Local author Aileen Orr returned from Poland this week, where she had been speaking about Wojtek, the soldier bear who followed Polish soldiers through World War Two, at an event at Poznan University.

Having read a story in our sister paper The Southern Reporter about the finding of a bible in Poznan belonging to a Mrs Martha Miller of Galashiels, and dating from the 1920’s, Aileen had been intrigued.

“Having read your article about the bible found in Poznan by Dorota Maik and her fiancé,” she said, “I Facebooked her and we got in contact.

“They both attended the meeting, and brought the Bible with them.”

Aileen went on: “It is fascinating. I took lots of photos of things they found inside it.

“But I think they are a bit astounded by whole story.”

Dorota has said that,although the Miller name is a common one, she is curious to find any living relations of Martha Miller, and how the book made it to Poland.

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Hawick recorded their third consecutive BT Premiership win with victory at Meggetland on Saturday and have now replaced their city rivals in the top four.

We seemed to have complete control and there was a 20-minute period at the end of the first half where Boroughmuir simply couldn’t handle us,” said Hawick full back Ali Weir.

Hawick were simply dominant throughout the contest, controlling possession and territory.

Led by Lee Armstrong, who scored 11 points, the Greens set the tone early. The stand-off booted the first of his five place-kicks to put Hawick 3-0 up. And although the hosts responded with a three-pointer of their own through Robbie Steel, the Greens went on to notch 21 unanswered points. Tries from Russell, Wiaan Griebenow and Weir, Armstrong converting all three, put Hawick 24-6 up at the interval, with Steele adding a second penalty before half-time for Boroughmuir.

Griebenow crossed for his second touchdown and the bonus-point score after the break, with Armstrong landing with his fourth conversion.

Muir did stage a brief third-quarter rally, scoring 12 points through Steele’s boot and a touchdown from Callum Reid, but ultimately Hawick secured the victory.

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With a record of four wins in their last six games Glasgow Hawks were always going to be a difficult team to come up against.

And so it proved for a Selkirk side struggling to record their first victory.

A penalty from pro player Gregor Hunter gave Hawks the advantage in the early stages while a penalty try, in the 16th minute, converted by Hunter left the Souters trailing by ten.

Some good counter-attacking from Selkirk looking promising, but nothing was to come of it and, come the 30th minute, Glasgow winger Robert Beattie managed to get through the Selkirk defence and touch down for Hunter to convert. Selkirk managed to hold off the Hawks for the last few minutes of the 40, leaving the half-time score at 17-0.

A stronger start saw Selkirk pass the ball around well allowing Callum Marshall to find a gap in the Hawks’ defence and touch down for his side’s first try of the match.

Glasgow came back though, Brendan McGroarty scoring their third try of the match, Hunter converting once again.

Selkirk managed to claw back another five pointer before the final whistle through second row Peter Forrest, but this proved just a consolation as Hawks had the final word, with Matt Smith touching down a converted try.

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Dejection oozed out of the Netherdale changing rooms on Saturday afternoon as Gala slumped to their fifth Premiership defeat on the bounce.

“Discipline and basics let us down,” said captain Craig Dods.

While try scorer Graham Speirs was equally critical, adding: “Collectively we made far to many errors”

Ultimately the Maroons let the win, and a losing bonus point slip through their fingers in the closing minutes of the game of the game.

Matt Carryer bulldozed his way over for a try, converted by Dods, to give Gala the lead early on but this only riled the visitors who came back with tries from Danny Gilmour (2) and Jonny Hope.

Luke Pettie rumbled over, closing the gap to a mere three points before Stirling’s Sam Johnson ran in the bonus point try. Half-time: Gala 12 Stirling County 20.

Speirs ran in the next try for Gala. Dods missed the conversion but his sweetly struck drop goal 10 minutes later drew the home side level.

Once again though it was the Stirling pace that made the difference, Shaun Treweek dancing through to score at the posts and convert himself before adding a penalty goal right on full time.

Kelso’s first Saturday fixture is the popular Halloween meeting this weekend, with a feature £17,000 handicap chase the highlight of another great card.

A competitive feature EDF/ER handicap chase could see potential Grand National candidate Harry the Viking in the line-up for Greenlaw trainer Sandy Thomson.

He has already proved his liking for the track with two good seconds last season.

Another to watch is the Chris Grant-trained William Money, who won here in February, before scoring again over a longer trip at Haydock.

One of racing’s great characters is celebrated with the running of the “Sir Maxwell Harper Gow memorial handicap hurdle” race, sponsored by Leonard Harper Gow and his Greenlaw family. Recent Carlisle victor Endeavor, will be making his 95th appearance if declared to run by Cumbrian handler Dianne Sayer.

One of the impressive Borders business success stories is that Eric Gillie and his family have now been trading for 40 years, providing an unrivalled horse transport service across the country from their base at Potsclose, just south of Kelso. Major Ivan, named after the late Ivan Straker, would be a popular winner of their race, having finished second on his racecourse debut at Kelso two years ago. The James Ewart-trained Touch Of Steel goes for a course hat-trick after his recent wins at the first two autumn meetings.

Robert Thomson Builders from Trabrownhill back the opening maiden hurdle race where a huge entry includes the Nick Alexander-trained dual Irish point-to-point victor Bertalus. Another interesting contender is Big River who won a bumper at Kelso in March.

The Clifford and Martin Firth race has an interesting contender in Shubaat, a four-timer hurdle winner, for John Ferguson. Ueueteotl was homebred by James Ewart’s brother William and he has already won a bumper as well as over hurdles and fences.

The final race, at 4.50pm is sponsored by William and Stephanie Carrington from Cornhill who support B.A.R.K. and the work they do to help small animals. Selkirk trainer Stuart Coltherd has a few entries on the card including Hatton Springs who has gone close several times on the Flat in 2015. Lorcan Murtagh, for Rose Dobbin, is set to partner Marrakech Trader for the Alnwick trainer.

Racing comes under orders at 1.55pm.

Two Borders’ athletes are putting in their final preparations in Doha this week ahead of the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships.

Gordon wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn is all set to compete in four events – 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m making it a busy schedule for the reigning triple European champion, potentially racing eight times in the first five days of the championships.

“It’s getting very close now and my nerves are already building, but there is also a mix of excitement in there,” she said.

Kinghorn arrived in Doha on Sunday, October 11, giving her 11 days to prepare before her first race which takes place today.

“I really cannot wait to pull on that Great British vest again and do my stuff,” she added.

“In some way I find it very tough to come away to an event like this because I struggle with my nerves. Once I arrive at the track I feel my nerves ease though because it’s the place I love to be.”

Kinghorn’s parents made the trip out earlier this week having been busy previously, along with the rest of the clan, helping their daughter pack for the trip.

“It’s really great that my mum and dad will be able to travel out to watch me compete but what’s also fantastic is that there will be good coverage of the World Championships on More4 so that the rest of my family, friends and supporters back home can watch me too.”

Also facing a hectic schedule in Doha are Newcastleton sprinter Libby Clegg and her guide runner Mikail Huggins who face three rounds in both their T12 100 and 200 metre events.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who is registered blind, is a regular at this level and hopes that a podium spot at the Championships will be the perfect preparation for her third Paralympics next summer.

“I’m not sure what to expect as some of our closest competitors have blown us away this year,” she said.

“Our aim is just to get on the podium and then we can focus on some of the more specific things we need to work on in the winter.”

At 25 Clegg is the oldest of the group of four Scots travelling to Doha and says she will be using all of her know-how as she looks to add another world title to her already impressive collection.

“I feel like a veteran even though I’m only 25 as I’m definitely one of the oldest on our team,” she added.

From hoverboards to smart-glasses, what was accurately predicted when Back to the Future’s Marty McFly famously landed his time machine in 2015?

21 October 2015 marks ‘Back to the Future Day’, the date Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) and Doctor ‘Doc’ Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) landed in the future from the 1980s time-travel film sequel.

In 1989’s Back to the Future Part II sequel to the original 1985 sci-fi comedy classic, time travellers Marty and Doc go forward from to a futuristic 2015.

The exact time that Marty travels in Doc’s flying DeLorean into the future is 4.29pm on 21 October 2015.

Film fans around the world will mark the event which has become known as Back to the Future Day.

And did you know, Elijah Wood made his film debut in “Back to the Future Part II?

Sadly, hoverboards, as much as we might want them, haven’t ‘taken off’, yet.

In the film, Marty steals a hoverboard from a small girl on the street. It works everywhere except on water.

In the real 2015, hoverboards have yet to properly appear and the “real” ones only work on magnetic surfaces.

Also, although smart glasses have been invented, they’ve largely been sideswerved as being rather silly.

And don’t mention fax machines being the preferred form of communication, flying cars or double ties.

But possibly the strangest prediction made by the film? It turns out that the Cubs baseball team could well win this year’s World Series.

Sam Coltherd riding 25/1 shot Darsi Dancer won the Renew Holdings Handicap Hurdle over three miles three furlongs at Sedgefield on Monday 12th October.

The win was the Selkirk teenager’s first under National Hunt rules.

After jostling for the lead for most of the race, Darsi Dancer took up the running jumping the last flight and forged on towards the line to win by 3/4 of a length.

The seven year old Gelding is trained by Sam’s father local trainer Stuart Clotherd. Darsi Dancer is jointly owned by Stuart and Kelso racehorse transporter Mr Eric Gillie.

Ayr’s October meeting could be the horses next racecourse appearance.

North and South go head to head this weekend as Border Ice Rink plays host to the 2015 ‘Indoor Grand Match’.

Based on the original outside Grand Bonspiel between the north and south of Scotland, played on a loch, the Indoor Grand Match, sponsored by Allan Steel Asset Management, was derived by the Royal Club in the year 2000 as part of the millennium celebrations. Due to its popularity it has been held every five years since then.

On Saturday an event will take place on rinks around Scotland with Border Ice Rink, Kelso, hosting three sessions at 10.00pm, 12.45 and 3.30 pm.

The local and visiting curlers will enjoy a game of curling before their hot meal and will receive souvenir cloth and metal badges, programme and a memento of the day.

The last outdoor Grand Match was held on the Lake of Monteith in 1979, since then the weather combined with the increase in safety regulations means that there has never had a safe depth of ice on any of the selected lochs to hold the match again, and perhaps never will.

Spectators are also invited to go along and join the fun, watch some top class curling and join in the After Match Party which gets underway at 7pm. Everyone is welcome, and it’s free.

Borders Sport and Leisure (BSL) will showcase a host of exercise classes at its Super Saturday event being held Kelso High School on October 31.

The event has been designed to help to determine which fitness sessions have the most appeal and will help BSL with its plan to develop an outreach programme of fitness classes in towns and venues surrounding the Kelso area. Activities available to try will include Studio Resistance, Combat, Boxercise, Kettlebells, Yoga, Metafit and HIIT sessions.

Starting at 10am Super Saturday will feature a packed programme with classes scheduled throughout the morning and mid-afternoon. Existing BSL Active members can enjoy the event for free whilst for non-members there is a nominal charge for the entire day, enabling them to take part in as many of the different sessions as they wish.

Scotland Rugby League head coach Steve McCormack will stick with the group of players who slipped up against Wales last Friday.

The disappointing performance at Wrexham and 18-12 defeat means Scotland must beat the Irish at Netherdale tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30pm) if they are to keep the defence of their European Championship title alive and McCormack is confident they will make amends in Galashiels.

“We have got a good squad and we have good people watching the squad, and a result like the one at Wrexham doesn’t change that,” he declared.

“We’ve had an outstanding record these last few years so we know what we have got, and you have to face the defeats as you face the victories. So we will keep the same personnel although we might tinker about with the side.”

McCormack is expected to name uncapped Gala RFC players Craig Robertson and Lewis Clarke in an unchanged squad. Neither played in Wales on Friday with young half-back Clarke not selected and Robertson missing out through injury.

After an early try by Dale Ferguson, Scotland were well-beaten by an impressive Welsh side smarting from three straight defeats in last year’s tournament, but responded well late in the game to pull a try back two minutes from time by Oscar Thomas, the London Broncos full-back, who will join Ferguson at Bradford Bulls after the championship.

“It hurts to get beat in any game,” admitted McCormack, whose squad will go to their Peebles base tomorrow.

It will be the second successive year that Scotland have taken an international to the Borders, having played France at Gala RFC last autumn, an extraordinary game in which Scotland made a thrilling late comeback to keep their title hopes alive.

“The Borders rugby supporters were fantastic last year and a lot of new people came to watch our code,” says McCormack, who has coached Scotland since 2004.

“As the game went on they started understanding it a bit more, and really got behind us.

“We couldn’t thank the people of Galashiels and the Borders enough last year, and I’m sure it will be the same this year,” he added.

Peebles pedallers were to the fore as, after six months of intense competition, Scotland’s top young road cyclists finished their season in style.

The ScottishPower Youth Road series launched in Ingliston on March 15 and came to a close earlier this month in Kingscavil.

Peebles CC member Lewis Gray finished first in the Youth A male race while clubmate Corran Carrick-Anderson was the Youth C male winner.

Hometown Edinburgh Road Club had a successful day, as youngster Anna Flynn won the Youth B girls race, defeating rivals Anna McGorum (Peebles CC) and Anna Shackley (Glasgow Riderz) into second and third place respectively.

Anna’s sister Elena secured bragging rights for the McGorum family with a winning performance in the Youth C race final.

Bob MacFarlane, ScottishPower National Youth Racing Series Events Officer for Scottish Cycling, said: “With our current crop of young cyclists, Scottish Cycling is in very safe hands.

“The Youth series has been more competitive than ever before and that’s exactly what we need to help our young cyclists improve and progress.”

With 184 affiliated clubs across the country and more than 650 events to choose from it has never been easier to get involved. Visit www.scottishcycling.org.uk to find out how to contact your local clubs and find out more about racing and coaching opportunities.

The winner of this year’s Alastair Watson Memorial Award is Jack Nichol, Manse Street, Galashiels.

He picks up a £50 cash prize and keeps the award shield for a year.

The competition, recognising young photographers, was launched in memory of photographer Alastair Watson, who died two years ago. He worked for the Tweeddale Press Group for almost four decades.

Borders common ridings and festivals were a major part of Alastair’s work and his colleagues felt that this topic should be the subject of the award.

Jack’s entry, Fletcher Remembers, was taken at this year’s Selkirk Common Riding and shows the procession passing the Fletcher statute on the way to the Casting of the Colours ceremony in the town’s Market Place.

NHS Borders staff have been selected as finalists at the 2015 Scottish Health Awards.

The Melburn Lodge Team is shortlisted for both the Top Team Award and the Care for Mental Health Award. Melburn Lodge provides specialist continuing care for dementia patients who have complex physical and psychological needs.

In addition, Dr Fiona Hawke, superintendent radiographer, has been named as a finalist in the Therapist Award category, and the Scottish Borders Learning Disability Service has been shortlisted for the Healthier Lifestyle Award.

All nominees fought off stiff competition from across the country to secure their place at this year’s glittering award ceremony in November.

John Raine, chairman of NHS Borders said: “I am delighted to congratulate our finalists on reaching the last stage of the Scottish Health Awards. Their hard work and dedication in enhancing patient care sets an example to all our staff who are committed to providing the best possible care for our patients.

“To have finalists from NHS Borders in four award categories this year is outstanding and I wish them all the best of luck at the awards ceremony.”

Every year, the Scottish Health Awards recognise and reward the NHS staff, support workers, volunteers and specialist teams who go the extra mile to provide outstanding patient care.

All four netball teams from Hawick High School secured wins from their matches in the first round of the Borders League earlier this month.

Hawick hosted the opening fixtures which also included teams from Galashiels Academy, Earlston, Berwickshire and Peebles. Hawick coach Lesley Hume said: “The standard of play was very high, the best we’ve seen for a while.”

Gala Red Triangle held a 45-year reunion in the Netherdale clubrooms last weekend for the team that won the South Semi-Junior League Championship in the 1970/71 season.

Photographed, back row, from left, are: Ian Easson, David Stewart, Brian Herbert, Gordon Edwards, Kenneth Speirs, Riddle Graham, Sandy Grieve, Drew Baillie. Front row: Colin Gass, Bruce Mitchell, Alistair Redpath, Alan Wilson, Richard Lillico, Brian Lawrie, Billy Anderson. Absent were Roy Thomson, Richard Polson, David Girdwood, Inglis Whitehead. Photograph: Alwyn Johnston.

Without a victory in their last four outings, Vale of Leithen bid to get back into the winning frame when facing Preston Athletic at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Manager Micky Lawson said: “It’s been a bit challenging for us lately.

“A month ago we had a squad of 23 players but against BSC Glasgow in our last game we were down to the bare bones.

“We are short of bodies again for Saturday but intend bringing in two trialist from junior football.”

Gala Fairydean Rovers are away BSC Glasgow.

Following their South of Scotland Challenge Cup exit, Hawick Royal Albert return to league business when travelling to tackle with Burntisland Shipyard.

Barry Campbell of the Hawick managerial team said: “We will just have to regroup from this and fix what went wrong and get our heads up.

“There are players coming back from injury for the Burntisland match and we will be looking to get three points.”

○The Borders football community was saddened this week on hearing the news that East of Scotland Football Association Honorary President, Morain Scott, passed away on Friday evening. Morain was a very long standing servant of East of Scotland Football and will be sorely missed in the Association and at his club Coldstream FC.

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The father of World’s End murder victim Helen Scott has died – a year after his daughter’s killer was brought to justice.

Morain Scott, a great servant to local football in the Borders for decades, passed away on Friday, aged 85.

He suffered nearly four decades of torment after Helen’s death in 1977.

Killer Angus Sinclair was last year convicted of murdering Helen and her friend, Christine Eadie. He was sentenced to a minimum of 37 years.

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC said: “Morain was a lovely man who bore his daughter’s murder with great dignity and forbearance.

“He never gave up hope that one day Helen’s murderer would be brought to justice. I was pleased to play a part in this and that this happened during Morain’s lifetime.

“I know that he promised his late wife that he would do everything in his power to achieve this.”

Tom Wood, former deputy chief constable with Lothian and Borders Police who worked on the World’s End case, also paid tribute, saying: “I had such admiration for the way he conducted himself over all those years.

“I’m very sorry he’s gone, but I’m so pleased he saw justice done for his daughter.”

A retired British Telecom sales representative, Morain and his family lived in Coldstream when Helen was born in 1960, before moving to Penicuik and on to Edinburgh.

Morain was honorary president of Coldstream Football Club for 35 years and fulfilled the same the role for the East of Scotland Football Association. He served in all of the office bearer roles for the East of Scotland Football Association and represented it on the Council of the Scottish Football Association.

An association spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce our honorary president, Morain Scott, passed away on Friday evening.

“Morain was a very longstanding servant of east of Scotland football and will be sorely missed in our association and league.”

George Kerevan, MP for East Lothian, has taken the lead in reviving the Friends of Scottish Racing group at Westminster to promote Scottish racecourses, including Kelso.

This week he chaired the inaugural meeting in Portcullis House, Westminster, with representatives of the industry.

Friends of Scottish Racing will support the five Scottish racecourses – Ayr, Hamilton Park, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth. Racing generates £270 million a year for the Scottish economy, supports around 4,000 jobs and attracted almost 300,000 racegoers last year. Together the racecourses stage over 100 fixtures a year, 27 of which are at Musselburgh.

Commenting after the briefing, Mr Kerevan said: “I am honoured to take on the Chair of Friends of Scottish Racing.

“Kelso Racecourse is a huge asset to the Borders economy and sustains hundreds of jobs. It also offers a great day out. We hope that the revival of the Friends organisation will lead to increased revenue and good publicity for the region.”

“The British Horseracing Authority, under which the five Scottish racecourses operate, is at a financial crossroads owing to its outdated funding regime, the Horserace Betting Levy, first introduced in the 1960s. With so much betting done now on the Internet, there has been a significant fall in the cash available for prizes that comes in via the Levy. As a result, Scottish courses and races are under threat. We badly need a new source of funding for the industry.

“The introduction of a new Horserace Betting Right would certainly provide a solution to that situation by ensuring that the whole betting industry paid its fair share into the prize pot for courses. But we need the new legislation in place as soon as possible if Scottish racing is not to suffer.

“HBR has already received cross-bench support in both Houses of Parliament and received a mention in both the March and July 2015 budget statements. It is my hope that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will proceed swiftly with this piece of primary legislation and therefore ensure that racecourses will continue to enhance their presence in rural communities and boost economies across Scotland.”