Paul Cranston has been head greenkeeper at Minto Golf Club for 20 years, and the Hawick club recently marked the occasion with a special presentation.

Paul has kept the Minto course in top condition through his own hard work and the work of colleagues, who have benefited from his special skills in developing young greenkeepers entering the profession.

Soon after the presentation, of a clock, Paul underwent a hip replacement operation, and everyone at Minto looks forward to seeing him back at the course in the near future. In the meantime, Daniel Murdoch will be heading the greenkeeping unit.

Many people in the Borders will also know Paul for his long association with Jedforest Rugby Club, where he is currently president.

In addition, Viv Fairbairn, Minto GC’s stewardess, organises a Steward’s Invitation golf competition and clubhouse entertainment every year. There is always a theme, with funds being raised for Viv’s chosen charity and, this year, the theme was Caribbean and the charity was Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, which has special significance for Viv. Last week, in a ceremony also attended by club captain Stewart Paisley, she presented a cheque for £521.70 to a charity representative.

Two students from Borders College played recently for the Scotland Women under 18s 7s squad in the Rugby Europe 7s Trophy in Andorra.

Anna Forsyth, from Peebles, and Morven Rough, of Perth, both studying HND Coaching and Developing Sport, represented their country in the weekend tournament, which saw the Scotland side claim

bronze.

On day one at the Estadi Nacional, the squad placed at the top of Pool B following comfortable wins over Ukraine, Georgia and Andorra, and on day two their win over Andorra placed them third overall.

Anna, who is playing for Watsonians FC this season, and has only been involved in rugby for a year, started for each of Scotland’s games and scored eight tries for the squad during the tournament.

She hailed the whole weekend as “a great experience” adding it was her first time playing in another country.

“It was a good set up and I really enjoyed it.” she said. “All the participating teams were staying in the same hotel only five minutes away from the stadium and there was a really sociable atmosphere.”

Morven, a dual-registered player for both Howe Harlequins in Cupar, and Watsonians FC, unfortunately only got to play one game after sustaining a concussion in the first encounter.

However, this did not dampen her spirits: “As soon as we came off the pitch, even when we had lost a game, no-one had their heads down and everyone was in high spirits all weekend.”

Anna and Morven both credited their college course and its involvement with the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy for enabling them to focus on strength and conditioning, as well as providing them with more opportunities for skills improvement. Both are also set to attend upcoming training camps through the SRU.

The students’ selection on the squad was also recognised by Michelle Ballantyne MSP, who wrote to congratulate them, saying: “I was pleased to note the Scotland team recorded several wins while in Andorra and I hope you continue this success as your careers develop. Congratulations to Anna and Morven on their recent success and we look forward to hearing more from them.”

Head rugby coach Louise Dalgliesh said: “We were delighted to come away with third place in our first ever Rugby Europe Trophy.”

Lauderdale Limpers have been covering some awesome mileage this month.

In the Scottish Highlands on October 15, Senga Plain achieved a personal best (PB) at the Loch Ore 10K.

A week earlier, Calum Stewart ran the epic Sparkasse Three Country Marathon, which took him through Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 3 hours 12mins – a fantastic achievement.

Jess Entwistle achieved a PB at Kielder 10K on October 7, finishign as 20th lady (115th overall) in 49:35. Husband Jamie Entwistle (pictured), also a Lauderdale Limper, ran the Kielder marathon the following day (running for Team Police) in 04:16.

Jamie also took part in the Helvellyn Lakeland 15K Trail Race held on October 14, ending 62nd overall (in a field of 313) in 01:14 – another superb accomplishment.

Meanwhile, the Limpers’ Latte Ladies continue their quest to find the best cake and coffee in the Scottish Borders, running some stunning trails as they go.

Check out their latest trail and coffee shop review on the blog -www.beanthererunthat.com

It is 18 years since Selkirk race horse trainer Stuart Coltherd saddled his first National Hunt winner.

Those who know the 50-year-old won’t be surprised to learn the horse which brought Stuart that initial success back in 1999, Murder Moss, can still be found grazing contentedly in a field close by Coltherd Racing’s Clarilawmuir yard.

“He’s now 27-years-old,” says Stuart, “but is a real character and helps show the ropes to youngsters when they’re first brought into the yard.

“I bought him as a two-year-old at Doncaster for £700, expecting to sell him on after a couple of years or so.

“However, he turned out to be a real star, both on the point-to-point and National Hunt circuit, and it’s hard to imagine this place without him.”

Stuart took out a permit to train his own horses in 1999, and gained his full trainer’s licence five years later. He remembers that first victory with Murder Moss as if it was yesterday.

“I was 32 at the time, and as well as being Murder Moss’ trainer I was also his jockey. The win came at Hexham on May 1, 1999, in a race called the Heart of All England Maiden Hunters Steeplechase.

“There were 18 runners, and I was keen to make a fast start and stay out of trouble.

“Ex-Langholm Cornet Tommy Morrison and I set the pace for virtually the whole of the race, and Tommy’s horse jumped the last fence just in front.

“However, Murder Moss shifted up a gear and passed him on the run-in, and the exhilaration I felt going past the finishing post was unbelievable.”

After the race, Stuart was told by a Hexham official he could keep the winner’s trophy, but if he did then he would have £100 docked from his prize money.

“I had no hesitation in opting to hang on to the cup,” laughs Stuart. “It remains a special reminder of a brilliant day.”

Stuart recorded his 100th winner over fences when Ash Park won at Musselburgh in March, and the nine-year-old gelding will be one of three horses from the Coltherd Racing stable in action at Kelso’s Hallowe’en meeting this Saturday.

All three runners are likely to be piloted by Stuart’s 18-year-old son Sam, an up-and-coming conditional jockey who has recently joined Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith’s Craiglands Farm yard.

● Meanwhile, Coltherd Racing has just revealed the identity of its new yard sponsor – Terroir Wines.

The fledgling company has been launched by father and son George and Andrew Deans, of Lauder, who will be importing wines for the hospitality industry through the firm’s web site at www.terroirvines.com

Souter, and recent graduate of Stirling University, Alistair Penny, returned to Selkirk Rotary Club on Wednesday, October 18, to give a presentation on his latest adventure.

Alistair, who formerly took part in the Rotary Club of Selkirk’s Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme, when he worked for four months during the summer in Hohe Tauern Nation Park in the East Tyrol, Austria.

Alistair thanked Rotary for the earlier opportunity to attend the camp when he was a Selkirk pupil, saying: “I owe a lot to the Rotary as my participation in the RYLA programme highlighted what I can achieve and opened my eyes to sharing such experiences.

“Without that RYLA experience, I may not have even considered going to work for Collett’s Mountain Holidays in Austria for the summer and I would have missed out on so much.”

Ferdous Ahmed, president of Selkirk Rotary Club, said: “It is great to see that Rotary has had such an impact on this young man look forward to hearing more of his successes in the future.

“It was an excellent presentation, and we are very proud that Alistair wanted to share the adventure with our members, it made for a great evening.”

During his time in Austria, Alistair led walks with guests of all abilities and ages ranging from 30 to 80 years old.

He showed some amazing photography of his activities there when, in his free time, he took part in road cycling, mountain biking, ferrata climbing (using cables), and alpine mountaineering on three different mountains – Grossvenediger (3666m), Simonyspitze (3473m) and Grossglockner (3798m the highest mountain in Austria.

The Rotary Club of Selkirk supports the RYLA programme annually as part of its on-going programme world-wide to aid youth development.

Discount pub chain JD Wetherspoon has issued a statement after a Twitter account announced that staff would be not be wearing poppies ‘due to expanding multiculturalism’.

The parody account Wetherspoon_UK tweeted: “Due to the ever expanding multiculturalism of our clientele and employees this year our staff will not be wearing the poppy while working.”

But the real J D Wetherspoon account has now announced that the tweets from the parody account are not true.

The pub chain’s statement said: “Yet again, the spoof Wetherspoon Twitter account @Wetherspoon_UK has crossed the line with its distasteful and insensitive tweet about the wearing of poppies.

“J D Wetherspoon is in no way connected with this Twitter account and neither shares nor condones its posts.

“In our opinion, although the unofficial spoof account is stated to be a parody account, tweets like this are simply not funny.

“Staff and customers will be able to wear poppies freely in all Wetherspoon pubs.”

After the incident went viral, the parody account posted a mocking video showing all the notifications the tweets have resulted in.

Do you know your Texas Chainsaw Massacre from your Amityville Horror?

If you’re a master of the macabre see if you can survive the ultimate horror movie quiz.

Members of Hawick Congregational Church are feeling just grand after being given money earmarked to reduce health inequalities.

It is among 42 voluntary and community groups this week allocated funding by Community Food and Health Scotland (CFHS) to promote and deliver healthy eating initiatives.

CFHS, part of NHS Health Scotland, aims to ensure that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity, ability and confidence to access a healthy and acceptable diet.

Hawick Congregational Church, in Bourtree Place, has been awarded £1,000 for a scheme it runs encouraging people to try out different foods.

Bill Gray, lead officer at CFHS, said: “We know that health inequalities hold Scotland back.

“We also know that the people who live, work and play in a community are best placed to develop solutions that address them.

“That is why, alongside national actions to reduce health inequalities, we have funded community groups across Scotland to use the skills and knowledge of local people and work together to address barriers to accessing healthy food.”

Hard-up Teries have been seen raking through bins hunting for discarded takeaway food, it is claimed.

Hungry Hawick folk are said to been observed by residents of Howegate scouring bins there for leftovers of takeaways bought at the numerous fast-food outlets the street is home to.

The sightings have been brought to the attention of Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson by a concerned constituent.

Mr Paterson has speculated that, if true, the search for discarded food could be attributed to people struggling to make ends meet while waiting for universal credit payments to come through.

He said: “There are a lot of fast-food outlets in Howegate, and I have been informed by a constituent that there are people now having to take food out of the bins.

“I don’t know if this has anything to do with universal credit, but it is a sad state of affairs, whatever the reason behind it, if someone is having to do this to survive.

“I have been reading that there has been a climb-down by the Tory UK Government over universal credit, and not before time.

“We all realise that you shouldn’t be better off choosing not to work, but there are genuine people out there having to go to food banks to survive.

“I know we had it tough when we were growing up, but there wasn’t such a thing as a food bank.

“Surely in this day and age, no one should have to rake through a bin for food.”

The new universal credit benefit is currently being rolled out across the country, but there has been criticism that it can take as long as six weeks for payments to come through.

The UK Government is said to be looking at reducing the wait for payment to one month.

A spokeswoman said ministers are “determined to ensure that people joining the universal credit system don’t face hardship”, adding: “We have improved the advanced payment system.”

THe changes announced to the rollout of universal credit have been welcomed by Borders MP John Lamont.

Those changes include the introduction of a free helpline number and new guidance to ensure Department for Work and Pensions staff offer up-front advance payments to anyone needing them.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Mr Lamont said: “There has clearly been concern around the rollout of universal credit, and the steps announced by the UK Government are sensible.

“Anyone who is waiting for money under can receive help. Advance payments are available and paid within days, and if someone is in immediate need, payments can be fast-tracked to be received on the same day.

“These changes will mean greater support for anyone struggling as a result of the move to universal credit.

“Fewer than 10% of claimants have been moved over to the new system, and it is right that we are taking time to make this significant change.

“However, it’s important to remember that the policy aims behind universal credit have cross-party and third-sector support. That’s because universal credit will simplify six benefits with different eligibility and withdrawal criteria into one.

“It will also make work pay for people on lower incomes because their benefits are gradually reduced so that claimants will no longer lose all their support once in work.

“The latest data is clear that claimants receiving universal credit move into work quicker and in greater numbers than those on jobseeker’s allowance.”

Hawick has been announced as host of the 24th annual Borders Walking Festival.

Having last hosted the festival back in 2011, organisers are now calling on the town’s businesses to sponsor next year’s event.

The event will take place during the first week of September 2018, and three main routes are currently being established, all with varied distances and gradings, led by organiser French Wight.

Drew Dickson, of the Hawick Walking Festival Group, will lead routes closer to the town, such as in Wilton Lodge Park, around Williestruther Loch and at Martin’s Bridge.

The group is now working towards providing night-time entertainment throughout that week, with a welcome reception to be held on the Sunday.

Group chairwoman Marion Short said: “The group are currently approaching some businesses in the town seeking sponsorship for the event, and thereafter restaurants, cafes, hotels, guesthouses will be approached seeking advertising in the brochure and also there may be a chance for companies to sponsor a particular walk.

“However, even at this early stage if anyone wishes to contact me now for specific further information regarding advertising and sponsorship, I would be delighted to hear from them.”

She added: “The group at this stage fully recognise the importance of this event being in Hawick, therefore providing a boost to the local economy and attracting tourists from not just surrounding Scottish and English counties but more nationally, which hopefully will in turn provide revenue for the town through accommodation, cafes, restaurants and tourist shops.

Details of all the walks, once they are finalised, with all other details of the event will be posted on the website at www.borderswalking.com

Peebles hosted this year’s festival, and last year’s was at Coldstream.

Hawick has hosted it three times before – in 1996, the event’s second year, then in 2003, jointly with Jedburgh in 2009 and, most recently, in 2011.

Melrose 30, Hawick 20

Melrose were pushed to the limit by a surprisingly resilient Hawick side on Saturday, before eventually pulling away late to maintain their unbeaten BT Premiership record with a 30-20 victory at the Greenyards.

In a typically feisty Borders derby, which saw Stuart Graham and Angus Ruciman both spending time in the sin-bin following an early fight, Melrose, who had made a number of changes following last weekend’s win over Heriot’s, claimed a commanding 24-6 half time lead.

Tries from Richard Ferguson, Fraser Thompson, Murdo McAndrew and Grant Sheils, with Craig Jackson adding two conversions, established the home side’s advantage, while Ali Weir chipped over two penalties in reply for Hawick.

After the break, the expected tidal wave of Melrose dominance, which has left Premiership sides with nightmares this season, was subdued. The Robbie Dyes snuffed out their hosts and were playing unlike that of relegation candidates, shifting play from sideline-to-sideline, attacking with tempo and defending with vigour.

Hawick had thought they’d started their second-half fightback early when a charged-down kick landed over the home try line, with Teri hands

touching down. But, following a long debate between the referee and touch judges, the score was chalked off.

The Greens, however, did break through when winger Gary Munro cruised over on the right wing, converted by Weir, midway through the half to pull Hawick within 11 points. This was before the more experienced Melrose managed to slow the game down and re-establish their dominance with two penalties from Jackson.

Munro gave Teri supporters hope, after Grant Ruciman was sin-binned for the hosts, for a possible losing or try -bonus point when he grabbed his second score, with Weir converting, but it proved too late to change the outcome, as the hosts managed to hold on to maintain their unbeaten Premiership record.

“They came at us in the second half,” said a relieved Melrose head coach, Rob Chrystie. “In all, we made seven changes for the match against Hawick but we had quality players to come in (if needed). As a result, I thought we managed the first half pretty well and were clinical when we had the ball. I thought Hawick played very well in the second half.”

Saturday’s victory was Melrose’s ninth in succession and comfortably sees the Greenyards side top of the Premiership, as the league moves into the second half of the season.

Hawick, meanwhile, are continuing their search for a first win. Head coach Geroge Graham admitted that, , despite watching his side suffer yet another agonising defeat, he liked what he saw from his charges and insists they are inching ever closer to breaking their winless duck.

“I’m about as pleased as I can be, despite losing the game,” he said. ““We let them play a bit too much in the first half and, defensively, we weren’t challenging them enough.

“They scored some easy tries and we didn’t make them work for their points, which was disappointing. But, in the second half, we definitely changed that.

“We got ourselves into the game with some good scores. Some things, however, didn’t go our way. The charge-down score was surprisingly disallowed, but these things happen. We made a few tactical decisions that weren’t great but, overall, we are on an upward trend and getting

closer to a win.

“To hold Melrose, who have been averaging 40-points a game this season, to just 30 points is a great sign.”

Melrose – Thomson, Wood, Anderson, Jackson, Chalmers, Baggott, McAndrew, Shiels, Ferguson, Beaven, Head, A. Runciman, Irvine-Hess, Knott, Moody. Subs: Elkington, McLeod, G. Ruciman, Hutchison, Taylor.

Hawick – Weir, Munro, Johnstone, Buckley, Ferguson, Armstrong, Cottrell, Muir, Carryer, Little, Hamilton, Redpath, G. Graham, S. Graham, McNeil. Subs: Renwick, Sutherland, Davies, Tait, Baillie.

Farmers throughout the Borders are staging a show of support for disease-stricken rugby legend Doddie Weir this weekend.

More than 100 tractors are expected to be driven through Lauder this coming Sunday, November 5, to help raise money for two charities set up by the former Scottish international following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease (MND).

The parade is being organised by farmers, other tractor drivers and vintage vehicle enthusiasts to raise money for the Doddie Weir’5 Trust to support the 47-year-old and his family and My Name’5 Doddie, a foundation he is setting up to fund research into MND.

Its organisers are encouraging Borderers to turn out to support the parade as it passes along Lauder High Street at around 11.15am and returns to nearby Thirlestane Castle at about 1pm.

One of its organisers, Ross Montague, of Blackburn Farm, Lauder, said: “2017 has been marred by the loss of Peter Fullerton, a retired local farmer to MND.

“We also learned earlier in the summer of the news that another local farmer, Doddie Weir, is suffering from MND.

“The grand parade of tractors is a way for the farming community and local people to show our support for those affected by MND, including their families, and hopefully also to raise funds to help combat this horrific disease.

“I am hugely encouraged by the number of tractors registered to take part, and I am sure there will be more turning up on the day.

“Edward and Sarah Maitland-Carew have been extremely supportive of the event and are very kindly allowing the tractors to meet at Thirlestane Castle, from which they will leave, in parade formation before travelling through Lauder and doing a scircuit of the area.

“This promises to be quite a spectacle for the public, so I hope we will see a good crowd on the street as the parade passes through the town.

“There will be tractors from vintage right through to brand new top-of-the-range giants paraded by the local agricultural machinery dealers.

“Afterwards, when the parade returns to Thirlestane Castle and the tractors are all safely parked up, there will be a chance for the public to see them and support our fundraising raffle.

“We were blown away last week by the generosity of a local farmer who has donated a vintage John Deere Model A, which will be auctioned after the parade and hopefully give a great boost to the fundraising.”

The event, being sponsored by rural insurance firm NFU Mutual, will see temporary diversions in place on the A68 from around 10.30am to noon on Sunday and then again around 1pm.

There might also be delays in and around Lauder, Langshaw and Blainslie from 9am until 4pm, with tractors arriving, the parade taking place and then tractors leaving from Thirlestane at the close of the event.

“I would like to thank Police Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and Amey Highways,” added Mr Montague.

“They are all working with us to make sure that we can stage this parade with minimum disruption to the public.

“I would also like to apologise in advance for any delays.

“However, we hope that the public will forgive us as our efforts are all for a very worthwhile cause.”

Father-of-three Weir, of Stow, revealed he had MND in June, and since then the former Melrose and Newcastle Falcons lock, capped 61 times for Scotland, has pledged to raise money for others affected by the disease.

The 50-year-old female pedestrian who was injured in a collision near Walkerburn two weeks ago sadly died from her injuries on Friday.

The woman, Sharon Wilson from Walkerburn, was involved in a collision with a black Mercedes A150 car at around 11am on Monday, October 16 – and police are appealing for anyone who witness the incident to get in touch.

After the incident, Sharon was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious injuries and later transfer to the Western General Hospital, where she sadly passed away on Friday, October 27.

In a statement released through Police Scotland, Sharon’s family said: “We are devastated at the loss of our beautiful, loving and caring Sharon.

“She will be sorely missed. We would ask for privacy to grieve at this difficult time.”

Inquiries into the full circumstances surrounding the collision are continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Constable Paul Aitchison of the Road Policing Unit said: “This is a very difficult time for Sharon’s family and our sincere condolences are with them.

“Our enquiries continue and I would ask anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who was travelling on the A72 just south of Walkerburn shortly before the collision, to please get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1087 of October 16.

UK Government Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove has promised to consult Borderers over the plans to release lynx in Kielder Forest.

The cabinet minister has offered that assurance in response to a question in the House of Commons last week from Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont.

Mr Gove told Parliament: “I had the opportunity of visiting his constituency in a private capacity in August in order to fish on the Tweed, and I had the opportunity while I was there to hear from his constituents about their concerns about the reintroduction of lynx.

“I will, of course, ensure that before any progress towards such a reintroduction taking place that we take full account of the views of the views of his constituents.”

Conservation charity the Lynx UK Trust submitted an application to Natural England in July for permission to release six of the medium-sized wildcats in the Northumbrian forest, just south of the Scottish border, for a five-year trial period.

Scottish Borders Council has not yet been consulted on the proposals but has discussed them with Scottish Natural Heritage.

Mr Lamont welcomed Mr Gove’s promise to consult north of the border, saying: “I was reassured by the Environment Secretary’s response today that the council and local residents in the Borders will be consulted on these plans.

“The application for the licence to release lynx at Kielder will be considered by Natural England, but clearly there are cross-border implications.

“I know that some farmers are concerned about the impact of the reintroduction of these large predators on their livestock. It is important that everyone who might be affected by the reintroduction of lynx in Kielder gets to air their views.”

The plans to bring back the Eurasian lynx, extinct in Britain since the Middle Ages, have also been raised in the House of Lords by Baron Steel of Aikwood, the former Liberal Party leader David Steel.

The Selkirk-based peer asked what talks had been held with the Scottish Government and was told by Baron Gardiner of Kimble: “Natural England has set up a regulators’ group involving officials from the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Forestry Commission and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

“The group has met and discussed the application and will continue to liaise regularly.”

An intruder has been jailed for five-and-a-half years for repeatedly firing a stun gun at a man, then stabbing him as he tried to escape.

Jordan Inglis, 24, grabbed his victim by the throat and inflicted electric shocks on him about 10 times before knifing him, the High Court in Edinburgh heard today.

A judge told Inglis that he had carried out “a terrifying attack on a man in his home”.

Lord Iain Armstrong said: “The matter is aggravated by the use of weapons, a stun gun and a knife, with the latter used to inflict severe injury.”

Inglis, currently a prisoner but formerly of Bannerfield in Selkirk, admitted assaulting Andrew Headspeath to his severe injury on Saturday, March 18, this year at his victim’s home in Torwoodlee Road, Galashiels.

During the attack, Inglis seized Mr Headspeath by the neck, repeatedly discharged the stun gun at his body and punched and kicked him, as well as stabbing him.

He also admitted illegal possession of an electronic stun gun disguised as a torch and was given a further five-year prison term for that offence, to be served concurrently with his 66-month assault sentence.

Advocate depute Allan Nicol told the court that Inglis had entered Mr Headspeath’s house, followed by his then girlfriend Kirsty McManus, 32, holding a Taser-style weapon said to be crackling.

Inglis, apparently seeking to recover cash allegedly taken from his partner’s sister by Mr Headspeath, grabbed his victim and shouted ‘where’s the money?’ before firing the stun gun at him and getting out a large knife.

During that attack, his victim was stabbed in the back, on the left side, and was also cut.

Inglis told him that if he did not reveal where the disputed money was, he would “end up dead in the bath”.

Mr Headspeath managed to flee the property and ran across the road to knock on doors, and as he did so, he saw Inglis and McManus leave his home, with the latter carrying out a laptop computer.

An ambulance was called after he began suffering breathing problems, and he was then taken to hospital to have his wounds sutured.

Mr Nicol said that McManus’s sister had earlier phoned her claiming that money had been taken from her.

McManus, a barmaid, of Jura Drive, Tweedbank, had originally been charged with the attack on Mr Headspeath along with Inglis, but the crown accepted her guilty plea solely to stealing the laptop from Mr Headspeath’s home.

Lord Armstrong rejected a defence plea to spare her a prison sentence and jailed her for 160 days, pointing out that her criminal record included a significant number of crimes of dishonesty.

Defence counsel John McElroy, for Inglis, said: “At the time he was in a relationship with the co-accused. The relationship no longer exists.”

He said that while in custody Inglis has been receiving religious instruction “with a view to being baptised shortly”.

Joe Barr, counsel for McManus, said: “She accepts she took the laptop. That is the extent of her involvement in this matter.”

He argued, unsuccessfully, that a community payback order would be punishment enough.

After the case, detective sergeant Ian Campbell said: “Jordan Inglis demonstrated his readiness to not only carry dangerous weapons, such as a stun gun and knife, but to use them to inflict serious injury on his victim during the incident in Torwoodlee Road, Galashiels earlier this year.

“He showed no concern for the potentially fatal consequences his actions could have had, and his sentence reflects our commitment to removing violent offenders from our communities.”

With the countdown to the opening of Kelso’s new £200,000 skate park well and truly on, the volunteers behind the project this week welcomed a further funding boost.

And as the park on schedule to be open in three to four weeks, the £10,000 grant from National Lottery Awards For All could not have come at a better time for the Kelso Skate Park Project team. 
Ali Hay, 29, a member of the group since its formation in 2009, said: “The £10,000 is going to cover a bike rack, furniture for the park, bins, signs, seatings, all the finishing features really.

“It’s come at the perfect time as these are all things not covered in the build cost.

“While the build has to be completed to a deadline, we have a bit more time for these finishing touches and will be trying to get as much of it done locally as possible.”

“We’d also like to apologise for the mess of the paths. There are lots of concrete wagons coming in and out of the park at the moment so until that’s finished we can’t really get the paths cleared, but I want to reassure the public that they will be cleaned as soon as possible and to say that we do appreciate their patience with this.”

The work, being carried out by Falkirk-based Concreate Skateparks, began at the Shedden Park site at the end of August when the old park was removed and drainage and digging works began. The first concrete went in at the start of October with the park quickly taken shape.

“It’s looking absolutely amazing,” Ali added. “It’s going to be by far one of the best skate parks in Scotland. There’s been a lot of hype about it with folk all over the country talking about it. I think it will be good for the town, we’ve already had people from as far as Inverness and Manchester saying they’re keen to come and try the bowl.”

The previous park was built in 2001 and the group took over the lease in May 2016, and has since secured more than £200,000 to cover insurance, new designs, planning permission and finally the actual build and park furniture.

A date for a mini opening will be announced soon with plans for a larger celebratory opening in the pipe line for next Spring.

A National Lottery Awards for All spokesperson said: “This funding will help a range of arts, sports and community groups from across Scotland to bring their projects ideas to life. If you, and your local community group, would like to join them in celebrating a National Lottery award, you can find out how to apply by visiting www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland.”

Former First Minister Alex Salmond says he’ll be arriving in Galashiels later this month with his acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show, on the “train that I built”.

Speaking to the Southern this week, ahead of taking his show to the Borders later this month, he claimed the Borders Railway would not have been built if it was not for his insistence.

He said: “I brooked no opposition on this issue, and believe me, there was plenty of opposition from Network Rail.

“It’s good to see they are looking into extending the line to Carlisle, but I am disappointed that they didn’t build the one thing I would have liked to have seen – a turntable at Tweedbank.

“Only with this would they be able to maximise the vast tourism potential of the line, by taking people back up north as well as down to the Borders in the steam trains.”

The ex-leader of the Scottish National Party wowed audiences in the capital with his “Unleashed” show, which mixes monologues from Mr Salmond himself, with chat, comedy and music. Mr Salmond said he was looking forward to the show at the Volunteer Hall on Friday, November 24, and that he hopes it will continue a very impressive run.

He said: “The whole gang of performers are looking forward enormously to the show at Galashiels enormously, and we’ll be looking to extend our run of 23 sell-out shows – 19 at the Fringe and four elsewhere.

“My sister Gail, who lives in Hawick and stood for the vacant Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire seat, says the Volunteer Hall is a beautiful venue.

“It’s a fantastic chance for Borderers to see the show before we head off to larger venues in London, Monaco and New York.”

He hinted at some of the treats in store at the Volunteer Hall.

He said: “I think we can safely say we will be hearing from such women in politics as Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson, Hilary Clinton and Melania Trump, through the medium of Scottish comedian and impersonator Ashleigh Storrie.

“Musically, there will be our house band, The Carloways, as well as singer Sheena Wellington, who people may remember from the opening of the Scottish Parliament.”

Also appearing will be Mr Salmond’s alter ego, the Very Reverend Former First Minister, with more than a wink to Rikki Fulton’s I.M. Jolly. There will also be a surprise special guest, who will be interviewed by Mr Salmond on the night.

This guest’s identity will remain just that, a surprise. Previous guests have included Brian Cox and John Bercow.

● We’ve got two pairs of tickets to Alex Salmond’s ‘Unleashed’ show to give away. To be in with a chance, just answer the following question: “How many shows did Alex Salmond perform at the Edinburgh Fringe this year?”

Email your answer, along with your name, address and daytime phone number, to kevin.janiak@jpress.co.uk by Tuesday, November 14. Mark your email ‘Unleashed competition’.

If you are unsuccessful, you can buy tickets, priced £20, from www.alexsalmond.scot/unleashedtour

A £300,000 refurbishment has begun on Sir Walter Scott’s Courthouse in Selkirk’s Market place.

Scaffolding has gone up around the 19th century sheriff court, where the author of the Heart of Midlothian and Rob Roy, dispensed justice to Souters between 1804 and 1832.

Now used as a museum exploring his life the £300,000 works to the steeple will include the refurbishment of the weathervane and the clock faces.

It is the centrepiece of the Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme which will see a range of works carried out in the town centre over the next five years.

That initiative has a cash total of more than £1m funded by Historic Environment Scotland and Scottish Borders Council.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “Work began last month and is expected to last until mid-March 2018, with scaffolding in place throughout to allow the works to take place safely.

“Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the works, which are co-ordinated with the Selkirk Streetscape Scheme.

“Over the next five months, there will be further refurbishment works carried out to other buildings in the town centre ahead of the completion of Selkirk CARS in March 2018.”

Temporary bus stops are also currently in place to allow a £450,000 streetscape scheme to be carried out.

Gordon Brown has called for much stronger actions to be taken against the bosses who sparked Britain’s banking crisis.

He wants the guilty men facing jail, be banned from new directorships, be ordered to return their bonuses – and have their pensions revoked.

His calls come in his memoirs, My Life, Our Times, which are published next week.

In an extract released today, the former Prime Minister writes: “If bankers who act fraudulently are not put in jail with their bonuses returned, assets confiscated and banned from future practice, we will only give a green light to similar risk-laden behaviour in new forms.

“Mistakes of the past have not been learned, and the prospect of rogue bankers gambling again is inevitable.”

Mr Brown details the collapse of RBS, and is scathing of its disgraced former chief executive, Fred Goodwin who, he says, should have been stripped of his bonuses as well as his knighthood.

And Mr Brown reveals that he was prepared to resign immediately as Prime Minister if his banking rescue plan didn’t get the backing it needed.

He writes: “I went to bed at midnight on Tuesday, October 7, with my mobile phone next to me in case of any further disasters. I had decided to announce the plan at 7am the following day, and that we would phone other national leaders and finance ministers immediately beforehand and afterwards.

“When I got up the next morning I told Sarah that she would have to be ready to pack our things for a sudden move out of Downing Street. If what I was about to do failed, with markets collapsing further and confidence ebbing from Britain, I would have no choice but to resign.

“As I walked into the office, I didn’t know if I’d still be there at the end of the day.”

> My Life, Our Times is published on Tuesday, November 7.

A Peebles woman who says a chronic illness has left her unable to stand any longer than a minute has smashed her target of more than £2700 to help buy a specialist wheelchair.

Phoebe Boag says she is now mainly housebound as a result of the symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which she was diagnosed with in 2014.

The former charity worker set up a Just Giving page just two weeks ago and has reached her initial target but now hopes to reach a second target of £3075 to cover the cost of the website’s fees.

The 37-year-old said her symptoms include dizziness, light-headedness and muscle fatigue, and on one occasion: “I had to crawl to the bathroom, and then back to bed to rest from the overexertion of going to the bathroom.”

When she was first diagnosed, Phoebe was living in Leith, in Edinburgh, and was working for a homeless charity in a job that she loved.

She told the Southern: “I had also just been offered the opportunity of a lifetime, I was going to be living and working at the Penguin Post Office in Antarctica for four months.

“Unfortunately, just a few months before I was due to leave, I became unwell with a set of mysterious symptoms and I had to pull out of Antarctica. “I was eventually signed off work in December 2014, I was diagnosed with ME early in 2015 and moved back to my hometown Peebles so I would be closer to my mum, who does a lot to care for me.

“I am mainly housebound but I am hoping that having a wheelchair will allow me to get out and about a bit more often than I am currently able to and therefore improve my quality of life.”

The money will now be spent on an electric wheelchair.

She documents her life with ME on her blog at www.puffinsandpenguins.wordpress.com