between a head teacher and school chaplain after Tweeddale West councillor Catriona Bhatia raised concerns over the possible content of school services.

The amendment was made by SBC’s education committee as it agreed a revised religious observance policy for schools, as well as updating the role of the chaplain.

Councillor Bhatia said: “Parents may be comfortable with religious observance around Christmas, but a particular chaplain may be anti-gay marriage and introduce that into their service.

“How do we know what the content will be of the chaplain’s service?

“Some chaplains will stay away from issues such as that (gay marriage), but others may sway into it.

“Some religions have different rules and they are entitled to that, but they should not be introduced in our schools.”

Colin Easton, SBC’s policy manager, replied: “The head teacher will be responsible for the content.

“They will appoint the chaplain and will develop the religious observance programmes.

“The head will frequently develop it in discussions with senior pupils. We think this provides sufficient safeguards.”

Councillor Michelle Ballantyne said the policy cannot cover all eventualities, adding: “Some parents think that it is right to preach about gay marriage, others don’t.”

The religious observance policy – which aims to promote the spiritual development of pupils and differs from religious education – was last updated in 1984, and councillors agreed to look at it again within two years.

Committee member Graeme Donald said: “It is a timely report as school inspectors are in the process of conducting a review of religious observance and religious education, while the Church of Scotland is reviewing its own thinking on both.”


Students restore vintage tractor

$
0
0

BORDERS College students have restored an old Ferguson tractor as part of their engineering course.

Landbased service engineering students at the Newtown St Boswells campus replaced the gearbox, radiator, brakes and tyres, built new bodywork, resprayed and did other work to bring the vintage 1960, 35 diesel Ferguson back to its former glory.

The owner of the tractor, retired lawyer Paul Mather, 80, from Kelso is so delighted he has offered to lend it to the college for open days, to demonstrate the students’ work and raise money for student funds.

Course tutor Dave Black said “This was an unusual project for our students to undertake but over the course of the project, ticked all the right boxes for them. It was certainly a challenge and sourcing and creating new parts made it interesting but our students were up for it and got a lot out of it personally.”

The work took over two years.

landlines

$
0
0

FARM house bed-and-breakfast and self-catering cottage providers, more specifically those who are members of Farm Stay Scotland, last week started a £10,000 campaign to raise their profile with visitors from the rest of the UK and overseas.

Many of us who live in Scotland and the north of England are already aware of the benefits a farm holiday might offer. For those who aren’t, Marion Oates, now regional director of Farm Stay Scotland, spelled it out on a snowy morning in the Lammermuirs foothills last week: “With beautiful scenery, open spaces and fresh air, there really is nothing quite like a holiday on a Scottish farm. Guests get a unique insight into rural life and a working farm and with farm-fresh eggs, local bacon and sausages and much else on the menu, the money stays in the local economy.”

She believes that Farm Stay Scotland, with more than 60 members, already has an international reputation, but that more can be done to raise its profile, particularly in northern Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada where many potential visitors already know something about farms.

My only reservation is that that might be a two-edged sword. Someone familiar with the ups and downs of farm life might not want to travel several thousand miles to become familiar with the occasional travails and traumas encountered by Scottish farmers.

That’s not really a reservation because in my experience, most farm B&Bs and self-catering cottages are now of a much higher standard in general than those of 20 or 30 years ago. There are a few stuck in a bygone age of what was acceptable – friends have occasionally been unlucky enough to suffer in them – but ones we’ve stayed at in Scotland and England have been good.

Add the high quality accommodation to good quality local food on the breakfast menu, a working farm, and some unique selling points, such as the farmer who puts on sheepdog demonstrations for visitors, and the mix is right to attract holiday makers.

The experience of the best B&B providers is that happy customers keep coming back so the trick is to get them there the first time. The £10,000 campaign, £5,000 of it from VisitScotland’s Year of Natural Scotland growth fund, will concentrate on online marketing, an improved website and more effective brochure distribution.

Year of Natural Scotland might sound a touch vague, but its good intention is to increase the awareness of outdoor Scotland including its landscapes and the quality of food and drink produced and provided.

Farm Stay Scotland members fit right in to that and a number of them got together to prove it last week when the marketing campaign opened at Gill and Ian Tait’s Redhills farm, near Gifford, with a farmhouse brunch.

The menu included local eggs, bacon and sausage, rolls, smoked salmon and haddock, mushrooms, home baked scones and home-made jams and chutney as well as the less local, but top quality, fruit and yoghurt visitors now expect to be available at breakfast.

I guess “Holiday on a farm and put on three kilos a week” wouldn’t be the best slogan to use, but given free access to a breakfast menu I couldn’t rule it out – speaking personally, that is. But it’s a campaign that deserves to succeed.

Meantime, back at the ranch, what can be made of this weather? I’ve given up the thermals three times so far in the past month and been driven back to them as the temperature plummeted and the wind-chill factor seemed to be about -10C.

I am only grateful for two things. One is that I’m no longer 12 years old or so, walking back and forth along a grain drill, ready to alert the tractor driver if a grain spout, or more probably a fertiliser spout, stopped running. Goodness knows, I probably didn’t spend all spring doing that job in bitter weather, but it seemed like it in spite of being submerged in an old army greatcoat.

The second thing I’m grateful for is not to be in a lambing field or lambing shed. Actually, I’d be grateful for that these days even if the weather was balmy, temperatures in the high teens, birds singing and ewes lambing unaided with every lamb healthy and ready to suck.

But in weather like this I’m doubly grateful. In fact, make that trebly. And to all those shepherds who aren’t as lucky as I am, my thoughts go out to you.

As they do to arable farmers thinking of, or managing to, catch up on the sowing backlog left from last year’s pitiful autumn. Some have managed to sow winter wheat and it will be interesting to see how that crop performs when sown three months later than hoped; as wheat always seems to compensate more than most crops for poor soil and weather conditions, these crops could do surprisingly well.

But for most, the crop being sown as and when possible is spring barley. For the results and prices we can, as ever – it should really be adopted as a motto by every farmer – only wait and see.

Borders share five-figure bull

$
0
0

WELL known Kelso breeders have bought a half share in an Aberdeen Angus bull for an undisclosed five-figure sum.

Purchasers Tom and Wendy Arnott of Haymount will share Gretnahouse Blacksmith (pictured) with breeder Alasdair Houston, Gretna House, Gretna Green.

Mr Houston said: “This bull has been one of those rare beasts that has been exceptional since the day he was born.

“Out of a two-year-old heifer, Blackbird J131, that I picked as my favourite when establishing the herd from Blelack, he has a great temperament and pedigree, with deep dam lines on both sides.”

Blelack Duke, the sire of Blacksmith, was imported from Canada as an embryo.

Mr Houston, who is retaining the animal as a stock sire, has shown Blacksmith twice, winning the championship at Dumfries and male champion at the Aberdeen Angus Winter National Show

Mr Houston, who has only recently moved into the breed, said: “He just gets better as he develops. I have been very lucky to breed one as good so soon.”

Mr Arnott stressed: “He is one of the best bulls I have seen in a lifetime of breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle, carrying many outstanding characteristics that I value highly. Together with his performance figures, he is a great prospect.”

Blacksmith’s first calves are due to be born this summer.

‘Electronic shepherd’ study for hill farmers

$
0
0

TRACKING sheep by GPS could become a reality if researchers can work out a commercial way to use the technology.

Pioneering “electronic shepherd” tracker tags would be used in a bid to cut the unexplained disappearance of sheep referred to as “black loss”.

A two-year study on four hill farms in the Highlands found an average of nearly 20 per cent annual black loss last year.

Those involved in the study – Highlands and Islands Sheep Health Association, marketing body Quality Meat Scotland, electronic ear tagging researchers ScotEID, Scotland’s rural college SRUC and farming co-op advisors SAOS – are going to look at developing satellite tags for use commercially.

For the Highland research 5,063 lambs were electronically tagged in spring 2011, as soon as practical after birth, and monitored over the summer and following winter.

Lambs that disappeared without trace were recorded as black loss with most going missing in the first six weeks from birth.

QMS’s livestock development manager Kathy Peebles said: “Our on-going research priority is to identify a practical and cost effective technology to track the lambs on the hill over the summer. This will give us a better understanding of what is happening to them.”

Immediate past chairman of the National Sheep Association of Scotland, Jimmy Sinclair of Crookston, Heriot said there could be a use for tracking technology on Border hill farms. But he raised concerns about cost and practicality.

He said: “We are well aware, and I know from personal experience, there is definitely a problem with black loss. I don’t feel we should be pouring cold water on this but we have got to have some realism.”

He feared sheep could need a collar rather than a tag and noted satellite tags tracking sea eagles cost £2,500 each.

He explained: “The tag might be worth more than some of the lambs. I just don’t think it would work in a pure hill situation. It could be very difficult to implement and I think the cost would outstrip the benefits.”

Former Sheep Farmer of the Year, David Mactaggart of Hallrule, Bonchester Bridge said: “It would help in the southern uplands and Cheviots but probably not on in bye farms. I can fully understand what the problem is and it will be interesting to watch this space.”

ScotEID manager and deputy chief executive of SAOS, Bob Yuill have met leading researchers in active tag technology in Chengdu, China, to look at the potential use of sensors and global positioning working with “active” tags.

He said: “The main benefit of active tags is that they can be monitored remotely to check for changes of movement by the sheep. Any unusual or lack of animal movement recorded by sensors would be interpreted as a sign of illness or death, and black loss.”

The development work is expected to take two years and will be conducted in four stages, said QMS.

A spokesman said: “The first step will be to develop the in-field use of active tag technology using wavelengths which can transmit information in extensive grazing areas with difficult topography.

“Next, GPS integration with the tags will be developed along with suitable sensor technology, such as 3D accelerometers, to monitor small movements of sheep.

“It will also be necessary to design and build smart data systems to provide statistical monitoring of sensor feedback with interpretation for farmers to allow the correct response to be taken.”

The final stage would be commercialising the system.

Katie is a good learner

$
0
0

HAWICK’S Katie Stephen was overall runner-up in a national learners’ competition.

The horse-lover left, was named Lantra’s Equine Learner of the Year and went on to take the overall runner up prize at the organisation’s tenth Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards ceremony in Perth last month. 

The former Borders College horse-care student completed her course in June last year and works full time in a local hunting and eventing yard.

While at college, she volunteered with the Riding for the Disabled and helped train wild Highland ponies at Ian and Jenny Stark’s Dryden Riding Centre near Selkirk.

Katie was selected for the British Young Riders Dressage under 21’s B squad last year and she has won several classes in showing and eventing on her own horse Basil.

As we reported last week, Millie Green, right, from Jedburgh was runner up in Lantra’s agriculture learner of the year category.

Viewing all 21846 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>