Angus Holmes, Sarah Holmes and Frankie Taylor are pictured above handing over £1,200 to the Margaret Kerr Unit and Palliative Care fund at NHS Borders.
Angus was sponsored to grow a moustache last year and he raised over £600. That sum was then matched by the William Grant Foundation.
The donation is made in memory of Ian Taylor, father-in-law to Angus, father to Sarah and wife to Frankie, to thank the staff of the Margaret Kerr Unit for the care received by Ian before he passed away last May.
The cost of a television licence is to increase by £1.50 to £147 in its first rise since 2010, the UK Government has said.
Ministers aer responsible for setting the level of the licence fee, and last year announced that it would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 1 this year.
Licence fee payers will receive a payment plan or a reminder reflecting the new amount when their licence is next due for renewal. Those buying or renewing a licence after April 1 will pay the new fee while those already buying a licence on an instalment scheme which started before April 1–such as monthly direct debit or weekly cash payments–will continue to pay the current fee of £145.50 until their licence comes up for renewal.
Fergus Reid, TV Licensing spokesman for Scotland, said: “The free concession for those aged over 75 remains, although as at present this is not issued automatically, and anyone entitled to the concession must apply for it. If you are blind or severely sight impaired you are entitled to a 50 per cent concession on the cost of a TV Licence.
“TV Licensing provides a range of ways to pay, including small weekly cash payments and annual Direct Debit. Payers can view their details on line at any time, and can choose to receive correspondence from TV Licensing by email, rather than by post,” he said.
Anyone watching or recording TV programmes as they are shown on TV, or watching or downloading BBC programmes on iPlayer needs to be covered by a licence. This applies whether they are using a TV set, computer, or any other equipment. For more information about when a licence is needed, visit tvlicensing.co.uk/info
Duns youngsters armed themselves with frying pans as they set out to batter the opposition at the town’s fourth annual pancake race.
Almost 20 youngsters lined up at the foot of Murray Street to flip their way to the finish line at the other end.
Two races took place on Shrove Tuesday, with the first starting at 4.45pm.
Organised by Duns Parish Church, overseeing the event, alongside the Reverend Stephen Blakey, was the final duty of assistant minister Hanneke Marshall.
After working in the parish for over a year and a half, the Netherlands-born priest will now take over as the ordained minister at St Machar’s Ranfurly Church in Renfrewshire’s Bridge of Weir.
She said: “I have really enjoyed my time working at Duns and getting to know the beautiful Scottish Borders.
“The parish is a very diverse, lively and very united congregation which I have loved being a part of.
“I am sad to be leaving, but I am excited to start my new role. It has been a fantastic day today filled with fun.”
Following the races, a pancake supper was held in the church. Videos of the event can be seen at www.facebook.com/theberwickwshire
Gala Harriers athletes battled cold, blustery weather to bag silver and bronze team medals at the National Cross Country Chamionships last Saturday.
The club fielded runners for most of the age groups, with Gregor Collins continuing his fantastic form to finish seventh out of a field of 164 in the under 13 boys’ 3.2 km race in 11.29. Only seven seconds behind was clubmate Ewan Christie who produced a great run (11.36), followed by Evan McConnell (12.50) who also ran well to end 64 th overall.
Teviotdale Harrier Thomas MacAskill was 40th (12.25). While the club had no athletes running in the U13 girls 3.2km, fellow Borders club Moorfoot Runners fielded four – Emily Carrick-Anderson (29 th , 13.14), Esme Minto (30 th , 13.14), Meghan Hobbs (67 th , 13.59) and Christina McGorum (70 th , 14.01). The Moorfoot team finished a superb eighth overall.
In the Under 15 boys 4.2km race, Harriers’ Lewis Tharme and Jake Shepherd represented the club, were 51st (14.53) and 116 th (16.22) respectively in a large field of 150 runners. Teviotdale Harrier Fraser Clyne was the highest positioned Borders runner at 13th (13.48). Gala Harriers were represented by Eilidh Forbes in the U15 girls’ 4.2km race. She was 58 th (17.05) out of a field of 118 runners, which included athletes from Moorfoot and Teviotdale.
First Gala Harrier home in the U17 women’s 5.9km race was Katie Rourke (16 th , 27.26) who has shown impressive form this season. Team mates Susannah Godfrey-Faussett (19th , 28.03), Zoe Pflug (21 st , 28.36), and Elena Heger (28th , 29.58) also had fantastic runs with the four athletes securing a team bronze for their efforts.
The Harriers’ U17 men’s team went one better, securing a team silver thanks to superb performances from on-form Faisal Khursheed (7th, 22.41), followed by Callum Tharme (15 th , 23.23), Yousuf Khursheed (25 th , 23.47) and Robert Fox (68 th , 26.12). Struan Brown also ran well (88th, 31.00).
In the Under 20 mens race, a familiar face took the national title with a stunning run. Former Gala Harrier Broc Drury (Aberdeen AAC), won the 7.6 km race in 25.45.
The Senior Men and Women were next to compete for medals over a 10km course. With on-form Scotland and GB athlete Callum Hawkins taking gold in the men’s race in 33.34, Darrell Hastie was the first Harrier home in 35th (38.15) following a strong run. Another 12 Harriers competed in the race with Marcus D’Agrosa coming 60 th (39.22), Graeme Murdoch 110 th (40.54), Craig Mattocks 174 th (42.51), Andrew Lawrie 190 th (43.04), Gary Trewartha 215 th (43.42), Fergus Johnston 234 th (44.15), Colin Brown 323 rd (46.48), Ian Maxwell 405 th (48.58), Bob Johnson 422 nd (49.21), Derrick Brydon 555 th (54.56), James Purves 604 th (58.15) and Gerry Moss 644 th (70.54).
The top four counting runners secured 11th place overall for the Gala Harriers Senior Mens team.
In the senior women’s race, Central AC’s Morag Maclarty struck gold in a time of 38.32. The Harriers gained 13th overall for their team with Kirstin Maxwell first home in 43 rd (44.25), followed by Sara Green (81 st , 47.42), Kate Jenkins 83 rd overall (48.07) and eighth F40 athlete home, and Dawn Grant 201 st in a time of 56.58.
Townsfolk in Innerleithen are demanding that a permanent post office be reinstated as they are unhappy about the part-time mobile service currently on offer.
The town is temporarily being served by a mobile outreach van service every Friday between 9.30am and 1pm after the town’s DayMart store ceased to act as a post office following the resignation of the post master there on Thursday, February 9.
However, residents are critical of the reduced service and are calling for a full-time post office to be run in the town again.
Many welcome this week’s news that long-established High Street shop Caldwell’s Ice Cream Parlour has applied to take over the running of the service.
Owner Andrew Caldwell said: “I felt the town needed more than a van sitting in a layby for three hours a week.
“When we heard the place was closing, we thought it was important to apply. We would have went for it before, but it was all advertised online, so we missed out last time.”
Mr Caldwell is now expecting a visit from the Post Office within the next two weeks but will not expect to hear any news on his bid until after an ongoing consultation on the mobile van service ends on March 24.
He believes his shop, established in 1911 and run by three generations of the Caldwell family, has enough room to comfortably host post office services, and he hopes they would create further jobs.
“We would need the support of the town to keep it going and for this to work,” Mr Caldwell added. “We are asking people to put in their views, and we need as many people as possible to do that and reply to the consultation that the post office is running.”
His bid has already been backed by Tweeddale East councillor Graham Garvie, Tweeddale MP David Mundell and Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame.
Ms Grahame said: “I have been in touch with the Post Office and Innerleithen Community Council since the news of the post office’s withdrawal from Innerleithen first broke.
“It is absolutely essential that a thriving, growing town like Innerleithen has a full range of postal services – and not just for a few hours once a week.
“The news that Caldwell’s, a popular and well established local business, is considering hosting these services is a promising development, and I stand ready to help with that bid in any way I can.”
Mr Mundell added: “It is clear, with Innerleithen being a growing town serving those who live there and beyond in terms of vital services, that a mobile service for a few hours on a Friday simply isn’t going to meet the demand from residents.
“I have made it clear to the Post Office that it needs to come up with a far better solution that will deliver services on a much more regular basis in Innerleithen to meet locals’ needs.”
However, former postmaster Kashief Ali, who ran the post office service from his DayMart store until last month, has warned that anyone taking on the running of the service should be prepared for a challenging time.
He said: “Since we took on the post office, we have had problems. People have been shouting at us, and we have had threats from people when we’ve asked them for ID.
“People were complaining about us having our two-year-old baby in the shop, but it is a family-run business. What do they expect?”
Mr Ali and his wife, who have lived in the town for over six years, set up the post office within their DayMart general store in February 2015 after the High Street post office closed down.
“We took over the running of the post office for the sake of the community,” he added.
“I know a lot of people have been affected by this, but we could not keep going with it under such abuse.
“We received no support from the Post Office at all.
“I got in touch with the post office union and even the chairman of that didn’t get back to me.”
Mr Ali says he had already registered his intention to give up the post office back in August, months before the burglary that saw his shop raided and a five-figure sum of cash and a quantity of cigarettes taken overnight on Wednesday, February 8.
“I had made up my mind already,” he said. “I have had two years of stress. Hopefully I will come back to my life. It was the worst decision of my life.”
“If someone has £20,000 to £25,000 in their pocket to subsidise the Post Office then I would recommend it.”
Residents have until March 24 to share their views on postal services in the town by contacting the Post Office through email: comments@postoffice.co.uk, calling 03457223344 or through their website www.postofficeviews.com.
A St Boswells man has admitted stalking his former partner by repeatedly sending her offensive text messages and behaving in an aggressive manner towards her.
Alan Cairney, 31, pleaded guilty to the offence which was committed over a six-week period and began when they fell out during an overnight stay at the Black Barony Hotel in Eddleston.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard on Monday that between February 13 and March 30, there were 753 messages between Cairney and the woman – with many from her urging him not to contact her anymore.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said many were threatening and aggressive towards the victim.
Cairney’s solicitor, Mat Patrick, said the vast majority of the messages were supportive of her and an attempt to rekindle their relationship.
But Mr Patrick admitted some “had crossed the line” and were “wholly unacceptable”.
Cairney was given a nine-month restriction-of-liberty order keeping him in his Springfield Terrace home between the hours of 10pm and 5am. He was also made the subject of a two-year non-harassment order banning him from contacting the woman.
ARREST WARRANT
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Hawick man who failed to show at Selkirk Sheriff Court for his pre-trial hearing on a dangerous driving charge.
Dylan Moore, 21, of Hislop Gardens, denies dangerous driving by entering the opposite carriageway and overtaking when it was unsafe to do so on the A7 Galashiels-Selkirk road on October 27.
ASSAULT AND ROBBERY CHARGE
A man and woman from Galashiels have been charged with assault and robbery.
Charley Brown, 22, of High Tweed Mill, and 33-year-old Logan MacKenzie, of King Street, are accused of assaulting a male at Asda in Galashiels on July 11 by punching him in the face and robbing him of £40.
Brown had her case continued without plea and a warrant was issued for the arrest of MacKenzie after he failed to appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
CROOKED SALES ASSISTANT
A sales assistant embezzled £5,000 while employed at a Galashiels store.
Justyna Kulatka, 21, of Minto Place, Hawick, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at B&M Bargains in Stirling Street between July 1 and July 22. She was initially charged with embezzling £8,217, but admitted the lesser amount.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told Selkirk Sheriff Court: “It is an obvious breach of trust.”
He explained Kulatka came up with a scheme to abuse the system by using ghost refunds, adding: “This was picked up in the course of some auditing procedures. There was clearly something wrong and a check of the CCTV proved she was behaving in this fashion.
“She resigned from her post and it was reported to the police.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson told Kulatka: “This is a serious matter. A custodial sentence is one option.”
Sentence was deferred until March 27 for background reports, including a restriction-of-liberty order assessment.
NOT GUILTY PLEA TO ALL CHARGES
A Galashiels man will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Richard Kirk, 56, of Kilnknowe Caravan Park, is charged with pretending to police officers he had not used a woman’s bank card to make transactions at the Galashiels branches of Asda, Tesco and Sports Direct when it is alleged he had.
He is also accused of inducing the woman to write to the procurator fiscal to say Kirk had accidentally taken her bank card at a house in Forest Gardens, Galashiels, on December 6.
Kirk faces a third charge of breaching his bail between December 21 and January 12 by contacting the woman when he was not allowed to.
He pleaded not guilty to all three charges and a trial date was set for May 9 with an intermediate hearing on April 11.
TAXI WINDOW BILL FOR £200
An Earlston man has admitted culpably and recklessly throwing a refuse bin at a taxi, damaging the windscreen.
Harry Baillie, 28, of Queensway, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened in the village’s High Street on July 9.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told Selkirk Sheriff Court: “The taxi came along the street and the accused tried to get into it. The accused then approached it and threw a wheelie bin at it. There were five people in the taxi, including the driver.
“A new windscreen had to get fitted and the vehicle was off the road pending repairs which resulted in a substantial loss of earnings.”
The damage to the windscreen was put at £300.
Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said: “He has no recollection of these events due to alcohol over-consumption. He has no explanation for what happened. He is keen to pay compensation for the damage.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson told Baillie he found it sad that someone with his intelligence who had gone to university had attained a significant criminal record, adding: “It is a sad reflection on you I am afraid.”
Baillie was given a nine-month restriction of liberty order between 9pm and 5.30am and ordered to pay £200 compensation.
ASSAULTS ON CONSTABLES
A Jedburgh woman who assaulted police at Borders General Hospital has been placed on supervision for the next 18 months as part of a community payback order.
Stacey Tennant, 37, of Blair Avenue, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to two assaults against constables on August 25.
REPEATEDLY STRUCK DOOR
John Sherlow, 26, admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour near his home in Hawthorn Road, Galashiels, on May 6.
He shouted and swore, uttered threats of violence and repeatedly struck a door with his hands while holding a knife.
At Selkirk Sheriff Court, he was placed on supervision for one year as an alternative to a fine.
DRINK DRIVING ALLEGATION
A Galashiels man has been accused of drinking and driving on Christmas Day.
Robert McAllister, 51, of Forest Gardens, denies having a breath/alcohol count of 94 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22 – while driving in various streets in Galashiels.
He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to co-operate with a breath test.
A trial date has been set at Selkirk Sheriff Court for March 30.
HARE COURSING ALLEGATION
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of three men who failed to turn up at Selkirk Sheriff Court to answer a charge of hare coursing.
Ryan Spence, 27, of Guisborough, North Yorkshire; Anthony Webster, 36, of Holywell Row, Suffolk; and Stuart Brunt, 27, of Wiltshire Road, Derby, are accused of deliberately hunting wild mammals, namely seven hares, with four lurcher-type dogs.
The offence is alleged to have taken place at Tollishill Estate, near Oxton, in the Lammermuir Hills, on January 29.
INTERMEDIATE HEARING
Amanda Adamson, 46, of Allerley Crescent, Jedburgh, will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on May 25 accused of drink-driving on the A68 on August 24.
She also pleaded not guilty to failing to co-operate with a preliminary breath test.
An intermediate hearing will take place on April 24.
GALASHIELS MAN ADMONISHED
Robert Thomson, 55, of Glenfield Road East, Galashiels, was admonished after being of good behaviour during a period of deferred sentence.
He had been convicted after trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court of a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour in St John Street, Galashiels, on August 18.
DENIES ALLEGATION
A Galashiels man will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on March 16 charged with making sexually-suggestive comments towards his former partner.
Scott Kelly, 37, of Glendinning Terrace, denies a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour in Church Square, Galashiels, on January 14.
CANNABIS SUPPLY CHARGE
A Peebles man will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on a drug dealing charge.
Ian McLeod, 28, is accused of being concerned in the supply of cannabis at his Kingsmuir Crescent home between September 7 and 19.
He pleaded not guilty and the trial date was set for May 9, with an intermediate hearing on April 11.
CONTINUED WITHOUT PLEA
A Galashiels woman has been accused of committing two offences while on a bus.
Donnna Baxter, 44, of Talisman Avenue, is charged with shouting and swearing and making threatening and abusive comments on a journey between Selkirk and Galashiels on July 26. She is also accused of assaulting a woman by spitting on her head.
Her case was continued without plea until March 13.
MARCH 30 TRIAL DATE
Taylor Johnson, 18, of Langlee Avenue, Galashiels, is charged with assaulting a male in Talisman Avenue, Galashiels, on May 7. A trial date has been fixed for March 30 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN OVER LIMIT
A Galashiels man will go to trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on a drink driving charge.
Stephen Greer, 60, is alleged to have been more than four times the alcohol limit near his Penman Place home on November 16.
A trial has been set for May 9, with an intermediate hearing on April 11.
ACCUSED OF ATTACK ON WIFE
A Galashiels man will stand trial accused of assaulting his estranged wife.
Mark Thompson, 50, of Greenbank Street, denies struggling violently with her in Chiefswood Road, Melrose, on January 26.
The trial will take place at Selkirk Sheriff Court on March 16.
JAIL LOOMS FOR BGH ROWDY
A Selkirk man who threatened hospital staff has been warned he faces the prospect of a custodial sentence at the town’s sheriff court.
Steven Kelly, 38, of Chapel Street, pleaded guilty to threatening a doctor, other hospital staff and police officers with violence, shouting and swearing and striking equipment.
The offence happened at Borders General Hospital on January 7.
He also admitted assaulting a police constable by kicking her on the body.
Sheriff Peter Paterson called for background reports to be prepared and deferred sentence until March 27, warning Kelly: “Given the nature of these offences, a custodial sentence is in the uppermost of my mind.”
EMBEZZLED ALMOST £60K
A Peebles man who admitted embezzling almost £60,000 from an armed forces charity had his sentence deferred until March 27 at Selkirk Sheriff Court for background reports.
Derek Armour, 57, embezzled £59,171.22 from the Edinburgh-based Scottish Veterans’ Garden City Association.
The crime happened at his Glensax Road home between May 1, 2014, and March 6, 2015.
The court heard that Armour, described as a full-time carer for his mother, had made a full repayment of the sum involved.
ON TRIAL FOR NURSE ASSAULT
Ross Morrison is charged with assaulting a staff nurse at East Brigg hospital in Galashiels on September 21.
The 31-year-old, of St Andrew Street, Galashiels, is also accused of stealing a packet of cigarettes from the Co-op store in Gala Park, Galashiels, on October 30.
He pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set for Selkirk Sheriff Court on March 13.
TEENAGERS DENY TOOL THEFTS
Two Galashiels teenagers appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court accused of high-value tool thefts from vehicles.
Eighteen-year-olds David Scougall and Ronnie Fox pleaded not guilty to two charges of thefts from vehicles in Galashiels on Wednesday and Thursday. It is alleged property worth around £5,000 was recovered from an address in the Gala Park area of the town on Thursday.
Scougall also denies allegations of breaching his curfew and vandalism in a police cell.
A trial date was fixed for March 28, with an intermediate hearing on March 13.
Scougall was remanded in custody while Fox was bailed.
CUSTODY FOR ROBBERY ACCUSED
A Galashiels man was remanded in custody after being charged with a post office robbery in the town last month.
Jordan Renwick is accused of assaulting a 33-year-old employee and stealing a four-figure sum following an incident at Gala Park post office in Balmoral Place.
The 24-year-old is also charged with robbing a 61-year-old male customer. Renwick faces a third allegation of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug.
He made no plea or declaration and was fully committed for trial when he appeared in private at Jedburgh Sheriff Court. Bail was refused and Renwick was remanded in custody. His next court appearance is on a date still to be confirmed.
DRINK DRIVER’S FOUR-YEAR BAN
A disqualified motorist who drove in Kelso while more than five times the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road for four years at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
Brian Hall, 40, admitted taking his partner’s car without her consent, driving while disqualified and with no insurance. He was stopped in Roxburgh Street during December. He also gave an alcohol reading of 113 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22.
The court was told that Hall had observed a night-time curfew at his home in Howegate, Hawick, since being granted bail while background reports were being compiled.
In addition to the ban, he was placed on supervision for 18 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work.
Hall was also fined £100 after admitting stealing a bottle of vodka from the Co-op in Jewellers Wynd, Jedburgh, on August 25.
DENIES KICKING POLICE OFFICER
A Hawick man will stand trial next month on a charge of assault at a Galashiels superstore.
John-Paul Weldon, 27, of Melrose Court, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man at Tesco on February 5. He also denies kicking a police officer on the head at the nearby Asda store on the same date and struggling violently with two police constables.
A trial has been fixed for March 30.
REPORT ON DRUG OFFENDER
A report has been ordered into a 29-year-old man who admitted growing cannabis in his Galashiels home.
Police officers found five seedling plants being cultivated in a tent in a bedroom in the property in Halliburton Place on July 21.
Unemployed Roche Thomson pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to a charge of producing cannabis and has four previous convictions under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the drugs would have been worth between £1,000 and £3,000 if they had been fully grown.
Thomson’s lawyer said his client was cutting out the middle man and growing the drugs for his own use.
Sentence was deferred until March 27 for a report to be produced by AdAction into Thomson’s cannabis addiction.
It’s the 20th annual World Book Day today (Thursday) - and what better way to celebrate than curling up with a good book?
We know how busy you are, so we’ve made a list of 30 brilliant books anyone can read in a day…
Hawick is hosting this year’s Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership annual conference later this month, and the boss of one of the town’s newest businesses will be among the speakers.
The conference takes place on Thursday, March 23, at Tower Mill, in Kirkstile, and its theme will be collaboration and connectivity.
The aim of the day will be to give businesses reliant on tourism ideas about how they can exploit recent growth in visitor numbers to the region.
John Fordyce, one of the founders of the Three Stills Company, the firm behind the £13m Borders Distillery due to open in Hawick’s Commercial Road later this year, is among the speakers lined up to offer advice.
He will be joined by VisitScotland marketing director Charlie Smith, North Highland Initiative chief executive Tom Campbell and Robert Kennedy, managing director of Castle Douglas-based booking system specialist Supercontrol, plus representatives of the Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group and Scottish Borders Winter Festival.
Their talks will offer an overview on what’s happening within the wider Scottish tourism industry, including examples of best practice from around the country.
There will also be opportunities for networking and to visit a showcase of local business exhibitors.
Carol Ann Houghton, chairperson of the Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership, said: “There isa real groundswell of excitement and enthusiasm within our local tourism industry atthe moment.
“With visitor numbers growing, increased investment and lots of business innovation and diversification under way, this year’s conference aims to help us all realise our potential and take the sector from strength to strength.
“We’re urging all tourism businesses, big or small to come along and see how they can maximise the opportunity.”
Mr Smith added: “I am delighted to be taking part in this year’s Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership conference.
“As recent figures show, the opening of the Borders Railway has had a major impact on the local area.
“We want to ensure that we continue to build on this success by helping to support businesses to make the most of the opportunities for greater collaboration and digital promotion that exist in the Scottish Borders today.”
Delegate tickets, priced £25, can be bought at www.scottishborderstourismpartnership.co.uk/sbtpevents
The conference is being sponsored by insurance broker Bruce Stevenson’s Galashiels office, Scotrail, Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Borders Council and Supercontrol.
For further details, email Vicki Steel at Vicki@aikwoodtower.com
The tourism partnership is an umbrella association founded in 2005 for all tourism businesses in the Borders made up of 450-plus mainly private-sector companies working with VisitScotland, the council, the Forestry Commission and Business Gateway to promote their industry.
Of all the strange goings-on that I’ve witnessed since being elected as an MP, few have filled me with such despair as seeing the United Kingdom government’s approach to the plight of child refugees in Europe.
During a debate last week the government tried to justify to parliament why it was abandoning a commitment to resettle thousands of refugee children under the Dubs amendment, after taking in a mere 350.
To watch politicians in one of the richest countries in the world walk away from orphaned or abandoned children is an outrage. It tells you everything you need to know about the moral character of those who hold power at Westminster.
Rather than making a stand and doing the right thing, they’re running scared of a right-wing press that has stoked up a deeply-troubling suspicion towards those fleeing conflict and persecution.
There can be no question, as some commentators have suggested, over whether these are “the right kind of people”.
Children are always the right kind of people.
The numbers taken in under the Dubs amendment works out at less than two children per council, so the idea that there is no capacity across the UK is simply not credible.
Some MPs described offering sanctuary to these children as a “pull factor”, with the potential to encourage more refugees to make the perilous journey from the Middle East.
We have to challenge the deeply flawed logic of that argument. These people are fleeing conflict – the government would be as well claiming that building hospitals is an incentive for sickness or that providing a fire service only encourages arsonists.
Worst of all, the closing off of official schemes that allow safe access to the most vulnerable is complicit in creating exactly the kind of limbo and chaos that allows people trafficking to prosper.
So we also have to ask ourselves a bigger question – do we want to live in a country that sees generosity and openness as a vice?
In the greatest era of forced migration since the Second World War, the moral failure behind this move will be remembered as an act of extreme political cowardice.
But I don’t think it’s an attitude that accurately reflects who we are. I’m constantly reminded that people are always more than willing to help out those in need.
I’ve recently seen this spirit alive and well in the remarkable work of local charities. Take Heads Together, which assists people recovering from brain injuries.
I was delighted to welcome the arrival of its new bus, which has only been possible due to the generosity of the local community. The effort and time that has gone into fundraising for the charity is something to behold. I’ve been especially impressed by Steve Turnbull who is absolutely tireless in his work as chairman.
Helping those in need is a mark of strength, not weakness.
So I’m proud to represent a region that takes pride in offering a hand of kindness.
I just wish this government would do the same.
KERR
Bibliophiles rejoice - following the Oscars at the weekend, today (Thursday) is World Book Day.
So, to mark this celebration of all things literary, here are 10 films that made it from the bookshelf to the box office with credibility intact.
Borders clubs are set to do battle in three of the four BT Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, waving a big banner once again for rugby standards in the south of Scotland.
The race to the last four is serving up plenty of intrigue, with Melrose v Heriot’s arguably the juiciest pairing.
Gala visit Glasgow Hawks and Stirling County host Boroughmuir – but there’ll be much interest at Millbrae, where BT National League I side Jed-Forest travel to take on Premiership leaders Ayr.
It’s a great opportunity for the lower division side to reach a prestigious semi-final and the chance to spring an upset against potentially the best side in Scotland.
Jed made it to the last eight without touching a ball after scheduled opponents Aberdeenshire pulled out of the contest.
But head coach Jammy McFarlane and his players are determined to grasp the opportunity and prove they deserve to be there.
“We are excited,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to get to a semi-final but it’s a huge barrier that stands in the way, in terms of the opposition. They are not top of Premier One for no reason – I guess they they are almost semi-professional. But they are bigger and stronger than us, and probably better conditioned.
“But you never know – we need to get some ball and pose some questions for them, really, but we certainly have ability that we can use.
“Hopefully, every dog has his day – maybe Saturday could be ours.”
Absent through injury are Blade Roff and Craig Cowan, while tight head prop Paulo Ferreira will be out for around a month with a fractured eye socket. Michael Weekley is also unavailable.
“We’re missing two or three but we’re still strong and we will be there,” said Jammy.
It would be “absolutely massive for the club and the town” to make the semi-final, if they could, he added. “We would be at home, so there’s a huge incentive there to get the whole of Jed into Riverside for a semi-final. We’re not looking at that just now, but the incentive for Saturday is phenomenally big. In boxing parlance, I guess we have a boxer’s chance.”
Jammy reckoned the main issue would be the power of the squads but pledged: “We will be highly motivated and our group of players will do their absolute level best. If that’s good enough – it’s only 80 minutes and it can happen.”
Animals vary widely in their ability to travel. Some dogs will thoroughly enjoy going long distances with their owners in the car but others will find it a complete torment especially if they suffer from travel sickness which is very common.
If your pet is prone to sickness, arrange to see your vet well before your holiday. There are several products which can help to reduce the effect of travel sickness but they have to be given before you start your journey.
There are some very basic common sense guidelines for travelling with pets. Firstly animals need easy access to fresh water at all times. They can go without food for a few hours but water is essential. Fresh air and temperature control is just as important.
Dogs will need the chance to stretch their legs and relieve themselves every couple of hours so journey times will be longer than you might expect.
In general, it is not a good idea to travel long distances with cats. They are far safer at a good cattery or at home with a trusted and capable visiting carer. Cats should never be transported loose in the vehicle. Use a good cat carrier and ensure that the carrier has a comfortable blanket with absorbent newspaper beneath.
Perhaps consider taking your pets to the cattery or kennels a day ahead of your departure. You should check the opening hours of your kennels or cattery and make sure you arrive there well within the published times. Take all the vaccination cards, special foods or medicines, a written summary of your contact details and local emergency contact.
Part two of my reflections on our canal journey starts with breakfast overlooking West Boat Lake on the edge of Burslem.
We were now into the Potteries area. A fascinating area, the canal wound its way through Burslem, and Stoke-on-Trent. This for me was the highlight of the trip.
Several Bottle Ovens still stand and the area has been undergoing quite a regeneration. The Dodson Museum owned by the people of Stoke-on-Trent where you can actually step through the oven door itself. Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longham still has its famous chimneys as does Moorcroft. Middleport Pottery at Burslem is one of Britain’s last working Victorian potteries. The canal system served them all.
Prior to these factories with their large Chimneys the area produced pottery on a cottage industry scale with several cottages sharing kilns. We passed two of these original much smaller kilns nestled between modern houses and right beside the tow path.
We spent time at The World of Wedgwood Museum and factory. It is a very modern complex but a fascinating museum, exhibiting their wares from the 18th Century right through to the present day. The exquisite Jasper Ware and the 21st century Porcelain Dolls House Advent Calendar in the Georgian style were, to me the most notable.
We had been on our journey for just over a week and passing through Stone we found ourselves in a shallow valley where the River Trent, rail, road and canal all make their way through a succession of small settlements.
Between Aston and Burslem is a nature trail which runs parallel to the canal crossing farmland owned by the Trent Water Authority and chosen for experiments in biodiversity. The pastures surrounding Salt and Salt Heath provide an environment in which a number of salt tolerant plants thrive. Lesser Sea Spurrey and Saltmarsh Rue being two. Snipe, Redshank and Lapwing nest here. Although I did not actually see any I did spot a Grey Wagtail the following day as well as a Dipper.
At the junction at Great Heywood we joined the Staffs and Worcester canal, which follows the River Saw for a short while and then as we traversed south we followed the River Penk.
The following day I watched the dawn break. We then stoked the fire and settled down with the Sunday papers – just like home! The first sign of life on that bright morning was a Blackbird emerging from the base of a hedge to forage. Next was a Moorhen gently moving on the canal.
On the outskirts of Wolverhampton our journey took us back on to the Shropshire Union Canal as we took a northerly direction. At this junction there is a ‘stop lock’ just a few inches deep and so called because when the canals were privately owned by two different companies and therefore two different water supplies.
On our final day our last lock, Weaton Aston lock, was due to be closed for essential repairs from that day but luckily they had not started when we went through! Of all the 50 or so locks that I had operated this was by far the easiest. We were on the last part of the journey and this part of the route is quite familiar to me.
The Heron, Moorhen, ducks, both white and Mallard as well as swans were quietly moving on the water but the most special moment was when we passed a Kingfisher who just sat on a dead branch looking toward the bank so he had his back to us. It was a fitting end to a very interesting holiday.
New proposals revealed this week have revived the possibility of a wind farm development being built near Roberton.
ABO Wind UK has revised its plans, previously thrown out three years ago, for the site at Barrel Law, four miles south west of Ashkirk, two miles north-west of Roberton and five miles west of Hawick.
The plans were initially refused by Scottish Borders Council and later rejected on appeal by the Scottish Government as it had concerns over the impact of the scheme on the landscape.
The new proposals see the number of turbines reduced from eight to seven and the turbine cluster moved further north, towards the site of Langhope Rig wind farm and further away from the Ale Water and the Ashkirk to Roberton road.
ABO Wind UK head of development Clark Crosbie said: “The site is located in an area identified as having the highest capacity for wind turbines in the Scottish Borders Council’s draft renewable energy supplementary guidance, and it is also located well outside the area being discussed for a proposed Borders National Park. In addition, the site has good wind resource, a readily available electricity grid connection, proven turbine delivery route and is relatively isolated, with 15 homes within two miles of the proposed wind turbines.”
Initial designs will go on display at a public exhibition on Thursday, March 23, at the Forman Memorial Hall in Roberton between 1pm - 8pm and a formal planning application could be submitted this summer.
The reappearance of the proposals has angered Chesters Wind Farm Action Group chairman Philip Kerr. He said: “The communities were totally against this previously so I am very disappointed that local opinion and views are being ignored with the decision to refile.”
“The return of a previous application that has been refused at all levels with only minor changes is another example of a failure to respect community views.”
Selkirk’s new flood defences are already proving a success after protecting homes from flood damage six times in just over a year.
During its construction and since its completion in December, the flood protection scheme has been safeguarding the town from damage caused by the bursting of the Ettrick Water’s banks.
Figures revealed by Scottish Borders Council show that first time the defences saved nearby homes from serious damage was on December 3,2015, even though the scheme was only partially built at the time.
It successfully prevented damage to houses following a period of heavy rainfall which threatened the banks of the Long Philip Burn .
Just two days later, the defences stood up well against Storm Desmond, during which the Borders was one of the worst-affected areas in the country.
At the end of that month, on December 30, the scheme protected the town from the flooding of the Ettrick Water during Storm Frank.
That second storm of the month led to residents in Hawick and Peebles having to be evacuated from their homes.
At the time, the council also had to carry out safety assessments of roads, bridges and structures in nearby towns following the storm.
During that winter of stormy weather, the town was once again protected from flooding during January 2016.
The council logged a high flow event on the Shaw Burn associated with Storm Gertrude. At this time there was also a yellow warning for rain issued by the Met Office.
Following the scheme’s completion last year, on December 23, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued flood warning for Ettrick Valley and surrounding areas. This was the second time that Selkirk’s flood defences prevented damage caused by a high flow event at the Long Philip Burn.
The most recent incident in which the defences were successful was this year on Saturday, February 25. On this day, SEPA had also issued a flood alert for the Borders region with the council logging the year’s first high flow event on the Long Philip Burn.
Selkirk Common Riding, Black Bob and the Battle of Philiphaugh were just some of the topics explored at an exhibition of flood defence artworks held this week.
Across two days, Selkirk’s townsfolk were able to view and provide feedback on the designs submitted for permanent installation at three sites across the Selkirk flood protection scheme.
Eleven artists were each on hand to discuss the 13 proposals at Philiphaugh Community Centre on Monday and Tuesday.
A small model of each design was on display alongside a design board explaining each idea.
The exhibition comprised a diverse range of suggested artworks for the sites at the new Long Philip Burn Park, Bannerfield Plaza and the riverside corridor between Bridge Street footbridge and the common riding crossing point on the Ettrick Water.
Each commission is worth around £30,000, and the scheme’s board has set aside £105,000 for the project.
The designs include a sculpture reaching up to nearly 3m in height of a foot soldier from the Battle of Philiphaugh designed by Ruaraig Maciver of Peebles-based Beltane Studios.
Ruaraig claims The Pikeman would “avoid glorification of warfare or the celebration of a victory of one side over another”.
Other proposals seek to encourage user integration, such as Natasha Smith’s Mungo Park sculpture trail.
She said: “I wish to take you on a journey of discovery along the meandering burn and excite your interest in the inspiring adventurer, Mungo Park.
“The qualities this young man from Selkirk had are worth celebrating and relevant today.”
Organisers of the community arts project hope that the pieces will create a sense of community ownership as well as allow the scheme to engage with the community.
Similarly, Selkirk-based Joy Parker hopes to engage with community groups and school with her design, the Great Ettrick River Mosaic, located at the Bridge Street footpath. Each element would be designed and made by members of these groups.
This idea is echoed in Lara Green’s submission for a meeting point at Bannerfield Plaza called The River Calling.
She said: “A very important aspect of my proposal is the community engagement, as I would plan events groups and classes with the aim of exploring the potential of the stony area below the wooden footbridge as a community space. I want people to really use and appreciate what they have here, which is a fantastic piece of natural environment.”
Videos of some of the designs can be found on The Southern Reporter’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thesouthernreporter
All proposals can be viewed on the scheme’s website at www.selkirkfloodscheme.com/commartsproject
The decision on which artworks will be installed at each of the sites will be based on feedback from the public and will be made by the flood protection scheme’s organisers at the beginning of April, with installations to begin soon after.
Borders primary school pupils are being asked to dig out their favourites recipes ahead of the Royal Highland Education Trust’s (RHET) tractor tour which visits the region on Thursday.
Chairman of RHET Scottish Borders, Allan Murray said: “The tractor tour will make primary school children much more aware of food production and farming in the Scottish Borders. With the help of the recipe book, they will become familiar with what is produced on local farms.”
With a focus on the use of produce from the Borders, the book will feature recipes by celebrity chefs including Ally McGrath of Osso Restaurant in Peebles.
The book will be on sale within most of the Border schools in May, with the proceeds going towards continuing the work of RHET in the Borders.
RHET Borders is hoping the tour will help make schools more aware of the free services the charity provides in the area such as free farm visits for pupils , classroom talks by local farmers, teaching resources and teacher training.
After the tractor tour, RHET will be offering to provide educational talks on food, farming or any other aspect of rural life.
The books will be available on the RHET website and also sold at agricultural shows and at some of the primary schools.
RHET Scottish Borders is hoping the tour will help make schools more aware of the free services the charity provides in the area such as free farm visits for pupils , classroom talks by local farmers, teaching resources and teacher training.
After the tractor tour, RHET will be offering to provide educational talks on food, farming or any other aspect of rural life.
The tractor tour day will culminate when all tractors and their drivers meet for refreshments provided by Harrison and Hetherington at their St Boswells Auction Mart.
Harrison and Hetherington sales director Scott Donaldson added: “This Borders educational event highlights the importance of farming and the rural life to the next generation. As a company with farming at the very heart of what we do, this is a day which H&H are proud to support and be part of.”
The tractors and freebies for all schools during the tractor tour will be supplied by Rose of Lamancha, Thomas Sherriffs and Co, Ancroft Tractors, Lloyds Tractors, George Marshall, Kelso and Lothian Harvesters, Rickerby, Henderson Grass Machinery, and Drew Oliver.
Two planning applications aimed at improving mobile phone coverage in two remote rural locations in and around Hawick could prove to be lifesavers, claims the company behind them.
EE, based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, has submitted two identical bids to build telecommunication equipment to improve coverage, particularly to give better access to the emergency services.
The first location is beside Wisp Flex Farm at Hummelknowhaugh near Hawick and is for the erection of a telecommunication tower and associated equipment in a fenced compound.
A second application relates to land west of Overshank Farm Cottage at Newcastleton.
Scottish Borders Council has expressed commitment to tackling so-called not spots in the region – locations where mobile phone coverage is poor or non-existent.
The council has been working with local and national politicians from the UK and Scottish governments, together with companies and associations, to tackle the issue.
The UK Government’s mobile infrastructure project, involving all the country’s major mobile network operators, has also been seeking solutions to the not spot problem since 2015.
Stuart Bell, Scottish Border Council’s executive member for economic development, said: “Bringing mobile phone coverage to those areas in the Scottish Borders that don’t have it is a priority.”
Not spots can lead to social exclusion in remote areas, are a risk to personal safety if residents are unable to contact emergency services and can be a barrier to business development.
EE, formerly Everything Everywhere, a division of the BT Group, was established in 2010.
Jedburgh’s annual hand ba’ games are currently still in progress, but here are some snapshots of the action so far ahead of a full report on proceedings tomorrow.
The traditional games pit two teams selected on the basis of what half of the Borders town they live in, the uppies being born south of the market cross and the doonies north of it.
Play takes place in the town centre, starting in the Market Place with a game for boys, or callants, having got under way at noon, as seen on our Facebook page, and the men’s game following at 2pm, with both then running concurrently.
The uppies’ goal is outside the castle jail and the doonies’ is at the Pleasaunce, both a couple of hundred yards away from the starting point.
Several balls are thrown, and the games can last for hours, so the action is expected to continue for a while yet.
Legend has it that the first such game was played with an Englishman’s head, and the ribbons on the balls symbolise the hair of that unfortunate decapitation victim, but it is not known exactly when that was.
The long-standing event, pictured here by Ian Georgeson, is held on the first Thursday after Shrove Tuesday each year.
Ancrum’s annual hand ba’ game follows this Saturday, March 4, and Denholm’s next Monday, March 6, with a similar event taking place in Duns in July.
Scottish ministers are being urged to splash the cash on Hawick in a bid to boost its fortunes now a list of proposals has been agreed on as the best way forward.
Scottish Borders Council is now set to submit a formal proposal to the Scottish Government to have £3.6m spent on regeneration projects in the town
That cash was originally announced back in September, but it was only at its full meeting today that the council agreed on the final proposals to be put to the Holyrood administration.
As part of the Scottish Government’s latest legislative programme, it was agreed that Hawick, being judged to be one of the towns in most need of help, be allocated the lion’s share of a £10m fund on the condition that that funding is committed to specific projects by the end of this month.
The Scottish Government funds are aimed at helping to deliver a variety of business infrastructure projects to help boost the town’s economy and to encourage business growth and new investment in the town.
It is expected that these projects will provide new jobs, as well as acting as a catalyst for further potential property development in the future.
The funding now looking to be on the way follows the development of the initial Hawick action plan by the council, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and local businesses and community groups following the loss of scores of jobs in the town’s knitwear industry early last year.
Following a report to the meeting of the full council held in private due to commercially sensitive information being discussed, a proposal for key sites for immediate development, along with feasibility studies for other prominent sites, will be submitted to ministers by council officers.
The plans have been developed by officers after being narrowed down from a wide range of initial options.
Tweeddale East councillor Stuart Bell, the authority’s executive member for economic development, said: “Since the Scottish Government announced the availability of funding for Hawick in late September, a huge amount of work has been carried out to get us to the position today where the council has been able to agree on the final proposals to go forward to the Government for consideration.
“We anticipate that these projects will have a really positive impact on Hawick.
“However, we know this is the first stage of a long process to help regenerate the town.
“While these projects will help towards some of the aims of the Hawick action plan, we need to continue to work in partnership to address the challenges that Hawick faces.
“The wide range of elements in the action plan cannot be delivered by the public sector alone.
“Hopefully, the funding and these projects, which we will make public as soon as we can, will encourage the private sector and community of Hawick to rally behind the action plan and work with us to improve and bring vitality back to the town.”