Guests including former Borders MP David Steel helped one of the region’s primary schools celebrate its 40th anniversary last week.

It was the ex-Liberal Democrat leader, now Baron Steel of Aikwood, who opened Tweedbank Primary back in 1976, so current headteacher Alyson Weir invited him back for its birthday party to take a trip down memory lane.

She said: “The school is 40 years old, so we couldn’t let October go by without celebrating that.

“We did an assembly with the children about the anniversary, and it’s fascinating to see some ex-pupils here today finding themselves in photos and reminiscing.”

Also there to help cut the birthday cake for the Cotgreen Road school were Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker and Gerald Maitland-Carew, lord-lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale.

Lord Steel said: “The 40 years have flown by.

“Tweedbank was just a community in its infancy when the school opened, and now it is a really great town made even greater by the arrival of the railway.

“I was here when they opened the extension too, and it has been a great success.”

Tweedbank Primary opened with 150 pupils under headteacher George Wilson and saw a drop in numbers during the 1980s before returning to around 150.

Captain Maitland-Carew said: “This school has a real buzz of interest, fun and all the things that a primary school should have.”

Former headteacher Findlay Ferguson added: “It’s great to come back today.”

“I enjoyed 25 very busy years at the school.

“There was always something different about Tweebank because it was always changing.

“It was quite unique as it was a school very much on its own and serving a big community.

There’s a definite nip in the air, the heavy coats are coming out, and staying at home suddenly seems like a more attractive option than a night on the tiles.

Yes, summer is a distant memory - but before you fall asleep under a SAD lamp and start to dream of jetting off to sunnier climes, read our eight reasons why autumn is, in fact, the most awesome season of all.

Two Borderers awarded British Empire Medals in the summer were presented with their honours in front of their proud families and friends at a ceremony this week.

Jessica’s honour was for services to her community in Stow where over the years she has influenced generations of people through her work as a Red Cross trainer, a member of the wind farm panel, secretary of the community council and as a playgroup leader.

Most recently, her volunteering efforts have made a difference to pensioners living in the community as her lunch club, set up in 2002, now has over 30 members attending weekly or fortnightly.

Working with a team of volunteers, Jessica co-ordinates lifts for those living in the rural community to join in the friendly lunches held in the village health centre.

Jessica also organises a volunteer driving scheme to take elderly patients to both the health centre and the Borders General Hospital at Melrose for appointments while her work with the Gala Water History and Heritage Association also sees her volunteer each month recording the memories and stories of the older people in the village.

Jessica commented: “Lots of people might like to do all the things I do but have to go out to work every day.

“I am very fortunate that I can do all of these things.”
Now semi-retired, having worked with children most of her life, Jessica has lived in the Gala Water area for over 46 years first working at Heriot playgroup before moving to Fountainhall and then on to Stow.

Joined by her husaband Michael, daughter Sarah and grandsons Callum and Adam she was delighted to accept her medal in front of her invited friends and guests.

She explained: “They have all beeen wonderful.

“The nicest thing about it all is that it was people in the community who nominated me so it’s nice to know they see what I do as worthwhile.

“I tried to invite people from all of the things I am involved in to the ceremony and I was really glad that they all wanted to come and support me.

“I have been tremendously supported and encouraged by everyone and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole occasion.
“The council did us proud, and it was a lovely joint evening for both myself and Brian.”

Former military man Brian McLeod’s medal recognised his work as convener of the branch’s Poppy Appeal committee and later as its branch secretary and treasurer.

The 69-year-old has helped increase the number of Poppy Appeal volunteers from a handful to the current 45, boosting the amount raised from £2,500 in 2002, when he took over the role, to £10,000 in 2013.

As secretary, he has also increased branch membership from 10 to 55 and helped reinvigorate the branch, based at Hawick Ex-Servicemen’s Club, in Teviot Crescent.

He also helps to arrange the annual Armistice Day parades in the town, train branch standard bearers and offer advice to the local detachment of the Army Cadet Force.

Brian assists in the organisation of area functions and national pensions committee activities too.

The father-of-two is a devoted legion member and epitomises its motto of ‘service not self.

Brian, who lives in Hawick with wife Marilyn, said: “I have no idea who the individual or individuals were who nominated me. If someone thought I was worthy of this honour, it would have been bad manners not to accept it.

“This is an honour not just for me but for the Poppy Appeal volunteers. It is an honour for the legion as a whole and for my family and the people of Hawick who have supported me in this work.”

Brian’s capacity for hard work and discipline was instilled during 26 years as a member of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, rising to the rank of colour sergeant serving across the world, including Hong Kong and the jungles of Borneo.

After returning to civvy street, he took on a variety jobs, including caretaker, roofer and administration officer with the Scottish Association of Mental Health.

He often suffered from dizzy spells, though, and also spent periods of time unemployed.

It was 14 years ago that he began to devote his energies to helping the legion, of which he had always been a loyal supporter.

Brian, whose late father also served with the Borderers, said: “I missed military life. It’s that mucking-in spirit and looking after everybody’s back. There was great comradeship.”

He added: “When I took over the Poppy Appeal, I promised to get to it and increase the number of volunteers, and I have been able to do that. This award is truly a great honour.”

Captain Maitland-Carew said: “It was an honour to present British Empire Medals to two individuals who have contributed so much to their local communities.”

“Both Jessica and Brian are shining examples of hard-working, caring Borderers who can be seen as an inspiration to everyone in our area.”

Ambitious and aspiring downhill mountain bike racer William Brodie has finished the current season on a high by securing a British title.

The Denholm school pupil has his sights set on a career on the professional circuit – and he’s still only 12.

William topped off the racing term last Saturday by being crowned British Mountainbike Downhill Champion in his category, after completing a series of six victories out of six at venues including Innerleithen, Dumfries and Bowhill.

This year, he also became Borders Schools Cross-Country Champion for S1, while another career highlight came in June when he won the UCI World Cup Mountain Bike 2016 at Fort William, after finishing in top place in his category.

Another local rider and team mate, Rory Morrison took third position.

William, a pupil at Jedburgh Grammar School, has also scored heavily in endurance racing in Forfar and Glentress.

When the new season begins in March, he’s likely to be competing in the juvenile sections of a variety of events staged by the Scottish and UK associations.

Supported by glad parents, Georgina and Gary, William practises with the Borders Advanced School of Racing and KIDS Innerleithen Cycle Club, where he is coached by Jamie Birks and Stuart Laidlaw.

He plays rugby for his school but two-wheeled motorsport is his main interest – as Georgina says: “He is constantly on a bike.”

She added: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic year, with all he has done.”

William has been riding bikes since he was about two and started competing around the age of nine or 10. In his own words, according to mum, he was “fast but kind of unsafe”.

He would practise regulalry with friends from the village, as well as seeing how high he could jump.

He liked to compete in all aspects of biking, said Georgina, and was interested in advance styles of racing, as well as the nutritional side and the history of the sport.

Young drivers in the Borders are being urged to further their skills in a bid to make our roads a safer place to be.

The BGAM-Cleland-SBC courses are focused on making anyone who sits them a better and safer driver, and have been freely offered to 17-25-year-olds for 15 years.

The participant pays £149 for the first course day and it is refunded when he or she passes the course ... and organisers say there is very nearly a 100% pass rate in the Borders.

Bill Allison, national observer with the Borders group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, organisers of the scheme, said: “The IAM has a reputation of being a staid organisation mage up of old fuddy-duddies in flat caps who never go above 45mph.

“It is not like that and it never has been. A lot of youngsters who join us only do so to get cheaper insurance, but halfway through the course they are hooked.”

Bill says the current driving test does not ready the driver for the full gamut of driving conditions, in that learners cannot drive on motorways and often have never experienced driving in snow or at night until they have already passed their test.

And, he says. our whole idea of road safety is skewed.

“Parents wrap their children up in cotton wool up until they are 17 ... they put them in proper car seats, make sure they are safe in the car. They look after them and take no risks. Then the kids get to 17, they pass their test, and they let them get on with it.

“What we do is way beyond what you learn in basic driver training ... how to read the road, how to analyse the situation, how to think ahead.”

Garage owner and former touring car champion John Clelland, who sponsored the scheme from start-up, said: “You might save your own life and the lives of others, you could get cheaper insurance, and it will look good on your CV, as it shows you have committed to do something.“

Police Scotland’s Chief Inspector Andy McLean supports the schemeas an assessor.

He said: “In 30% of traffic collisions where people are either killed or seriously injured, the driver at fault is under 25. That’s a huge amount.”

Twenty-year-old Greg Noble of Galashiels passed his test with a perfect score last autumn and stayed on to train as an observer. He put his first ‘associate’ through the test with a perfect score as well.

Greg said: “I feel that through doing the course, I have increased my knowledge about driving and road conditions. It has given me far more confidence in my driving, and it’s a really exciting opportunity for youngsters.”

The next set of courses start on October 18 and 23.

Formal training takes up four intense days over the course of six weeks. 
To find out more, or to book a course, email courses@bordersiam.org.uk

A presentation to the public by the Scottish Borders LGBT Equality Group this evening, Tuesday, October 11, in Galashiels is aimed at tackling hate crime in its various forms.

Promoting the Police Scotland campaign, officers from the Safer Communities team will give a presentation to members of the public gathered in the Interchange Building from 6.30-9pm.

It is also an opportunity for the police, as well as other organisations including Transgender Scotland, the Equality Network and the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), to describe the progress they have made in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

The event will form part of Police Scotland’s Hate Crime Awareness Week, which runs from October 8-15.

The campaign aims to tackle prejudice and prosecute anyone involved in such offences.

Constable Susie Ross, who is an equality and diversity officer, based in Dalkeith, said: “Any form of hate crime is unacceptable, which is why events such as this one are so important to highlight this message.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their community.

“There is no place for prejudice in modern society and Police Scotland is committed to tackling these offences wherever and whenever they occur.

“If anyone feels that they have been the victim of, or witness to, a crime which is motivated by malice or ill will because of sexual orientation, race, religion or gender identity then please get in touch with Police Scotland on 101. “We take all such reports very seriously and will conduct thorough investigations to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Constable Ross’s boss, Chief Constable Phil Gormley, said: “Tackling all forms of hate crime remains an absolute priority for Police Scotland.

“Every incident has a significant impact on the victim, their family and wider communities.

“Police Scotland continues to work closely with our criminal justice partners to do everything in our power to protect all communities and eradicate all forms of hatred.

“We cannot, however, do this on our own, and I am asking the people of Scotland to continue to work with us to ensure every incident is reported to the police.

“We recognise that hate crime often goes unreported, and there are many reasons why people don’t come forward and raise their concerns, but we must work together to ensure hate crime has no place in our communities.

“We live in a diverse and welcoming country, where for the majority, diversity is something to be celebrated, so if you or someone you know is being targeted and treated unfairly due to their disability, sexuality, race, religion or sexual orientation, then do something about it and tell someone.

“This doesn’t have to be a police officer, and we work closely with a wide variety of partner agencies, charities and community groups to offer ways in which victims or witnesses can raise a concern and get the information to the play via a third party.

“Hate Crime can manifest itself in lots of different ways, for example, offensive graffiti, having your property vandalised, having your belongings stolen, people swearing or making abusive remarks making you feel intimidated or harassed, through online abuse, being threatened or being physically attacked.

“All of this behaviour is completely unacceptable, and whether criminal or not, Police Scotland wants to know about in order to avoid behaviour escalating and being unchallenged.”

The Steading in Blainslie, while being a fairly innocuous-sounding address, might be the most aptly-named house in the Borders.

The 16th century farmhouse’s exterior, while lovely, is not outstanding, but when you walk through the front door, you are drawn into the amazing – often fairly mad – world of one of the region’s most talented craftsmen.

Tim Stead’s lifeblood courses through each and every surface, all lovingly designed and built by the wizard woodsman, who died at the age of 48 in 2000.

To look at the wood is not enough. To the touch, each piece almost throbs with warmth, the smooth surfaces and the rough edges telling the story of the wood and the man who worked it.

The sculptor, furniture-maker and environmentalist devoted his life to wood – he created Britain’s first community woodland at nearby Wooplaw – and was commissioned to make many extraordinary pieces, such as a Papal chair for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Scotland, the memorial chapel at the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen and the wooden parts of the huge Millennium Clock in the National Museum in Edinburgh.

But it is in his own home that he dreamt up his designs and built prototypes, and he furnished each room with unique works of art made from locally-sourced wood – even the bathroom basin.

However, Tim’s widow Maggy Stead Lenert, while massively passionate about the house and her late husband’s work, wishes to retire to Europe, and moves are afoot to safeguard the Steading’s future as a living showcase and to keep this highly significant example of Scottish craftsmanship and environmental philosophy here in the Borders, where it can be viewed, and touched, by the public.

The Tim Stead Trust was established in 2015 to secure funding to purchase the Steading and his archive.

Maggy, originally from Luxembourg, is currently archiving her husband’s life’s work, from furniture, sculptures, drawings and project plans –an awe-inspiring quest in itself, as he was constantly coming up with new ideas and working on items.

Maggy said: “The trust was created to keep this house the home of Tim Stead, not as a museum, because museums are dead places, and there is a lot of life in this house.

“It has been an inspiration to many people and continues to be so.

“We think it should be a vibrant place, with an artist in residence, running workshops for children as well as adults.

“But the first thing we are holding, as a kind of experiment, is a poetry workshop.

“We need to look at what we can do to raise money for this place.

“The trust is now looking to raise between £10,000-£20,000 to put together a business plan, in order to attract larger sponsors and grant funding.

“We have to be able to prove to potential investors that we won’t be back with a begging bowl.”

Maggy said the profile of the house needed to be raised.

She said: “We had an exhibition in Galashiels for the Creative Coathanger festival, and while most people were aware of his work, they were unaware of this place in Blainslie.

“We need to let people know about this little treasure so close to their homes, a place that they can visit and can inspire you.”

The trust has piqued the interest of the Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles, who met Tim when he was creating a wood school in Ancrum with Eoin Cox.

He said: “Tim Stead created a place of extraordinary artistic interest at the Steading. He was a remarkable woodcraftsman, a true and gifted artist. I have long admired his beautifully-crafted woodwork, and I can only commend the Tim Stead Trust for seeking to preserve it for public access. I hope that, once open, the Steading acts as a source of great inspiration to those who visit.”

Maggy said the prince’s support is very welcome, but she is just as keen to have the support of her neighbours in Blainslie.

She said: “The people in the village are used to visits to the workshop from customers, college groups and trustees.

“The car parking is a bit of an issue, but we regularly ask the visitors to park either in our drive or in front of the village hall.

“In May this year, we had an open day at the Steading for the villagers, and they left some wonderful comments.”

Maggy wants to retire to France in 2019, so there is a limited time to keep the Steading as a going concern.

One of the ways you can help is by becoming a friend of the trust, which costs £20 and keeps you in the loop as to what is happening through newsletters, and you also get a copy of the book With The Grain, which shows much of Tim’s work.

Another is by becoming a patron, which costs £500, but gains free entry to events and exhibitions and a dedicated and named wooden book, which will be placed in the patron’s bookshelves at the Steading.

Find out more online at www.timsteadtrust.org

Firefighters rushed to a Galashiels cinema after more than 100 people were evacuated because a fire alarm had been activated, a court heard.

A drunken teenager thought it would be a joke to set off the fire alarm at the Pavilion Cinema and Bingo, in Market Street.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, Ross Gold admitted committing the offence on June 10, and also smashing a window and spraying paint at his family home at Forest Hill in Galashiels on August 3.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley explained that while the 19-year-old appeared as a first-time offender, he had come to the attention of the police for anti-social behaviour previously.

She said the cinema and bingo hall were both in use, with about 100 patrons in the premises at the time.

Ms Bradley went on: “The same fire alarm is used for both the bingo hall and the cinema.”

Shortly after 9.30pm, the manager heard the fire alarm go off and evacuated the building. The fire service attended, but found no sign of any outbreak.

When the CCTV was viewed, two males were seen leaving, and the accused was caught pressing the fire alarm as he went out.

“The accused told police he had drunk too much and thought it would be funny to set off the fire alarm,” said Ms Bradley.

The prosecutor described Gold’s relationship with his parents as fractious and told how a neighbour had seen him heading towards his family home on August 3.

She heard Gold shouting “let me in, let me in”, and described him as “growling”, swearing and throwing stones. He was also seen using spray paint on the wall.

When his mother returned, she found her son “ranting and raving” in the garden.

A bin was lying in pieces and Gold told his mother: “If you think that’s a mess, you want to see the window.”

She found the window broken and Gold dared her to call the police. Ms Bradley added: “He told her that if she dialled 999, it would be the last thing she did. She was upset and visibly shaking when officers arrived.”

Defending Gold, Mat Patrick said his client suffered from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and attributed his behaviour to difficulties with his medication that had caused him to act impulsively and do stupid things.

The lawyer added: “He felt unable to control himself and did things he would not normally have done.

“His relationship with his parents is understandably strained, and he says he is not welcome back home until he sorts himself out.”

Gold, currently living at Forest Gardens in Galashiels, was fined £100 for activating the fire alarm and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the fire service. He was fined a further £100 and ordered to pay £300 compensation for the damage he caused at the family home.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told him: “You are 19 years old and responsible for your own life, and that includes taking your medication.”

POLICEMAN WAS RACIALLY ABUSED

A racecourse care assistant has admitted having an offensive weapon and acting in a racially-aggravated manner.

Rebecca Fox, 22, of Gatehousecote Cottages, Bonchester Bridge, had a pool cue with her in High Street, Galashiels, on March 22.

She also directed racist abuse at a police officer.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how the accused was seen “wielding a pool cue in a threatening manner”.

Police approached her and she called one officer an “English b*****d”, telling him to “go back to his own country”.

Fox told police she had been angry after losing her mobile phone.

Her solicitor said Fox had reacted badly when her phone went missing.

The lawyer added: “Most of her reaction was due to drinking too much, and she says alcohol makes her an idiot. She says she had stopped drinking and taking cannabis, which has been the reason for her unruly behaviour in the past.”

Fox was sentenced to a community payback order with 150 hours’ unpaid work.

DRIVER NEARLY FOUR TIMES LIMIT

When police woke a driver sleeping in his car, he told officers he was fine and sitting in his garden.

Andrew Cameron was found to be approaching four times the drink-drive limit.

The 43-year-old gardener, of Mill Cottage, Stobo Home Farm, Peebles, admitted driving a car on the B712 near Stobo on September 3 with a breath-alcohol reading of 78mcg, the legal limit being 22.

Police noticed a BMW parked on the roadside with its lights on and could see exhaust fumes from the tailpipe.

Officers saw the accused asleep in the driver’s seat.

“They knocked on the window, and his speech was slurred as he told them he was fine and was sitting in his garden,” explained prosecutor Tessa Bradley, adding: “They pointed out to him that he was actually sitting in his car and switched the engine off.”

Ms Bradley said Cameron had been co-operative with police.

Heather Stewart, defending, said her client worked as a gardener and his job was dependent on his driving licence, adding: “It is likely his employment will be terminated.”

Ms Stewart said her client had been out drinking and was heading home.

“By his own admission, drinking has become an issue since the sudden death of his wife last year,” she explained.

Cameron, a first offender, was fined £200 and banned from driving for 12 months.

THIEF TO PAY COMPENSATION

A cosmetics thief who assaulted a supermarket employee has been given an 18-month community payback order and told to pay the victim £200 compensation.

Natasha Murray, 26, of Howegate, Hawick, admitted stealing cosmetics at Tesco in Paton Street, Galashiels, on September 25. She also pleaded guilty to assaulting an employee by spitting at him, and to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and screaming and throwing items.

On a further complaint, Murray had sentence deferred until December 5.

She admitted threatening or abusive behaviour at her home on May 30.

“She has been remanded in custody for two weeks and is keen to engage,” said defence solicitor Ed Hulme.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Murray: “All options will be open to me, and this is very much a chance for you.”

PAIR FACE ASSAULT TRIAL

A man and woman accused of assault will stand trial by jury on October 31.

Roy Chilcott, 48, of Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, and Tracey Laidlaw, 50, of Hillend Drive, Hawick, both appeared on indictment, charged with assaulting a man at a house in Hillend Drive by throwing a plant pot at him and striking him on the head.

They are also charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, brandishing a knife and threatening others with violence.

Chilcott offered a plea of guilty to an amended charge, but it was not accepted by the crown.

Laidlaw pleaded not guilty to both offences and lodged a special defence of self-defence.

GRANDFATHER FACES CHARGES

A grandfather has denied lewd and libidinous behaviour towards his granddaughter and sexually assaulting another female.

The 77-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to stand trial by jury on October 31.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court o n Monday, a further first hearing was set for October 24.

DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE

A man appeared in private charged with causing serious injury to two others after driving dangerously on the A7 near Heriot on June 15.

Craig Ferguson, 22, of Rosebery Farm Cottages, Gorebridge, made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.

OCTOBER TRIAL DATE

A Hawick man denies driving dangerously in the town while disqualified and uninsured.

He will stand trial by jury on October 31.

Darrell Potts, 23, of Howdenbank, denies driving at speed and overtaking when unsafe to the danger of other road users and pedestrians on various roads in Hawick on August 29 last year.

DRUGS CHARGES ARE DENIED

Two accused who deny having illegal drugs will stand trial on November 8.

Daniel Pierrepoint, 30, of Stephenson Close, Cobsterworth, Grantham, was absent when his case called, having been involved in an accident en route.

“He has crashed on his way to court and is waiting on a recovery vehicle,” explained defence solicitor Mat Patrick, who confirmed his client maintained his not-guilty pleas.

Pierrepoint denies possession of diamorphine and cannabis at Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, on July 30. He also denies having an offensive weapon – a knuckleduster.

Co-accused Nacisha Todd, 20, of Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, denies having cannabis on the same date.

Both had a further intermediate hearing set for October 24.

PAIR PLEAD NOT GUILTY

An Innerleithen woman has denied uttering racially-offensive remarks.

Pamela Melrose, 39, of Miller Street, is alleged to have used threatening or abusive behaviour in Miller Street on August 8.

Co-accused Nikki Stark, 43, also of Miller Street, Innerleithen, also denies shouting and swearing, and uttering racially-offensive remarks on the same date.

Both will stand trial on November 10.

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A 30-year-old man has denied threatening to kill his partner at a house in Galashiels.

Michael Stead, of no fixed abode, denies threatening or abusive behaviour at a house in Talisman Avenue on February 14. He also denies assaulting his partner and compressing her throat.

Stead admitted assaulting a police sergeant at Hawick police station on the same date by spitting on his arm, and sentence was deferred until the intermediate hearing on October 24.

Stead will stand trial on the other two charges on November 7 and was remanded in custody.

MAN MUST DO UNPAID WORK

A Galashiels man who behaved in a threatening or abusive manner has been sentenced to a community payback order with 120 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months.

David Greenhill, 48, of Abbotsford Road, admitted shouting and swearing and threatening violence in Wood Street, Galashiels, on May 1.

MAN BREACHED BAIL CONDITION

Breaching a bail condition cost Jamie Collins an £80 fine in court this week.

Collins, 34, of Beattie Court, Hawick, admitted failing to attend the town’s police station on February 19.

Chart-topping boy-band to appear in Hawick

Chart-topping 1990s boy-band Five are heading to the Borders and will play at Hawick Town Hall on Saturday, February 25.

The English act, famous for hits including Keep on Movin’ and Slam Dunk Da Funk, enjoyed success worldwide selling more than 20 million records and notching up 11 top 10 singles.

Formed in London in 1997, they broke teenage hearts worldwide when they split up in 2001, but they reunited as a quartet in 2006, splitting up the year after, then again in 2012 for the ITV2 show The Big Reunion and have kept going since, albeit now as a trio.

Despite being two members down, the three-piece act – now made up of Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon – recently returned from an arena tour in Holland and have several UK gigs lined up for next year.

John Lebbon, a stand-up comedian and former St Boswells Rugby Club player from Cumbria, is organising the band’s debut Hawick show and hopes it could be the first of many he stages there.

With Five’s upcoming appearance in his native Whitehaven selling out in under three hours, John is hoping for similar success at the 750-capacity Hawick Town Hall.

“I’ve never brought a band to Hawick before, but a few of my rugby friends here suggested it would be something different, and if it goes well, there is no reason why I can’t get other acts up in the future,” he explained.

“I’m hoping that people will be looking forward to a night out after Christmas, and it promises to be a real nostalgia night.”

The event will feature local support acts.

Five will be the latest in a string of big names to have graced the stage at the town hall including David Bowie in 1966, Status Quo in 1970 and Morrissey in 2011.

Tickets cost £25. Go to www.liveborders.org.uk for details.

A bus carrying a “small number of passengers” could have been in the Jed Water this morning, if it were not for a metal barrier.

The bus, carrying Peter Hogg livery, left the A68 main road at aroudn 9.45am. It crossed a grassy area, before going over a wall overlooking the river by Duck Row bridge, and was stopped by a barrier.

Police said no-one was injured in the incident, although “a small number of passengers were left shaken and were checked over by paramedics at the scene”.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “The road was closed for around an hour while the vehicle was safely removed.”

Reader Bill McBurnie told us he came across the bus when walking his dog, and sent us this photograph.

Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the bus to leave the road.

Ten Hawick 50+ adventurers set off for the Lake District on Sunday for their twice-a-year walk in that area.

The mist was quite thick as they left Hawick but past Mosspaul it soon lifted and the sun came out and stayed out most of the day.

After coffee at the pub in Braithwaite they made their way up the Newlands valley to the small car park at Littletown where the two cars were ‘sqeezed in’.

From here it was up on to Maiden Moor by way of High Crags and Black Crag and further on to High Spy where lunch was enjoyed in the lovely sunshine.

Breathtaking panoramic views were marvelled at, seeing for miles around, the best for a long time.

After that , down to Dalehead Tarn to warm them up for the steep climb up to Dalehead which was like climbing the 100 stairs 30 times.

After a well-earned rest, on along Littledale Edge, past the path to Hindscarth and on and up to Robinson, slightly lower than Dale Head but still 740 metres high.

The walk then went downhill (in height but not in enjoyment) and a few tricky rocky outcrops kept the concentration going, taking in High Snab Bank and Farm, Low House Farm and back to the cars.

A hard but really enjoyable 8.7 miles, total ascent of 3420 feet, then back to the pub for refreshments and a well-earned meal. The next walk is on October 23, along the East Lothian coast from Aberlady to North Berwick, please note earlier leaving time of 9am.

Just a decade ago, one of the most famous stately homes in the Borders faced an uncertain future following the death of novelist Walter Scott’s last direct descendant.

But now, the financial fortunes of Abbotsford House, where Scott penned many of his best-known works, appear to have been transformed with the completion of a £12m regeneration project – and the opening, in September last year, of the Borders Railway.

The latest set of accounts for the Abbotsford Trust, tasked with looking after Abbotsford since the death of Jean Maxwell Scott, shows that, for the second successive year, 40,000 individuals paid to go round the house and garden in 2015 – almost double the numbers before the ambitious renewal scheme began.

And according to the trustees, an estimated additional 30,000 visited the free exhibition and wider estate.

The annual report, signed off last week, states: “This was helped considerably by the opening of the Borders Railway and associated national publicity by VisitScotland, Scotrail and Scottish Borders Council.”

In 2014, the trust reported a large overall surplus of £791,000, and that impressive financial performance was repeated in 2015 with a recorded surplus of £784,000.

Trust subsidiary the Abbotsford Trading Company, which operates the gift shop, lettings, weddings and corporate events, also achieved a profit of £16,873, “thereby continuing the trend of improvement, and beginning to show some positive return on the trustees’ investments”.

In a section of the report looking to the future, the trust writes: “The trustees seek to improve and adjust the visitor experience, notably in the garden and grounds, which could not be achieved in the main capital project, as well as seeking to maximise the opportunities from the reopening of the Borders Railway.

“The trustees believe there is now a firm foundation of visitor numbers to build on.”

Many of the visitors who flock to Abbotsford come to view the outstanding collection of heritage assets housed there.

These include statues, paintings and valuable historical artefacts collected by Scott during his lifetime.

The 2015 report reveals there was an important addition to the collection last year.

This was a harp which originally belonged to Scott’s daughter Anne and was purchased following a donation received for the purpose.

Anne Scott (1803-1833) took charge of the Abbotsford household after her elder sister married. Anne, reportedly afflicted by a weak constitution, cared for her mother Charlotte who died in 1826, and is said to have been profoundly affected by her father’s passing in 1832.

The accounts put the market value of Abbotsford and its environs at £3.845m.

But, the report acknowledges: “Due to the historical connection, it is likely the property could realise significantly more than this if it were to be sold on the open market”.

School inspectors were so impressed at the use of digital learning being used at Gordon Primary School they want to see it shared more widely.

Education Scotland is currently trying out new approaches to school inspections, and when inspectors visited Gordon Primary School in June this year, staff and parents were told thatthis visit was to be one of those.

Eight areas of school life were looked at and all received either a good or very good evaluation.

Inspectors were happy with the level of education and care they witnessed at Gordon Primary School and nursery, and their report, published this week, was particularly complimentary about the school’s innovative practice when it comes to digital learning.

“During the inspection, we identified an aspect of innovative practice, regarding the use of digital learning with children, which we would like to explore further,” said Elizabeth Paterson, one of the inspectors.

“We shall work with the school and Scottish Borders Council to record the innovative practice and share it more widely.”

The report identified the school’s strengths: confident, articulate children who enjoy learning; a supportive and inclusive ethos across the nursery and school; the staff team work well together to improve children’s learning experiences; and effective leadership of the acting headteacher resulting in improved approaches to learning and teaching for all children.

The school was advised to continue developing the curriculum and the attainment of all children.

Scottish Borders Housing Association bosses this week denied a claim made by Unite union officials that they had not spoken for two years.

In a press release issued last week, the public-sector union claimed that tradesmen employed by the social landlords were ready to go to ballot for industrial action.

It also accused the association of not getting in touch with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) before the deadline of Monday, October 3, another claim denied by the Selkirk-based association.

Tony Trench, a regional officer for Unite, said: “We finally got the housing association to sit around a negotiating table after trying for two years.

“We had discussions with the association and with the conciliation service ACAS.

“Following that meeting, the association was supposed to get back to ACAS on Monday, October 3. They didn’t.

“Our members have been patient, but they won’t be patient forever.

“In a consultative ballot, more than 80% told us they would support industrial action. If the housing association doesn’t start serious negotiations soon, we will have no choice but to move to a formal legal ballot.”

However, Henry Coyle, director of assets and property services at the association, said it has been talking to local trade union reps and property service managers for several months.

He said: “We have held regular operational meetings between local trades union reps and managers in property services. These fortnightly meetings have subsequently been complemented by a series of strategic meetings, which regional union reps have also attended.

“As a result of these, we have brought a scheduled review of flexible working, modernising pay and working practices forward from 2018 to commence this month.

“One outcome of this will be a full review of the pay system and grading structure across the association.

“We have not failed to respond to Unite’s request. At the meeting with ACAS on September 26, which we attended at Unite’s invitation, we committed to respond to ACAS, on Unite’s request, within seven days and called ACAS on Friday, September 30.

“We agreed with ACAS to follow up with a written response and on the basis that ACAS’s facilitator was out of the office until Wednesday morning, we committed to have a written response on his desk for his return and have done so.”

Unite represents around 80 of the 91 tradesmen and labourers employed by the association.

The union is pushing for an increase to the implemented 1.1% pay award and for harmonisation of holidays and the working week across the association.

At the moment, the tradesmen work 37 hours a week, while some office staff work 35 hours a week and also receive a day’s holiday more a year.

Mr Coyle said he was disappointed to learn of Unite’s intention to ballot its members through a press inquiry.

He added: “We do not accept that the current package is unfair and inequitable.

“The package received by trade operatives and office-based staff contains terms and conditions aligned to their different working environments.

“For example, office-based staff do not receive an annual productivity bonus or work a rota day system. Unite negotiated this position for its members in 2009, and it has been of great benefit to them in recent years.”

The union and the association are also at loggerheads over the interpretation of a European Union ruling regarding journeys to and from jobs being counted as working time, as the latter insists that the ruling only relates to health and safety legislation.

Mr Coyle said that any increase in pay would mean an increase in tenants’ rent.

He said: “We have stressed that, as a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity, we must balance Unite’s requests against the needs of tenants, the requirements of the whole employee group, and the future viability and competitiveness of property services.

“To put into place all of Unite’s requests would mean that rents would have to be increased to unacceptable levels of a further 4%, or significant cuts in other services would have to be undertaken.

“We are unable to offer the further 1%, on top of the 1.1% already accepted, requested on September 26. Our pay increases over the last six years have amounted to 18.6% cumulatively, which compares very favourably to the 4.5% increase awarded in the same period under our previous pay scale, as operated by Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The property services team elected to move from these terms and conditions in 2009.”

We tried to contact Mr Trench this week to clarify claims made in his statement, but he had not returned our calls as we went to press.

Green-fingered volunteers have been praised for using flower power to brighten up stations on the new Borders Railway.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame invited volunteers to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to thank them for taking charge of floral displays along the 31-mile route linking Tweedbank with the capital since it opened just over a year ago.

Among those invited along were guests representing Make Stow Beautiful, Melrose Rotary Club, Galashiels Community Council, Gala in Bloom and Scotrail.

Ms Grahame said: “I was delighted, along with my colleague Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, to welcome representatives from the adopt-a-station scheme to Parliament.

“It was a real pleasure to meet the individuals behind the hard work we often take for granted as we travel up and down the Borders Railway.

“The newly-constructed railway stations along the line looked bare right after construction.

“These volunteers quickly set to work and have transformed the appearance of the stations with colourful flowers and vegetation, enhancing the entire journey experience for visitors and commuters alike.

“I wanted to congratulate these groups for taking the initiative and brightening up our railway to make it something we can all take pride in.

“There was also a range of issues raised during the lunch meeting, and I have undertaken to take these up with Scotrail.”

Phil Verster, managing director of Scotrail, also congratulated the groups on their work at stations including those at Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank, saying: “We are delighted at the range and variety of floral displays which are already helping give the stations individual character.

“What we have is a journey where the charm of the passing countryside is enhanced by the welcoming smile that greets the traveller at every stop along the way.”

Ms Grahame’s guests included Make Stow Beautiful’s Jack MacKenzie, Galashiels Community Council’s Judith Cleghorn, Gala in Bloom’s Ronnie Murray and Melrose Rotary Club’s Sylvia Grundy, Alan Thompson and Malcolm Luing.

Six youths responsible for putting a driver and passengers on a Borders bus in danger by throwing a stone at it are being hunted by police.

The H1/H2 bus was stationary at the time of the attack beside the shops in Burnfoot Road, Hawick.

The bus window was smashed, but luckily no one on board was injured.

Now Police Scotland are appealing for the public’s help in tracking down the culprits.

The incident, at 8.37pm last Thursday, forced the cancellation of Perryman’s Buses Hawick town service, launched in August and now operating seven days a week.

At the time, there were three people on board the vehicle, including the driver, and footage of the incident is being examined by police.

Tony McConnell, of Perryman’s Buses, said: “This is nothing more than a mindless act of vandalism, and thankfully no one was injured.

“Our CCTV footage of the incident is with Police Scotland and should hopefully identify those involved.

“We would look to reassure our customers this is an isolated incident and we remain fully committed to delivering a safe and reliable service to the town.”

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall said: “This type of behaviour is unacceptable, and those involved should be reprimanded. When a bus has to be cancelled at such short notice, it’s out of the operator’s control and has a direct impact on local people relying on the service.

“I have spoken to the team at Perryman’s Buses and would like to assure the people of Hawick this type of anti-social activity is very rare.

“The bus service has operated since August and without any incidents.”

Fellow ward councillor Watson McAteer added: “It is totally unacceptable for anyone to target our local bus service in this way, and the community must support the police in bringing the offenders to justice. While fortunately no one was injured, this cowardly form of attack could have had very different and serious consequences.”

A police spokesman said: “The cost to repair the damage is estimated to be a four-figure sum.

“Officers are looking to trace approximately six youths seen in the area at the time. The group included girls and boys, all believed to be in their early teens.”

Anyone with information on the identity of the yobs responsible is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Meanwhile, a Perryman’s spokeswoman confirmed there were no plans to change the H1/H2 route, after public calls for it to travel to alternative parts of Hawick.

She said: “We carried out a route-risk assessment before the bus was launched in August and there are no plans to change the route, although we will continue to liaise with the public.”

Bold initiatives are needed to tackle poor mobile signals in Scotland, according to Calum Kerr, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

Mr Kerr previously worked in the telecommunications sector, and as the SNP’s digital spokesperson at Westminster, he is leading efforts to develop solutions to the problems of rural connectivity.

So far, he has had talks with Ofcom and the Scottish Government on a number of issues, including mobile signals and after consumer champion Which? found that 4G in Scotland is only available 50.4% of the time, he decided it was time for action.

Speaking on BBC Scotland’s John Beattie programme, Mr Kerr highlighted the need for a new approach to mobile spectrum licensing to remedy poor coverage.

“This is an eminently fixable problem if we just come at it from the right angle,” said Mr Kerr.

“The reason we’re struggling in so much of rural Scotland is because successive Westminster governments have seen the licensing of mobile spectrum as a cash cow and a way of making money rather than as critical infrastructure and something that is essential for our country.”

Mr Kerr will sit on the committee for the Government’s new digital economy bill which convenes this week and will make the case for a change to spectrum policy to government and regulators as the legislation moves forward.

Mobile network operators have to bid for a licence to use a certain frequency of spectrum in order to operate. Mr Kerr said that asking for higher standards from the operators was the most effective way to boost coverage in hard to reach areas.

“In Germany, they have an out-to-in strategy, so mobile operators must cover rural areas first before they go into urban areas. These are commercial companies who cover rural areas first because they want to get into the high-density areas.”

“I want the UK Government to follow this example and implement a rural-first policy for future licences.”

At a Scottish Rural Parliament workshop last week, Mr Kerr highlighted the need for a shift in policy as the next generation of mobile technology, 5G, is expected to come online over the next decade.

“These are the kind of bold initiatives required to ensure that no one in Scotland is excluded from the digital superhighways of the future,” added Mr Kerr.

Latest annual statistics show that only 43.1% of trains to Tweedbank turn up on schedule.

South Scotland Labour list MSP Claudia Beamish is now demanding action to provide a more reliable service for passengers.

Her call comes as a petition signed by more than 14,000 people urges the Scottish Government to axe operator Abellio.

The ScotRail statistics show that services are late more often than not on a third of all rail routes across Scotland.

The Southern has reported frequently on problems with delays and cancellations affecting the new Borders Railway.

And the Scottish Labour party has published a dossier called ScotFail: How the SNP took our Trains off Track – and it is demanding action to improve rail reliability.

Ms Beamish said: “Most passengers accept that there are times when disruption can’t be avoided, but people shouldn’t have to put up with services that arrive late more often than they arrive on time.

“The fact that only 43.1% of trains into Tweedbank are arriving on time is unacceptable.

“The SNP transport minister needs to get a grip of what is happening on our railways and explain exactly what will be done to tackle delays and improve reliability.

“I have approached the minster about the cancellations and delays on the Borders Railway line, and I am waiting for his response.”

She had written to him about supporting the reopening of lines with a viable business case, such as Reston and East Linton on the Edinburgh-to-Berwick line to make the rail network accessible to more people.

She added: “The reality is that while passengers are continuing to pay more for a shocking service, Abellio has made £1m a month in profits from its franchise agreement with the SNP Government. The current set-up can’t possibly provide value for money for passengers in Scotland.”

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said he had called on the operator to draw up an improvement plan.

“ScotRail’s performance this year has not been at the level the Scottish Government demands and expects,” he said.

“Transport Scotland and Scottish ministers will be working closely with the franchisee to monitor delivery of this plan and ensure its targets are met.”

ScotRail did not dispute the dossier’s figure, but it said that was for trains arriving within 59 seconds of timetable time.

Using the industry standard measurement of within five minutes of the timetable time, its punctuality rate for Tweedbank was 86.1%, it said.

A spokeswoman said: “We have had a challenging few months due to industrial action, the big infrastructure works at Queen Street and the programme to electrify the line between Glasgow and Edinburgh. This has undoubtedly contributed to the fact that we are slightly behind our demanding target for performance.

“We have agreed an action plan with Transport Scotland about how we pull this back up to the level we would expect.”

Folk musicians and fans came from all over the country to take part in the Selkirk Sessions festival over the weekend.

However, while the entertainment was top notch, it has been claimed this week that the performers’ Royal Burgh experience was soured.

The Scott’s Selkirk event on Saturday – in which the town is turned back in time to the days of Sir Walter Scott – also tends to bring in visitors and this event is now held alongside the folk festival.

And, for the musicians who provide the ambience for both events, the social side of camping in the town is a big draw.

Many were staying in the Victoria Park caravan park behind the newly-refurbished swimming pool and were less than impressed.

Festival organiser Davie Scott said: “There were no lights whatsoever and the folk were just stumbling around in the dark. If you pay £17 to put your caravan there, you’d expect some lighting.

“There are lights there, but none of them were switched on.

“And there were only three toilets – and the cubicles included the only showers available, so the design of that seems a bit rubbish.

“At the bottom of the steps, at the back of the swimming pool, was a skip, absolutely full, which completely blocks the stairs. It still looks like a building site.

“And because it was so dark, it was difficult to navigate around.”

Davie said he had also had feedback from the campers that while swimming was included, there was no sign outside the new pool that informed them of when it actually opened.

The campsite is run from the swimming pool reception by Live Borders.

Davie added: “Given that Live Borders are looking after all the leisure and cultural activities in the region, and here we are putting on a cultural event which attracts people from all over the country, it doesn’t make us look very good.”

The Wee Paper had a look at the site on Wednesday and the skip, piled full of building materials, was still at the bottom of the stairs.

We contacted Live Borders for comment, but no-one returned our calls.

See our picture special from the Scott’s Selkirk and Selkirk Sessions events on pages 6-7.

Roadworks are to be carried out on the A7 between Hawick and Langholm next week.

Embankment repairs, drainage works and resurfacing of the carriageway of the trunk road will be undertaken.

Resurfacing will take place from 8pm to 6am nightly from Monday to Thursday 20th October 2016 on the A7 at Hoghill, Linhope and south of Ewes.

The road will be open as normal outside those hours.

Drainage improvement works will then take place on the A7 at Linhope on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23, from 8am to 6pm on both days. That will require a full carriageway closure between the North Bridge roundabout at Hawick and the junction with B720 north of Canonbie.

A signed diversion route will be in operation.

Southbound traffic will be diverted off the A7 at North Bridge, taking the second exit to Mart Street and then travelling via the A698 Weensland Road to the junction with the A6088.

From there, traffic will follow the A6088 to south of Bonchester Bridge and join the B6357 to Canonbie, before travelling via the B7201 to re-join the A7 just north of the Scottish-English Border.

Northbound traffic will follow the same diversion route in the opposite direction.

Local bus services will be escorted through the roadworks.

The £220,000 road revamp has been timed to coincide with Nottinghamshire-based Alco Knitting Machine Services having the A7 closed at Hawick’s Buccleuch Road to allow it to take away machinery used by the old Peter Scott knitwear factory following its closure earlier this year.

A further stretch of the A7 from north of Stow up to Midlothian will be shut for resurfacing and patching works from 8am to 4pm on Friday, October 28, and Monday, October 31, then from Tuesday, November 1, to Friday, November 4.

Real-time journey information can be found at www.trafficscotland.org or via Twitter at @TrafficScotland