Glamour is back! The world’s most beautiful women recently showed off their coutured styles at the Oscars. But couture isn’t just for Hollywood, whether your hair is short or long, hair can express your style!

The way you wear hair on that special occasion, be it a ball, wedding or ladies’ race day, takes serious consideration! Your style depends mostly on your overall look – is it traditional, vintage or trendy?

What’s hot and what’s not also needs to be considered but avoid over-curly or over-straight styles. If the outfit has a very detailed top, keep your hair off your face. If you are wearing your hair up, try to avoid huge accessories.

If you decide to put your hair up, go for a professional polished look. For example, a well styled chignon is easily created – a chignon is a roll, knot or twist generally worn at the nape of the neck. This classic look was worn by Greeks and Romans, evident in works of arts and sculptures.

Another simple but effective look is side-swept curls. Set or curl your hair pointing up and away from the face. Once the hair has cooled and curls have set, create a deep side parting, sweep the hair around the neck and over the shoulder, criss cross pins or kirby grips to keep the hair in place, then let the curls on the other side fall naturally. This style was been worn at the Oscars recently by actress Natalie Portman.

Updos are always more sophisticated than down and remember the most sensational party styles can fall flat after all the dancing, but the solution is simpl – a mini can of hairspray which can fit into the smallest evening bag and can perk your style up in a jiffy.

You must find the right conditioner for your hair type. You might need a normal conditioner or you might need a richer product if your hair has been over-processed with chemical treatments such as colours. If this is the case, then you might want to use a conditioning treatment, this is a heavier/richer product that is left on longer and penetrates the hair cuticle, leaving it softer and more flexible. If you feel your hair is weighted down then a volumizing conditioner would be recommended. Volumizing conditioners are much lighter than those used for moisturising. If in doubt consult your stylist for guidance.

A conditioning treatment is recommended if your hair has been chemically damaged or over use of heated styling equipment

You cannot repair the hair solely by conditioning the hair; the broken ends must be cut off.

○ The Borders College 
Hair and Beauty Team#

www.borderscollege.ac.uk

If the thought of stripping down to your bikini fills you with fear then it’s time to kickstart your summer and make a permanent change with the LighterLife.

With constant guidance to keep you ontra ck, you could get your confidence back for this summer and beyond.

LighterLife is a pioneering weight loss and weight management programme for anyone with a BMI of 25+ that provides life changing weight loss by combining a bespoke three-stage programme: weight loss through a very low calorie diet, the introduction of a healthy eating plan, and long-term weight management support which will help you keep the weight off for good.

Your LighterLife journey begins with a meal replacement programme that is tasty and simple to make up – ideal if you have a busy life. Throughout your entire journey you will have a dedicated LighterLife counsellor to support you on losing weight and teach you counselling techniques that will reassess your relationship with food, in order to make lasting lifestyle changes.

In addition to this, LighterLife has also launched a new intermittent fasting plan (5:2) that will help people who are looking to maintain their weight embark on the fast both easier, and more healthily, by giving fasters the chance to buy ready-made food options that add up to 601kcal per day.

The LighterLife Fast Plan will ensure that those fasting two days per week, will be guaranteed full nutrition and 100 per cent of their recommended daily allowances (RDAs) of vitamins and minerals without the extra calories.

LighterLife commented: “Intermittent fasting gives your body some downtime from conventional food and also brings with it widely reported health benefits.

“However, as it stands people would be compromising their nutrition on these two days as it is virtually impossible to obtain the appropriate level of nutrition on a 500-600 Kcal level through conventional food.

“We would advise that anybody wanting to take up the intermittent fasting approach to ensure they use LighterLife Foodpacks on their fasting days to remain well nourished.”

If you are ready to live a happier, healthier, lighter life contact Sandra Davidson today on 07854 557950 or visit www.lighterlife.com

And they’re off…

Ladies’ day at Kelso Race course is on the May 26 this year and in anticipation of this hotbed of fashion, I felt that we should look at uber fashionable millinery and share the top trends and advice for making a statement in 2013.

Millinery is no longer just about hats but is now being described in terms of couture, with made-to-measure, individual designs that reflect the personality of both the client and milliner.

Ladies’ days at race courses from Ascot to Kelso, are showcases for fashion expressions that reflect the adventurous band of women who go to the races, to make a strong directional fashion statement.

Recently the focus of couture millinery has shifted to Scotland, with two leading exponents of the art having a strong Scottish Borders connection.

The “grande Dame of Hat Making”, milliner Yvette Jelfs describes in her biography how, as a young child, “I would make hats from sticks, feathers, flowers, mud and even leaves that would be so dead they only had a trace of the veins on them.”

Shehas recently set up her design headquarters and a retail presence in Hawick. From her new base in the Borders she designs and creates a beautiful range of couture millinery that will make you stand, quite literally, head and shoulders above the crowd.

Yvette’s trends and advice for a successful ladies day statement are: “The new styles for ladies’ days are bright colour. The midi and side sweep are very favourable as they don’t give you hat head [the line which goes across the forehead].”

Yvette also suggests: “For shorter ladies, wear a smaller pillbox with high trims to give you extra height.”

William Chambers is the other fascinating Scottish milliner with a strong connection to the Scottish Borders.

William has twice been voted as Scottish accessory designer of the year and trained at the Heriot-Watt University, School of Textiles in Galashiels. He passed with a first- class honours degree in textile design.

William then took a course in millinery and set up his studio in Glasgow where he has built an impressive client list including pop stars, Joan Jett and Suzi Perry. He has featured in prestigious fashion magazines, including Vogue and Elle and has supplied beautiful Scottish millinery across the globe.

William’s trends and advice for the season are: “Try on as many hat shapes as possible, this way you will find the one that suits you best.

“Don’t match all your colours, or the overall look will end up looking quite bland – or if you’re wearing a bright colour, a bit gaudy.

“I encourage my customers to try repeating their outfit colour in just the trimming of the hat or to be daring and go for a complete contrast. A beautiful, brightly coloured hat looks fabulous with a simple neutral coloured dress.

“Please avoid fascinators. They have now been banned from the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. If you are going to the races, treat yourself to a proper hat – it’s all part of the glamorous fun, and you won’t regret it.

“Remember a hat can do many things: you can either hide behind it or use it to accentuate your personality. It’s the exclamation mark to any outfit!”

William’s top trends for 2013: “2012 was the year the hat came back, and it looks like this year it’s here to stay.

“The Katherine Middleton effect is extremely evident – hat sales have dramatically increased since she started wearing them. She’s inspired some classic and chic looks which you’ll see more of this year – think small, simple, perfectly formed hats and headpieces that are not overly adorned.

“Because of the fascinator ban, I also expect to see more and more large, fabulous, luxurious hats at the races.

“Key colours for this year in my collections are ivory or white teamed up with metallics and black. Other popular colours include coral, midnight blue and magenta.”

So not only do we have a wealth of millinery talent with Scottish Borders connections, we also have a great opportunity to show off the results of that expertise, at the ladies day at Kelso races, and I look forward to seeing the results.

○ Mark Timmins is a designer and co-owner at Dizzymafella and is a former director of fashion at Heriot-Watt University school of textiles and design. He is a member at Creative-Borders

A bust of Sir Walter Scott is part of a “significant legacy” that Jim McCallum (pictured) and wife Kath have promised to the Abbotsford Trust in memory of daughter Shirley. The bust used to hang in Selkirk’s Fleece Hotel.

In recognition of their support, the trust will name a lecture room in Abbotsford House after Shirley, who was from Selkirk and died from Hodgkin’s lymphoma aged 25.

Earlston Community Development Trust has been awarded more than £10,000 of Lottery cash to create an adventure park with sensory path, play area and shelter.

Trust chairwoman Mags Powell said: “This is fantastic news”

I have lived and worked in the Borders since 2003 and am opposed to the on-going impoverishment of our countryside as the scourge and inefficiency of wind farms continues unabated. UKIP is the only party that would stop these leviathans being built, the effect of under investment in viable and conventional forms of energy production, the over-emphasis on renewables and subsidisation of renewable energy has seen our energy prices rocketing, sending millions of households into fuel poverty.Expensive energy closes energy intensive industries, leading to ever more unemployment.

As a councillor I would fight on other issues such as business rate relief for small business, as I believe that the council should be lobbying the Scottish Parliament for a business rates freeze. While the two biggest expenses small businesses face are wages and taxes – UKIP policy on a high tax free threshold for lower income families, no payroll tax (employers NIC) and a flat tax of 25 per cent for all is a starting point for small business in these discussions.

The UKIP has no party whip and its representatives bring no pre-judged issues to dealing with local services for our constituents. We seek to represent the people and would work with the other parties for the benefit of the ward.

To deal with the blight of planning laws across the Borders, UKIP supports Swiss-style binding local referenda to put power in the hands of the people on important and controversial issues.

In November 1971, while working as a newly qualified veterinary surgeon in my home town, Kilmarnock, I received a telephone call from the late Roger Baird to come and work in the new surgery in Galashiels for the firm of Keith, Rogerson, Baird & Wain.

I had been both a student seeing practice in Kelso and a lambing man at Clifton on Bowmont near Yetholm during my five years of qualification. Roger informed me that not only did I have the job but also I would be playing scrum-half for Kelso. To this day I am not sure what position was considered more important!

Now, 41 years on and with retirement round the corner, I have been given the exciting opportunity to stand as the Borders Party candidate for Leaderdale and Melrose following the resignation of Nicholas Watson.

While a very different role, I view this as a chance to transfer my talents to a public service. I would be able to use the knowledge, experience and common sense accrued during my time as an on-call mixed practice vet –a sick hamster one minute, a severely lacerated horse the next with life and death situations daily.

During this time I travelled the length and breadth of the Borders meeting and discussing matters with people from all walks of life. Cliched as it is, I feel I have my finger on the pulse of what people here want and, most importantly, I am an excellent listener. Rome was not built in a day and changes cannot always occur overnight but I am prepared to learn and meet the challenges as they occur.

“I am standing as I care passionately about our area and the standard of council services that people receive. I believe that my experience is very relevant to the issues we face and I hope to make a valuable contribution to our community as a councillor.

As a mother of three who lives in this ward, uses our local schools and services, and helps run the local family hotel business with my husband Billy, my concerns are the same as yours. Many of you may know me through my netball coaching or charity fundraising. I feel that I have the experience, the local knowledge and the time to provide our area with a strong voice in the council chamber and to speak out for our community regardless of party politics.

“Like most Borderers, I rely on my car to get around. That is why I will campaign for long term preventative investment to ensure our road network is fit for purpose. I am especially keen to see the A68 landslip between Lauder and Earlston repaired as soon as possible so the traffic lights that are causing delays can be removed.

“If elected I will campaign for superfast broadband to be delivered in every house across the ward. Many areas of the Borders are in desperate need of better connectivity. By having good broadband, we will be able to attract employers and new jobs. I will support any initiatives that will encourage residents back to our high streets and to shop locally. We have some of the most beautiful towns in Scotland here in the Borders. It is important we do what we can to support our unique identity.”

Since the declaration of the by-election it has been a whirlwind few weeks for me and my family. So many friends, neighbours and local residents have been in touch to wish me well and offer me their support. Becoming a councillor for the area that I love and have lived in for over 25 years is a big responsibility which I take very seriously.

I have been a councillor before and have the experience of how the council works and have built a good working relationship with council officers. During my time as a councillor, I worked hard to improve employment opportunities for young people, helped to deliver new affordable homes and did my best to protect social services. If elected, I will be a full time councillor.

The Lib Dem team on the council has fulfilled many of our manifesto policies, such as providing an extra £2m for road repairs, a new all weather pitch for each school catchment area and a £300,000 loan scheme to help local businesses. We’re giving local people a stronger voice in how the council and schools are run.

I believe in the strength and commitment of our community groups. I have been involved in a number of projects from planting fruit trees, footpath building to bike and skate parks and never cease to be amazed at the dedication of all that take part. I want to see that dedication grow so that communities take more control. This ward needs a strong local Lib Dem councillor to make sure we get the best deal; the only way that can happen is if you lend me your first preference vote.

Community activist Robin Tatler has been selected to stand for Scottish Labour and the Cooperative Party.

Robin worked for more than 20 years as a fund-raiser for local, national and international charities including ChildLine, The Sick Kids Hospital, Edinburgh and the Homeless World Cup.

He now runs a small catering business which operates in Tweedbank. He is actively involved in many local organisations and projects throughout the Borders as a volunteer and board member.

He has three three key election pledges:

n Act as a real opposition on Scottish Borders – all too often there is no effective opposition to damaging decisions made by the council that hurt communities and individuals. Robin says: “I won’t oppose every decision – but I will make sure that those who need a voice on Scottish Borders Council are heard.”

n Put jobs and training for young people first - Scottish Borders Council should have this at the top of their agenda and I will campaign to get support for enterprise and job creation and to reverse the cuts at the Borders College.

n Campaign to bring back local decision-making - the Area Forums are inadequate; they are powerless and don’t meet often enough. Local communities need to have a say in important decisions that affect them for example, the development of wind farms, and issues raised on the doorstep during this campaign such as the need for a community centre in Earlston, and a footpath from Melrose to the BGH.

A blogging mum from the Borders has been shortlisted in two categories of the national BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Awards.

Former Kelso High School pupil Ruth Dawkins, who blogs as DorkyMum, is in the final sixteen of the awards’ Outstanding Category.

She has also been shortlisted in the Commentary category for bloggers writing about charity campaigns, political issues and current affairs.

Ruth said: “I’m delighted to be shortlisted. In the two years I’ve been blogging, I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have read and commented on my posts.

“Using DorkyMum as a platform to talk about causes and campaigns that I care about is so important to me, and to have that recognised by readers of my blog is a real honour.”

Ruth says her blog as “a mixture of parenting, politics and photography… and anything else that takes my fancy”.

She has written posts on topics as wide-ranging as climate change, the US Elections, street art, the challenges of parenting, and nostalgic pieces about growing up in Kelso.

Ruth has also been nominated in the Outstanding Category of the MAD Blog Awards, another competition in the parent blogging community.

The winners of the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on June 21.

Ruth’s blog DorkyMum can be found online at http://dorkymum.wordpress.com

The council is inviting communities, large and small, to enter the 2013 Floral Gateway Competition, which it runs in association with Beautiful Scotland.

For an entry form, call 0300 100 1800. The closing date is Friday, May 31.

A consultation on the relocation of Kelso High School has revealed ‘overwhelming’ support for the plans.

Presenting a report on the consultation to the council, Glenn Rodger, director of education, said: “The community have been overwhelmingly positive about the move.”

The council has committed to ongoing talks with staff, parents, pupils and the community as more detailed plans are developed for the new school at Angraflat Road.

In the Peebles 7s on Sunday, it was Melrose who triumphed 35-10 over Selkirk in a one-sided final.

The Greenyards men stepped up after going 10-7 down inside the first half and tries came from Callum Anderson, Fraser Thomson, Bruce Colvine, Joe Helps and Andrew Skeen.

There was some nice passing in the game, and the winners were well and truly the best team throughout the competition. Peebles reached the semi-finals of the competition, but were bested by two great tries from Fraser Harkness, who put Selkirk into the final.

An unexpected victory came from Howe of Fife as they defeated Watsonians in the first round 17-14.

The most one-sided victory of the event was in the quarter-finals where Melrose put out Hawick at 40 points to 5. The current sevens table sees Gala top with 28 points, Melrose 2nd with 23 and Edinburgh Accies 3rd with 21. Bottom of the table is Kelso with only three points.

POLICE are hunting two men in connection with a racially-motivated attack in Jedburgh.

Two Polish men aged 41 and 35 were assaulted around 1.45am on Sunday as they made their home from a night out in various local pubs.

As they passed two men one of them punched the 41-year-old on the head and he crashed to the ground.

The younger man struggled with attacker before he was kicked on the head by the another man.

Both victims have told police they heard racist remarks and Police Scotland has confirmed that detectives are treating the attack as being racially-motivated.

The 41-year-old sustained a serious facial wound while the other suffered minor injuries.

A police spokesman commented: “Both victims were minding their own business when they were subjected to racial abuse and violently assaulted.

“At the moment, we do not have a description of those responsible for this attack, so we are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and remembers seeing anything suspicious.

“Similarly, anyone with information that can help with our investigation is asked to come forward.”

The attack took place in Dean’s Close in Jedburgh town centre.

ANCRUM

WRI

Nancy McNichol gave a talk entitled “Danish Connections” at the latest meeting. Competition – Danish pastry – 1, J. Butler; 2, J. Macdonald; 3, R. Sinton. “Love to Bake” (cupcakes) with Gillian Haldane is the talk at the May 8 gathering. Competitions – three Gypsy creams (Fete Cup) and flower arrangement in an egg cup.

Bedrule

Whist

Military whist and dominoes will take place in the village hall on May 6 at 7.30pm. The event is in aid of Cancer Research.

Carfraemill

Blythswood Care

The lorry will be at Carfraemill on May 7 (12.30-12.45pm) to collect shoes, clothing, books and small items of furniture.

Earlston

Wednesday Club

Members were entertained by the Reverend John Sheilds of Kelso, previously minister in Lauder, who gave a talk about the history of the Kirk. Competition – wartime souvenir – 1, Sheila McKay; 2, Margaret Chisholm; 3, Alice Gilchrist. The competition for next week’s is a small piece of crystal. The annual outing is on May 22 and there will be seats available for non-members. Anyone who wishes to come should get in touch with any committee member. An invitation has been received from Mrs Foyle for the annual visit to Carolside on June 27.

Blood donors

At a blood-donor session, 118 volunteers offered to give blood and 108 donations were given. There were 10 new donors.

Church

The May 5 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. The Spring Fling on May 11 runs from 10am-2pm in the church hall. New or nearly-new clothes, household goods and toys (no electrical goods or heavy furniture) wanted. Call Ruth Scoular (01896 849539).

Ettrickbridge

Coffee morning

The monthly coffee morning and sale in aid of hall funds takes place in the village hall on May 4 (10am-noon). Anyone with items to sell should turn up, take a table and give a small donation to the hall.

WRI

Linda Riddell had members creating small flower arrangements – 1, Nancy Hamilton; 2, Isla Guthrie; 3, Sandra Moffat. Marjory Tennant won the Gypsy Cream competition (and the Miss McGowan trophy) and goes on to federation leve. Demonstrator for the May 8 gathering will be Cathy Meldrum from Granny’s Den and members will be using beads to create jewellery.

GALASHIELS

Church

Old Parish and St Paul’s Church will, on May 18, host a talk by Alex McLellan who previously lived in Selkirk and worshipped at the church before moving to the USA in order to advance his ministry. In recent months he has been working in New Zealand, Malaysia and Finland. Now also an author with his book, “A Jigsaw Guide to Making Sense of the World”, Alex’s talk runs from 7-9pm in the hall. The theme for the evening will be “How to Share the Ultimate Truth with Ordinary People”.

HAWICK

Bridge club

April 22 – 1, V. Johnstone and M. Miller; 2, S. White and J. Urquhart; 3 (equal), P. Gilligan and M. Millar, K. Auckland and I. Wyze; April 24 – 1, J. Urquhart and M. Tyson; 2, H. and M. Ouldcott; 3, D. Usher and I. Wyze.

Innerleithen

Church

The service in Innerleithen Church on May 5 will be at 10.30am.

Kelso

Roxburgh Singers

Sights and Sounds of Africa – a one-off performance combining African rhythms with the Latin of a mass, plus photographs taken by the composer on his journey through parts of Africa – will be held on May 18 at 7.30pm in Kelso Old Parish Church. Tickets at the door or from Hector Innes.

Bridge club

April 24 – match-pointed pairs – N/S – 1, Val Fairbairn and J. McLaren; 2, Lesley Dick and Linda Douglas ; 3, Joyce Thomson and Helenor Pratt; E/W – 1, Ernie Hopkins and Jeanette Chalmers; 2, Ian and Eliz Ross; 3, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson. April 25 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Jock Dun and Nancy Porter; 2, Dominic Alkin and Diana Alkin; 3, Sheena McPherson and Ken Ross. E/W – 1, Alison Darling and Mary Logan; 2, Shirley Armstrong and Moira Ayton; 3, Miles Browne and Richard Oates.

Advice surgery

Councillor Simon Mountford will hold an advice surgery in the Abbey Row Centre on May 11 at 11.15 am.

Rangers fans

The bus for the Berwick game leaves The Square at 8.45am on Saturday. Tickets from Jim Vass (01573 226240).

Thursday Group

Denise Playfair of the Vennel Gallery talked about painting animal portraits as she worked in pastel. Malcolm Ross spoke about working as a volunteer dentist in Israel 30 years ago and Elise brought

the story up to date with a holiday to the same region last year. The autumn syllabus is available – phone Isabel (01573 224753).

Fashion show

A fashion show in aid of Cancer Research UK will be held on May 2 at 6.30pm at M&Co, 16 Horsemarket.

Nominations

Kelso Community Events committee, busy organising St James’ Fair to be held on September 7 and 8, is seeking nominations from Primary 3 youngsters for the positions of king, queen, standard bearer and cushion bearer. Information and nomination forms are available from the six feeder primary schools and the deadline for entries is May 25, after which all the nomination forms will be put into a hat and the names of the four lucky principals drawn out.

Lilliesleaf

Market

A village hall market will be held on May 4 (10am-12.30pm), featuring a cookery demonstration and raffle for a hamper of goodies.

SPROUSTON

Advice surgery

Councillor Simon Mountford will hold an advice surgery in the Coronation Hall on May 11 at 10am.

Traquair

Service

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

Walkerburn

Service

The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on May 19 at 10 am.

yarrowford

WRI

Members were treated to a talk on cheese-making by Annie Shanks of Standhill Cheesery. Competitions – Gypsy Creams – 1, Annie Coltherd; 2, Jean Scott; bookmark – 1, Margaret Robinson; 2, Hannah Young. Winner of the raffle was Margaret Watson. The next meeting is on May 7 and features a floral art demonstration. Competitions – cream jug and small flower arrangement.

YETHOLM

Chairs

The new chairs for the Wauchope Hall have arrived – thanks to a donation from the Sainsbury’s grant scheme. The hall trustees are also grateful to Kelso community councillors who helped with the application procedure.

Speeding

For many months Yetholm Community Council has been concerned about vehicles speeding in Morebattle Road at the entrance to the village.Representations have been made to the police and Scottish Borders Council. Now a flashing electronic sign has been erected advising drivers of their speed and urging them to slow down.

Butchers

The community was dismayed when the village butchers closed – but it is reopening under new ownership and trading under the name of Valley Meats.

Romany marsh

As part of the village millennium celebrations, Yetholm created a walk around the bird sanctuary at Romany Marsh – and grants were received to make this possible. But now it needs upgrading, including replacement of the information board.

Music

News that The Plough Hotel is to continue with music sessions has been warmly greeted. Posters are on display in the village and these include photographs of participants at the first meeting. They will now be held on the first Saturday of the month at 7.30pm.

St Cuthbert’s Way

Members of Yetholm Kirk have been walking St Cuthbert’s Way on Fridays as a pilgrimage. The kirk’s annual retreat day to Holy Island coincides with the final walk which will be on May 3. The Holy Island Centre is booked from 1pm.Those wishing to join in the fellowship should contact Linda Fleming (01573 440396).

Galashiels Community Council will discuss a planning application for an advanced thermal treatment plant at land near Easter Langlee at its May meeting tomorrow.

Community councillors will also discuss the removal of a phone box at Wood Street. BT have to consult with the local community before taking away the box.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, which starts in the Burgh Chambers at 7pm.

Peebles Rovers and Gala Fairydean played out a 3-2 thriller last night in the East of Scotland First Division.

Andrew Brown for Gala stopped Peebles going ahead early with a goal-line clearance.

But at the other end George Gibson scored for The Fairies with a ten yard shot, hammering the underside of the crossbar.

Gala keeper Elliot Turnbull made a magnificent save from Craig Edgar’s 30 yard volley 30 minutes into the game but Geri Rossi made it 2-0 from close range from Frankie Arthur’s corner just before half time.

Grant Gass coolly finished via the post in the 60th minute to make it 3-0, and by now Gala seemed to have the victory secured.

Turnbull kept Gala ahead with another save, tipping Edgar’s header over the bar in the 65th minute.

Nicky Cairns opened Rovers’ account with a free kick two minutes later.

Cairns had a second free kick which hit off the crossbar a minute from time before Edgar scored the goal he deserved with a matter of seconds left.

BORDERER Stuart Hogg is one of only three Scots rugby players named in British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland’s squad to tour Australia this summer.

Gatland announced his 37-strong party this morning for the 10-match, three test tour, which begins against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1.

Only two other Scots got the nod, in the shape of Richie Gray and Sean Maitland, with disappointment for Borderers like Scotland captain, Kelly Brown, and international hooker, Ross Ford, who both miss out.

Speaking to The Southern shortly after the announcement was made, Hogg’s coach at Glasgow Warriors, former Gala, Scotland and Lions fly-half Gregor Townsend, said he was delighted for the Hawick fullback.

He told us: “We moved training so the guys could watch the announcement - Stuart didn’t come in, but stayed outside practising kicking.

“ But he had his phone with him and there was a scream of joy from the pitch when he found out.”

BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS SQUAD

Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland), George North (Wales), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilagi (England), Owen Farrell (England), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).

Forwards: Dan Cole (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England), Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England), Tom Croft (England), Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sam Warburton (Wales, C).

Rural businesses and communities are being given the chance to find out how they can get better broadband at an event in Kelso next week.

The free event, running from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday, May 8, is being put on by the Southern Uplands Partnership at the Cross Keys Hotel.

Pip Tabor, project manager at the partnership, said: “Rural communities will increasingly depend on the presence of online businesses if they are to remain vibrant and attract and retain younger people.

“The modern tourist will expect to be able to receive services online wherever they are, and the novelty of lack of signal or broadband connection is likely to quickly become a significant issue for potential visitors.

“This event seeks to increase awareness of these issues and some of the solutions to them.”

He added that although efforts were being made to extend superfast broadband to 90 per cent of the UK population, it was likely that more remote and rural areas would be left out, meaning they need to take action themselves to get better connected.

Those attending will be able to hear from groups who have already helped themselves, and from organisations who can offer support and funding.

For more information visitwww.sup.org.uk or contact 01750 725154.