YETHOLM bikers are raising money for the multiple sclerosis society on Sunday.

Yetholm and District Motorcycle Club is holding its annual motorbike jumble sale in the village’s Youth Hall.

Organiser Russell Taylor said: “We hope to combine a good day’s shopping for shiny (and rusty) motorcycle parts, clothing and accessories by the local biker community, with support for a very worthwhile cause.”

Last year the club raised over £150 for the children’s hospice charity CHAS.

The sale starts at 10.30am.

FURTHER speculation that the Co-op would reopen the former Haldanes store in Kelso was quashed again last week.

The issue came up at a meeting of Kelso Community Council when councillor Colin McGrath reported a supermarket insider had said the prohibition on two of the same supermarkets trading in a town had been lifted and that the reopening of the Roxburgh Street shop had been given the nod at a national committee level but had yet to go before a regional committee.

He said: “A regional committee has never before refused a reopening so it is really rubber stamping.”

However in response to a query, another Co-op insider told Scottish Borders Councillor Tom Weatherston: “This area still remains sensitive. I am unable to give you any further insight into this yet.

He continued: “I can confirm that no matter the outcome, we will continue to trade at the Highcroft store.”

And in response to an enquiry from TheSouthern a spokesperson for The Co-operative Group said: “We have been reviewing our options regarding the sites of a number of former Haldanes, including Kelso.

“No decision has yet been made about the Kelso store and The Co-operative Group is continuing to market the site, in the hope of finding a suitable retailer interested in acquiring it.”

Big weekend for the Kings of the Sevens tournament with events on both Saturday (Hawick) and Sunday (Berwick).

Draw for Hawick RFC 7s on Saturday, April 21 (first tie 2pm): Melrose v Whitecraigs; Hawick YM v Watsonians; Jed-Forest v Kelso; Hamilton v Dumfries; Hawick v Berwick; Peebles v Edin Accies; Selkirk v Langholm; Biggar v Falkirk.

Draw for Berwick RFC 7s on Sunday, April 22 (first tie 1pm): Kelso v Watsonians; Melrose v Gala; Edinburgh University v Hawick YM; Hawick v Musselburgh; Berwick v Murrayfield Wanderers; Selkirk v Alnwick; Edinburgh Accies v Peebles; Jedforest v Morpeth.

THE new £6million primary school in Clovenfords opened for business on Monday.

Celebrating his 12th birthday, pupil Liam Davison, head teacher Alison Sutherland and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Convener Alasdair Hutton cut the ribbon to open the new village school at 9am before the children and their teachers streamed through the doors.

Head teacher Miss Sutherland said: “It’s very exciting. There’s been a lot of work over a lot of years and we’ve been waiting for a long time. It’s a really happy day for us, we are really thrilled: it’s a beautiful school.”

The new replacement to Caddonfoot primary includes five classrooms, a general purpose room, nursery, multi-use games area (MUGA), hall and dining room – which are also for use by the community – with heating supplied through eco-friendly ground source pumps.

Construction started 18 months ago but lobbying and work behind the scenes in the community and the council dates back 15 years, said SBC education director Glenn Rodger

Commenting on Monday’s opening, he said: “It’s hugely important. The community has been campaigning for many years for a new school. There are fond memories of the old school but you can understand why they wanted a new one. The faces of the young folk when they went in this morning were so excited.

“The space is wonderful. There are big modern classrooms rather than cramped classrooms which will make it far easier for teachers to deliver the curriculum. It’s been designed to have outdoors classrooms to bring the curriculum into the outdoors and the outdoors into the classroom and that’s just wonderful.

“There are terrific sports facilities and a good hall, which the last school didn’t have, and there are good outdoor facilities for sport as well.

“The school has its own kitchen so the food will be better ... you name it and everything has been done. It’s a far better and higher specification school.”

Kariella Stevenson, mum to nine-year-old Anine in p5 and six-year-old Erika in p2, said: “We’re sad to leave Caddonfoot but we’re coming to this lovely school and we are delighted to be here. It’s great: I haven’t seen all of it yet but it’s amazing to have all this space and these facilities. The teachers coped well with what was there (at Caddonfoot) but this is so much better.

“My children were really looking forward to it, the games hall, the class rooms, just everything.”

Dad of two Mike Mitchell, whose children six-year-old Ritchie in p2 and nine-year-old Emily in p4 are pupils, said: “It’s great to have a school like this –it’s huge, the children have space to run around and I think it will help their education. This game hall alone seems about the size of the old school!”

Performing one of his last ceremonial duties as convener, Councillor Alasdair Hutton said: “This is another little jewel in the crown of SBC, a brand new school in a lovely setting to give inspiration to a new generation of Borders.”

Staff, pupils and guests were entertained by the children in the new games hall performing a new song specially commissioned and written by them to mark their first day in school.

The new facility can accommodate 125 children.Caddonfoot had room for 78 children, including the nursery.

KELSO Square it seems is an atmospheric expanse of Georgian space just begging to be filled.

A mooted market cross and now a pantwell could soon be features in the cobbled vacuum, which has stood unadorned save a few flower beds and the bull ring for the last several centuries.

Both were discussed at Kelso Community Council.

The Sainsbury’s-funded £40,000 piece of art – currently at the design stage in the hands of Morebattle artist Paul Grimes – is a modern market cross incorporating themes of the town. So far its suggested resting place is the Square, but the cross and its location will be the subject of further consultation.

However, according to Kelso Chamber of Trade chairman Bruce Roberts, the piece of art and the questionnaire Mr Grimes had used to collect information about the town had been the subject of concern at a recent stakeholders group meeting.

“People didn’t understand the information-gathering system the artist had put in place, they were concerned that the design was a fait accompli and they want a say in that and in where it goes,” he told us.

The art project has been included in the work of the stakeholders’ group which is being consulted by Scottish Borders Council on traffic management and the Townscape Heritage Initiative which is aimed at making improvements in Kelso town centre.

And Mr Grimes will be reporting to the group’s next meeting next month.

Mr Roberts said: “I imagine a lot of people don’t understand his process but I think we should respect it, We will know more in May.”

Provost Fiona Scott asked that the question of the cross’s design and location be raised at the meeting.

She said: “The design is up to the artist, we’ve got to trust he knows what he’s doing, but the location should go out to public consultation.”

The subject was being talked about said Scottish Borders Councillor Tom Weatherston: “I’ve had a lot of feedback from local groups. They are not against a market cross per se, it’s the location in the middle of Kelso Square.

“We may have to ask the public if they want a cross in the square. To change the Square drastically after hundreds of years without asking the townspeople whether they want it or not would be wrong.”

Meanwhile, ex-Kelso Laddie Michael Ballantyne is seeking ideas to mark the 75th anniversary of his family’s business, Kelso builders M and J Ballantyne. Councillor Weatherston said thatso far, he’s come up with an idea to replace the pantwell (drinking fountain) that once stood in the Square.

The orginal pantwell was broken in 1723 by one James Dickson, then an 11-year-old who fled the town, made his fortune as a merchant, returned to build the Cross Keys Hotel and Havannah House which later became the Ednam House Hotel.

Scottish Borders Councillor Tom Weatherston said: “Mike’s come up with the idea, he’s not said ‘this is what we are doing’. He’s asking the Kelso Amenity Society what they think.”

Fellow Scottish Borders Councillor Alec Nicol suggested the pantwell could be a fountain of knowledge, an information spot with a touch screen.

Provost Fiona Scott suggested the community council be guided by the local amenity society.

And Councillor Weatherston commented: “If I was to pin my colours to a mast I’d prefer the pantwell.”

A SHORTAGE of volunteers means many elderly residents of Kelso face losing out on the chance of alleviating their loneliness.

Contact the Elderly, the charity solely dedicated to tackling loneliness and isolation among older people, is urgently appealing for volunteers living in Kelso to spare just a few hours each month to help with the running of local tea parties for the elderly.

The charity aims relieve the acute loneliness of isolated elderly people, aged 75 and above, who live alone, by organising free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people within local communities and so provide a regular and vital friendship link every month.

Each older guest is collected from their home by a volunteer driver, and is taken to a volunteer host’s home, where they join a small group for tea, talk and companionship.

The charity is hoping to set up a new group in Kelso. However, it is currently struggling to recruit volunteer drivers who are able to pick up the older guests from their homes and accompany them to the gathering each month, volunteer hosts to welcome the group into their homes for tea twice a year, and a volunteer coordinator to help organise the monthly tea parties.

Contact the Elderly’s East Scotland Development Officer, Morna O’May, said: “The charity is committed to offering a lifeline of friendship to the oldest and loneliest people, but our hopes of extending this lifeline to even more elderly people in Kelso are currently fading due to a real shortage of volunteers in the area.

“Anyone who can spare a couple of hours one Sunday a month, has a driving licence, a car, and a capacity for drinking tea is eligible! And for those interested in becoming a host, it would just involve a couple of hours twice a year.

“It’s not a big commitment and our volunteers genuinely get as much out of the experience as our older guests, so I’m calling for anyone who is interested in giving something back to their community to please get in touch with me as soon as possible.”

Kelso residents interested in volunteering for Contact the Elderly once a month as a driver, or twice a year as a host, can contact Morna O’May, East Scotland Development Officer on 01786 871264 or email: morna.omay@contact-the-elderly.org.uk

POLICE have named the man whose body was recovered from the River Tweed near St Boswells last Thursday.

He is 46-year-old Ian Kyle from Newtown St Boswells.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Kyle whose body was seen floating in the water near Mertoun Bridge at around 11.30am and was later recovered by fire fighters.

A report on the circumstances of Mr Kyle’s death has been sent to the procurator fiscal.

A HIGH ROPES adventure trail could be up and running at Glentress by summer.

Developer Go Ape says it will take six weeks to set up the course, which involves scrambling on nets and ropes high above the ground, over 6.5 acres at the popular Peeblesshire forest.

The company formally submitted its application for planning permission to Scottish Borders Council earlier this month.

The company’s business development manager, Ben Davies, said: “We hope to be open for the summer, but we’re in the hands of the planners.”

The adventure company has 28 high ropes courses throughout the UK, including one working with the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), at Aberfoyle.

Mr Davies said: “The amazing thing about Glentress is we’re building in some lovely big Douglas firs. There is going to be some real height in the course. It will be on a steep-sided valley and we will have a couple of nice big ziplines over the valley. It will be the best of both worlds – you’ll get the amazing course on big trees and the two zip lines to finish.”

It will take three hours to complete and will include rope bridges, tarzan swings, scramble nets and many other challenges, he said.

An FCS spokesman said the move is part of the commission’s long-term plan to expand Glentress and make it one of the top visitor attractions in the country.

Writing in support of the planning application, FCS’s recreation and tourism manager, Hugh McKay, said: “It will provide a great opportunity for all family members to enjoy a healthy outdoors activity that is as fun for the adults as it is for the children.

“The adventure trail would have a very low environmental impact on the woodland. The structure of the course is non-invasive, causing no damage to the trees. The course will provide a valuable amenity for younger people locally, as well as bringing additional tourism benefits and employment to the wider local economy.”

He described the company’s safety record as “excellent” and said: “The course has been designed to fit well within the woodland so that it will complement the existing facilities at the site.”

Go Ape has also applied to put up a small reception and equipment building alongside the course.

KELSO’S Keith Robeson celebrates 25 years as a countryside ranger this year.

He was one of more than 200 Scottish Borders Council staff whose long service was marked with certificates and gifts at a ceremony earlier this month.

Asked what he is most proud of over the 25 years, he replied: “That as at team we’ve managed to create a fantastic path network in the Borders.”

When Mr Robeson started as a ranger, the Southern Upland Way (marker illustration at top of page) and the end of the Pennine Way were the only official walks in the region.

“I was outside a lot more, doing maintenance work. There were only two of us in the service, all the work was on the ground doing work that the path wardens do now – maintaining paths and posts, building bits of boardwalk. Now it’s more about management, surveying, checking the walks and organising other people to do the work. It’s changed a lot over the years, ” said Mr Robeson, 52.

There has been a proliferation of routes: the Berwickshire Coastal Path, Borders Abbeys Way, St Cuthberts Way, the John Buchan Way and many marked paths around towns. Mr Robeson and his team take responsibility for most of them.

“In the past, also, we did a lot more work in the schools and taking out walks. That still happens but there’s less emphasis on that and more pressure to manage the path network.

“It’s fantastic that we have got this network in the Borders: it’s well used and that’s all to the good. It’s not just walkers using the paths, it’s horse riders and cyclists too. There has always been a horse riding tradition in the Borders but cycling has taken off and grown manyfold in recent years.

He says getting people into the countryside via the path network is important: “It’s healthy, it gets people outdoors in the fresh air enjoying the countryside. It’s good for tourism and brings economic benefit to the Borders. It’s one way of hopefully informing folk about how the countryside functions, by getting folk out there understanding what’s going on

“There’s potential conflict between land users and land owners – that’s part of my job, to try and inform the public how to behave responsibly in the countryside. We don’t have the countryside code any more, it’s the outdoor access code now. It’s not just a list of dos and don’ts, it’s about taking access responsibly. That’s really important because if people don’t understand what’s going on – for example letting their dog run free in a field of livestock, especially just now – it’s a big issue.”

Asked what he loves about his job, he said: “I enjoy the Borders countryside, it’s brilliant. We’ve got a fantastic resource but one that’s understated. There is still great potential to encourage more folk to use it more.”

Kelso-born, Mr Robeson still lives in the town and credits his late father, Robin, with instilling in him and his brother, Derek, a conservation consultant, at the Scottish Agricultural College, their love of the countryside.

“We were always outside. He was always really keen on wildlife, I’ve always had that interest.”

Mr Robeson spends much of his free time taking photographs of the countryside and of wildlife (www.keithrobeson.com) and regular readers will have seen of his work on these pages.

He’s also chairman of Kelso Community Woodland and of Kelso Paths, which holds its annual meeting at the end of next month.

He said: “We need fresh blood. We want new members to get involved with the paths around the town and to help look after the woodland in Kelso as well.”

Meanwhile he is into week two of the four-week introduction to navigation course of workshops which he is taking with fellow ranger Susan Kevan at 7pm on Wednesday evenings at Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre near Jedburgh.

Age: 16

Home Town: Peebles

Sport: Mountain biking

Position/Discipline: Cross-cCountry

Club/Team: Peebles Cycling Club

Coach(es): Stuart Blunt and my dad.

Best moment in sport so far: Winning the British Championships.

Aims for the next 12 months: Get selected to ride for Team GB at the European Championships and win the Scottish and British Championships. Apply for the Olympic Development Program. To learn and improve to be a better bike rider.

How do you think the ASP will help you most: The access to services such as physio, sports nutrition, sports psychology and the use of the Borders sports facilities.

Who in sport most inspires you: Chris Hoy. I think he has an amazing sprint and a good attitude towards racing and cycling.

Favourite TV sporting moment of all time: Mark Cavendish winning the World Road Race Championships 2011.

Best thing about your sport: Being able to go and ride in amazing places. Like when I went to Austria, it was really cool being somewhere so different. I also love riding in Scotland in places like Aviemore and Laggan because the trails are awesome.

…but dislike: Going to school the day after a race or training camp feeling really tired.

If not in this sport, would like to compete in: BMXing or snow-boarding.

Usual pre-competition meal: Pasta, homemade tomato sauce and meatballs.

Food dislikes: Brussel sprouts.

Best motivational song or track: Katy Perry, Greenday or A-punk (Vampire Weekend).

…but turn off/leave the room to: Justin Bieber and most of One Direction.

Competition superstition or odd routine: I always listen to the same songs in the same order while I am warming up for a race.

When not competing or training I like to: Meet up with my friends and play piano and guitar.

MORE and more brides are turning to wedding planners, who can bring a wealth of bright ideas, to help organise the big day.

Wedding planners have the contacts to bring your look to life. So whether there are certain areas of the venue that you would like to camoflage or you really want to wow your guests with something they have never seen before, your co-ordinator may be able to help you.

And by getting a planner on board, you will know that any decoration or table setting required will have a professional touch.

If you’re finding it hard to choose the details of the style you would like or are simply frozen and stupefied by the endless possibilities, a planner can guide you through the madness.

The right person will be at the end of the phone whenever you start to wobble over decisions, providing plenty of insipiration. A good planner will also be a sounding board for any ideas or concerns you have.

So, if you’re a natural born worrier, having someone there could be a real stress buster.

If you’ve chosen a venue that’s not normally hired for weddings and doesn’t have an established wedding package, then investing in professional planning help may be a good move. Not only will the co-ordinator be able to create a running order for the day, they will also be able to liaise with all the various suppliers you’ll need to bring your day to life.

And they will be able to work directly with the venue owners to ensure every area – from health and safety to crockery – is covered.

If you have a demanding job, children to look after or are studying for exams, then you’re probably wondering where you will ever find the time to plan a wedding. Or perhaps you feel you can’t do a thorough job of comparing all the options and still come out within budget.

In these circumstances, a planner can find the best deals and make sure these little time-consuming details are in place, leaving you time for the fun stuff without the guilt.

Most wedding planners are creative thinkers and have many of the tools required to make your scribbles (and the pages you have ripped out of magazines) come alive.

And bringing a co-ordinator on board might be a wonderful way to get everyone on the same page if it begins to feel your wedding is being planned by committee.

You can even ask that they liaise with both sets of parents on delicate details, such as guest list requests.

it was hats off to young Harry McCulloch this week, when fellow pupils at Earlston Primary School finished a special project to help the youngster raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in London.

With the help of Melrose-based milliner Karen Reid, the school’s primary seven youngsters have spent one afternoon a week for the past five weeks designing and creating their own Easter bonnets, using only recycled materials.

The winning hats will be picked after a catwalk fashion show as part of an Easter Extravaganza being staged at the school tomorrow night.

As well as the pupils’ forays into millinery, there will be a raffle, the Cocktail Experience will be on hand to create ‘mocktails’ (non-alcoholic) refreshments, and Radio Borders presenter and Harry’s dad, Stuart McCulloch, will be on hand to compere the evening.

The rest of the school will also be involved with a colouring-in competition by the nursery department and primaries one, two and three, while pupils from primary four to six have been making Easter pictures using recycled pieces.

Money raised will go towards Harry’s Fund in aid of the children’s charity that supports the work of Great Ormond Street Hospital, where primary three pupil Harry has received treatment for much of the last year.

Born in 2004, it was aged 16 months that Harry was diagnosed with the condition Hydrocephalus – fluid on the brain. He also suffers from a left-sided weakness in his arm and leg, and is partially-sighted. By the age of two, Harry had endured a series of operations to remove fluid from his brain and it was then that he was diagnosed as having epilepsy.

Several years of drug therapy, rafts of tests and investigations, as well as spells in and out of a variety of hospitals followed. Harry also has to attend regularly at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. However, Harry and his family were eventually notified that he was a suitable candidate for a special operation which was carried out at Great Ormond Street in December.

Avid Celtic supporter Harry and his family – he has two older bothers and an older sister – now have to wait for a year to see how successful this has been. And in the meantime, they are raising as much money as they can as a way of thanking the hospital for its care and treatment.

Harry’s mum, Pauline Martin, an additional needs support worker at Greenlaw Primary School, says she cannot praise highly enough the care Harry and her family has received from staff at Great Ormond Street.

“The care the staff have given Harry and the consideration shown to us has been second to none,” Pauline told TheSouthern this week. “We have been up and down to Great Ormond Street a number of times, but they don’t have dedicated accommodation for parents who need to stay over close to the hospital.

“That gave us the idea of raising money to help accommodate other parents like ourselves when their children are receiving treatment.”

Harry’s Fund has already benefitted from several donations, including cash from a recent event staged by Borders College.

Karen says she is delighted with the way the Easter bonnet project with Harry’s fellow pupils has gone.

“It’s been an absolutely brilliant experience. The kids really got into the whole thing and came up with some really good creative ideas. Over the past five weeks they’ve spent time sketching out designs and then using recycled materials to make them reality,” she explained.

“The pupils have been working on recycling themes as part of their normal school work, so this fitted in very well and is also benefitting a very good cause.”

Karen is friends with Harry’s mum and it was while the two women were chatting that the idea of a project involving the school came up.

“Since opening my shop in Melrose, I’d always wanted to do something with local schools and it was Pauline who suggested doing something with the youngsters at her son’s primary school in Earlston,” she told us.

“I’d wanted to do something with a charity as well and, living in Earlston myself, this all seemed the perfect fit.”

Earlston Primary School’s Easter Extravaganza takes place in the school tomorrow, from 7pm until 9pm.

Tickets are now on sale from Karen Reid Designs in Melrose (contact Karen on 07773 058911) or from Earlston Primary School priced £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for children and concessions.

POLICE are seeking information about the theft of a grey-coloured Ironhorse mountain bike from Glentress, near Peebles, on Saturday afternoon.

BORDER foodies are in for a treat next month when the County Hotel, in co-operation with Selkirk Film Club, will be serving up an evening of delicious entertainment.

On May 4 the film Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep, will be screened at the Selkirk hotel, and to coincide with this, the County is planning a pre-movie two-course dinner, taken from the recipes in Julia Child’s cook book.

The film is based on Julie Powell’s autobiographical book Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, and stars Amy Adams as an amateur chef who decides to cook every recipe in a cookbook from acclaimed celebrity chef Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep) in order to chronicle it in a blog over the course of a year.

The film segways between the life of chef Julia Child in the early years of her culinary career, with the life of young New Yorker Julie Powell as she endeavours to recreate all the recipes in the book of French cuisine.

Movie-goers can enjoy the two-course dinner in the hotel’s restaurant before heading upstairs to enjoy the film – all for just £20.

Meals can be be booked, starting at 6pm. The film begins at 8pm. For those just wishing to see the movie only, tickets are £5.

The Southern Reporter has teamed up with the County to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a meal for two plus two tickets to the movie.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is answer the following question:

Who plays the part of Julia Child in the movie?

Send your answers, together with your name, address (including your postcode) and daytime telephone numbers, on a postcard to Julie & Julia Competition, The Southern Reporter, The Hermitage, High Street, Selkirk, TD7 4DA, or by email to susanwindram@tweeddalepress.co.uk, no later than 10am on Friday, April 27.

z Johnston Press plc, the publishers of The Southern Reporter (or via its agents) will use your information to contact you by mail, email, phone fax or SMS/MMS to let you know about our, or our business partners’, products, services, and special offers. By giving us your email address and phone numbers, you agree that we may contact you by these methods for marketing. If you do not wish to receive information from us or from our business partners tell us so in your response. For your information we may monitor communications for quality and training purposes.

Gala team to play Ayr in RBS SCottish Cup Final at Murrayfield on Saturday, April 21:

A. McLean; G. Young, B. Turner, A. Emond, C. Robertson; L. Miller, George Graham; L. Pettie, R. Anderson, E. McQuillin, O. Palepoi, C. Weir, Gary Graham, G. Lowrie, E. Dodds. Subs: P. Stewart, D. Marshall, C. Keddie, S. Cairns, C. Borthwick, F. Hunter, C. Dods.

A RELUCTANT robber was spared jail today (Thursday) for his part in a vicious attack on a vulnerable man.

Victim Dale Murray, 44, who has mild learning difficulties, was beaten up and held hostage while Patrick Wallace tried to plunder his bank account.

But as Eric Haig sat beside Mr Murray in his flat in Galashiels, he told the terrified man: “This is not right. I’m really sorry about this. It’s out of line and it’s bad karma.”

Wallace, 42, is serving a five-year sentence for the robbery after a court heard that he had inflicted the blows to Mr Murray’s face which smashed his jaw.

Haig, 49, of Gala Park, Galashiels, walked from the High Court in Edinburgh today after judge Lord Bracadale imposed a one-year community payback order.

“I accept your role in this incident was markedly different from that of your co-accused who also had a formidable record of previous convictions,” Lord Bracadale told Haig, ordering him to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and to get help for his drink problem.

Solicitor advocate Andrew Houston, defending, said Haig had not met Wallace before that day and did not know what was going to happen when they went to Mr Murray’s address.

And after his arrest he told police: “I am thoroughly sorry about the whole thing. I am ashamed of myself.”

In court Haig admitted detaining Mr Murray against his will, assaulting him to his injury and robbing him of a wallet, bank card and £100.

Mr Houston said Haig had not personally attacked Mr Murray but had gone along with what happened.

The court heard how Mr Murray had been supported by his mum until she died in 2004.

He answered a knock on his door last July 21 to find Wallace – someone he knew – and Haig standing there.

Wallace then punched Mr Murray, demanding money. As Mr Murray sat on a couch, Wallace sat beside him and elbowed him in the face, causing his nose to bleed.

“I want your bank card,” he said and then demanded Mr Murray’s PIN number.

Wallace went to a nearby cash machine and returned claiming he had been given the wrong pin. A second attempt to use the cash machine showed there was less than £100 in Mr Murray’s account.

The two men threatened to stay in Mr Murray’s flat until after midnight, when they believed a deposit would top up the account, and began to drink his beer.

Mr Murray arranged to pick up £100 from a friend to get rid of his attackers.

After they left, Mr Murray noticed that Wallace had left his tobacco tin and his wallet, containing a rent payment card and a TV licence card.

FOLLOWING Gala Wanderers’ defeat to Stirling County on Wednesday night, Selkirk Youth Club remain the last Borders side standing in the National Youth Cup.

On Sunday the young Souters play their semi-final against Boroughmuir Colts at Victoria Park (2pm), but before that, tomorrow, they will look to get their Kings of the Sevens challenge back on track when they travel to the Gala Wanderers event.

Youth Club face Hawick Wanderers in the penultimate tie of the opening round, with the first match kicking off at 1.30pm.

After five rounds of the series, the young Souters sit in second place, just seven points behind Gala Wands.

Last week at Hawick, the Gala side squeaked a 31-26 win over Selkirk in the final.

Youth Club sailed through their earlier ties against Peebles Colts (31-0), Tynedale (26-5) and Hawick Wanderers (31-0) to reach the final stage.

Gala Wanderers started off the stronger, sailing into a 24-0 lead with tries by Fraser Welsh, Liam Scott and a brace from James Parker, but Youth Club began to find their feet and a crucial touchdown from Kieran Monks just on half-time, converted by Josh Welsh, gave them a lifeline.

The second period saw Selkirk strike first with a converted try by Welsh to reduce the Gala advantage to just 10 points, but another try from Fraser Welsh gave the Gala boys some breathing space at 31-14.

Youth Club then threw everything at their opponents, producing further scores from Monks, one converted by Welsh, to reduce the deficit to just five points – but Gala managed to hold on.

TROPHY WITH NO NAME: Sunday, April 22 ‑ At Braidwood sporting clays, entries close 12.30pm.

EOS YOUTH LEAGUE: Thursday, April 19 ‑ Leith Athletic v Gala Fairydean (6.45pm). Sunday, April 22 ‑ Gretna 2008 v Gala Fairydean (2pm). Tuesday, April 24 ‑ Edinburgh City v Gala Fairydean (tbc).

EOS PREMIER DIVISION: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Leith Athletic v Vale of Leithen; Tynecastle v Selkirk (2.30pm). Tuesday, April 24 ‑ Vale of Leithen v Stirling University (7pm).

EOS FIRST DIVISION: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Gala Fairydean v Eyemouth United; Hawick Royal Albert v Berwick Rangers Reserves; Easthouses Lily v Peebles Rovers. Wednesday, April 25 ‑ Heriot Watt University v Peebles Rovers (7.30pm).

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND CUP SEMI-FINAL: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Penicuik v Leithen Rovers at Victoria Park (2pm).

WADDELL CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Thursday, April 19 ‑ Ancrum v Linton Hotspur (6.30pm).

BEVERIDGE CUP SECOND ROUND: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Pencaitland v Gala Rovers (2pm).

BAL DIVISION A: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Chirnside v Newtown; Hawick Waverley v Hawick Legion; West Barns Star v Tweeddale Rovers (2.30pm). Tuesday, April 24 ‑ Langholm Legion v Gala Rovers; Newtown v Pencaitland (6.15pm).

BAL DIVISION B: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Chirnside v Jed Legion; Greenlaw v Tweedmouth Amateurs; Linton Hotspur v Ancrum; Selkirk Victoria v Hearts of Liddesdale (2.30pm).

BAL DIVISON C: Saturday, April 21 ‑ CFC Bowholm v Peebles Amateurs; Lauder v Gala Hotspur; St Boswells v Earlston Rhymers; Winton v Tweedmouth Amateur Colts (2.30pm). Tuesday, April 24 ‑ CFC Bowholm v Gala Athletic; Earlston Rhymers v Gala Hotspur; Lauder v Kelso Thistle; Winton v St. Boswells (6.15pm).

SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP FINAL: Sunday, April 22 ‑ Stirling University v Duns at Netherdale (2pm).

RBS NATIONAL CUP FINAL: Saturday, April 21 ‑ Gala v Ayr at Murrayfield (4pm). Previews and interviews above and on page 25.

HAWICK SEVENS: Saturday, April 21 ‑ At Mansfield Park (first tie 2pm). Full preview and draw on page 26.

GALA WANDERERS SEVENS: Saturday, April 21 ‑ At Netherdale (first tie 1.30pm). Draw on page 26.

BERWICK SEVENS: Sunday, April 22 ‑ At Scremerston (first tie 1pm). Draw on page 26.

NATIONAL U18S YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINAL: Sunday, April 22 ‑ Selkirk Youth Club v Boroughmuir Colts (2pm).

NATIONAL U18S YOUTH BOWL SEMI-FINAL: Sunday, April 22 ‑ Peebles Colts v Greenock Wanderers Colts (3pm).

UNDER 16S NATIONAL YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINALS: Sunday, April 22 ‑ Gala Red Triangle v Stirling County Colts (1pm); Glasgow Hawicks v Jed-Forest (2pm).

BORDER LEAGUE FINAL: Wednesday, April 25 ‑ Gala v Hawick at Philiphaugh (7.30pm).

For several decades, the people of Clovenfords waited – not always patiently – for a new school to replace the Victorian-era Caddonfoot building and its attendant temporary structures where local children had been educated for 137 years.

However, this week there were smiles all round as youngsters passed through the doors of their new £6million replacement school for the first time.

It had been a long time coming, but it was not without a tinge of sadness as pupils, parents and teachers bade farewell to the old school, a place of happy memories for generations of local people.

When it opened its doors for the first time in March 1875, Caddonfoot school was state-of-the-art. It coped well over the years, but in recent times had struggled to deal with the demands expected of a modern educational facility.

At the end of the day, however, a school is just bricks and mortar. The happy memories of Caddonfoot are due to the warm and welcoming atmosphere created over the years by the teachers and pupils who have worked and studied there.

If they carry that atmosphere with them to their shiny new school, as we are sure they will, there is no doubt that Clovenfords Primary School will continue the tradition of producing many more well-educated and happy children for a long time to come.

SUNDAY: Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club, Craster, Bamburgh, bus from Bamburgh. Meet Newton St Boswells council carpark, 8am. Information: Evelyn Horsburgh, 01750 76214.

SUNDAY: Coldstream Ramblers: Bowmont Forest, Lurdenlaw, Sprouston, Kelso. 9.5 miles. Moderate walk on tracks and quiet roads, finishing on the old railway. Meet Henderson Park car park, Coldstream, 9.40am or Riverside car park, Kelso, near Mayfield Garden Centre, 74:NT731337, 10 am, where some cars will go to Bowmont Forest. Contact Margaret Gribben 01573 224558 if you wish to go.