An ex-Royal Navy serviceman has been ordered to carry out unpaid work after admitting making five threatening calls to Police Scotland in the space of 24 hours.

Fraser Miller, 43, in the Navy for 10 years, pleaded guilty to sending out menacing messages from his home in Weensland Road, Hawick, on June 8 and 9.

During those calls, he threatened violence to police officers, claimed to be in possession of knives and firearms and said he was going to blow up Hawick police station.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told Jedburgh Sheriff Court that at around 6.30pm on Friday, June 8, Miller phoned the police from his home landline number claiming he had been knifed and that he was out for revenge, adding that he was in possession of nine knives and a pistol.

He continued: “Police officers arrived at his home, where they found him uninjured, safe and well but under the influence of alcohol.

“He denied he had contacted the police. The accused handed over some knives to the police at that point.

“Shortly after 1am, seven hours later, he again phoned the police from his landline and sounded intoxicated, saying he wanted his knives back, and he said in the course of the call about the police officers who had visited ‘I am going to kick f*** out of them and any police officer in the road I will f*****g knife’.

“The police took a responsible attitude to this and left him alone in the hope that he would sleep off his intoxication.

“At 11.45am, he again phoned the police from his house telephone wanting his knives back and again appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

“He said to the police ‘do you want me to go to the police station and f*****g blow it up? That’s what I will do’.

“He then said he would be leaving his house and would fight anyone he came across.

“Shortly afterwards, he made another call lasting 50 minutes when he again demanded his knives back and said he had drunk brake fluid and he wanted a fight.

“He also said that if he had a gun, it would not be found.

“At around 5pm, 24 hours after the first call, there was another call to the police lasting 13 minutes demanding that the police back off, although, to be fair, they did not seem to be doing anything.

“He said he wanted a punch-up and the police would have to take him down.

“He gave his home address and phone number.”

Mr Fraser said that at 7.15pm, police officers went round to his home and found him intoxicated.

He said: “He was arrested. When cautioned and charged, he said he did not know where the police station was.

Mr Fraser added that police officers investigating the case said they had a degree of sympathy for Miller because of the medical conditions he suffers from.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client needed to address his alcohol problem.

Sheriff Eric Brown said any repetition of the offence would be likely to mean a custodial sentence.

He ordered Miller to carry out 160 hours’ unpaid work over the next 12 months.

A Borders fundraiser has been presented with the British Empire Medal she was awarded at the start of the year for her services to charity.

Isabella Halliday, more commonly known as Isobel, was given her medal at Scottish Borders Council’s Newtown headquarters on Monday by the 10th Duke of Buccleuch, Richard Scott, acting in his role as lord-lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale as family, friends and fellow fundraisers looked on.

That honour was in recognition of the £60,000 Isobel, 76, of Edina Place in Hawick, has raised over the past 20 years for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland by organising car boot and table-top sales, making and selling marmalade and jam and holding an annual lunch for scores of people.

“It was a great honour to meet Isabella Halliday and present her with this British Empire Medal,” said the duke.

“Each year she works tirelessly to raise money for sick children and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

“Mrs Halliday is a credit to her community and a worthy recipient of this honour.”

Isobel added: “It was surreal, but it was lovely to have my family there with me.”

Staff suspensions have cost Scottish Borders Council more than £250,000 over the last four years, it has been revealed.

Figures released in response to a freedom-of-information request show that paying the salaries of 32 suspended staff members cost the local authority £253,929 between April 2014 and March 2018.

The suspensions also cost the council 2,244 working days, with the average length of time spent employees were suspended for being 70 days.

The shortest time on suspension was just one week, but one employee spent 253 days on paid leave before eventually being dismissed.

The cost of those suspensions also varied, depending on salary and duration.

The lowest amount a suspended employee was paid was £975, but another member of staff took home £61,286 during forced leave.

A council spokesperson said that paid leave is mostly used in instances when it is felt that the employee could influence or interfere with an investigation, is considered disruptive or a threat to colleagues or when deemed unfit for work due to the influence of drugs or alcohol.

James Price, campaign manager at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s completely unacceptable for councils to use taxpayers’ money to pay for their inability to make tough decisions.

“It would be better for all concerned if staff matters were dealt with in a timely fashion, and residents should certainly not be fleeced by the council like this.

“It is especially unfair when council taxes are going up every single year and services are being cut.”

The cost of each suspension excludes the added cost of payouts and employment tribunals in instances when an employee’s contract is terminated but it is ruled that they have been unfairly dismissed.

In one case, Scottish Borders Council was ordered to pay damages of £56,581 to a former employee previously on paid leave and taking home home a £44,000-a-year salary.

The council spokesperson added: “Special paid leave is only used when there are no practical alternatives during an investigation.

“Alternatives, such as moving the employee to a different role during the investigation, are considered first.

“Cases in which special paid leave is being used are kept under regular review, normally at fortnightly intervals, and efforts are made to ensure such cases proceed as swiftly as practical.”

Part of Earlston High Street is to be shut for three days next week as resurfacing work gets under way.

Those works will be carried out on a section of the A6105 Berwick-Earlston road near its westernmost end over eight days, starting next Wednesday, August 1.

The first phase of the works will see part of the eastern end of the High Street closed for three days from next Wednesday to Friday, August 3, from 8.30am to 5pm daily.

Phase two of the works will be carried out employing a convoy system to allow traffic through from Monday, August 6, to the following Friday, August 10, again from 8.30am to 5pm each day.

High Street will be fully open on Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5.

A diversion will go via the A68, B6362, A697, A6089 and A6105 for eastbound traffic and in reverse for vehicles heading west.

Parking restrictions will be in place on the High Street during the works from 8am to 5pm daily.

Preparatory works are currently being carried out in advance of the resurfacing programme, and temporary traffic lights are in place.

Letters will be posted this week to households and businesses affected warning them of potential disruption.

Bus services through Earlston will follow modified routes while the roadworks are taking place.

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “Earlston High Street is an important route not just for local residents and businesses but also as the A6105 is one of the main roads from the west to the east through the Borders.

“This resurfacing programme will vastly improve the road in Earlston and with only a short-term daytime closure required.

“All road users are asked to follow signed diversions during the three-day closure and allow themselves some extra journey time throughout the works.”

Earlston High Street is one of 32 key routes across the Borders being improved as part of a £2.6m resurfacing programme this year.

A man has appeared in private at Jedburgh Sheriff Court accused of sexually assaulting a child.

Carl Balfour, 34, has been charged under the 2009 Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act.

It is alleged that he carried out a sex attack on a child under the age of 13.

Balfour made no plea, and the case was continued for further examination.

He was released on bail by sheriff Eric Smith until his next court appearance on a date yet to be specified.

Last orders are soon to be called at one of the Borders’ oldest pubs.

After almost quarter of a century at the High Level Bar in Hawick’s Green Terrace, owner Ian Niblo has decided it’s time to call it a day.

That’s a decision made only reluctantly, he says, but, at the age of 74, he believes the time has come to take things easy and spend more time with wife Paula.

Father-of-four Ian had hoped the pub could be retained as a licensed premises.

He put it on the market for an initial asking price of £99,000, since reduced to £62,000, a year and a half ago.

However, there have been no takers, and now he is considering applying to have it converted for residential use.

Ian, previously in charge of the town’s Station Hotel and Ewe and Lamb pub, admitted attempts to increase turnover had not worked out.

He said: “It’s just unfortunate, but, just as it is for a number of other bars, it has been tough.

“I had to retire some time, and I think that time has come.

“I’d like it to stay as a pub because it has such a long history, but no offers have been forthcoming.

“I took the decision to close four weeks ago when we were on holiday in Spain.

“It’s tough because we have some lovely regulars, but I just can’t wait around for ever.”

The existing bar’s history had been thought to go back to 1890, making it the oldest pub in Hawick.

Ian was surprised to find it was even older than that, however, after a customer came in with some historical documents revealing that it had been on the go well before then, possibly predating the construction of Green Terrace in 1866 in an earlier incarnation.

He explained: “They showed that the pub is even older than I thought and that it was called the Nag’s Head before.

“It’s a fascinating document with a diagram of the old town and the other pubs in Hawick at the time.”

Ian hasn’t set a date for closing the pub he took over back in 1994 yet, but it is expected to be within the next few weeks.

A supermarket manager who makes videos of the Scottish Borders in his spare time has discovered the remarkable outline of the massive Roman fort at Trimontium, near Melrose, uncovered due to drought conditions.

Mark Nicol, manager at the new Aldi store in Hawick, films and stars in a series of mini-movies which began as a toungue-in-cheek look at the area, but his love of history and the Borders always shines through.

The “Discover Scottish Borders” YouTube channel has an ever-growing audience waiting on his next film – from overseas as well as in the Borders.

And on the back of this, he has even taken groups of visitors on tours showing them round the visual wonders he has shown online.

But his latest find, filmed by drone following reports of other archaeological finds being spotted in the area, has shocked even him.

In his film he says he got the idea by watching a programme about the ancient metropolis of Babylon, which is mostly hidden from view apart from a statue of a lion, which rises from the sand in the middle of Iraq.

He muses: “Where in the Scottish Borders was our Babylon? Our metropolis, our hub of religion and culture and heritage? And where is our lion emerging from the sand?

“Well, I have to tell you that today, I’ve found my lion.”

His drone film shows the historic Roman fort in more detail than it has ever been seen before. The drought conditions have seen the areas where the walls lie become visibly more yellow because of heightened drainage.

And while overall, it’s subtle, it is absolutely astonishing.

The features which had been mapped out by the original archaeologists of the site show up clearly from the air.

The footage shows the outlines of the main entrance and the east gate. It even picks out a forked road in the middle of the site.

Mark said the problem with Trimontium being much of a pull for visitors is that in normal conditions you can’t see anything.

But he thinks with a little bit of forethought and funding, Trimontium could be a huge draw.

He says, pointing out the tourist information board: “I am a great believer that we could really ressurect this place as a tourist attraction.

“Hadrian’s Wall is this massive worldwide tourist attraction, and here is nothing.”

The board shows pictures of artefacts found on the site, such as wine pitchers and brass face masks.

He said: “Where are these things, they are not here. They should be in Melrose at the very least, or Newstead.

“And this site, through investment, could become absolutely magical.”

The average waiting time for children’s mental health services has trebled in the Borders in the space of a year.

Figures show that the previous waiting time of four weeks, maintained from 2012-13 to 2016-17, jumped to 13 weeks last financial year.

That leap from one month to three was revealed by the Scottish Government in response to a written question from Lothian MSP Miles Briggs, and it has prompted fellow Conservative Rachael Hamilton to demand an explanation.

Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP Mrs Hamilton said: “With social media and other modern-day pressures, there seems to be significant rise in the number of mental health problems in young people, which is very worrying.

“To hear that they are now having to wait for three months to see someone in the Borders is just not acceptable.

“I will write to the minister for mental health for an explanation to why there has been such a significant jump in so little time”

NHS Borders chief officer Robert McCulloch-Graham said that staffing availability and the overall capacity of the service was responsible for the increase in waiting times, saying: “We have introduced a new IT system which has changed the way that we record and report data and makes reliable comparisons to past performance more difficult.

“Patients referred to our service as a priority continue to be seen either the same working day or within five working days, dependent on the urgency of the referral.

“However, we do recognise that for routine referrals there appears to have been an increase in the average time from referral to treatment for patients accessing this service.

“This has been due to a combination of staffing availability and overall capacity within the service.”

“To improve the situation, we have increased the capacity of the team and have already seen a reduction in waiting times.

“We expect our waiting times to return to previous performance levels in the next six months.  

“We continue to work closely with social care colleagues to provide a diverse and rounded service for young people in the Borders.

“For example, young people who do not require specialist mental health interventions can access other resources such as the Quarriers service recently commissioned by Scottish Borders Council.”

In a welcome change to last year, the sun shone on the 104th Newtown St Boswells Farmers Show, held at the village’s auction mart, on Saturday.

Competitors enjoyed a wide variety of classes while spectators enjoyed a day of under-saddle and in-hand competition, as well as a stock and crop contest, vintage tractor display, fancy dress and a visit from the Duke of Buccleuch’s foxhounds.

Former Scotland international and Borders rugby legend Doddie Weir and his wife Kathy picked 20-year-old evergreen Fusilier, owned and ridden by Gillian McCowan from Berwick, to take the top spot, giving the hunter champion the supreme champion rosette.

Reserve supreme was ridden hunter Masquerade, owned and ridden by Clive Storey, of Halterburn Head, Yetholm, who won overall in the coloured section but missed out on repeating last year’s supreme result.

Di and Joanna Walton judged the ridden hunters, and their reserve was the runner-up in the hunter class, Silver Dream Spirit, ridden by John Wilson, of Selkirk.

Morean Hamilton judged the in-hand hunters and chose the winner of the two-year-old class as her champion, West Country Lady Guinevere, a home-bred filly owned by Sally Burns, of Hawick.

She placed Craig Hogarth’s foal Roxstar in reserve.

Overall in the mountain and moorland section section was the Dales yearling filly Kilmannan Duchess, owned by Bill Ireland and shown by Richard Telford.

The tricolour in the working hunter pony classes went to the Mactaggarts of Bedrule’s Lockinge Bertie shown by Isabelle Mactaggart, with Laura Runciman’s Soviet Star in reserve.

Joan Lauder, with 17-year-old Udolin, won both the ridden and in-hand classes in the veteran section.

The retrained racehorse challenge prize went to Sandra Smith-Maxwell’s Stormion, and Poppi Shepherd, on Dreamy George, headed the section’s show class, a qualifier for the Royal Highland Show.

Winners in the showjumping contest were Emma Lawson, Tom Mactaggart, Amy Ralston, Vicky Edgar and Becky Forster.

Champions in the sheep section, judged by Robert Weir, from Dumfries, were a pair of north country Cheviot ewe lambs from North Synton. The winner of the young handlers’ class was Mack Young.

Champion in the dog show was three-year-old whippet bitch Talla Jo, shown by Shelagh Hogg, and the terrier racing was won by Tipsy, a whippet-cross terrier from Dorset.

Show secretary Jules Furness said: “This year’s show was a great success.

“We changed the layout, and that has worked well.

“The ridden hunter and mountain and moorland sections were good.

“Some other entries were not as well filled but still showed good quality.

“Spectators were also treated to a vintage tractor display, very exciting terrier racing and a visit from the Duke of Buccleuch’s hounds.”

Full results are as follows:

Supreme Champion (Judge: Mr & Mrs G Weir, Galashiels ) Fusilier, Mrs A McCowan, Reserve Supreme, Masquerade, Mr C Storey.

In Hand Hunters (Judge: Mrs M Hamilton, Kilmarnock) Champion - West Country Lady Guinevere, Mrs S Burns Reserve - Roxstar, Mr C Hogarth

Brood Mare - 1 Windy II Mr C Hogarth

Foal - 1 Roxstar Mr C Hogarth

Yearling - 1 West Country Lady of the Lake Mrs S Burns 2 Joey’s Missile Mr D K Tweedie

Two year old - 1 West Country Lady Guinevere, Mrs S Burns

Three year old - 1 Kariba Miss D Taylor 2 Pepsi Mr & Mrs E Gillie 3 Bennemir Mrs K Bewley

Ridden Hunters (Judge: Mrs D & Miss J Walton, Bonchester Bridge) Champion - Fusilier - Reserve – Silver Dream Spirit Mr J Wilson

Four or Five Year Old - 1 Grantstown Vision Mr S Runciman 2 Irango Miss T Mactaggart 3 Mr Darcy Mr C Storey

Novice Working Hunter - 1 Little Scoundrel Mr C Storey 2 Grantstown Vision Mr S Runciman 3 Stormion Mrs S Smith-Maxwell

BHS Scotland Working Hunter Qualifier - 1 Grantstown Vision Mr S Runciman 2 The Full Monty Miss L Soeder 3 Middlethird Cassanova Mrs D Edgar

Ridden Hunter - 1 Fusilier Mrs A McCowan 2 Silver Dream Spirit Mr J Wilson 3 Dreamy George Miss P Shepherd

Overall Hunter - Fusilier Reserve Overall Hunter - Silver Dream Spirit

Dressage P14 (2006) (Judge: Miss A McKenzie, Innerleithen) 1 Penny Mrs K Stark 2 Lockinge Bertie Mrs K Mactaggart 3 Bumble Miss L Clark

N28 (2008) (Judge: Mrs F Busby, Langholm) 1 Soviet Star Miss L Runciman 2 Ballyseedy Hero Miss M Grant 3 Coco Miss L Clark

Ridden Pony Classes (Judge: Mrs G McMurray, Lockerbie) Champion – Corma’s Dawn, Miss E Brown Reserve – Rosedale Just Josie, Miss J McCowan

Not exceeding 128 cms 1 Temple Odyssey Miss E Cregan 2 Waitwith Walwyn Miss A Cregan

Not exceeding 138 cms 1 Robin Miss I Gillie

Not exceeding 148 cms 1 Corma’s Dawn, Miss E Brown 2 Katie Miss B Forster 3 Curravordy Builders Blue Miss A Ralston

Leading Rein 1 Rosedale Just Josie Miss J McCowan 2 Almondell Vulcan Mr R Stacy-Marks 3 Llan Bill Mr A Cregan

Show Hunter Pony Any Age In Hand 1 Fair Sunrise Miss F Hutcheson 2 Lindisfarne Shamrock Miss A Henderson 3 Cayberry Mickey Mouse Mrs N Neill

Mountain & Moorland (Judge: Mrs G McMurray, Lockerbie)

Champion – Kilmannan Duchess Mr W Ireland Reserve – Walstead Page Boy Miss R McGee

Large M & M Four Year Old & Over In Hand 1 Walstead Page Boy Miss R McGee 2 Kalewater Cup Cake Mrs S Dickson 3 Grahamsley Maddison Miss N Stewart

Small M & M Four Year Old & Over In Hand 1 Owston Hob Nob Mrs J Lindsay 2 Lindisfarne Shamrock Miss A Henderson 3 Liddesdale Blue Planet Mrs F Blackie

Yearling, Two Year Old & Three Year Old In Hand 1 Kilmannan Duchess Mr W Irleand 2 Mindrum Maxcaroon Mrs S Dickson 3 Kalewater Snowball Mrs S Dickson

Large Ridden M & M 1 Walstead Page Boy Miss R McGee 2 Waverhead Romance Mrs S Hay 3 Ballyseedy Hero Miss M Grant

Small Ridden M & M 1 Cayberry Mickey Mouse Miss E Neill Special Waitwith Make-Me-A-Star Mrs K Bewley

Overall Pony Champion - Kilmannan Duchess Mr W Ireland Reserve Overall Champion – Walstead Page Boy Miss R McGee

Coloured Classes (Judge: Mrs M Hamilton, Kilmarnock ) Champion - Masquerade Mr C Storey Reserve – Penny Mrs K Stark

Coloured Horse or Pony In Hand Four year old and over 1 My Crystal Chandelier Mrs C Redpath 2 Shanbally Markel Miss J Price 3 Dakota Mrs C Allison

Coloured Horse or Pony In Hand Yearling, Two Year Old & Three Year Old 1 Stuart Little Mrs R Walker

Coloured Pony Under Saddle - 1 Robin Miss I Gillie 2 Dakota Mrs C Allison

Coloured Horse Under Saddle - 1 Masquerade Mr C Storey 2 Penny Mrs K Stark 3 Brrokdale Las Vega Mrs M Hutcheson

Veteran Classes(Judge: Mrs M Hamilton, Kilmarnock)

Veteran Horse or Pony 16 Years & Over In Hand 1 Udolin Ms J Lauder 2 Fair Sunrise Miss F Hutcheson 3 Isgoed Little Eva Mrs F Blackie

Veteran Horse or Pony 16 Years & Over Under Saddle 1 Udolin Ms J Lauder 2 Temple Odyssey Miss E Cregan 3 Boomerang Mrs C Reid

Working Hunter Ponies (Judges: Mrs J & Miss C Dun, Gilson, Heriot ) Champion – Lockinge Bertie Mrs K Mactaggart Reserve – Soviet Star Miss L Runciman

Exceeding 153 cms - 1 Soviet Star Miss L Runciman 2 Ballingowan Flash Miss V Edgar 3 Ardagh Airborne Miss K Edgar

Not exceeding 153 cms - 1 Lockinge Bertie Mrs K Mactaggart 2 Ardagh Bobby Miss V Edgar 3 Bobby Eoin Miss A Edgar

Not exceeding 143 cms - 1 Sean’s Delight Mrs G McFadyen 2 Corbally Beauty Miss S Farnsworth 3 Curravordy Builders Blue Miss A Ralston

Not exceeding 133 cms - 1 Bally Mr C Lawson 2 Robin Miss I Gillie 3 Chico Miss E Lawson

Not exceeding 123 cms - 1 Cayberry Mickey Mouse Miss E Neill 2 Bluebird is the Word Miss E Lawson

Show Jumping 12.2 & under 1 Bluebird is the Word Emma Lawson 2 Chico Emma Lawson Bally Christopher Lawson

13.2 & under 1 Noodles Tom Mactaggart

14.2 & under 1 Curravordy Builders Blue Amy Ralston 2 Sean’s Delight Katy McFadyen 3 Alex Edgar Bobby Eoin

Over 14.2 1 2 Ballingowan Flash Vicky Edgar 2 Ardagh Airborne Katie Edgar 3 Lockinge Bertie Mrs K Mactaggart

Novice 1 Katie Becky Forster 2 Turpane Mick Helen Ker 3 Ardagh Msilio Alex Edgar

Fancy Dress Laird Ross-Williams

Retrained Racehorse Challenge

(Judges: Ms J Williamson, Wigton & Miss K Redfearn, Wooler)

1 Stormion Mrs S Smith-Maxwell 2 Named After Nina Miss C Pennycook 3 Kutiout Mrs L Fletcher

Retraining of Racehorses Ridden Show Class

(Judges: Ms J Williamson, Wigton & Miss K Redfearn, Wooler)

1 Dreamy George Miss P Shepherd 2 Named After Nina Miss C Pennycook 3 Moonlight Fantasy Mrs S Muir

Sheep (Judge: Mr R Weir, Thornhill, Dumfries)

Champion – North Synton Reserve – Poppets Cottage

Best Pair of Ewe Lambs - Pure Breeds - 1 North Synton 2 Faughhill 3 Smailholm Mains

Best Pair of Ewe Lambs - Cross Breeds - 1 Poppets Cottage 2 Philiphaugh 3 Muircleugh

Best Pair of Gimmers - Pure Breeds - 1 Poppets Cottage 2 Faughhill 3 2 Dovecote Park

Best Pair of Gimmers - Cross Breeds – 1 Greenend 2 Philiphaugh

Young Handlers - 1 Mack Young 2 Orla Murray 3 Kirsty Turnbull

Stock and crop:

Best field of sheep: 3 Malcolm Stewart, 2 Andrew Wood, 1 W T Sandilands Cup - Alan Cowans.

Best field of cows: 3 Eric Marshall, 2 Ron Shaw, 1 Crailinghall Cup- James McCorquodale.

Best field of grazing cattle: 3 Alan Cowans, 2 Graham Dagg, 1 Charles Scott Salver - James Allen.

Best field of winter barley: 3 Mertoun Estate, 2 Eric Marshall, 1 Nelson Cup - Robert Bruce.

Best field of spring barley: 3 Guy Lee, 2, James McCorquodale, 1 Sked Cup - Ron Shaw.

Best field of wheat: 3 Richard Campbell, 2 Donald Maxwell, 1 Baywood Cup - Jamie Tweedie.

Best field of oats: 3 Andrew Grant, 2 Alistair Stewart, 1 Wm Laidlaw Cup - Alastair Forster.

Best field of OSR: 3 Graham Dagg, 2 James McCorquodale, 1 Bibby Cup - Eric Marshall.

Best field of Grass: 3 Grant Todd, 2 Eric Marshall, 1 John Dun Cup - Ron Shaw.

Best crop est without plough: 3 Robert Claydon (S Beans), 2 Eric Marshall (W Wheat), 1 Graham Dagg (OSR).

Best field of winter ploughing: 4 George Riddell, 3 Paul Gilchrist, 2 Jock Telford, 1 W M Doods Cup - Bob Howieson.

Agricultural exhibit: 6 Jack Hunter, 5 Bob Wardhaugh, 4 Ian Scorr, 3 Sandra Hamilton, 2 Gerry McLaughlan, 1 Morridgehall Cup - Bob Wardhaugh.

LONGNEWTON CUP - OVERALL WINNER - Eric Marshall.

The wait is almost over for this year’s Lauder Cornet, Chris Rogerson, as, after following and observing patiently at other towns’ festivities since June, will lead similar celebrations on his home turf next week.

Come Sunday, it will be all eyes on the 21-year-old auctioneer and his lass, Caitlin Megahy.

The pair will be supported by right-hand man Hagen Steele and lass Ashleigh Scott and left-hand man Greg Scott and lass Jennifer Cook.

Sunday’s kirking in Lauder Parish Church at 11.30am will be followed by children’s sports and a family fun day in the town’s public park from 2.30pm.

On Monday, the event’s apprentice ride leaves Castle Riggs Park at 10am, and that evening sees an ex-cornets’ dinner in the Lauderdale Hotel at 7pm.

The following morning, a bowling competition is being held between the ex-cornets’ and Twenty10 clubs at 11am in Lauder Bowling Club.

That evening sees a family cycle ride at Thirlestane Castle from 6pm, followed by an exiles’ reunion at 8pm in the public hall.

Wednesday’s fancy-dress foot parade assembles in the Avenue, with children’s judging from 6.15pm and adults’ from 6.45pm. Vehicles should assemble in Market Place at the same time. The parade, led by Stow Pipe Band, starts at 8pm.

Next Thursday, there’s a children’s show in the public hall from 2pm, and the preliminary rideout that night follow with the cavalcade leaving from the Avenue at 6.15pm.

Friday’s duck race takes place at Thirlestane Castle at 2pm and the nicht-afore-the-morn concert is at Lauder Primary School at 7.30pm.

Saturday’s main common riding day begins at 7am, with a cornet’s march led by Selkirk Silver Band from the Lauderdale Hotel to the town hall.

The cavalcade assembles at 7.30am, and the cornet receives the burgh standard at the town hall at 8am. The riders arrive at the watering stane around 9.50am for refreshments and songs. The cavalcade then continues to the war memorial, where, during an act of remembrance, the cornet will lay a wreath at 11.30am.

The concluding ceremony takes place at noon in the town hall, featuring presentations and the bussing of the cornet’s colours.

There’s music and dancing in the garden at the Lauderdale Hotel from 3pm.

The day finishes with dancing in Market Place, with Stow Pipe Band leaving the Lauderdale Hotel at 5pm, then a ball in the marquee at 7.30pm.

The 125th Morebattle festival week will be celebrated next month.

It all begins with indoor curling in the village hall at 6pm on Friday, August 3 ahead of the following day’s official opening.

This year’s Games Queen Sasha Jackson, will follow in her mum Denise’s footsteps 25 years to the day after she was crowned queen during the centenary games week. Last years Games Queen Tilly Bourne will sash and crown Sasha in the institute grounds at 1pm before she and a piper lead a procession to the school playing field for a family day.

On Sunday, August 5 there’s the derby afternoon and children’s scavenger hunt in the village hall from 2pm.

Monday sees the afternoon tea, including sales tables, raffle and competitions in the village hall from 2pm, followed by family bingo at the Templehall Hotel at 6.30pm.

On Tuesday the Morebattle Camera Club opens it exhibition in the Village Institute 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm. There’s also a pool competition in the Templehall at 7.30pm with entry available on the night.

Whist and dominoes are in the Village Hall from 7pm on Wednesday.

On Thursday, August 9 there’s the children’s egg hunt and teddy bear picnic for under-sixes and a treasure hunt for 6-12 years, both in the playing fields from 2.30pm. A pet show follows there at 6.30pm.

On Friday there’s the fancy dress and carnival in the playing fields with judging at 6.30pm, a parade through the village at 7pm and a family disco in the Templehall Hotel from 7.30pm.

The presentation of cups and the announcement of the annual scarecrow competition winners will also be made.

The week comes to a close next Sunday with the Morebattle Games being held at Morebattle Tofts from 1pm.

Kelso Laddie Sean Hook fulfilled a lifelong ambition last week, getting his hands on the town’s blue and white banner 18 years after he first followed it to Yetholm aged six.

The 24-year-old electrician has supported his counterparts across the Borders over the last eight weeks, and last week it was finally all eyes on Kelso as its civic week was celebrated.

Last Wednesday evening, spectators from across the Borders flocked to Kelso’s cobbled square to witness the ever-moving colour-bussing and installation ceremony.

Colour-bussers Ruby Ward, Katelyn Guthrie, Abigail Hinnigan and Hayley Galbraith decorated the town standard with those four famed words – freedom, honour, valour and wisdom – before Sean thrust it aloft with the cry ‘fear nocht!’

Afterwards, Sean told the hundreds of supporters there how proud he was to finally get his hands on the town flag and paid tribute to his bussers before taking a moment to reflect upon absent friends.

“You have done your families proud, and I am sure, like me, this night will stay with us for the rest of our lives”, he told the four girls.

“To my family, friends, and you, the people of Kelso, the kind words, gifts and support you have given has made this summer a very special one.

“At this very happy time in my life, there are, unfortunately, a few people who are not here to enjoy it with me, but I am sure they will be looking down on me enjoying this all just as much as I am.”

Medals were also presented to this year’s 25th and 50th anniversary celebrants, 1993 laddie Michael Ballantyne and Jim Hogarth, the 1968 laddie.

On Saturday, the sun shone for Sean as he led a 210-strong mounted cavalcade over the hills to Yetholm, where, watched by Rev Ian Clark, Sean laid a wreath before riding on to Kirk Yetholm.

There, he was welcomed by this year’s Bari Gadgi, Tom Grindell, and Bari Manushi, Natasha Gray, for the customary presentation of a jagger.

Sean told the crowds: “I first rode to Yetholm in 2000, aged six-and-a-half.

“I can’t remember much of that day, to be honest, but I know that this day is one I will always remember.

“Thanks to this rideout, the bond between Kelso and Yetholm strengthens year after year.”

Later that afternoon, having returned with his cavalcade safe in to Kelso, Sean was presented with his blue bonnet, for crossing the border earlier that morning, by Valerie Neil.

In a repeat of last year, the cups for youngest and oldest riders to complete the Yetholm ride, went again to Jamie Wilson, seven, and ex-Kelso laddie James Hinnigan.

Later in the evening, following the usual fun and laughter of the fancy-dress parade, the Kelso Laddie returned the burgh standard unsullied and untarnished to honorary provost Dean Weatherston.

Afterwards, Sean added: “It’s been unbelievable.

“I feel so honoured and privileged to have been given the chance to carry the burgh standard to Yetholm on Saturday, and the support was amazing.

“The Wednesday night at the colour-bussing was another highlight.

“I will never be able to describe the wave of emotion that hit me that night. It’s true what they say – ‘it’s better felt than telt’.”

Sean was aided this summer by right and left-hand men Craig Logan and Ian Whellans, his parents, Lynne and Keith, his sister Abbie and his lass, Leanne Woodruff.

The friends and family of a Galashiels tot diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder are each putting their best foot forward to help fund research for a cure for the condition.

Two-year-old Ava Nairn was diagnosed with cystinosis, a genetic metabolic disease causing kidney failure, last year.

The condition, only known to affect 2,000 people worldwide, causes cystine, an amino acid, to accumulate in organs of the body including the kidneys, eyes, liver and brain.

Without specific treatment, children with cystinosis develop end-stage kidney failure around the age of nine.

Ava’s mum, Nicole Moffat, 28, explained: “I knew something wasn’t right. Ava wasn’t growing or gaining weight, and she was excessively thirsty.

“I thought it was diabetes. I spent last year going backwards and forwards to the doctor’s, then, before Christmas she became really unwell.

“She was having spasms through low calcium levels, and they couldn’t get on top of what was going on.”

Ava was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow and kept in for five weeks.

“We got the diagnosis on Christmas Eve,” said Nicole, a mental health nurse at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

“It was worse than I feared because there is no cure.

“By the time we got the diagnosis, the damage had been done. She’s going to need dialysis and a kidney transplant, though we’re hoping to get her through primary school before the transplant.”

Ava, who goes to Cherrytrees Nursery in Melrose, now takes round-the-clock medications in an attempt to slow the progression of the disorder and further damage to her other organs.

“At the moment, we are able to top her up with the electrolytes and salts that her kidneys flush out,” Nicole explained. “Her dad and I get up through the night to give her her meds, and she has eyedrops every two hours through the day to prevent further damage to her eyes.

“Without this medication, things would be pretty bleak.

“Not so long ago, it was rare for people to reach adulthood with this disease.”

The hospital will always play a big part in Ava’s life, even post-transplant, as she needs lifelong medication, but after a turbulent year, the family are hoping she can begin to enjoy some time at home.

“Ava has spent a lot of time in hospital these last six months while doctors tried to stabilise her health, but this last two weeks she has been like a typical toddler,” Nicole said.

“It has been horrendous, but we’re trying to get back to some normality.

“We’re beginning to build her back up at nursery, and I’m going back to work.”

Now, a fundraising team led by Ava’s grandad Keith Moffat is planning to walk a 12-mile circular route from Clovenfords, taking in the Ashiestiel Bridge, Yair House and the Three Brethren, near Selkirk, on Sunday, August 26, to raise funds for the Cystinosis Foundation.

Almost £3,000 has already been donated at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicole-moffat

“Ava and I will start the walk with them, and the plan is that we will come out to meet them coming in at the end,” Nicole said.

“My dad came up with the idea of a sponsored walk because we wanted to do something to help the foundation support families and continue its research.

“There’s a medication available in America that’s given 12-hourly that’s not licensed here, but Sunderland University are looking into designing their own medication. Hopefully, one day they will find a cure.”

A public inquiry into a proposed wind farm near Heriot has been cancelled due to bosses at Edinburgh Airport withdrawing their objections to the scheme.

Scottish Borders Council rejected plans for a seven-turbine wind farm at Gilston Hill last October.

They cited the potential hazard to aviation safety it posed among their reasons for refusal after Edinburgh Airport chiefs claimed the turbines might prove an obstacle to aircraft and could potentially disrupt radar operations.

The council also said the scheme would have a significant detrimental effect on the landscape.

Greenock-based applicant Gilston Hill Windfarm appealed against that decision, with the case then being assigned to Scottish Government reporter Trevor Croft.

A public inquiry had been due to begin at Novotel Hotel in Edinburgh on Tuesday next week.

However, Mr Croft has decided to cancel the inquiry session after an agreement was reached between the applicant and Edinburgh Airport in relation to proposed conditions relating to the latter’s radar.

Scottish Borders Council needs to act now in the face of a “tsunami of care needs”.

That’s the view of Hawick and Denholm councillor Clair Ramage, and she is urging the local authority’s administration to put a new emphasis on social care recruitment.

That call comes after it emerged that council-owned care company SB Cares is shelling out £840 per carer per day to agencies outside the Borders.

Mrs Ramage pledged to find out more after Hawick community councillor Wilson George reported that the council has been paying exorbitant amounts for carers to travel from as far away as Airdrie in North Lanarkshire to cover shifts in Hawick and surrounding areas

“I was appalled at this revelation and contacted Philip Barr, depute chief executive of SB Cares, to get some answers,” she said.

At a meeting on Friday, also attended by Lynn Crombie, SB Cares’ operational director, and other councillors, the care firm’s bosses said they wanted to minimise the use of agencies but admitted that they had been forced to draft in agency staff recently after Borders-based care staff were recruited by private agencies outwith the region.

“It was a really productive meeting but did highlight an ever-growing problem that we have in the Borders, which is only going to get worse as we have an ageing population and many people retiring here for the way of life and cheap housing,” Mrs Ramage said.

“We all want our loved ones to be cared for by professionals. My dad had carers in, and they became part of our family as we relied on them so much to help us look after him.

“SB Cares offer a career structure, training, sick pay, holiday benefits and a car, but private agencies poach SB Cares-trained staff, which then leaves gaps for those expecting their care package, due to lack of staff.”

As the only provider of last-resort care in the Borders – which means that when other care companies can no longer provide a service to clients, it is required to step in – SB Cares can be asked to take on clients with little or no notice.

“As a provider of last-resort care, SB Cares are always responsible for those needing care in our community, even when the agencies let them down or back out,” said Mrs Ramage.

Now she is urging the council to rethink its approach to recruitment for adult social care jobs.

“There are many challenges that we need to face within this sector, and one that I feel we can effect is in recruitment,” she said. “The administration need to grasp this nettle now.

“I have heard that there will be a tsunami of care needs in the next 10 years, so let’s get our heads together to help solve this problem before it is too late.”

The father of the tragic boy the new playpark in Galashiels Public Park is named after is calling for security cameras to be installed there following what appears to have been an arson attack on the £290,000 facility.

The park, opened in May, was named after Rowan Boland, a nine-year-old Galashiels lad who died while playing cricket in 2010.

The trust also named after him has provided much-needed funds for many young athletes over the years too.

His father David helped open the park together with Scotland rugby coach Gregor Townsend, and he told us he knew about swings having been vandalised but was unaware of the fireraising attempt.

He said: “If this is true, I think it’s an absolute disgrace. 99% of the town and surrounding area will be let down by a few mindless idiots. We, as a town, will need to look for funds to install CCTV before any major damage is done to what is a brilliant play facility.”

Former Southern Reporter columnist Stuart Cameron was driving past the park on Tuesday night when he saw a plume of smoke coming from the tower and caught it on his dashcam.

See Stuart’s video here

He said: “The smoke was billowing. I could see there were a couple of people there, although the light was fading.”

He tried to call the police and fire service on 101, but it was busy, and the fire seemed to be going out.

He mentioned it in a text to photographer Alwyn Johnston, who lives nearby, but by the time he got there the only evidence of a fire was some burnt paper and water, so it appears the blaze had been put out by a passer-by before it could spread.

Both the police and the fire service told us the incident was not reported.

It’s not the first act of vandalism to happen there either as the straps for three of the children’s swing seats were stolen within days of being unveiled.

Last year, the playparks at both Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick and Beech Avenue in Langlee were vandalised soon after opening too after becoming magnets for anti-social behaviour.

The new park in Galashiels is a huge hit with families, so David says he is hoping any such behaviour can be nipped in the bud.

A trio of intrepid hikers will take on the three peaks challenge this weekend to raise funds for the Margaret Kerr Unit at Borders General Hospital.

Workmates Gary Dempster, 46, Stevie Kinghorn, 39, and Graeme Redpath, 34, of Forbes Technologies in Kelso, will attempt to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours, starting on Saturday.

The team has put in months of training for the challenge, which comprises 23 miles of walking, with a total ascent of over 3,000m, plus 462 miles of driving between mountains.

“It may only be a 24-hour, challenge but it has taken six months to get to this point,” Gary said.

“At last count we’ve walked the Eildons over 30 times, as well as the Cheviot, a couple of munros and Scafell Pike.

“Graeme had a few munros and miles under his belt before that, with Stevie not far behind, but I was a teenager the last time I ventured up the Eildons, The two young bucks are still chasing my tail during our training days, though,” he joked.

With the recent heatwave set to continue throughout the weekend, conditions could be tough.

“The weather will have a massive influence on things, although we’ve been out in all sorts this year so we hope we will be prepared for whatever is thrown at us,” Gary said. “Hopefully the adrenaline and bit of old fashioned pig-headedness will make sure we get this challenge done, and the charity make some money from it.”

They hope to raise £2,000 for the Margaret Kerr palliative care unit.

“They are always there when called upon,” Gary explained. “Over the years they have cared for many of our friends, family and colleagues, of all ages, and we wanted to do something in their memory. That’s been the motivation for the three of us to keep going through the months of training.”

To donate, click here.

The future of a historic church steeple in Kelso has been secured after townsfolk there rallied round to meet a £10,000 repair bill.

Fears were raised that the town’s skyline could lose one of its most distinctive features last May after Kelso North and Ednam Church’s minister, the Rev Anna Rodwell, revealed that the spire of the Bowmont Street building was in need of urgent repairs.

Despite more than £30,000 being spent on the structure in 2010, Ms Rodwell warned that if more money could not be found, the 19th century steeple would have to be removed.

But one year on, thanks to the generosity of the church’s congregation and the wider community in answering her rallying cry, not only has the structure been fixed, but there’s also cash in the pot for ongoing maintenance.

“We have been surprised and delighted by the generosity of the congregation and the town in helping to raise funds for the steeple. It was a tremendous community effort,” Ms Rodwell said.

“Work on the outside of the steeple is now complete, with only some minor internal decoration issues remaining.”

From dances, open gardens and quiz nights to lunches, beetle drives, calendars and coasters, Kelso folk came together to think outside the box and support the cause, raising nearly £16,000 to safeguard the town’s skyline.

“We were humbled by the ingenuity of efforts to raise the funds, with £15,984 raised altogether,” Ms Rodwell said.

“We now also have a reserved steeple fund and a rolling maintenance contract in place, and we would like to thank everyone who made it possible.

“A special word of thanks goes to all the shops and businesses who welcomed our collection tins and to the Co-op, who made us one of their charities for the year.”

The construction of the present Kelso North Church began in 1862 at the behest of then minister Horatius Bonar after he was forced to give back his congregation’s previous home in Inch Road to the Church of Scotland following its split from the Free Church of Scotland in 1843.

It opened for worship in December 1866, having been built, under the guidance of architect Frederick Pilkington, at a cost of £6,139.

Standing at 180ft tall, with a view across the River Tweed to Floors Castle, the spire has been a central feature of Kelso’s skyline for over 150 years.

An unknown liquid thrown at a 27-year-old man during an attack in Jedburgh earlier this month is still to be identified.

While police have confirmed it was not a corrosive substance used in the attack near Duck Row on Tuesday, July 17, they are still working to find out exactly what it was.

A police spokesman this week said: “No arrest has been made, and whatever the substance was is still to be ascertained.”

The man was taken to hospital for treatment but released the same day, and witnesses are still being sought.

The incident happened at around 6.45am on a pathway known as the waterside walkway which runs adjacent to the A68 next to the River Jed.

The victim was walking south was approached by a man who assaulted him by throwing an unknown liquid in his face.

Detective sergeant Callum Peoples from Galashiels CID said: “This was a frightening experience for the victim who was thankfully not seriously injured as a result.

“We know that the liquid was not a corrosive substance, however, inquiries remain ongoing to establish what it contained.”

The waterside path was closed off for almost five hours this morning while police officers and dogs investigated the attack.

Anyone with information can contact Galashiels CID via 101, quoting incident number 0566 of July 17, or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read the background story here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/crime/witnesses-sought-after-unknown-substance-used-in-jedburgh-assault-1-4770054

When Ettrickhaugh Road resident Pamela Douglas came up with the idea of opening up her garden for a charity day, she had no idea how much it would grow.

Now, most of the houses in her street have agreed to open up their pockets of heaven next Sunday, August 5 – as well as those of nearby Leslie Cottage, Ravensheugh Gardens and the allotments across the road in Bannerfield.

Pamela said: “I thought it would be nice for people to see how the new flood wall at the back of the gardens has changed things, and I thought it would be a good fundraiser.

“And as I am president of the Galashiels Inner Circle, I thought I would ask the ladies to lend a hand on the day.

“It is fantastic that so many people are opening up their gardens, there are some little gems up this road which you normally wouldn’t be able to see.

“And the gardens at Leslie Cottage and Ravensheugh are quite stunning.

“I was really pleased when the allotments group said they would join in too, as it shows another side to it.

“I was also hoping that some people from Hawick would come along, so they see that the flood protection would not ruin their garden space ... if anything, we have gained from it.”

Anyone wanting to take a peek at the gardens need to first head to the cricket club on Ettrickhaugh Road to buy tickets (£5 adult, £12 for a family ticket for two adults and two children). They will then be given sticky badges to wear and a map of all the participating homes.

Also included in the ticket price are tea or coffee and strawberries and cream.

George Inglis will be providing entertainment on the day at the cricket club, as well, where there is free parking available.

All proceeds are going to Cancer Research UK.