Innerleithen’s post office is back in business, having opened within its new home at The Allotment fruit and vegetable shop on High Street, last week.

That opening brings an end to a long-running push to reinstate a full-time service in the town following the resignation of the postmaster at the MayMart store in February last year.

Susan Meikle and Helen Millen, business partners at the Allotment, have been welcoming customers to the new local-style branch since last Wednesday, August 29.

They are offering Post Office products and services from an new open-plan counter running side by side with the existing one. It operates during the store’s usual opening hours, from 10am to 5pm during the week and from 9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays. The town has been served by a mobile outreach van every Friday morning for the past 15 months.

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Steven Simpson, Post Office area network change manager said: “We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.”

Local residents and small business customers are able to access the wide range of Post Office and mails services, including Special Delivery, Local Collect, home shopping returns, send funds abroad using Moneygram, pay bills, pre-order travel money, apply for travel insurance, top mobile phones and take advantage of a wide range of banking services including cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries for customers of all the main UK banks.

The 98th staging of the Ettrick and Yarrow Show takes place this coming Saturday, September 8 at Carterhaugh at Bowhill, near Selkirk.

Organised by the Yarrow and Ettrick pastoral Society since 1906, this year’s event includes a variety of different classes. They including those for horses, cows, sheep, tractors and baking and crafts in the industrial tent. There will also be a dog and pet show, food and drinks stalls and musical entertainment.

Gates to the showground, around three miles from Selkirk, off the B7009 Selkirk to Ettrickbridge road, open at 8.30am with the day set to close around 4.30pm.

Admission is £8 for adults, £2 for school children and £5 for concessions.

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Numbers to be collected on show day from secretary.

For more information visit the show website: www.yarrowshow.co.uk

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed a house break-in and car theft in Peebles in the early hours of Saturday morning in Peebles.

The incident happened at around 2.40am on Saturday, September 1, in the Jubilee Park area of the town when car keys were stolen and used to take a blue Honda Civic Type R, registration BR04 HON.

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Inspector Tony Hodges, deputy local area commander, told us: “This vehicle was seen being driven away a high speed and may have been going towards Edinburgh.

“As part of our inquiries, we are asking anyone who may have seen the car in the early hours of Saturday morning, or since then, to get in touch.

“Those with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0614 of September 1, or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.”

This year’s Selkirk Ex-Standard Bearers’ Charities and Good Causes Rideout, held on Sunday, September 2, passed a quite remarkable milestone.

The ride, which took in the South marches for the first time since 2013 – when the 500th anniversary of the battle of Flodden was marked, raised cash for the Selkirk Common Riding Trust, the Edinburgh Souters Society, Dr Jeff Cullen’s first aid courses and Marie Curie.

While the sponsor money and donations are still being counted, it’s clear that the group has now broken the £20,000 mark over the six years the rideout has been running.

Organiser Scott Tomlinson told us: “I’d like to thank everybody involved in making this event so successful, with the 72 participants, helpers, nurses and marshals all coming together to raise so much money for good causes.

“The ride on Sunday took place in far better conditions than the last time we did that route, with just a wee bit drizzle rather than heavy rain.

“The route itself is fantastic, taking in Lindean marshes, Over Whitlaw, Midlem and Lilliesleaf, before coming back to town through the Riddell Estate and the gallop at the Rig.

“It’s a challenging route for the riders, but it was great to see that no-one fell on the day.

“It also offers some outstanding views of the beautiful countryside that surrounds the Royal Burgh.”

Charities helped by the organisation in previous years include Scottish HART, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Stable Life, Rowlands, Selkirk Illuminations and the Argus Playgroup.

A riders’ social event took place following the rideout in the Selkirk Conservative Club.

A presentation night will be held around the end of December when the cheques will be handed over to this year’s recipients.

An investigation is under way into the theft of two caravans from a Greenlaw storage yard.

Police are appealing for information on the thefts, which were discovered on Friday, August 31.

One caravan, a white, six-berth Magnum Classic 540 worth £6,000, was discovered missing by its owner at around 8.40am on Friday, while the other, a white Swift Challenger 635 worth £25,000, was confirmed missing by its owner at around 11.15am on the same day.

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Inspector Tony Hodges, deputy local area commander, said: “These caravans had been stored in a yard and were discovered missing by their owners on Friday, August 31, but they could have been taken anytime in the days or weeks before.

“We would like to appeal to anyone who may have seen the caravans being moved or who may be offered these models to buy.

“If you have any information please contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0699 of August 31. Alternatively, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Plans for an £8m wind farm at Barrel Law, north west of Roberton, have been rejected by councillors.

The proposals would have seen seven turbines up to 132m in height erected on land next to the existing Langhope Rig wind farm.

The company behind the plans, ABO Wind UK, has faced opposition from residents, community councils and Scottish Borders councillors ever since it first announced its intention to develop the site in 2012.

The council’s initial rejection of those plans in 2013 was prompted by concerns voiced by the Ministry of Defence over possible interference with its radar systems at the Spadeadam Royal Air Force base, near Brampton in Cumbria.

The firm’s plans were subsequently revised and reduced from eight turbines to seven, prompting the MoD to withdraw its objections and officers in Scottish Borders Council’s planning department to recommend approval.

The council’s planning and building standards committee took a different view at its meeting today, however.

Speaking in favour of rejecting the plans again, Kelso councillor Simon Mountford said: “I think what it really boils down to is whether the impacts are adverse, significant and unacceptable.

“Scottish Natural Heritage talks about the impacts at the nearby reservoir as being significant and adverse.

“The environmental assessment talks about the impact at the William Ogilvie cairn, near Borthwickshiels, as being significant and adverse, so it really comes down to if these significant and adverse impacts are also unacceptable, although what I find unacceptable may differ to what someone else may find unacceptable. It’s subjective.

“The officers and the consultees have expressed reservations, even though they might not have objected.

“I think when you join together all these different aspects – of the reservoir, of the William Ogilvie cairn, the cumulative and residential impacts – in my view, that makes this application unacceptable.”

A report put to the committee revealed that 75 comments had been submitted to the council about the project, all but one of them objections.

The council also received objections from six community councils responsible for land that would have been within sight of the wind farm, and Hawick and Hermitage councillors Davie Paterson and Watson McAteer also registered their opposition.

The latter wrote to fellow councillors imploring them to reject the bid, saying: “This application is a test, and should this authority grant the application, it is in danger of sending a signal to all developers that rejection is simply a temporary setback and that after some fine-tuning, re-application is likely to be successful.

“This approach is debilitating for fragile communities being worn down by commercial enterprises that bring financial muscle to a process destined to create overproliferation, landscape desecration and wind turbine blight in a naturally beautiful area of the Borders.

“Those I represent can see no valid reason why the previous rejection is not equally valid today, and it is your responsibility to ensure that this community is listened to.

“It is quite ridiculous that those who live and nurture this area are once again being called to fight to protect a precious environment that includes a perilous roads network from a profit-centred business with no interest in the effect their development will have on such a historic rural community.”

Not all councillors opposed the development, however, with East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing proposing a motion to support the officers’ recommendations and approve the application, andTweeddale East councillor Eric Small seconded it.

Ms Laing said the revised plans were a big improvement on the 2012 application, adding: “I think there has been a significant change to what they have proposed.

“I do have my concerns, particularly around the impact on nearby properties, but, on balance, I am supportive of the officers’ recommendations. There are lots of advantages to this.”

The other five members of the committee voted to reject the proposals, however.

Speaking after the meeting, ABO Wind UK’s head of development, Clark Crosbie, said: “We are extremely disappointed by the decision of the council’s planning committee.

“We were especially disappointed with the decision given that the application was presented at the planning committee with no objections from any of the statutory consultees and was recommended for approval.

“We will now review the decision in detail before considering our next steps.”

“We have worked very closely and collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders over the past few years to develop this project, and we believe very strongly that it complied with all relevant technical and planning requirements.

“The site is located well outside the area being discussed for a proposed Borders national park, has good wind resource, a readily available electricity grid connection, proven turbine delivery route and is relatively isolated.

“It is also located in an area identified in the council’s finalised renewable energy supplementary guidance, dated March 2018, as having the highest capacity for wind turbine development.”

Royal Bank of Scotland customers left disgruntled by the closure of its Selkirk branch in May are now missing out on the mobile service drafted in to replace it too.

Inconsiderate drivers hogging the few parking spaces available in the town centre have led to the replacement service having to venture further afield during its weekly visits, made from 2.45pm to 3.15pm on Mondays, leaving some Souters in the dark as to its whereabouts.

That problem has arisen due to the town becoming a victim of its own success, more businesses opening having led to an increase in irresponsible parking, particularly in disabled and loading bays, by their customers, according to Selkirkshire councillor Caroline Penman.

One of the worst affected parts of town is Market Place, and twice in the last month, the Royal Bank of Scotland’s mobile banking unit has been unable to park up at its designated spot there and has had to look for a space elsewhere.

As the unit only stays in town for half an hour, that has led to some customers missing out on accessing their bank accounts and using other services.

That has prompted Mrs Penman to appeal to motorists to be more considerate, saying: “With more businesses opening up in the town, parking is becoming a real issue.

“We particularly have an issue with drivers abusing the loading and disabled parking bays.

“Twice in the last month when the RBS mobile branch has visited the town it has been unable to use the Market Place for the allotted time period of half an hour, therefore the branch has had to move up to the top car park, where customers have been unable to find it. Drivers need to be more considerate and park more responsibly.

“Parking up on the new pedestrian areas in the Market Place is also an issue. If this continues, long-term damage will be caused.

“Saying ‘I will just be a few minutes’ is simply no longer good enough.”

Motorists have no excuse for flouting the rules as there is sufficient signage in the centre of town, she says.

“The police community action team have been in the town a couple of times and booked or just moved the motorists on, but as soon as they leave, motorists go back to their bad habits,” she added.

“The team need to visit the town on a regular basis or we need to campaign further to bring back traffic wardens.

“Parking is an issue all over the Borders because no one is there to monitor it.”

“Many motorists have just become lazy and inconsiderate.”

A surge in first-time showers and dry weather helped ensure this year’s Roberton Show was another roaring success.

Hundreds of visitors and exhibitors enjoyed an afternoon of competition and entertainment at the annual event, held in the Snoot Field on Saturday.

Show secretary Alan Bone said: “The Hawick Scout Pipe band were in attendance and provided two heart thumping sessions for the crowd. A display and parade of vintage tractors was highlight following completion of the sheep judging, bringing nostalgic memories for many.

“As ever the children’s games section was very popular, a balloon-twister was on hand to fashion fantasy creations on demand and it wasn’t too long before all the under twelves were well equipped with inflated amusements.

“The tea tent with it’s traditional homemade cakes, shortbread, scones and bacon sandwiches had a most exceptional day, testament to the expertise and dedication of our volunteers. Lunches for the judges and attending members were kindly sponsored and provided by Mr and Mrs D Knox.”

Glen Wilson from Hawthornside Farm, Bonchester Bridge, picked up the top title of best breeding sheep in show with his supreme champion Texel ewe, ahead of a Blackfaced ewe from John Anderson of Penchrise.

His Texel fought off competition from Cheviot section winners shown by Ogg Jackson of Cossarshill and Ross Anderson from Easter Alemoor and a Cheviot Mule from Scott Anderson, Parkhill.

The Anderson brothers had a very successful day with Ross also collecting the cup for Cheviot female group and the trophy for most points in the sheep section, while Scott won the trophy for prime lambs.

Other trophy winners included Stuart and Katherine McIntosh in the Blackfaced section, Kevin Duncan in the untouched Cheviot class, William Fleming for best wooled sheep and Eileen Randall from Drychleuchlea in the Cheviot section.

Robbie Oliver from Highchesters won the young handler competition and the trophy for most points in the junior section.

Away from the show ring, the weather impacted on entries in the vegetable classes but cut flower entries were up by 20%. Hand-crafted textile entries were up almost 25%, baking classes held their own against last year, the preserves section was up and the stick classes saw the largest entries in six years.

The children’s section was down on last year’s record turnout, but still very well supported, although organisers were disappointed by the number of SWI exhibits.

Wilton Dean SWI came top from the SWI entries, and the Drumlanrig Primary School’s show poster competition was won by eight-year-old Antonia Astelian.

Alan added: “With some very positive feedback and a great number of entries we will be continuing to take this family friendly Show forward with confidence. Of course it wouldn’t be taking place without the support of exhibitors, visitors, attending members and volunteers whose contributions make this such a wonderful day out in the country.

“During the course of the last few months we sadly lost two great local supporters of the show. Needless to say Ian Dodds and Dave Sharkey’s personalities and contribution to show day are greatly missed.”

Leftover flowers were donated, once again, to Deanfield Care Home after the show.

A beauty therapist will be flying the flag for glamour in the Borders when she represents the region at a national competition later this month.

Alice MacKay’s Beau Boutique, which she runs from a log cabin in the garden of her home in Valley View, Clovenfords, is the only Borders beauty therapist to have made it to the final of The Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards (SHABA).

The 24-year-old will be travelling to the finals at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel with high hopes of success on Sunday, September 16, after she was nominated in three categories - best beauty therapist, best beauty salon and best brow artist.

Alice launched her business at the tender age of 17, but her ambitions for a career in the beauty field began much earlier.

She explained: “My mother tells me that I said I wanted to be a beauty therapist when I was just five years old, so it goes back a long way.

“My business is by appointment only and it’s grown through word of mouth. It was one of my clients who put me forward for the competition and then I was asked to submit my business information. It followed that there was a voting process in May and my clients voted for me.

“I was overwhelmed when I made the shortlist in three of the five categories. It’s a great honour because I will be up against some of the biggest salons in the country.

“I started the business when I was just 17 in the summer of 2012, working out of the house, and then had the log cabin built in the garden in the winter of 2013.

“I have recently taken on someone to help me with the business and I am ambitious for the future. This is such a huge honour and I’m hoping that I can impress the judges. I believe they will be assessing my social media and there could even be a ‘mystery shopper’ come to my premises.”

The former Braw Lass, named course Student of the Year in 2012 and 2013, while studying at Borders College, remains modest about her success.

She said: “I am extremely grateful to all my clients, family and friends for voting for me, and I am overwhelmed to have got through to the finals.

“To have made it to the top eight beauty therapists in Scotland is in itself such an achievement and one that I am very proud of. It’s amazing to have been recognised for doing a job I love and take great pride in. I look forward to what the future holds for Beau Boutique.”

Alice was awarded a scholarship at the Spa at La Manga Club, a 5-start resort in La Manga, Spain in 2013, before returning home to build her own business.

Since then, Beau Boutique has successfully been offering beauty therapies for hundreds of clients from the Scottish Borders and beyond, offering services such as eyelash extensions, LVL lashes, HD brows and eyebrow threading.

The Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards (SHABA) is Scotland’s largest and most successful independent hair and beauty awards.

The annual competition, now in its eighth year, has been growing steadily each year and attracts hundreds of entries from salons and individuals across Scotland.

Entries are judged by a panel of industry professionals, each of whom brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the judging process.

A plea for a change of tack to ensure lawnmowers are deployed more often in the Borders’ cemeteries has been kicked into the long grass, but council chiefs have pledged to do their best to keep graveyards as tidy as they can.

At last Thursday’s full meeting of Scottish Borders Council, administration leaders were again taken to task by opposition councillors relaying the complaints they’ve had since the authority moved its grass-cutting regime from a 10-day cutting cycle to a 20-day one.

Despite vehement criticism, the council has repeatedly refused to backtrack on that change, saying that a consultation carried out in December 2017 was supportive of the cutbacks and that the budget had been agreed by the full council in February.

Now, opposition councillors are suggesting that areas such as cemeteries and village greens be designated as high-amenity sites, putting them in the same category as playing fields and entitling them to more frequent grass-cutting.

Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson told executive member for neighbourhoods and locality services Sandy Aitchison: “In July this year, I wrote to our chief executive asking if cemeteries could be redesignated as high-amenity sites and thereby benefit from a more frequent grass-cutting regime, without having to overturn a budget decision.

“I had hoped this would give the council the opportunity to respond appropriately to the distress caused to individuals and families deeply offended by the lack of maintenance in cemeteries across the Borders.

“I was advised by the chief executive that this would not be possible as it would require additional manpower resources.

“Can I ask councillor Aitchison if he agrees that cemeteries are no less important than football pitches and agrees that they should be redesignated as high-amenity sites in time for next year’s maintenance programme?”

Galashiels councillor Mr Aitchison replied: “In managing our budget situation, this administration agreed changes to grass maintenance, which included cemeteries.

“This administration has listened, and continues to listen, to feedback from communities around these changes.

“The importance of our 154 cemeteries and burial grounds to the community is well established. Officers understand that an acceptable level of service is to be provided in cemeteries, given our financial constraints as a council.

“We are happy to discuss future service arrangements, and we’d encourage people to continue to engage with council officers, who will offer advice and guidance in helping communities to achieve their aspirations.”

The issue of cutting grass on embankments also arose, with Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall asking for an update on what he described as “untidy and out-of-control areas”.

Mr Aitchison replied: “The issue of working on steep embankments as part of delivering grass maintenance operations has been reviewed in light of our approach to health and safety in neighbourhood services, the outcome of which has meant alternative approaches to grass maintenance.

“Specifically in the Hawick area, I’m advised that 15 separate sites have yet to be maintained this year.

“Plans are already in place for nine of those sites, which we’re expecting to deliver by October of this year.”

“Of the remaining six, officers continue to consider options for maintenance, which may include not undertaking grass-cutting.”

“Members will be aware of the duty to promote and enhance biodiversity in the Borders.

“Officers will continue to engage with communities on potential changes to maintenance.

“I encourage members to come forward with their suggestions of areas where less intensive management regimes can be supported.”

Council officials have agreed to look into applying for a Scottish Government tourism grant to save visitors to the region wanting to spend a penny having to splash out 30 times that much.

At last Thursday’s full meeting of Scottish Borders Council, Jedburgh councillor Jim Brown put forward a motion calling for the authority to apply for money from Holyrood’s rural tourism infrastructure fund to save visitors lacking the right change getting caught short.

He said: “The Scottish Government has an allocated budget to fund projects in high visitor areas to improve facilities for tourists.  

“It is proposed that Scottish Borders Council take advantage of these funding opportunities and submit an application with the goal of improving and expanding public toilet provision in key tourist areas across the Borders.

“We know that the provision of public toilets is not a statutory requirement for this authority and that this makes the service very tempting for cuts and even for the removal of this service, but for areas such as my home town of Jedburgh, and for many other places throughout the Borders, the provision of good, clean loos is vital for drawing tourists.

“The current charging system of 30p has caused major problems, especially in Lothian Park in Jedburgh, where it has become a regular occurence to see gents going behind the building and ladies being forced to squat.”

In response to a nationwide increase in tourism, the Scottish Government has introduced a £6m rural tourism infrastructure fund administered by VisitScotland.

It is now set to reopen for a second round of funding, with assessment being completed in March 2019.

Speaking in support of Mr Brown’s motion, East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing said: “At the last meeting of the council in June, we heard from officers about planned changes to public toilet provision. Some of us expressed reservations about those proposals.

“Here in the Scottish Borders, there is evidence, both statistically and anecdotally, that we are experiencing our share of the tourism boom.

“Tourism has been boosted by the Borders Railway, by film companies using our beautiful locations and by concerted efforts by the Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership.

“This is great news, but with this increased interest in the Borders comes an increase in pressure on facilities and infrastructure.

“I get complaints about public toilet provision in my ward, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

“Such deficiencies in what we offer will most certainly put people off, no matter how special the experience is here.

“This motion proposes that Scottish Borders Council takes advantage of the Scottish Government’s rural tourism infrastructure fund to develop our public toilet provision, and maybe even a car park or two in various areas.”

Responding on behalf of the administration, Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison said: “I’ve had a look at this and investigated it. It is £6m but over two years, which is not a huge sum of money, and it is competitive, but saying that, I would put forward a counter-motion which would not commit us to anything but which will ask officers to investigate the possibility of submitting an application going forward.

“The problem we have with our toilet provision is the support that is needed, but this motion talks about expanding provision, whereas what we want is to improve it.”

Mr Brown and Ms Laing accepted the administration’s alterations to the motion, and it was passed.

Council officers will now investigate the possibility of submitting an application to the fund with the intention of improving public toilet and other tourism infrastructure facilities.

In June, councillors agreed to look into privatising the authority’s public toilet network following a report showing that the region’s public loos are failing to make enough money to cover their operating costs.

Council officers had hoped that introducing a 30p charge at 27 public toilets would generate income of £280,000 a year, but the controversial fee only raised £89,000 in its first year.

The juices are really flowing at an award-winning Borders business.

Greenlaw-based artisan apple juice producer, Laprig Valley, has received a gold Great Taste Award for its Bramley apple juice.

The news comes at an exciting time as the company anticipates the arrival of a new press to help expand production.

It has also been shortlisted within the non-alcoholic juice category of the Great British Food Awards.

Judge Valentine Warner also named some of the largest beverage companies in the UK within the shortlist, including Fentimans Ltd, Belvoir Fruit Farms and Square Root London.

Lorna Fleming, co-founder of Laprig Valley, said: “It has been a very exciting few months for us. Adding another Great Taste Award to our portfolio and being shortlisted in the Great British Food Awards with some of the leading brands in the industry is a real achievement. It is great to see our passion for great tasting artisan apple juice is being spread across the industry especially as we continue to grow our reach and production.”

Sukie’s Scones – a regular monthly visitor to Selkirk’s pop-up shop circuit – continues to be on the rise.

At this month’s opening, Sukie Barber of Hawick passed a fantastic new milestone, marking 25,000 scones sold since she and her husband Bill began selling in the town.

And with £1 per scone sold going to charity, that means the couple have sent just over £25,000 to Zambia.

Since first opening the shop in Selkirk’s Tower Street, the couple have raised money for children in Nepal and Zambia. Six of the couple’s eight children, aged 19 to 36, have visited Africa on volunteering expeditions, inspiring their parents to support programmes they’ve seen at work there.

On the day of the pop-up shop, Sukie gets up at 6am to cook three batches of scones for ultimate freshness. The rest are cooked in the shop, something she says her customers love.

All the money taken now goes to a feeding program at a school in Zambia run by Vincent Luwizhi which feeds up to 450 children daily.

Sukie and her pal Jess Talbot have often wondered if they would ever make the trip and see for themselves what goes on and what improvements might be made ... and this year plans were made and money for travelling was raised through sponsored walks.

Bill told us this week: “Right now, Sukie and Jess are somewhere in the African skies enroute to Zambia.

“In the hold of their plane, their bags are stretched to their physical and weight limit with little gifts to delight and others to help with school work, much kindly donated. These include hundreds of bouncy balls, as Sukie is determined to introduce the game of jacks to the children of Zambia.

“At Vincent’s request Jess and Sukie have taken lots of needles and thread in order to teach some of the local ladies the basics of sewing.

“As a compulsive cook, Sukie hopes to take part in making the children’s staple food, which is a porridge known as Sudsa, prepared by boiling maize flour water in vast vats and stirring it with what, in the photographs sent, looks like a canoe paddle, and also plans to buy ingredients to make jam and batter for drop scones/pancakes and feed the kids as near as possible on Sukie’s scones.

“She is also hugely grateful to all the regular customers and helpers at the pop-up shop and to those whose generous donations will make it possible to buy such things as drugs for the children’s health and material for the sewing project once in Zambia. Thank you all.”

From bucking broncos to soaking teachers, Earlston High students set their stall out at a fundraising fun day in aid of motor neurone disease research and school projects.

Organised by S4 pupils as part of a leadership programme, the East End school opened its doors to family, friends, alumni and the wider community on Saturday.

A range of activities, including a challenge to guess the teddy’s birthday, face-painting and a raffle helped raise more than £500, with quizzes, school tours and science lessons also entertaining the crowds.

Andrew Foggin, principal teacher of leadership for S1-S3s, said: “The S4 pupils did a magnificent job in organising a very successful event.

“Around 500 people came on the day, which was great.

“It was the first time we’ve had a day like this, so we weren’t sure how it would go, but we’re really pleased with how it worked out.

“S4 pupils were assisted on the day by S3, who will organise the event next year.”

A performance from the school show drew a crowd of 150 to the school hall, with sumo suits and a Gladiators-style challenge also proving popular.

“We had fun science lessons too, where we made slime and fireworks,” Mr Foggin said.

“The day raised £550, to be split between school funds and MND research.”

A woman died in hospital at the weekend after falling ill in a hot tub during the birthday celebrations of Lord David Steel’s son Graeme at his farmhouse home near Stow.

The 44-year-old woman, named in reports as Claire Maccabe, is thought to have one child.

Police have launched a probe into the incident and say they are treating the death as “unexplained, but not suspicious” and are continuing inquiries.

Claire is believed to have fallen ill at the party, which celebrated the host’s 52nd birthday, held during the evening of Saturday, September 1. An ambulance rushed her to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, where she died later that evening.

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating after a 44-year-old woman took unwell at an address in Stow during the evening of September 1, before passing away at the Royal ­Infirmary later that night.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious and inquiries are continuing.”

The death knell has been sounded for a Galashiels church after councillors voted to allow its demolition.

St Aidan’s Church, in Gala Park, is set to face the wrecking ball after its owner, Cumbria-based Book Development, concluded that renovating the B-listed Gothic building would be uneconomical.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s planning and building standards committee on Monday, principal planning officer Barry Fotheringham said demolition was the only economically viable option left.

He said: “The building is not physically incapable of repair, therefore the overriding principle that needs to be satisfied is one of economic viability.

“This application is supported by feasibility reports and valuations which estimate the building is beyond the point of economic repair.

“Various options have been explored, including the conversion of the church into residential properties, though this would incur a loss of £700,000, based on 2018 costs.

“An alternative scheme for a development which would retain the front facade of the church and the spire was also evaluated, and this would potentially result in a loss of around £1m.

“The applicant provided subsequent figures that would need to be invested in order to make a profit.  

“These assessments conclude that in order to make a reasonable profit, 29 units would be required on site, with 24 units behind the facade and five on the site behind the church.

“It is accepted that not all options have been explored, but it is reasonable to assume that the applicant has demonstrated that a substantial and likely inappropriate development would be required to make the scheme viable.

“I am satisfied that the viability argument has been met.”

Speaking in favour of allowing the demolition, East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing said: “I just think this is really, really sad to lose this fabulous building. It depresses me, but I can’t see any other option but to approve this as pretty much all options have been reasonably explored, so it’s with a heavy heart that I vote with the officer’s recommendation.”

Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison also supported the recommendation to allow the demolition but said he would be sad to see it go, adding: “There’s a huge emotional issue in terms of buildings and things which are of historic significance.

“I worry about the future of built environments. Take our capital city for example. There are some huge historical buildings, and the upkeep of these buildings is hugely expensive. What are we going to do with them? They can’t all be Wetherspoons.

“It’s a sad reflection of society that many have gone that way. I prefer to see it demolished rather than see it degraded, and that’s a sad thing to say.”

“I just want to stop the continuous pain of it degrading and just see it go, so I’m happy to support the demolition, but it is tinged with regret and sadness.”

The son of former Borders MP Lord Steel of Aikwood has told of his devastation over the death of a birthday party guest at his Stow home at the weekend.

Claire MacCabe, 44, died in hospital in Edinburgh after falling ill at Graeme Steel’s house on Saturday.

Police say her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

Mother-of-one Mrs MacCabe, of Haddington in East Lothian but originally from Northern Ireland, is reported to have taken unwell while using a hot tub at a party to mark the 52nd birthday of Mr Steel the day before.

Mr Steel, a builder and gardener, today issued a statement about what he described as an “awful situation”, saying: “The tragic death of Claire MacCabe has left me, my family and friends devastated.

“Matt has lost his wife, and their child has lost their mother. Words cannot express how we all feel about this loss.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in the Scottish Borders are investigating after a 44-year-old woman took unwell at an address in Stow during the evening of Saturday, September 1, before passing away at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary later that night.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained but not suspicious, and inquiries are continuing.”

Mr Steel is one of Lord Steel and wife Judith’s three children.

As David Steel, his father, made a life peer in 1997, was MP for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles from 1965 to 1983 and then for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale from 1983 to 1997, later serving as MSP for the Lothians from 1999 to 2003.

The Fife-born 80-year-old, now of Selkirk, was leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1988 and was the first presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, in that office from 1999 to 2003.

Jedburgh traders and residents tired of a scaffolding-clad dangerous building blighting the centre of their home town have been warned that it will remain an eyesore for the foreseeable future.

Scottish Borders Council has admitted that there is no end in sight for the scaffolding that has been surrounding the private property off the town’s market square for over three years.

Scaffolding was put up around the building, at the corner of Exchange Street and High Street, in June 2015, and it looks set to remain there indefinitely, councillors have been told.

At the full meeting of the council held last Thursday, Jedburgh councillor Sandy Scott asked the authority’s ruling administration for an update on the works.

He asked: “Would the administration please remind me how long the scaffolding has been in place on the building in Jedburgh square on the corner of the High Street and Exchange Street?

“More importantly, could they give an indication as to when it will be removed?”

Responding to that question on behalf of the administration, Leaderdale and Melrose councillor Tom Miers, the authority’s executive member for planning and environment, said: “I know that councillors are acutely aware that this is an incredibly serious matter.

“The scaffolding and works that you refer to are a real eyesore in the centre of Jedburgh.

“Having visited the site myself, you can see that there are very serious issues here that need to be resolved.

“It’s a matter that we’re all focusing on.

“The fact of the matter, in response to your question, is that the original scaffolding crash deck was erected in June 2015 to protect the public from falling debris.

“The scaffolding crash deck was subsequently extended with access scaffolding and further crash decks to allow for more detailed work to be undertaken and so that they could remove a corner chimney in December 2017.

“The scaffolding was strengthened in early 2018 to allow the proposed tie straps to be installed.

“Due to further movement of the building on the south elevation, the structural scaffolding was strengthened, and work for this was completed in early August 2018.

“The council is now in the process of reviewing options for this building, and the scaffolding will be required to be retained, in order to ensure public safety, until the building is made safe.

“It is not yet possible to confirm, unfortunately, how long the scaffolding will be required to remain in place.”

The extension of the scaffolding in June necessitated the introduction of a one-way system in the heart of Jedburgh as it now protrudes into the road.

The one-way order, expected to last until at least March 2019, makes part of High Street one-way southbound from Jewellers’ Wynd to Canongate southbound and a section of Exchange Street one-way northbound from High Street to Friarsgate.

In response to Mr Mier’s answer, Mr Scott said: “As councillor Miers will no doubt agree, June 2015 to August 2018 is a very long time indeed, sadly with no end in sight at all.

“Could I ask – please, please, a thousand times please, put this at the top of your priority list?”

Mr Miers added: “I couldn’t agree with you more.

“It’s a very serious matter that we’ll try to get to the bottom of in a safe manner.”

Children’s Hearings Scotland is currently recruiting for new panel members in the Scottish Borders.

Information evenings for the South East Scotland panels are currently taking place - at Council Headquarters, Newton St Boswells and at St Margaret’s Primary School, Loanhead both on September 12, 2018, starting at 7pm.

Decisions by the 2,500 specially trained volunteer panel members across Scotland are made to help protect the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people.

“There’s no one type of person or background that makes the ideal Children’s Panel Member,” said a spokesperson for Children’s Hearings Scotland.

“Your gender, religion, age, qualifications, employment status, and any previous criminal convictions (within reason) aren’t important. However, it goes without saying you’ll be a good listener, reliable and importantly you need to care.”

Panel members in South East Scotland are expected to commit to sit on one to two children’s hearings every month and also to attend five learning and development opportunities per year.

The area covers three local authorities - East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. Prospective panel members are expected to live or work within the geographical boundaries of one local authority area but may have the opportunity to sit as a panel member in any area within south east Scotland.

The Children’s Hearings Scotland Scottish Borders panel sits at Selkirk on Monday mornings and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. The East Lothian panel sits at Tranent on Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning and afternoon and Thursday afternoon; and Midlothian hearings are at Dalkeith on Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Thursday morning and afternoon.

Boyd McAdam National convenor of Childrens’ Hearings Scotland attended a long service awards event for panel members in the Scottish Borders recently to present certificates to members who have served five, 10 and 15 years on the panel.

If you have any queries, or would like to chat to someone about volunteering in the Children’s Hearings System, contact the clerk for South East Scotland Jackie Knox at jknox@eastlothian.gov.uk or phone 01620 827379. Applications are open until midnight Monday, September 24, 2018.

Taking over the former Halliwell’s butcher’s shop in Selkirk is something of a step back in time for Jedburgh man John Taylor.

He has reopened the Market Place shop, closed over a year ago, this week in a move which sees him back behind the chopping block of his own shop for the first time in over three years.

Halliwell’s, one of the town’s longest-serving businesses stopped trading in August last year, after a 14-year-long presence in Market Place, with the loss of two jobs.

Over the past two weeks, since John bought the shop, it has been reinstated to its former glory, creating at least two jobs.

“You’ve got to have the right location, and this was the perfect one,” John,46, said.

“It’s right in the hub of the main area of the town, and it was a ready-to-go butcher’s shop.

“I remember it always being a busy butcher’s, always thriving.”

John has been busy fitting the shop out with new equipment including a sausage-maker, mincer, scales, hot pie counter and a dry-aging unit.

Original features including a 40-year-old maple cutting block and the original Halliwell’s counters, however, will remain.

And those features are not new to John as it’s not his first time behind the Selkirk counter.

“I actually worked here helping out when I was young for a few weeks back in 1992 for David Palmer, so it’s something of a homecoming.”

Father-of-three John, now living in Kelso, was trained up at Jed Fleshing when he was was 15 and has worked in the butchery trade ever since, previously running his own shop for 13 years.

He will be sourcing his meat locally, with his cattle coming from Jedburgh-based Willowford Beef.

“They’ll be supplying native-bred beef from the Scottish Borders and north Northumberland,” he added.

“Everything will be aged for 28 days, and I have a dry-aging unit, which will be the focal point of the shop.

“You will see a lovely great lump of sirloin that has been hung, before the unit takes the moisture out of it, so it’s even more mature and tender.”

“It’s the latest craze, and, as far as I know, there’s nowhere else doing this in the Borders.”

The shop was Halliwell’s butcher’s for 14 years and Palmer’s butcher’s before then, and in the years before that was an ironmonger’s.

It went up for sale last August and sat empty for over a year after Halliwell’s owners shut up shop after fearing that the ongoing town centre regeneration works were going to hit their footfall too hard.

However, John is optimistic that the positive welcome he’s been met with so far means the new business should fare well.

“I am buzzing to be back behind the counter,” he said.

“The response I have had so far since announcing the new venture on Facebook has been great.

“People seem to be really welcoming the news in Selkirk.

“Folk here are very loyal, and they are just happy to have another butcher open again.

“My priority will be looking after the folks coming through the door.”

Taylor’s will be open from 7am to 5.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 5pm on Saturdays initially.

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