A friendly football match between the coaches of Gala Dean JFC and Gala Fairydean Youths FC raised £250 for the Rowan Boland Memorial Trust.

All the players contributed to the cause and a quiz afterwards in the clubrooms at the 3G Arena helped swell the kitty. Gala Fairydean Youths chairman Derek McGill said: “We get well supported with our fundraisers so it was nice that both clubs decided to give something back and there is no better local charity than the Rowan Boland Memorial Trust.”

Rowan’s uncle George Henry, a trustee of the charity, added: “We are very grateful to both football clubs for their support.”

The significance of Earl Haig’s First World War diary has been underlined with its inclusion in the UK Memory of the World register.

The online register, run by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), promotes the importance of documentary heritage across the UK and the world.

Field Marshal Haig’s diary, held by the National Library of Scotland, was added to the register on Tuesday, along with the Domesday Book, the silent films of Alfred Hitchcock, and the personal archive of Sir Winston Churchill.

“This year’s inscriptions reflect the richness of UK culture and history, from medieval
manuscripts to ground-breaking cinema,” said David Dawson, chair of the UK Memory of the World committee.

“We hope that today’s announcement will encourage people to discover these items and collections, as well as some of the other great documentary heritage near them.’

During the 1914-1918 war, Haig was Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force and recorded the war’s progress every day in his handwritten diary, including his account of key battles such as the Somme and Passchendaele.

It offers a unique insight into both the conduct of the war and one of the most controversial generals in the British Army’s entire history.

The diary is part of a wider collection of Haig’s personal papers at the National Library of Scotland.

It may be the closed season, but there is still plenty of movement within the Borders Premiership rugby clubs to keep us going.

And, there will be plenty more before the new season starts officially on August 17 with the Border League game at the Greenyards between Melrose and Selkirk.

Gala’s 37-year-old ex-Samoan international Opeta Palepoi has decided to give it another season with the Maroons following successful knee surgery. He was very keen to get back on the pitch again to try and win the Premiership with Gala following last season’s runners-up position.

The Netherdale outfit has also been looking to fill the gap left by Lee Millar, now plying his trade with London Scottish, and David O’Hagan from Musselburgh and Ewan Scott (Jed-Forest) have been signed to the club with a view to battling it out with others for the number 10 jersey. Liam Draycott, Craig Russell and Rory Sutherland have also joined the Maroons.

Three players from abroad will be arriving at the Greenyards, in the shape of South Africans Austin Lockington, James Head and Australian Todd Pearce, under new Melrose captain Fraser Thomson.

Countless races have been won and lost since Jedburgh Border Games were first held in 1853, and there is a lot more to be done on Saturday.

The Riverside Park meeting is always a big occasion and this weekend’s card certainly has a big-time look about it.

For along with the top event on the programme, the 110m handicap with its prize pot of £3,000, top Borders amateur runner Guy Learmonth is looking to make a record-breaking appearance in the 800m handicap event.

The 21-year-old from ­Berwick is a class act and has represented Scotland at both outdoor and indoor level.

Coached by Henry Gray, he has also broken many a running record and on the pastures of Riverside, he is hoping to add another one, and perhaps two, to his list.

Running from scratch, Learmonth’s aim is to better the British professional record time of 1 minute 51.5 seconds, which was set by Jim Gray of Livingston on the tartan track of Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium in 1975.

To go quicker than this on a grass surface would be a great achievement. In addition, and with the organisers permission he would also like to try for the world 880yd grass record. Gray told TheSouthern: “Guy was disappointed not to make it into the British team for the Under-23 European Championships this week, despite making the qualifying time, and he decided it would be good to do something a bit different for a change.

“He is heading towards his peak and is in great form, so now seemed the right time to go for these records.

“If he keeps improving the way he has been doing this may be his last appearance on the local circuit and it would be great if the local crowds got behind him on Saturday.”

Back marker for the sprint event is Jedburgh’s own Greg Turnbull.

There are a string of other Jed sprinters bidding for glory on their home town track such as Kevin Amos (14.5m), Seb Harrison (3m), Iskan Barskanmay (4.5m), Scott Richardson (6m), Scott Elliot (14.5m), Cameron Grieve (7.5m), Craig Grieve (3.5m), Craig Gillan (4.5m), Darrin Scott (7m), Darren Tomlinson (11m) and Tommy Finkle (12m).

Other senior races plus junior and youths’ events complete the Jedburgh card.

Most small businesses are set up by people who want to work for themselves, have control over their own destiny and the flexibility to do things their way. But do they actually need to work by themselves?

Franchising offers a proven model that provides a popular, lower-risk alternative to the traditional start-up route. Franchise businesses are four times more likely to succeed than other small businesses and opportunities are increasing as successful UK companies see this route as an effective way to grow.

Franchising is no longer the exclusive domain of the man-with-a-van or the burgerflipper; it now includes professional business-to-business services.

The obvious benefits of buying a franchise are recognised: the business is based on a proven idea; the franchisor provides support (usually in the form of training etc); the franchisee normally has exclusive rights to his or her territory; and it may be easier to raise finance as banks are more likely to lend money to buy a business with a good reputation.

In addition, there is enormous benefit to be had from belonging to a community of non-competing, like-minded individuals. This offers potential for sharing best-practice support from other franchisees.

Naturally, there are risks. The would-be franchisee must do their due diligence. This includes talking to existing franchisees before making an investment. The financial model is critical to ensuring there will be sufficient returns for all parties.

The main downside is that potential returns are not as high as you might have dreamed of getting from alternative start-up businesses. But for those looking for a relatively low-risk investment with a reasonable medium-term return, then it is definitely worth considering buying a franchise.

Contact me on simon@simon-mountford.co.uk

Levenlea is an impressive south west facing substantial yellow sandstone detached Victorian family villa set within exquisite and very private mature formal gardens.

The grounds extend to approximately 3.19 acres, located in an elevated position on the outskirts of the Royal and Ancient burgh of Selkirk with fine open views.

Built in 1876 for a local mill owner, Levenlea has been sympathetically and lovingly restored and renovated in 1999 by the current owners to an impressive standard.

Using specialist local tradesmen, the property retains much of the charm and character of a house of its age and grandeur, with features such as fine intarsia floor tiling, sweeping staircase, cornicing and solid oak flooring, working shutters, and marble fireplaces.

The well proportioned and immaculately presented versatile accommodation is set over three floors, with stunning views over the gardens to the town and countryside beyond.

The exquisite mature formal gardens have been extremely well landscaped to provide a large pond with gazebo and rockeries surrounding, together with an unusual decked viewing platform.

A large paved terrace is used for al-fresco entertaining, and a significant feature of the garden is the bespoke barbecue hut, which provides a lovely informal space for entertaining with a central fire pit.

The mature rockery is an enchanting feature of the gardens and leads up to an extensive greenhouse, with a prolific fruiting vine, Calor gas facilities and automatic mechanical opening ventilation system, together with light and plumbing/water.

The garden is a paradise for any horticulturalist with a range of raised beds, cold frames, kitchen garden, potting shed, fruit cage and herb garden. A red brick arbor is a lovely feature.

The amenity is further enhanced by grazing/potential paddock and by mixed mature woodland.

A recently constructed timber outbuilding currently arranged as garaging, could easily be adapted to form stabling.

One year after opening its doors as a ŠKODA authorised repairler and used car retailer, business is booming at Lawrie’s Garage.

The St Boswells-based Volkswagen and ŠKODA retailer recorded an impressive 47 per cent increase in sales in the last 12 months, compared with the same period last year.

General manager, Craig Anderson, who heads up operations at Lawrie’s Garage said: “It’s been an incredible year for us with significant growth to our Volkswagen business as well as the introduction of the ŠKODA brand.

“What is encouraging, not only have we grown and developed the business, we have improved our customer satisfaction and are now in the top 20 per cent in the UK for Volkswagen customer satisfaction.

“Motorists in the area have really taken to the fantastic ŠKODA range, and our customer base has grown significantly over the past year as a result.”

It is a busy time to join ŠKODA, with the launch of the addition of the ŠKODA Rapid and Citigo to the range. Lawrie’s Garage employs specialist technicians and customer service staff from the local area. With more than 100 years of combined Volkswagen group expertise in house, the team is specially trained to deliver expert service to ŠKODA customers.

Craig continued: “As an authorised repairer we are dedicated to delivering ŠKODA’s Customer Promise – so our customers can rely on professional expertise and attention to detail in our work, and a flexible and convenient service.”

ŠKODA UK has had an outstanding start to the year: registrations for the key sales month of March were up 14.2 per cent on 2012. With demand for the brand’s all-new Octavia playing an important role, UK new car registrations for the manufacturer broke the 9,000 barrier for the first time.

Offering more space, technology and greater value for money than its predecessor, the third generation Octavia has alreadybeen lauded by customers and experts alike, receiving five stars from both What Car? and Auto Express magazines.

Lawrie’s Garage is located on the A68, in St Boswells, TD6 0EW.

For more information, call 0845 618 5386.

It looks like summer has finally arrived, after a wait of around three years! June was good, but July looks set to be even better, with a glorious weekend behind us and the forecast set fair for the coming week at least.

In the countryside things have really got going, with rampant growth beginning to swamp everything if left unchecked. The summer flowers are really kicking in now.

Where the grass is long and rank, tall flowers like foxglove, comfrey and gowan are all out-competing it to attract the attention of the bees and other pollinating insects, which are now beginning to show in better numbers.

Butterflies are still thin on the ground, but I did see a couple of ringlets on Sunday flitting through the long grass.

I also noticed that bird song is definitely on the wane as the breeding season draws to a close. A few of the warblers are still singing, but most birds will now be getting ready for their annual moult.

There is a dedicated few which are getting ready for a second brood, however. Some blackbirds in my back garden can be seen taking away worms, indicating a nest full of hungry youngsters and one swallow’s nest which I know has recently fledged, now contains eggs once again.

While cleaning out roof guttering last week, I came across a sight which made me think that some birds are not all that clever in selecting their nest sites.

Where the down-pipe drains the gutter, I usually put a ball of chicken wire to stop any debris going down the pipe. I was just about to lift one out to clean out the accumulated moss and leaves, when I saw it move.

It was a nest with four young birds! Knowing the danger they faced in the event of a heavy downpour, I gently poked a hole underneath it with my finger to let the water through.

I had no idea what species they were, so once I had finished, I retreated behind a nearby bush to wait for the adult to appear to feed them.

Minutes later it appeared with a beakful of insects. It was a spotted flycatcher – a bird which is becoming scarcer and is one of the last summer migrants to arrive, hence the lateness of the nesting.

So far it has been fortunate, with little in the way of heavy rain, but let’s hope this warm weather doesn’t create a “thunder plump” or they are really in trouble.

ST BOSWELLS

John Swan Ltd sold 73 clean cattle, 50 OTM cattle, 1496 new season lambs, 117 old season lambs and 547 ewes.

Bullocks (31) averaged 245p per kg and sold to 272p (+9.0p on week) Heifers (38) averaged 244p per kg and sold to 258p (+5.0p on week) .

Four young bulls averaged 226.7p per kg and sold to 245p (+8.7p on week), 50 beef type OTM cattle averaged 155.5p per kg and sold to 211p (+2.1p on the week).

New season lambs averaged 229.9p per kg and sold to £134(-1.5p on week)

Ewes averaged £60.70 and sold to £117, heavy ewes £75.78, light ewes £51.58.

LONGTOWN

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. had forward 51 prime cattle, 11 young bulls, 24 over thirty month cattle, 2,526 prime lambs, 1,638 prime hoggs and 4,987 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday 4 Another good show of prime cattle again met a fast trade and more required. Top price to 263.5p for a Limousin bullock shown by J.C. & D. Nicholson & Son, The Gill, Messrs Nicholsons run of cattle averaged 257.9p, others to 258.5p (twice) from A. & W.J. Taylor & Son. Limousin heifers sold to 259.5p from D.J. Garthwaite & Son, Wyseby Hill Cottage, their run of 5 heifers levelling at 254p. PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER KILO) Bullocks Limousin 263.5p The Gill, 258.5p (x2), 256.5p Dashwellgreen, 255.5p The Gill and Dashwellgreen, 252.5p, 251.5p (x2) Dashwellgreen, 250.5p Houghton House, 249.5p, 247.5p, 242.5p Dashwellgreen, 234.5p Houghton House. British Blue 255.5p The Gill. Charolais 247.5p, 243.5p (x2) High Stenries, 239.5p Dashwellgreen, 230.5p, 229.5p High Stenries. Heifers Limousin 259.5p, 256.5p, 254.5p, 253.5p, 245.5p Wyseby Hill Cottage, 242.5p, 224.5p Hallburn. PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER HEAD) Bullocks British Blue £1,788 The Gill. Limousin £1,783 Dashwellgreen, £1,711 The Gill, £1,659, £1,633 Dashwellgreen, £1,628 Houghton House, £1,607 The Gill. Charolais £1,704, £1,608 High Stenries. PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER HEAD) Heifers Limousin £1,479, £1,295, £1,242, £1,239 Wyseby Hill Cottage, £1,236 Hallburn, £1,234, £1,201 Sceughdyke. Charolais £1,294, £1,287, £1,216 Sceughdyke. British Blue £1,226 Becton Hall. More prime bulls forward and a shortage of quality sorts. Top price of 242.5p for a Limousin shown by J. Retson & Son, Gardrum. Black & Whites sold to 190.5p and 189.5p both from W.A. Clark, Whins Farm PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER KILO). Limousin 242.5p, 229.5p Gardrum, 201.5p Harelawhole. British Blue 234.5p Gardrum. Simmental 191.5p The Hagg. Black & White 190.5p, 189.5p Whins, 170.5p Harelawhole. PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER HEAD) Limousin £1,394, £1,227 Gardrum. Black & White £1,364, £1,209 Whins. British Blue £1,271 Gardrum. OTM cows saw some plainer sorts of offer with trade similar and topping at 228.5p and 185.5p for Limousin shown by Messrs Ritson, Swaites. British Blues to 163.5p from G.P. & E.A. Coates, Beckhall Farm. PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER KILO) Limousin 228.5p, 185.5p Swaites, 149.5p, 147.5p High Stenries. British Blue 163.5p Beckhall. Angus 142.5p, 141.5p, 138.5p Harehill. Longhorn 137.5p Beckhall. Simmental 129.5p Archerbeck. PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER HEAD) Limousin £1,439, £1,038 Swaites. Simmental £1,172, £985 Morley Hill. Angus £1,083, £1,047, £1,024 Harehill. British Blue £1,070 Beckhall. Longhorn £969 Beckhall. th July 2013. An excellent show of 2,526 prime lambs were forward to a full ring of buyers with some new customers operating. A quality show of best export Texel and Beltex lambs were forward and continued to sell at recent high rates, whilst the other Suffolk and Continental lambs were on par with the national average. Lightweight lambs continue to sell in excess of £70 and are probably best cashed whilst fleshed. The overall average was a respectable 221.2p per kilo. The demand for best export lambs was as good as seen for many weeks regularly selling between 240p and 270p and remain short of buyers requirements. Top price of 272p per kilo for Texels from Messrs Hutton, How Farm with a top per head of £119.50 for Texels from A. Sutherland, Carran, Caithness. PRINCIPAL PRICES PER HEAD Texel £119.50 Carran, £109.50 Copperthorns, £109 Great Bidlake, £108.50 Carran. Suffolk £105.80 West Wharmley, £100 Sykehead and Haithwaite, £99.80 Long Strumble, £98.80 Kilnford Croft. Charollais £103.50 The Chestnuts, £100 West Wharmley, £99 Streethead, £96.80 Knowe Farm, £94 Trawill. Hampshire £90, £82.80 Chapel Farm, £76.80 Willimoteswick. Greyface £86.80 Great Bidlake, £85.80 Westend, £76.80 Riggshield. Oxford £81.20 Guards. Zwartbles £80 Holmlea. Hill Cheviot £80 Riggshield, £76.80 Kimmeter Green. Beltex £79.80 Old Hall. PRINCIPAL PRICES PER KILO Texel 272p How Farm, 268p Harene, 265p Carran, 261p Copperthorns, 257p Lustruther, 255p Carran, 252p Middle Farm. Beltex 242.5p Cowcorse Cottage, 238.1p, 222p Old Hall, 219p High Airyolland. Charollais 239p Golden Lane, 235p Trawill, 233p West Wharmley and Porterstown, 230p Cardew Hall. Suffolk 235p Nettling Flatt, 230p Carsegowan, 229p Woodhead, 227p Wallend, 226p Porterstown. Greyface 213p, 207p High Airyolland, 207p Great Bidlake, 203p Tarnside House, 201.9p Westend. Hill Cheviot 223p Cottage. Oxford 208p Guards. Hampshire 220p, 218p Chapel Farm, 213p Willimoteswick. Half Bred 193p Nettling Flatt. The 696 light weight lambs sold to a top of £89.80 for Texels from Lustruther, £87.80 Croft Road and Tarnside House; Suffolk £78.80 Lustruther, £74.20 Albierigg; Beltex £73.80 Old Hall, £67.80 High Airyolland; Charollais £71.80 Keld Head and Golden Lane; Greyface £70.20, £62.20 High Airyolland; Half Bred £58 Nettling Flatt; Hill Cheviot £55.80 Cottage. Also marketed during the week on a weigh and pay basis were 260 lightweight lambs between 26 and 36 kilos, which are now sought after weekly. Contact Archie for details. An unbelievable show of 1,638 prime hoggs were forward in the first week of July to a busy ring of buyers all still keen for hoggs providing they had good flesh. The sale average was 158.5p per kilo, similar to last week. Demand for hoggs is likely to continue, as long as they are carrying flesh. The sale was topped at £95.50 per head for Texels from Golden Lane and to 206p per kilo for Suffolks from Haithwaite. PRINCIPAL PRICES PER HEAD Texel £95.50 Golden Lane, £90.50 Marygate, £88.50 Horncastle, £87.50 Marygate. Charollais £92.50 Broomhills, £79.80 Marygate. Suffolk £87.50 Marygate, £85.50 Clackmae, £79.50 Marygate. Easycare £84.50 Mossfennan, £76.50 Marygate, £69.50 Mossfennan. North Country Cheviot £83.50 Horncastle, £80.50 Marygate, £76.50 Longoe. Greyface £82.50 Low Dubwath, £79.50 Horncastle, £77.50 Haithwaite. Hill Cheviot £74.50 Adderston Shiels, £72.50 Haithwaite, £67.50 Horncastle. Blackface £70.50 Marygate, £69.50, £68.50 Sornfallow, £67.50 Millriggs. Swaledale £69.50 Marygate, £67.50 Nunscleugh, £64.50 Westernhopeburn. Jacob £65.50, £59.50 Peth Head. PRINCIPAL PRICES PER KILO Suffolk 206p Haithwaite, 191p Blackhaugh, 180p Marygate. Texel 201p Broomhills, 191p Palmer Hill, 190p Golden Lane and Lochend, 188p Broomhills. Hill Cheviot 193p Kidshielhaugh, 182p Blackhaugh, 181p Peth Head. Blackface 182p Millriggs, 180p Sornfallow, 175p Broomhills and Barker House, 174p Sornfallow. North Country Cheviot 180p Sornfallow, 176p, 174p The Mark. Easycare 178p Marygate, 169p Mossfennan. Swaledale 174p Marygate, 169p Nunscleugh, 168p Marygate. Greyface 168p Almagill, 166p Broomhills, 164p Cowcorse Cottage, 163p Westernhopeburn. A much larger show of 4,987 cast ewes and rams were forward to the usual ring of buyers with trade for all classes sharper on the week on the build up to the Muslim festival of Ramadam. Small ewes and rams of all classes continue to be short of buyers requirements. Heavy ewes to £122.50 for Texels from Cubby Hill, Riverside and Sawmill Lane, £120.50 Carran, £118.50 Riverside, £117.50 Haithwaite; Charollais £114.50 Riverside, £106.50 Baron, £104.50 Sawmill Lane, £102.50 Jonesboro; Suffolk £110.50 Jonesboro, £101.50 Riverside, £100 Catslackburn, 99.50 Jonesboro; Beltex £107.50 Waterside, £87.50 High Airyolland; Leicester £88.50 Lowes Fell, £86.50 Croft Road, £75.50 Sawmill Lane, £69.50 Gapshield; Zwartbles £82.50 Broynach, £72.50 Church Road, £71.50 West Clyth, £70.50 Broynach; North Country Cheviot £82.50 Sawmill Lane, £80.50 Longoe, £74.50 Kingside and Broynach, £71.50 Sornfallow; Greyface £76.50 Sawmill Lane, £75.50 Longyester, £74.50 Streethead, Sornfallow, Kirkhill, Aikengall, Pennant, Leithen Hall, Trecorner and High Airyolland. Hill ewes to £68.50 for Cheviots from Ysgubor and Longoe and for Blackface from Edges Green, other Cheviots £67.50 Ysgubor, £65.50 Bardnaclaven, £60.50 George Street, other Blackface £66.50 Gall Farm, £61.50 Longyester, £57.50 Mossfennan; Lleyn £62.50 The Mark, £60.50 No 1 Hallum, £56.50 Blackhaugh, £55.50 The Mark; Swaledale £62.50 Hesket House, £60.50 Coldshield, £55.50 Nettling Flatt, £48.50 Common House; Jacob £60.50 Woodside Cottage, £42.50 Ringliggate; Easycare £57.50 Mossfennan, £44.50 Cowcorse; Beulah £54.50 Cottage; Herdwick £52.50 Nettling Flatt. Rams to £130.50 for Texels from Netherplace, £122.50 Kirkland Green, £112.50 Glenhill; Suffolk £120.50 Aikton, £118.50 Great Bidlake, £108.50 Church Road; Charollais £120.50 Relief, £116.50 Sawmill Lane; Zwartbles £116.50 Holmlea; Leicester £114.50 Nunscleugh, £90.50 Gapshield, £73.50 Ysgubor; Beltex £112.50 Glenhill, £96.50 High Airyolland; Oxford £98.50 Severs; Dorset £96.50 Jonesboro; Lleyn £94.50 South Riccalton; North Country Cheviot £90.50 Baron, £72.50 Blackhaugh, £70.50 Kintradwell; Herdwick £74.50 Hesket House; Swaledale £66.50 Gall Farm, £58.50 Nettling Flatt; Blackface £60.50 Achingills..

While excitement builds for this year’s Kelso Laddie, Calum Thomson, spare a thought for the town’s relatively new provost, John Bassett.

John took over from Fiona Scott earlier this year after Mrs Scott stepped down after four years in the post.

Mr Bassett says he considers it a great honour and privilege to be able to play such a prominent role in the town’s annual Civic Week, which commences on Saturday.

“For me, I will probably feel the same level of excitment as Calum, our Kelso Laddie, as this is my first time as provost during Civic Week.

“To be provost during such an important time in the town’s year is pretty special and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’m just hoping we can enjoy some of the fantastic weather the other Borders common ridings and festivals have already enjoyed so far this summer.”

Asked if there was any part of the Civic Week celebrations he was particularly looking forward to, Mr Bassett singled out the handing over of the town’s colours.

“That is a real privilege to be able to do that. As provost I am also president of the Kelso Laddies Association and it means I will be attending 29 different functions during the Civic Week celebrations.

“Luckily, Jean, my wife, is very understanding about the fact she isn’t going to see much of me for a week!”

Hark ye gallant chiels o’ Kelsae, Dance and sing your cares away, Drink a toast – a bright tomorrow, Never, never dread that day.

So runs the chorus of the rousing seven-verse The Gallant Chiels o’ Kelsae which will soon be sung again with great gusto during Kelso Civic Week.

This year, Kelso Civic Week celebrations will be led by proud Calum Thomson, a 20-year-old joiner.

Kelsonians, their neighbours and friends will be out in force to support their Laddie and remember Provost Scott’s contribution to the life of this burgh.

Two of Calum’s most ardent supporters will be his parents David and Vera. Also lending family backing will be younger sister Emma. Calum’s right and Left-Hand men are immediate past Laddies Callum Vickers and Phil Hume.

Proud Calum of Tanners Court, told TheSouthern in April following his Declaration night: “I’m thrilled to bits. I’m looking forward to the Yetholm ride, the bussing, carrying the Burgh Standard on the Saturday and going to the other Borders towns visiting the other principals.”

The young golfer attended Broomlands Primary and Kelso High Schools before becoming a joiner for the Duke of Roxburghe.

He describes his horse riding skills as “mediocre”: he first took lessons last year to follow Callum and will be brushing up for the summer.

The Burgh Standard will be in his safe hands as it is bussed in the four corners of a packed Kelso Square – the largest in Scotland – by house captain Carly Thom, 11, and 12-year-old Fiona Lessenger of Broomlands Primary School, and from Edenside Primary School, p7 pupil Ellie Scott, 11 and vice-house captain, Holly Hay, 12.

Calum Thomson is the toast of Kelsae Bonnie Kelsae – but surely there will be a toast or two also for baker John Scott whose recipe for a Civic Week is standing the test of time.

Sunday July 14:

Family Day at Shedden Park, 1pm to 4pm; Sponsored bike race; Laying of wreath at war memorial, 6pm; Kirking of the Laddie in St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6.30pm.

Monday July 15:

Children’s pet show, opened at 1.15pm by the Kelso Laddie in Tait Hall; Art exhibition opens at 3pm in Town Hall (open usually 10-5 and 7-9); Ride to Roxburgh, Heiton and Springwood, leaves Woodside Park 4.15pm; Gymkhana show jumping at Springwood Park, 7.30pm; Dance at Heiton, 10pm

Tuesday July 16:

Ride to Stichill, Hume and Ednam, leaving from New Industrial Estate 4pm (return to Square at 9.30pm approx ); Final of darts competitions at RBL at 7.30pm; Karaoke, RBL, 8.30pm - 11pm.

Wednesday July 17:

Children’s sports, Poynder Park, 1.30pm; Baby show, rugby club, starts 2pm prompt; Pipe Band, The Square, 6.30pm; Installation of the Kelso Laddie and Colour Bussing, The Square, 7pm; Torchlight procession, leaves Mayfield at 11pm; Fireworks display, The Cobby, starting at 11.15pm.

Thursday July 18:

Children’s fancy dress, Tait Hall, 1.30pm - 4pm; Ride to Floors Castle and cycle fun run, leaves Woodside Park at 4.30pm;

Friday July 19:

Fun Olympics swimming gala, swimming pool, 1.30pm; Whipman’s Ride, leaves The Square at 5.40pm, returning 8.45pm approx; Horse racing, Friarshaugh, 7pm.

Saturday July 20: Yetholm ride, leaves The Square at 8.30am, returning at 4.45pm; Caerwys Male Voice Choir, The Square, 3.30pm - 4.30pm; Fancy dress judging, Tait Hall, 6.15pm (procession leaves hall at 7pm); Presentation of cups and return of Kelso Standard at conclusion of the procession in The Square; Greeting Party, Tait Hall, 8.30pm to 1am;

Full details in the official souvenir programme which is available (£4) from local newsagents and Hector Innes (Photographer).

Endurance athletes Dr Andrew Murray and Donnie Campbell ran up and down Africa’s highest mountain in a day last week.

The fundraising duo completed the 5,895metres up and down in seven hours on day one of their 18-day expedition running through East Africa. Trekkers usually take five to seven days to summit, many suffering from high-altitude sickness.

The pair will be running ultramarathon distances every day to cover over 900km, through tropical rainforests, game reserves and up Mt Kenya, as former Borders doctor Andrew aims to find out the secrets of the success of Kenyan runners.

Andrew, who ran the Eildons five times as a training run the week before he left for Africa, told TheSouthern: “Mt Kilimanjaro was huge, imposing, but beautiful.

“It feels like my feet have been through a lawnmower, and we are pretty tired, but we took quite a scientific approach, with advice from colleagues at SportScotland helping us get there.

“What a phenomenal day, climbing through rainforest, montane scenery and finally glacier before topping out.”

The former Hawick and Galashiels GP, now also a sports medicine doctor with SportScotland Institute of Sport, took the Western Breach, the steepest route up the mountain, with his former Marine Commando running mate and current 100km Scottish champion.

Andrew’s objective is to discover the secrets to the success of East African athletes – home to 90 of the best 100 marathon runners in the world – and to use that information to help Scottish middle and long-distance runners ahead of next summer’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games in Rio.

He said: “We’ll see some incredible things, but the chance to spend time in the company of world-beating athletes and coaches will be a highlight. The area around Iten is the single greatest production line of world-class sporting talent on Earth. Is it the altitude, what they eat, genetics, role modelling, a lack of school buses, or other factors that make them so successful?”

Traditionally, endurance runners are lean and not too tall. They eat a diet heavy in carbohydrate and they have certain mental attributes such as persistence, a lack of fear about failure and they know how to psychologically face and overcome pain.

A study of successful Kenyan runners – all about 5’9” and weighing about 59kg (9 stone 4 lbs) – found nearly 90 per cent of their daily calories came from vegetable sources and that they took in about 600 grammes of carbohydrate every day.

“A very interesting observation was that each elite Kenyan spent just 1.2 hours per day running, with about 33 per cent of this consisting of “quality running”. This means that the elite-Kenyans’ daily “intake” of quality running was about 23 minutes, said Owen Anderson, Ph.D (www.active.com/running/Articles/Eating_practices_of_the_best_endurance_athletes_in_the_world)

“Sports-nutrition experts frequently recommend that athletes involved in strenuous training should consume about nine or more grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of body mass per day, so you can see that the Kenyans were truly eating according to current scientific wisdom,” he continues.

Also as per most authorities, he found the athletes always ate within one hour of workouts which maximised glycogen synthesis (the body putting user-friendly glucose into muscles to use).

But Andrew brings to the quest his medical training and also his own phenomenal feats. The author of Running Beyond Limits has won numerous endurance races, including The Sahara Race (2009), The Gobi Challenge (2009, 2012), the 6633 Ultra (2009), the Indo Ultra (2010) and the Scottish Ultra (2009).

In 2011 he achieved wider fame when he ran 2,659 miles from John O’Groats to the Sahara desert. He won the North Pole Marathon in April last year, despite breaking his wrist 10 days before the event. And in November he ran seven ultra marathons in seven continents on seven consecutive days.

Sunshine without showers. Music without madness. And loads of fun. That was my Friday to Monday under canvas at Newcastleton – the village’s annual traditional music festival, a weekend of concerts, competitions and workshops, and a time of open sessions inside and outside bars, on grass verges, park benches, campsites and along the river bank.

This 18th-century village alongside the Liddel Water has a resident population of approximately 852 which, at the time of the festival, soars to thousands. And that’s not an exaggeration.

Newcastleton is known as Copshaw or the Holm, and a few years ago a number of local worthies decided that the village had been absent too long from the calender of Border common ridings, gatherings and civic weeks. And so the Copshaw Common Riding was born.

Grey Matter has already told how the principal is the Tub (think cornet and ice cream) and their sidekick, the Flake, and how the riders are on bikes and dress in yellow (think Tour de France). Sexual equality has never been a problem with Copshaw Common Riding. There have been a number of female Tubs and an equal number of male Flakes. Gillian McGimsey was this year’s choice for Tub, elected by a public vote, and a fine job she did.

Because this is Copshaw, the common riding is different from all else, although there is more than a clear indication that its founding fathers toured the Border towns to obtain a few ideas on which to base their festival which has surely found a place in the calender of the aye beens.

I was privileged this year to be asked to sing (?) in the Shed and I happily joined the queue at The Monument where the Sod was cut and snogged and the Tequila supped. I sampled the Kipper and the Fadge, but missed the ceremonies of the Holm Brig Toblerone and Whisky, the Touching of the Cloth and the Twa Posh Chickens because I was tuning my washboard to do battle in the festival’s Miscellaneous Instrument Competition in the village hall

This was my third attempt at securing the trophy and again I failed. But my failure was an improvement. I wasn’t last. I was fourth equal out of five. So, really I shared last place with a saxophonist who must improve and is vastly better on the pipes. We commiserated our defeat by performing a duet (see right) in Douglas Square.

My failure did not end on the musical stage. A niece, Kathryn, and boyfriend Blair arrived, and at the sports field – nourished by a 99 cone – Blair and I entered the adult sprint. I was kindly given a start of 30 yards and two inches, but finished second last.

There’s a part in the proceedings where I address the haggis. I forgot the words and my only solace was that when I asked Bonchester’s Henry Douglas for help, he forgot too. I was chuffed again to be able play my washboard with Jedburgh Royal British Legion Pipe Band – my years in the BB ensuring I kept in step.

Someone said to me towards the end of the week that Copshaw was out of this world. No – because without Copshaw, the world would be a poorer place.

The relevance of religion in a secular society has been knocked sideways by every kind of indiscretion, whether it be sexual or extremist.

It’s not good enough to say that God gave man free will and man screwed up.

White Elephant brings the subject back to basics. Poverty. A priest is a worker for the benefit of the community. End of story.

This is Buenos Aires. The slums are dangerous. There are men here that the pigs (police) want to take out permanently. Drug dealers rule. Kids follow their lead. The cycle of despair keeps on turning.

Father Julian (Ricardo Darin) is attempting to build a hospital within the ruin of an abandoned high rise with the help of local politicians and church officials. Naturally bureaucracy takes preference.

Stop there! This isn’t a talky-talky corruption drama, exposing low dealings amongst high-ups. It’s a raw, engrossing, emotionally fierce film that cuts to the heart of what it means to sacrifice personal ambition for a higher cause.

Except this higher cause becomes a battleground. Father Nicolas (Jeremie Renier), a French speaking priest brought in to help Julian, has been damaged by exposure to the real thing when working up the Amazon where the inhabitants of a tribal village were massacred before his eyes.

He is a good man, choked by guilt, whose involvement with a beautiful volunteer (Martina Gusman) seems as natural as it is sensitively portrayed.

If the church has lost its way these slum priests have found another.

The film makes no concessions to the audience which means it takes time to find connections. Once hooked, however, there is no release. White Elephant matters.

Huge equals box office bonanza. Otherwise this would be Robocop in Jurassic Park, with computer generated everything.

But wait! Who wants to go down the apocalyptic path to world destruction? Again?

This time it is alien creatures from the depth of the ocean, aiming to colonise Earth, trash it and move on.

Apparently, they breathe air, like Godzilla, and once on land crush cities by walking over them, making deafening sounds, magnified to typhoon levels.

Japan and the west coast of America take the brunt of their nastiness.

Bullets and bombs are like midge bites, annoying, but not life threatening.

Eventually, US boffins come up with a possible solution, RoboDaddies, about the size of the Empire State Building and operated from inside by twin “pilots”.

To explain the intricate technology of these fighting machines would take until next week.

What they do is have underwater punch-ups with the monsters. Sometimes they win; sometimes they don’t.

Yes, it is that simple.

Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am!

The film is 40 minutes too long and the 3-D is a waste of specs.

The hunky young heroes all look alike, with the exception of Rinko Kikuchi, pictured below, who is Japanese and a girl.

The man they call Stacker Pentecost, played in one dimension by our very own Idris Elba (Luther, The Wire), behaves like an apprentice dictator – no humour, no listen, no character.

A couple of nerdy scientists who speak so fast you can’t understand them are the comic relief – no comic, no relief.

The film is borderline boring, despite superb special effects, and the plot could hardly be more predictable.

The human race might as well throw in the towel when Stacker begins a speech to his troops,

“At the edges of your hope, at the end of our time...”

Except you don’t. See me. See anything.

Magic on screen is an oxymoron because in terms of what you can do with it, film is magical anyway, so how to boggle minds using a system that is itself a shape shifter feels as tough as lion hide.

Ah, you say, that’s what illusionists do, baffle you with impossibilities until logic collapses in a heap of amazement. Or amusement. Or custard.

Four illusionists put on ginormous public shows in which banks are robbed and money thrown about. A FBI agent who constantly gets things wrong and a French blonde from Interpol who is sexy enough to be forgiven attempt to track them down. Morgan Freeman appears as an ex-illusionist who specialises in exposing other illusionists and Michael Caine puts in an appearance as a dodgy millionaire who specialises in insurance scams.

Somewhere under the rainbow a simple story of revenge and trickery exists. This is not it. Big money, star names and the temptation to make that leap into action overkill has encouraged the scriptwriters to fall into deep water where good ideas drown.

Nonsense is not a rabbit in a hat. It’s standing there at the end on stage demanding answers.

There are none, says the clown. Who’s fooling who?

Selkirk’s friendly with Hibernian Under 20s saw the Edinburgh side dominate in a 7-0 thrashing last night.

The Souters got the game off to an exciting start when Callum Peoples delivered the ball to Jonathon Watt who sent it just passed the goal.

With 27 minutes on the clock, Selkirk players began to tire allowing Hibs to break their defence, and Andrew Black sent a shot that collided with the post.

But Black soon made a chance pay off in the 35th minute with a fine 20 yard strike placing the score at 1-0.

Hibs again took advantage of the tired Selkirk side with David Paul taking control of a deflection and smashing it into the net.

The score was only 2-0 to Hibs at the half time whistle.

A substitution for Selkirk saw Gary Lickie come on, who previously played in the 2008 Homeless World Cup for Scotland.

Selkirk’s reserve goalkeeper Michael Fenton had his work cut out at the start of the second half saving an increasing amount of shots.

However, Hibs soon achieved their third goal, Bob Wilson heading the ball in from a corner kick by Ryan Baptie.

Wilson scored another, with fellow substitutes Jason Cummings (2) and Max Todd also on the scoresheet.

Full-time score ending at 7-0, with Hibs fans comparing it to the 7-0 drubbing of rivals Hearts 40 years ago.

Overlooking the game was Hibs manager Pat Fenlon who seemed very pleased with the result.

TOP Borders swimmer Lucy Hope has made it to the final of the 200m backstroke event at the European Junior Championships in Poland.

Making her debut for Team GB the 16-year-old Kelso ASC and Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) member was one of eight qualifiers to go through from last night’s semi-finals.

She also won bronze last night as part of the GB girls 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Lucy has been a member of the BEST Performance Squad since its first training session in September 2008, a truly home-grown and Borders-based athlete.

A watchdog body has banned the senior planning councillor on Scottish Borders Council from involvement in planning decisions for three months.

And after the decision by the Standards Commission for Scotland was announced, Councillor Ron Smith quit as chairman of the council’s planning and building standards committee.

The Lib Dem councillor for Hawick and Hermitage also resigned as the council’s executive member for planning and the environment.

A commission hearing ruled that he had breached the Councillors’ Code of Conduct by failing to declare a non-financial interest in relation to a planning application while chairing a committee meeting.

The hearing chairman commented: “The requirement on councillors to declare interests is intended to produce transparency in regard to interests which might influence, or be thought to influence, their actions as a councillor.

“The failure was a lack of judgement on the part of Councillor Smith whilst performing an important role as chair of a quasi-judicial council committee”

Councillor Smith said he regretted the commission’s decision which he said seemed to have arisen from differing interpretations of the code of practice.

The former assistant headteacher at Hawick High School added: “At all times I have sought to represent the interests of my constituents and of the Borders.”

Councillor leader David Parker has defended his colleague on the council’s rainbow alliance ruling group.

He commented: “Ron Smith is a hard working councillor and works tirelessly for his constituents.

“I accept, but am naturally disappointed with, the standards commission decision. I believe this stemmed from a genuine difference in interpreting the code of conduct.

“I fully respect Ron’s decision and look forward to continuing to work with him on the council and to his playing a significant part in council business in the future.

“I ,and other elected members across the political spectrum, have a very high regard for the work that Ron does.”

Councillor’s Smith’s suspension from planning matters was imposed under the Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotand) Act 2000.

A special gathering is to be held at the Will H. Ogilvie Cairn on the hill road from Ashkirk to Roberton on August 24, at 11am.

The event is to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the structure being erected and to commemorate 50 years since the death of the Borders-born poet who lived in Australia for a decade.

A new book, Bits of Fun, will also be launched.

The original hand-written manuscript of this publication was found in a loft where it had been lying for 50 years.

After it was discovered it was gifted to the Will H. Ogilvie Memorial Committee and reproduced in its original form. It will be on sale at the gathering for £8.

Australian-born Kay Ross, who lives in Ettrickbridge, is to deliver oration, The Road to Roberton will be recited by Philip Murray, of Branxholm Braes, and Scocha will perform.