DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE

A 48-year-old woman appeared in private at Jedburgh Sheriff Court (pictured) accused of causing serious injury to two men by dangerous driving.

Lisa Maxwell, from Ancrum, made no plea or declaration. Her case was continued for further examination and she was bailed.

It follows a two-car collision on the A698 Kelso-Jedburgh road at Crailing at around 7am on March 14. Three people, who had to be released by firefighters from the vehicles, were taken to Borders General Hospital.

ASSAULT ACCUSED BAILED

A Galashiels man appeared from custody charged with assaulting a man to his severe injury.

Victor Brown, 46, of Larch Grove, made a brief appearance in private, making no plea or declaration. The case was continued for further examination and Brown was released on bail.

It follows an incident in Melrose on Saturday.

TEENAGER ON TRIAL

A Hawick teenager will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on an assault charge.

Liam Sharkey, 19, of Howdenbank, is accused of striking a male on the head with his head to his injury in North Bridge Street, Hawick, on February 6. He is also charged with threatening or abusive behaviour in Croft Road, Hawick.

The trial has been set for October 6.

CANNABIS CHARGES

A 31-year-old woman has been accused of producing cannabis at her Lilliesleaf home.

Holly Speed, of Main Street, also denies being in possession of the class B drug.

An intermediate hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court was continued until Thursday (September 22).

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A Hawick man has been remanded in custody after being accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, aggravated by prejudice relating to disability.

Jason Lowe, 34, denies shouting and swearing and acting in an intimidating manner. He is alleged to have called a young man with a learning disability “retarded”, as well as a “paedophile” and a “pervert”.

It is claimed the offence took place in Dovemount Place, Hawick, on August 31.

Mat Patrick, defending, said it would be unfair to keep Lowe locked up until his trial date on October 6. But Sheriff Peter Paterson refused a motion for bail.

REPORTS ORDERED

Background reports have been ordered into an Earlston woman who refused to give samples of breath when suspected of drinking and driving.

Julie Taylor, 49, admitted failing to co-operate with a preliminary breath test at her Haughhead home last month. She also admitted failing to provide two samples of breath at Galashiels police station.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until October 17 for a criminal justice social work report to be prepared, as well as imposing an interim driving ban.

RIDER DENIES DRINK-DRIVING

A Kelso man has been accused of riding a motorcycle while double the alcohol limit.

Peter Darlington, 60, of Springwood Rise, denies having a breath/alcohol count of 44 microgrammes – the legal limit is 22 – on the A6089 near Kelso on August 20.

A trial date has been fixed for December 1 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on October 31.

WOMAN FACES ASSAULT TRIAL

A Hawick woman will stand trial on an assault charge.

Antonia Robertson, 21, of Hillend Drive, denies seizing Clare Treanor by the hair and repeatedly punching her on the body to her injury. The offence is alleged to have been committed in Overhaugh Street, Galashiels, on March 5.

A trial date has been set for September 27 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

OVERTAKING ALLEGATION

Alexander McCombe, 62, of Bedrule, is accused of driving a motor pick-up dangerously by overtaking vehicles in the face of oncoming traffic.

The offence is alleged to have been committed on the A698 between Heiton and Eckford on June 5.

A trial date has been set for December 1 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on October 31.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A Hawick man will be sentenced next month on a charge of engaging in a course of conduct which caused his former partner fear and alarm.

Michael Paterson, 39, of Howdenbank, pleaded guilty to sending her abusive and threatening text messages, making abusive and threatening telephone calls, turning up at her home uninvited, and entering her address near Hawick without permission, shouting and swearing, making offensive and abusive comments, and acting in an aggressive manner.

The offence happened on various occasions between June 2015 and July 2015.

Paterson was due to be sentenced on Tuesday, but through no fault of his, background reports were not available. Sentence was deferred until October 31 for the reports to be compiled.

A Crown application for a non-harassment was continued until that date.

WASTED POLICE TIME

Sentence has been deferred on a Hawick woman for a personal appearance after she admitted wasting police time.

Kylie Gray, 27, falsely claimed that her bag had been stolen, rendering the lieges liable to suspicion and accusation of theft at her home in McLaren Court on May 12.

Then case will recall at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 17.

THIEVING PAINTER

A painter and decorator has admitted stealing £900 worth of jewellery while working in a house in The Tofts areas of Kelso.

Terry West, of Mansefield Court, Kelso, committed the offence on May 21.

Sentence was deferred at Jedburgh Sheriff Court until October 3 for a personal appearance.

STRUGGLED WITH POLICE

A Galashiels man has admitted struggling with police during a disturbance in the town’s Marigold Bank.

Simon Hadden, who is 38 and lives in nearby Hawthorn Road, also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on August 12.

Sentence was deferred at Selkirk Sheriff Court until October 11 as background reports have already been ordered into another offence – Hadden admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and swearing and making offensive gestures and remarks in Wetherspoons, High Street, Galashiels.

CASE IS DESERTED

A Peebles woman accused of uttering threats to harm herself while in possession of a knife has had the case against her deserted at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Rachel Hood, 34, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour at her Kingsland Square home in June last year.

ACCUSED OF EIGHT OFFENCES

A 33-year-old man is due to stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court next month accused of committing eight offences in Innerleithen.

Colin McLean, of Bountrees, Jedburgh, is charged with throwing glass bottles at windows in High Street on July 1, damaging the windows and creating potential danger to the public as there were pedestrians around. He denies wilfully or recklessly damaging the windows of the Allotment Shop and Tweeddale Thrift Shop before walking into the path of an ambulance and then entering the rear of the vehicle without permission and refusing to leave while rummaging through an equipment bag and being aggressive towards paramedics.

McLean also pleads not guilty to being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a glass bottle, brandishing a broken bottle at a man and lunging at him and struggling violently with two police constables.

The trial is scheduled for October 11.

ATTACKED UNDER PROVOCATION

A Galashiels man who punched a man under provocation in a town-centre bust-up has been fined £125 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Jordan Cunningham, 21, of Church Square, pleaded guilty to the assault on Kevin Wilkinson late at night in Overhaugh Street.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said the victim had been drinking all day and got involved in an altercation with a number of people, including Cunningham, who aimed a punch at him, knocking him over and striking his head on the ground. The victim had a five-inch cut on the back of his head which required glued.

Cunningham was also fined another £200 for breaches of bail and his antisocial behaviour order.

COMMENT LED TO PUNCH

Punching a stranger in the face during a Saturday night out in Galashiels cost a 20-year-old man a total of £400 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Liam Brown pleaded guilty to the assault which happened in September last year.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said there was an altercation between the two men in a pub and the argument spilled out into the street. He explained how Brown, of Clearburn Road, Gorebridge, punched the 42-year-old victim in the face, knocking him to the ground, and ran off when police arrived in Channel Street.

The man appeared to have been knocked out and suffered soreness to his left cheek, resulting in the victim being off work for a week.

Brown’s lawyer, Melissa Virtue, said her client responded after the victim made a derogatory comment about his brother’s girlfriend, who he was in company with.

She added Brown was disappointed that he was intoxicated and reacted to the silly comment.

Sheriff Valerie Johnston imposed a fine of £250 and ordered Brown to pay £150 compensation to his victim.

CONSTABLE RACIALLY ABUSED

Background reports have been ordered into a 22-year-old Bonchester Bridge woman who admitted subjecting a police constable to racist abuse.

Rebecca Fox, of Gatehouse Cottages, also pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a pool cue.

The offences happened in Galashiels High Street on March 22.

Sentence has been deferred until October 10.

AGGRESSIVE AT PARENTS’ HOME

A Newtown St Boswells man who admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at his parents’ home has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Fifty-one-year-old Stephen Norman pleaded guilty to acting in an aggressive manner at the house in Oliver Crescent, Hawick, on May 29.

The court heard his parents were concerned at the amount he had been drinking when he was in charge of his children.

Prosecutor Graham Fraser said police breath-tested Norman.

The reading was 60 microgrammes – almost three times the drink-drive limit.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client was annoyed as his partner had not returned home from a night out and it was their daughter’s birthday.

Norman – formerly of Wellington Court, Hawick, and now living at Eildon Terrace in Newtown St Boswells – was given a community payback order as an alternative to a fine.

ST BOSWELLS MAN FACES TRIAL

A St Boswells man will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on a charge of embarking on a course of conduct which caused his former partner fear and alarm.

Alan Cairney, 31, of Springfield Terrace, pleaded not guilty to struggling violently with her to her injury, shouting, swearing, throwing stones at the window of her Newtown St Boswells property and making abusive comments.

The offence is said to have been committed between February 13 and March 30.

The trial date was set for November 22.

BAGPIPES HELD IN BUST-UP

A Galashiels woman refused to give her former friend her bagpipes back after a bitter bust-up, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Jodie Charles, 26, also threatened to damage the piper’s car in the aftermath of the fall-out.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “The complainer plays for a pipe band and had left her bagpipes at the home of the accused.

“They then had a fall-out over some other subject and Charles said she was not going to give her the pipes back. She also threatened to damage her car on a number of occasions.”

The court was told the friendship between the pair was now at an end.

Charles pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by uttering threats to damage property at her home in Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, on June 5.

Robert More, defending, said: “There was a dispute, but the bagpipes were recovered intact by the police without any difficulties. They were pretty close, but since the events of early June it does not appear that their friendship will be rekindled.”

Jobless Charles was fined £200.

CYCLIST’S DEATH TRIAL BEGINS

The Selkirk Sheriff Court trial of a motorist accused of causing the death of a cyclist by careless driving has begun.

Seventy-five-year-old Carl Lane sustained spinal injuries in a collision with a Volvo XC90 on the A72 at Eshiels, near Peebles, in October 2014. He died at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow six months later.

William Stewart, who is 54, of Mathieson Street, Innerleithen, denies causing death by careless driving in that he failed to see Mr Lane cycling on the roadway and collided with him.

Evidence got under way last Tuesday, but with more than 20 witnesses cited, the case before Sheriff Valerie Johnston has been continued until October 5 for more evidence to be led.

Mr Lane, from Peebles, was a retired RAF flight lieutenant and president of Peebles Cycling Club.

EX-POLICEMAN’S CASE DESERTED

A former police officer accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in council offices has had the case against him deserted at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Stuart Wilson, 57, of Market Place, Selkirk, had pleaded not guilty to repeatedly shouting, uttering offensive remarks and making threats of violence in the homeless department office of Scottish Borders Council in Paton Street, Galashiels, on March 29.

NOT GUILTY OF BENEFITS FRAUD

A Peebles woman accused of a benefits fraud involving more than £6,000 has had her not-guilty plea accepted at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Norah Turner, 48, of Witchwood Crescent, had denied failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions about a change in her financial circumstances and receiving £6,368.70 between May 2013 and May 2015, to which she was not entitled.

PEEBLES WOMAN IS CLEARED

A Peebles woman accused of obtaining more than £7,000 in housing benefit to which she was not entitled has walked free from Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Susan James, 57, of Witchwood Crescent, had denied failing to notify about a change in her circumstances with increased earnings from her employment and receiving £7,170.59.

Her not-guilty plea was accepted by Sheriff Valerie Johnston.

Dozens of the world’s deadliest spider were found crawling out of a bunch of ASDA bananas, it has been claimed.

Brazilian wandering spiders – among the most venomous in the world – were discovered when a family was unpacking shopping from the popular supermarket.

The family noticed a small, white cocoon on the side of bananas they had purchased from the supermarket giant and dropped them in panic, according to The Sun.

According to wildlife experts the spider, also known as the banana spider or armed spider, can cause long and painful erections in males, followed by death within a matter of hours, if bitten.

A potent neurotoxin in the venom can also cause abdominal cramps, hypothermia, blurred vision and convulsions.

While the poisonous arachnids are found throughout South America, particularly in Brazil, they have also been known to hitch a ride to North America and Europe among bunches of bananas.

According to reports Asda has since apologised to the family and promised a full investigation.

Four Borders sides are embarking on the long trip to Hampden on Saturday as the William Hill Scottish Cup gets underway.

Beginning their journey are Gala Fairydean Rovers, Hawick Royal Albert, Selkirk and Vale of Leithen.

With confidence high after last weekend’s remarkable 7-4 triumph over East Stirlingshire, Lowland League Selkirk host one of the most gifted and respected junior sides in the game, Linlithgow Rose.

Assistant coach at Yarrow Park, Joe Brown, appealed for a big turnout on the day: “They have a good cup pedigree but it’s a good tie for us and we’d like to think a lot of people in the Selkirk area would come out and support their local club.

“It’s the first round of the cup – it’s the road to Hampden.

“We will turn up and give as good an account of ourselves as we can. The character we showed against East Stirling will help our confidence against Linlithgow.”

Gala FR host Highland League outfit Fraserburgh at Netherdale.

Gala manager Bruce Noble said: “We have not had Fraserburgh watched but we do know they are a good Highland League side.

“We are at home though, and Fraserburgh have a long trip ahead of them in coming to the Borders to play. All of this is in our favour.

“If we can keep the ball down and play to our capabilities, I am confident of us getting a win. Our guys will have to be switched on and completely focused, though, but we have the players to do just that.”

Vale of Leithen visit Lowland League leaders East Kilbride, who have eight wins out of eight to their credit.

Vale manager Chris Anderson said: “East Kilbride are a very good side. However, you just have to take what you get in a cup draw.

“We are in good form ourselves, as we have won four games in a row, and go into the match with confidence.

“It’s a special occasion to be playing in the Scottish Cup and we are looking forward to it.”

Hawick Royal Albert travel to Edinburgh to take on Civil Service Strollers and Albert team boss Dean Shanks said: “The rewards and riches to make it into the second round of the Scottish are immense and we will be going all out to achieve this.”

Borders MP Calum Kerr has told the Westminster Government to help bring the most rural parts of the country into the 21st century.

The member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk and the SNP’s digital spokesperson at Westminster, called for more ambition to tackle the challenge of rural connectivity.

While leading his party’s contribution during last Tuesday’s debate on the second reading of the government’s Digital Economy Bill in the House of Commons, Mr Kerr said: “We want to see more ambition from the government on meeting the challenges of creating high quality rural coverage. The UK may have one of the most competitive digital communications markets out there, but for the final five per cent who struggle to access networks, this is irrelevant.

“Rural communities already have to deal with numerous challenges such as poorer access to transport infrastructure, so we must ensure that they are not excluded from the digital superhighways of the future.”

The Digital Economy Bill will include measures to institute a Universal Service Obligation for broadband providers – which will see a regulatory regime put in place similar to that which governs the utilities sector. Mr Kerr welcomed this development, while stressing that it had to be implemented in a way that addresses the concerns of consumers in remote areas.

He added: “It’s welcome that this Bill takes steps to positon broadband as the ‘fifth utility’, but with that new status comes a greater responsibility upon providers and regulators to provide equality of access wherever that’s feasible.

“As we talk increasingly of forms of ‘digital citizenship’ it is absolutely vital that large swathes of the country do not become second-class citizens by default or oversight.”

Mr Kerr contrasted the Conservative government’s proposed Universal Service Obligation of download speeds of 10 megabits per second, with the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver superfast speeds (30 megabits per second) by 2021.

A Borders beauty spot has gained a new lifeline – with the delivery of a brand new defibrillator by two local charities.

Staff at the Glen Café on the shores of St Mary’s Loch in the Yarrow Valley were presented with the AED (automatic external defibrillator) device by Wilma Gunn, founder of Scottish HART, watched by Lorraine Tait, trust manager from The Weir Charitable Trust.

Kathy Stephenson and her staff in the popular tourist stop between Selkirk and Moffat on the A708 road will have the chance of saving a life at this beautiful but remote spot.

The Yarrow Valley now has five AEDs from Scottish HART, stretching from the lochs down through Cappercleuch Yarrow, Yarrowford and the Water Wheel at Philiphaugh, on a road which forms one of the very few east to west highways across Scotland and which is extremely popular at weekends especially by motorists and motor-cyclists.

There are also AEDs from Scottish HART in Kirkhope Hall, and Boston Hall in the neighbouring Ettrick Valley.

With the road full of bends and narrow stretches it is difficult to guarantee access to a possible cardiac arrest victim on much of the A708 and the installation of this latest defibrillator gives added time until the ambulance service can attend.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has co-operated fully and encouraged Scottish HART with all their PAD (public access defibrillator) schemes throughout the rural areas of the Borders and other parts of Scotland.

l Thanks to funding from the Selkirk Ex-Standard Bearers’ Association and builder Richard Young, a new defibrillator was also installed in Selkirk’s Town Arms pub by Scottish HART last week.

Plans to upgrade office space in Galashiels and temporarily accommodate a new CGI ICT service centre are to be discussed by councillors.

The upper floors of Scottish Borders Council’s Paton Street building will be modernised, if elected members agree a report at a full meeting of the council next Thursday, September 29.

A 13-year digital services contract worth £92million was awarded by SBC to CGI, a global IT and business process services provider, in March.

The contract will provide the council with state-of-the-art technology to deliver excellent customer services and streamlined systems.

As part of the deal, CGI is establishing a Scottish ICT Delivery Centre of Excellence in the Scottish Borders with up to 200 jobs to support its growing client base.

While CGI is confirming plans for a permanent base, it needs a temporary location to host its services in the Borders.

Councillor Michael Cook, SBC’s executive member for HR and corporate improvement, said: “The CGI deal brought with it probably the most significant inward investment proposal ever for the Borders with the potential to inject over £100m into our economy.

“It is important that the council does all it can to assist CGI in the relatively early days of this agreement, and to do so we’ll be providing temporary office accommodation in Galashiels.

“While CGI will occupy these premises initially, the council will retain ownership of them and receive longer-term benefit as the quality of its offices in the centre of Galashiels will be greatly improved.”

Maggie Morrison, vice-president, CGI Scotland, added: “We are very grateful to Scottish Borders Council for being so accommodating while we finalise our long-term property strategy in Borders. We see this temporary use of council offices as a win, win solution for both CGI and the council.”

While a deal has been done with Scottish Borders Council IT staff who are being outsourced to Canadian company CGI, it appears there is a vast swathe of them who say it is unfair.

While newer members of staff have secured a decent rise in pay, those who have years of experience are effectively taking a pay cut.

A source from the council’s ICT department, who did not want to be named, tod us: “CGI offered us all alternative terms and conditions. This was in your newspaper recently, and as an incentive they (SBC and CGI) said that everyone would be taken up to the top of their pay scale, which is normally based on length of service.

“This is grossly unfair as less than half are not on the top already.

“This means that most of us, who have served the longest, lose out, as we are actually having our hourly rate cut.”

Our source added: “People in post for only one or two years will be getting £2,000 or more on their salary, but most of us get zero, not counting the 2.5% increase in pay for working 7% more hours.

“Is this the way to recognise the experience of staff going over?”

In a joint statement from SBC and CGI, a spokesperson said: “CGI has consulted and agreed with employees transferring from SBC, and their representative unions, on changes to terms and conditions which contain a number of enhancements as well as protected terms as part of their transfer to CGI.”

A Peeblesshire man who wants to create a pagan shrine on his land has this week failed in his bid to get the required planning consent.

Drawings submitted to Scottish Borders Council by Andrew Cleghorn indicate he intends erecting a statue of the 14th century mythical deity Herne the Hunter on a plinth at his eight-acre smallholding at Kirkburn, Cardrona.

In April, the 52-year-old former bricklayer sought planning permission from the council for the erection of the plinth, along with “an altar and sacred well” as part of an application which included the erection of a two-storey building for the cold storage of rare-breed poultry.

But concerns over the visual impact of that building on a site – on the back road to Peebles and within the designated Tweed Valley Special Landscape Area – led local planning officer Craig Miller to refuse the entire application.

On Monday, Mr Cleghorn took his appeal against that decision to SBC’s nine-councillor local review body (LRB).

A submission on his behalf claimed he required the poultry building to “maximise the production” of the smallholding.

With regard to the proposed shrine, the submission stated: “Mr Cleghorn is guided by the pagan earth gods and wishes to create a special space for private worship.

“The low-impact sacred well and altar/statue stance will be sited at the source of a spring on the hill, with a view over the valley ... where private meditation and worship can be carried out without impact to others.”

The submission acknowledged that Mr Cleghorn has had several planning appeals rejected in the recent past, including unsuccessful bids for a mushroom growing shed and another building in which to rear rabbits.

“Each idea has been extinguished by the planning department [of SBC] without further consideration of the validity of the proposals,” claimed the submission.

“There is also a suggestion he is being persecuted to the point of not being allowed to follow his own religious leanings within his home and smallholding.”

Reporting to the LRB, Mr Miller said none of the previous reasons for refusal had been resolved and the proposals would have “a significant detrimental impact on the character and quality of the designated landscape”.

Mr Miller said the applicant had also failed to demonstrate any economic justification for the development or shown that it would not have an adverse impact on road safety and the amenity of neighbours.

The review body concurred and rejected Mr Cleghorn’s appeal as well as confirming the refusal of another of his recent planning applications – for a flotation pool for cattle “for the therapy and tonal improvement of the stock”.

Councillor Iain Gillespie, a former vet, observed: “In my experience, cows are not that keen on swimming”.

Mr Cleghorn declined to comment after the meeting.

Legend has it that Herne the Hunter was the antlered keeper of Windsor Forest which came under the control of the pagan Angles in the early Middle Ages.

Police returned to the scene of a week-old robbery in Galashiels on Saturday as they sought further help to trace the attacker and recover a stolen handbag.

An 85-year-old woman was pushed to the ground as she walked between Croft Street and Greenbank Street at midday on Saturday, September 10.

She suffered serious injuries and the man who assaulted her took her bag and ran off towards a parking area nearby.

The woman is now recovering at home.

On Saturday officers stopped and spoke to passers-by in the area.

A number of searches of the surrounding area, including gardens and bins, have been carried out, but the bag and its contents have not yet been recovered.

Officers are now also asking members of the public to check their gardens and communal areas for the items. The bag is unbranded, light beige in colour and has a wide shoulder strap.

The bag contained a brown umbrella, a Radley branded black purse with a small dog on the front and a small quantity of medication.

Detective Sergeant James Welsh carried out the anniversary checks.

He said: “We know the man, who was wearing a dark grey hooded top with the hood up, ran off along Greenbank Street towards the Croft Street flats.

“Extensive searches have been carried out here, but the bag has not yet been found, so I would urge everyone in the area that stretches from the Gala Water Retail Park up to Abbotsford Road to please check their gardens, communal areas, bins, anywhere where this bag or its contents might have been discarded.

“If you find any of the items, please leave them where they are and call police on 101. We will be able to come and recover them and further search that area.

“We have carried out house to house and CCTV enquiries and on Saturday we spoke to people visiting the town centre to see if they can recall anything from last week that may assist.”

Scottish Borders Local Area Commander, Chief Inspector Andy McLean, said: “Such a violent incident is extremely rare in Gala and the Borders as a whole, and the local community has been extremely shocked that something like this has happened.

“A number of people came to the lady’s aid last Saturday and I’d like to thank them for the assistance they gave.

“She was seriously injured in the robbery and required treatment in hospital.

“We are determined to bring the person responsible to justice.”

Contact Galashiels Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

With week five of the season beckoning, two Borders teams book-ending the BT Premiership go into Saturday’s fixtures with equal ambitions – but for opposing reasons.

Melrose lead the pack after four wins from four, having seen off Gala by 43-27 in last weekend’s southern derby at Netherdale.

In the game of the day this Saturday, they head west to take on another unbeaten side, Ayr, who are already strongly tipped to be in the end-of-season play-offs.

At the opposite end of the table, Hawick are desperate to break a run of four straight losses.

But aspects of their performance in the 28-43 loss to Ayr last Saturday, in which they gained a bonus point, gave them cause to believe their first win may not be far away. They return to Mansfield Park this weekend against mid-table Boroughmuir.

Gala head to Stirling County, while in Division One, undefeated Jed-Forest, whose latest win was a 28-17 triumph over Stewarts Melville, are at home to struggling Howe of Fife.

Selkirk, relegated last season from the Premiership and whose results have varied starkly so far, travel to table-topping Falkirk, who have surprised many with three wins from three.

The Rotary Club of Kelso recently organised a sponsored walk which was open to all charities, sports clubs and organisations in the town.

The walk gave a variety of groups the chance to raise funds for their individual projects and causes.

Walkers and their canine companions took a gentle, sunny Saturday dander along the old railway route from Kelso to Sprouston. An easy walk, but one which suited all ages from toddlers to evergreens.

Participants had a refreshment stop in Sprouston Village Hall before rambling back.

This year, charities such as The Sugod School in the Philippines, Mary’s Meals and the Rotary Foundation, all benefitted from their supporters’ efforts.

This is the world’s biggest bouncy castle - and it’s for adults!

It’s been created to give adults the chance to be “a kid again”, and is made up of 32 inflatables across the length of more than two football pitches.

Anyone brave enough to boing faces a tiring race to the finish as they take on a challenging course of inflatable walls, rings and enormous bouncy balls.

Benedikt De Vreese, owner of V-Formation, the company that custom made The Beast, said: “People are dead tired when they slide the last piece of the track but after that they can’t stop talking about how cool it was.

“That’s why we built this, to create something special for adults but where they can be a kid again.

“It’s not always about power or speed, it’s about endurance and knowing yourself.”

Do you know your Robert Burns from your Sir Walter Scott? Billy Connolly from Frankie Boyle?

Have a go at our Scottish quotes quiz and see how many you get.

Tired of normal reality? Don’t worry, there’s an alternative.

From this week, it’s now possible to escape completely into the virtual as Oculus Rift rolls out in the UK.

Pull the Oculus headset over your head, flip the headphones down and no one will be able to bother you as you escape into a 360-degree, three-dimensional immersive game.

It’s £549 retail and it requires quite a powerful gaming PC to run, but that’s no surprise. This is a high-end piece of kit.

VR equipment is on a spectrum from basic smartphone add-ons to rocket-science level stuff, but Oculus is aiming to be the point at which the person on the street gets on board with the more impressive capabilities of the technology.

As an experience, it’s hard to knock Oculus. For the total virtual reality novice, even the sample clips are like another world: no matter how much commotion there is going on around you, there will be vertigo when you lean out over the edge of a skyscraper’s roof, and a flutter of panic when a T-rex comes stomping around the corner.

And there’s a difference between exploring a fantasy game world on a television as opposed to a headset.

Firstly, things are happening in every direction, which is immersive in a very real way. It’s not a case of pointing the camera in one direction or another – things will fly through your peripheral vision and make you spin around.

And if you want to get hands-on, you’ll be able to do that soon to. Oculus Touch controllers - a pair of handheld devices which follow the position of your hands, letting them interact with the VR environment - should be available in the next few months.

They come in at £190 per pair, which includes the improved camera system, required for tracking your movements.

Games will have to move beyond the wonder-and-marvel style inevitable in early virtual reality.

Google Cardboard, a cardboard headset you can place your phone into for a less impressive but also drastically less expensive (from £1) VR experience, is already boring because what’s good about it – wandering the skyline of Chicago, watching New York Times video in 360 degrees, going on a rollercoaster – has less impact the more you do it.

So will we see people on the bus in the near future battling hordes of virtual zombies in a VR headset? Probably not – Oculus and competitors like the HTC Vive are still tethered to the PC tower.

But this is the best chance so far to capture the public’s imagination, and that’s the first step. If you consider yourself an explorer, it might be time to explore the virtual worlds that have just opened up.

Will my computer run it?

Unless you bought it to play demanding PC games, probably not. It won’t work with Macs at all, and a new rig to run Oculus at its best will cost north of £1000 – but as a side benefit, it should be lightning quick to check your email on.

VR – the main players

HTC Vive – £770 (plus a gaming computer)

Oculus – £549 (plus a gaming computer)

Sony Playstation VR – £349 (plus a PS4)

Samsung Gear VR – £80 (plus a Samsung phone)

Google Cardboard – from £1 (plus a smartphone)

Oculus Rift is available at John Lewis and elsewhere for £549.

Souters are being invited to share their family stories of the First World War at the latest event organised by the Saving and Sharing Scottish Borders Stories of WWI project.

The two-year scheme, run jointly by the Scottish Borders Museums, Archives and Library Services, under the auspices of local charity Live Borders, aims to provide a unique and lasting commemorative record of the First World War and its legacy in the Borders region.

Funded by £33,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £21,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant, the project will document the region’s social and family heritage of this period by recording material in various formats, including scans, photographs and sound recordings, so that it can be made widely available for future generations.

A free event will take place on Saturday, November 12, between 10am and 2.30pm at Selkirk Parish Church Hall and members of the community are invited to bring along their WWI letters, diaries, photographs and more and share their family’s story.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, SBC’s executive member for culture, sport, youth and communities, said: “This unique project will document the impact and significance of these turbulent years on our local and national heritage.

“The generation who have a direct link with those who participated is getting older and this may be our last chance to capture their recollections.” 

Support for the project has also been received from Councillor John Greenwell, SBC’s Armed Forces champion.

He said: “I am pleased that the Armed Forces Covenant funding scheme has helped this project come to fruition and am looking forward to visiting as many of the events being planned as possible. 

“I would encourage anyone that has an interest in WW1 activities to attend and be part of continuing the important legacy that this conflict has for us all, whatever our age or background.”

Ewan Jackson, chief executive of Live Borders, added: “This is an opportunity for us all to recognise the contribution to the war effort made by individuals and families across the Borders.”

As part of the Selkirk event, John Nichol and Hilary Bell will perform extracts from War and Glaur at 11.30am, and at 1.30pm, Alan Cumming will present his popular talk on Scottish Women’s Hospitals during the First World War.

There will also be a chance to step back in time with the Scots in the Great War Living History Society.

Refreshments will be available, with all proceeds going to Poppy Scotland and the Selkirk and Ettrick Forest branch of the Royal British Legion, as well as displays from Live Borders Museums and local schools.

More information about the project, including volunteer opportunities, is available from project officer, Morag Cockburn on 01450 360699 or by emailing archives@liveborders1.org.uk

Stirling County 31, Gala 18

There was little to choose between these teams in terms of the season so far before kick off – and not much to separate them once play began.

County just about deserved their win after an improved second-half performance.

It had looked an intriguing fixture between two inconsistent teams and they were evenly matched for long spells. But County’s superior second-half showing made the difference in a game where the lead had changed hands several times.

County’s four-try, bonus-point win came courtesy of touchdowns from Reyner Kennedy, Nemia Kenatale, Alex Taylor and Fraser Lyle, three of them converted by Jonny Hope, who also augmented the score with a penalty, and one goalled by Ross Jones.

Gala’s points came from tries by Opeta Palepoi (main picture) and Rob Louw, with one converted by Gregor Hunter, who also nudged two penalties.

Their coach, Chris Dalgleish, was despondent at the close: “We squandered too many opportunities and were under big pressure in the scrums. We created chances but didn’t take them. This group of players has to learn – quickly – because this was a game we were looking to win.”

Ayr 11, Melrose 7

The Millbrae hosts emerged victorious from this clash of the league’s two unbeaten ‘Superpowers’.

Ayr’s greater control, particularly in the pack, allowed them to overcome poor conditions and a determined Melrose side, and in turn displace their visitors from the head of the table as the big two clashed for the first time this season.

This game was tight all the way through, and might have gone the other way, as both sides had chances.

Ayr, however, always seemed to have more in their tank, although they made heavy weather of things, particularly in the first half when they butchered no fewer than seven great opportunities when deep in the Rose red zone.

The visitors’ stirring opening try came from one such Ayr error. They were inside the visitors’ five-metre zone when a knock-on handed Melrose a free ball. They accepted the gift with alacrity, Neil Irvine-Hess in particular making crucial hard yards as they swept downfield for Murdo McAndrew to dive over for a try, converted by Jason Baggott.

Unfortunately for Melrose, during their break-out, Fraser Thomson tweaked a hamstring and had to go off. The attacking threat he brings was sorely missed thereafter.

Ayr led at the interval, Frazier Climo kicking two penalties in 18 and 31 minutes to send the hosts in at the break a mere one point ahead.

Climo’s line kicking from hand was a vital factor in allowing Ayr to relieve Melrose pressure and keep the visitors penned in their own half for long spells.

Ayr, however, needed a bit of luck. Jason Baggot missed a penalty he would normally be expected to kick early in the second half, then a yellow card – for “not rolling away after a tackle” – to Melrose prop Nick Beavon gave Ayr the hold they needed.

The home pack was already building up a fierce head of steam but Beavon going off allowed them to pound the Melrose line. The visiting defence was resolute but, with mere seconds remaining of Beavon’s time on the naughty step, Ayr went wide and skipper Grant Anderson sent Cammy Taylor over for the crucial match-winning try.

It was still, however, anybody’s game. Melrose had a lengthy spell of pressure but big Rob McAlpine was a colossus for Ayr, as he repeatedly pirated line-out ball deep in Ayr’s 22 to ease the pressure.

The home side were also hammering at the Melrose line on the back of some great work by their pack when the final whistle sounded.

By then, Melrose were again short-handed, Jamie Bhatti copping an early finish after a no-arms tackle.

“Fair enough, we had our chances, we defended well, but Ayr managed the game and the conditions better than we did”, said Melrose coach Robin Chrystie.

“Ayr’s defence was great. We had chances to win it but they kept shutting us out.

“We’re disappointed but it’s only September and this defeat is not the end of the world.”

Ayr coach Calum Forrester said: “Full credit to Melrose. They scored a great try and made it very difficult for us.”

Hawick 36, Boroughmuir 26

After four defeats in the BT Premiership, Hawick made their sought-after breakthrough with victory over Boroughmuir at Mansfield Park, to lift themselves from the foot of the table.

A week earlier, Hawick had scored four tries in an encouraging – but nevertheless losing – display against championship leaders Ayr, to raise expectations that the Greens might have turned a corner.

At the weekend, Hawick confirmed their improvement, this time making a good performance a winning performance. The Greens’ four tries against a strong Boroughmuir side earned five championship points.

“The win has been coming,” said head coach Nikki Walker. “We’ve not been far off it but, before today, we hadn’t strung an 80-minute performance together. There’s room for improvement but, hopefully, we can take a little confidence from the win.”

He added: “It was hard work but we got there in the end. You could see how nervy we were out there. We should probably have been a lot more convincing but we can learn from our mistakes.”

The biggest area in which Hawick need to improve is the kick and chase which, against Boroughmuir, succeeded only in handing possession back to the Meggetland men and, crucially, into the hands of a very potent back three which accounted for three of the visitors’ four tries.

“Our kick and chase was poor and not just the box kick,” conceded Walker, who otherwise must have been delighted with so much of his side’s performance – notably the set-piece, where Hawick exerted pressure in the scrums and had an almost faultless line-out.

Individually, there were exciting performances by two-try scorer Wesley Hamilton, back rows Keith Davies and Stuart Graham and lock Michael Robertson, who is now contributing hugely to the Greens’ forward effort.

Hawick led 15-12 at half time with tries from scrum half Bruce Campbell and Hamilton, the latter intercepting a kick ahead, and a conversion and penalty from Neil Renwick.

‘Muir’s first half points came from tries by Jordan Edmunds and former Gala back row Craig Keddie and a conversion from ex-Jed player Chris Laidlaw.

After the break, the Greens extended their lead with a second touchdown from Hamilton and two further penalty goals from Renwick. Muir hit back with an 80m try from McConnell, converted by Laidlaw, Hawick’s reposte a solo effort from Lee Armstrong, with Renwick converting.

Boroughmuir then produced a second score for McConnell, converted by Laidlaw, to secure the four-try dividend and to reduce Hawick’s lead to seven points.

But, four minutes from full time, a late penalty by Armstrong denied the visitors what could yet be a crucial losing bonus point.

Hawick: K. Ford, N. Renwick, G. Johnstone, G. Huggan, W. Hamilton, L. Armstrong, B. Campbell, S. Muir, F. Renwick, C. Mackintosh, M. Robertson, B. McNeil, R. Gibson, S. Graham, K. Davies. Subs: M. Landels, T. Skeet, D. Harlen, K. Brunton, S. Bandeen.

Kids’ favourite The Beano is getting a revamp. The DC Thompson-published comic has had its print edition redesigned and has launched a brand-new website they’re calling the ‘Ultimate Feed of Awesome’.

It’s news that will have brought memories flooding back for adults of a certain age. Do you remember these kids’ classics from yesteryear?

Tempest Brewery’s first Oktoberfest was warmly received on Saturday as the Tweedbank company put its vast range of beers to the test. Festival-goers were able to taste the beers – from the refreshing 1.9%ABV Raspberry Radler to the mealy 11% Mexicake.

Tickets, limited to 500, had sold out quickly for the event – which merged superb local food, music from bands such as The Violet Kind from Edinburgh and Galashiels DJ Neil Rankin, and, of course, those beers – but those who lost out this time around will be delighted to hear another is planned early next year.

Tempest director, Annika Meiklejohn, told us: “This has been a very successful event, and I’m sure we can safely raise the number of available tickets for our next festival, which we hope to host in March or April 2017. Our beers and brewery tours have been very well received.”