Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol has vowed to carry on the battle to replace the Eildon medical practice in Newtown with a new purpose-built building.

Mrs Thornton-Nicol has been campaigning for the continuation of the service since January, when the current practice partners advised NHS Borders of their intention ot withdraw from the premises.

Several members of the community attended a meeting last Wednesday , as part of the ongoing option appraisal process.

Dr Cliff Sharp, medical director at NHS Borders, thanked those who participated.

He said: “Over the past six weeks we have received hundreds of comments from patients and other interested parties relating to how GP services are provided to Eildon Practice patients.

“There were 43 participants in the meeting, the majority of whom were members of the public, including practice patients, councillors and representatives from community councils.

“In addition there was representation from Eildon Practice staff, and colleagues who provide services from the surgery including district nurses and allied health professionals.

“Participants were reminded that this was just the first half of the option appraisal, with the second half comprising of a financial appraisal carried out by NHS Borders’ finance team. The scores will then be combined to arrive at a final ranking.”

Mrs Thornton-Nicol was also at the event, and was pleased to be able to represent her own views as a practice patient, as well as the views of her constituents.

She said that the meeting was “a positive event”, adding: “Consensus was the order of the day, and being asked a clear set of questions to score against meant everyone was focused on the future of the service that means so much to so many patients.”

Dr Sharp said: “The outcome of the option appraisal will be a recommended preferred option which I will present to the NHS Borders Clinical Executive Strategy Group at the meeting scheduled for October 11.

“I will issue a further update after that meeting and can assure people that the process will continue with full engagement with the public”

While 217 responses from the public have been received by the NHS, Mrs Thornton Nicol said she was working with the Newtown Community Council to edge that number higher before the next stage.

She told us: “Not everybody will reply to a letter, but we are looking at drafting a letter which will be kept in local shops, and which people can sign there and then.

“It was clear at the meeting that most people, certainly those at my table, were on the same page, in that the best, most practical option is to build a new surgery in Newtown, which could be future-proofed for the next 20-30 years, with the current practice staying open until the new one is built.

“I think that having managed to build new practices in Jedburgh, Galashiels and Lauder in recent years, they can manage to do the same in Newtown, with all the services in one place, such as a physio, speech therapist and breast screening.

“They just need to plan for it.”

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The usually quiet area at the top end of the Kale Water came to life on Saturday for the annual show and sports at Pennymuir Hall, near Hownam.

Organised by Upper Kale Water Agricultural Society since 1906 it featured sheep and dog classes, industrial entries, children’s sports and after-show entertainment.

Show secretary Ailsa Tweedie said: “We had 750 entries in the hall and just under 300 sheep entered too.

“It was up on last year and we had a very big crowd. Everybody commented on how they had never seen so many people at the show. 
“The weather was fine and the children all had a good time doing their races.

“We had a hog roast after the show which everybody stayed for and that went on until well into the night.”

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This year’s champion cheviot sheep prize went to Craig Weir, with Gavin Douglas picking up the cup for reserve and Tom Elliot, taking the prize for most points in the cheviot sheep section.

William Thomson, from Hownam Grange, took the North Country Cheviot Lairg type’s top prize as well as the champion in the any other breed category, while Steven Mackay swept the board in the blackface section and won the cup for the most points between the blackface and cheviot sections.

Prizes were presented by Helen Cessford.

In the dog section, best collie in show went to Ken Hedley, Gordon McKenzie had the champion Border terrier with Jane McKenzie’s in reserve, while Moira Hall won the best other breed terrier class.

In the under eight-year-old hill race the winners were Rachel Elliot, William Hedley and Lucy Elliot, while the senior winners were John Tweedie, Sophie Smith and Harry Grant.

Title holders Melrose flexed their rugby muscles in the opening round of this Tennents Premiership season to achieve a seven try 48-14 win over Hawick.

The Greens struggled to compete due to an absence of key players among their side.

Missing from the line-up were the half back pairing of Greg Cottrell and Lee Armstrong, and their captain and Scotland Club XV prop Shawn Muir.

In the circumstances Hawick were forced to field a team that lacked the overall experience necessary for the Premiership.

Melrose certainly looked sharp in the opening quarter, scoring after only five minutes from a cleverly taken line-out, leading to a move down the blindside involving new wing recruit Iain Sim, before the ball was spread wide for the other new wing, Michael Mvelase-Julyan, to score in the corner. Jackson converted.

Then, after Taylor and Thomson had shredded the Hawick midfield defence, Sim raced in for an unconverted try.

Hawick, however, recovered their composure and forced their way back into the game, gaining their reward when Bruce McNeil made the best of a Melrose overthrow at a line-out to score, with Ali Weir adding the extras.

Melrose quickly reasserted themselves and again it was Taylor who opened up the Hawick defence to lay on a try for Patrick Anderson.

Jackson goaled the easy conversion kick and then added a further two points to a try from a driven line-out by lock Angus Runciman, leaving Melrose in possession of a bonus point and a healthy lead at half-time with the scoreline at 26-7.

Melrose then dominated the opening minutes of the second half and Iain Moody laid on the scoring pass for Hutchison, and Jackson’s boot providing the conversion points.

Fortunately for the game, Hawick pulled themselves together and with the likes of Dalton Redpath at lock and McNeil at number eight leading a forward pack in which Premiership newcomers Callum Renwick and Daniel Suddon impressed, the Greens were able to narrow the points gap.

McNeil grabbed his second try after Hawick achieved a tighthead strike, the backrow picking up from the base of the scrum and darting through an unguarded gap.

Weir converted but the Hawick utility back was unable to add the extras to Hawick’s third try, scored by replacement Ruaridh McLeod from a driven line-out.

A Jackson penalty steadied Melrose nerves before Mvelase-Julyan raced on for his second try, the Greenyards men completing their victorious performance with a try by Hutchison from a clever kick by replacement Bruce Colvine, Jackson converting to give the stand-off a 13 points tally.

The colours of the Merchant Navy were flying high over the headquarters of Scottish Borders Council this week as around 20 ex-Merchant Navy personnel from the region were recognised for their services at a civic reception.

The ceremony at Newtown was held to mark Merchant Navy Day, which takes place on September 3 every year to honour the brave men and women who kept Britain afloat during both World Wars, and also celebrate the importance of modern day merchant seafarers.

Amongst those in attendant was Stephen Taylor Smith, a 95-year-old from Selkirk who is believed to be the last surviving member of the Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS) which operated during World War II.

He joined the DEMS in 1943 and made a number of voyages across the Atlantic to New York as well as the Mediterranean Sea, serving as a gunner.

It was dangerous occupation, with cargo such as aircraft fuel and ammunition making the DEMS a target for German U-boats, but Stephen successfully completed three years’ service with the branch.

A book on his career and life was published last year by Brian Parker, of Yetholm.

Stephen helped council convener David Parker raise the flag as part of the ceremony.

Councillor Parker said: “I was delighted to be able to host local ex-Merchant Navy personnel and their families and hear some fascinating stories about their time serving their country. Meeting the likes of Stephen Taylor Smith was an honour and I am proud the council will fly the Merchant Navy flag above our Headquarters this week.”

Councillor John Greenwell, SBC’s armed forces and veterans champion, added: “The Merchant Navy has provided an important service for the last century to Britain, providing vital supplies to the country particularly at times of war.

“This ceremony is a small thank you to Borderers who served in the Merchant Navy for their considerable efforts over a number of years.”

Jedburgh Horticultural Society’s annual flower show looks set for a bright future if last weekend is anything to go by.

Entries from the town’s youngsters helped ensure the town hall looked blooming lovely on Saturday despite entries in the floral section being down due to difficult growing conditions.

The children’s section was a resounding success, attracting entries from all the surrounding schools and collectively the biggest ever entry of fuschias, with pupils having grown the seeds gifted to them by the society.

Show secretary Ann Laidlaw said: “The teachers in the local schools, which included Ancrum this year, were asked to choose what type of entry their classes were going to submit and the result was that there was hardly a space left on the walls in the downstairs hall.

“It was a really brilliant display.

“Every year the Horticultural Society sends plants to the schools for the children to grow on and exhibit at the show - this year it was fuchsias and we had what was probably the biggest entry ever.

“The judges found it very difficult to pick the winners and the display on the stage was quite stunning.”

She added: “The number of entries was down compared to the last few years, particularly in the floral section, but considering the difficult growing conditions this was to be expected and seems to be the trend for most o this years shows.

“The standard of exhibits, however, remained extremely high.”

Best exhibit in the industrial section went to Betty Turnbull, of Melrose, and Jonathan Noble picked up most points in the TD8 section.

Sarah Purves, of Stichill, won best exhibit and most points in the floral art section.

Best exhibit and most points in the vegetable section went to Hawick’s Douglas Oliver, and the prize for best in the floral section went to Davy Rodgerson, of Selkirk.

Jedburgh men Dennis Laing and Bob Beaton were named best in the photography and stick sections respectively, and Jessica Stevens came top in the primary school section.

Best garden prize went to John Frater, of Priors Meadow.

The prizes were presented by Brian ‘Chico’ Woods and Roy Laidlaw and dressed in floral shirts to compliment the exhibits they made the lengthy presentation a very light hearted affair

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Full results were as follows:

The Hannah Dawson Memorial Cup for Best Exhibit of Pot Plants (Classes 1 - 14) Jean Wood, Eccles, Kelso

The Irvine Challenge Cup - Class 35 (6 Gladioli Spikes) Bill Cockburn, Yetholm

The Mark Rutherford Memorial Trophy - Class 40 (1 Gladioli Spike) Bill Cockburn, Yetholm

The Bill Byres Trophy - Most Points in Gladioli Classes (35 - 40) Bill Cockburn, Yetholm

Lady Lothian Challenge Cup - Best Exhibit of Chrysanthemums Maurice Wear, Hawick

The Bob Young Cup - Class 66, 2 Small Vases Decorative Dahlias Davy Rodgerson, Selkirk

Lodge St. John B-Centenary Cup - Best Exhibit of Dahlias Davy Rodgerson, Selkirk

The Rob Young Cup - Class 85, 6 Begonias shown on board Jim Mihulka, Redpath, Earlston

The Robertson Trophy - Best Exhibit in Begonia Section Jim Mihulka, Redpath, Earlston

Susanna Smith Memorial Trophy - Class 98, 1 Single Rose Bill Anderson, Clovenfords

The Laidlaw Cup - Best Exhibit in Floral Section Davy Rodgerson, Selkirk

The Palmer Trophy - Best Exhibit in Floral Art Sarah Purves, Stitchill

Special Prize for Most Points in Floral Art Section Sarah Purves, Stitchill

The Tulloch Potato Shield - Best Display of Potatoes Jim Kirkness, Oxton

Jedburgh Legion Challenge Cup - Best Exhibit of Onions Douglas Oliver, Hawick

The Jock Thomson Trophy - Best Exhibit of Leeks Jim Kirkness, Oxton

The Agnew Challenge Cup - Best Exhibit in Vegetable Section Douglas Oliver, Hawick

RHS Banksian Medal - Most Prize Money in Horticultural Section Douglas Oliver, Hawick

The President’s Cup - Most Points in TD8 Section Jonathan Noble, Jedburgh

Bill Turnbull Trophy - Best Fuchsia Margaret Wear, Jedburgh

Silver Rose Bowl - Most Points in Classes 225 - 253 Margaret Linton, Jedburgh

Runner Up Cup - Most Points in Classes 225 - 253 Helen Hope, Broughton

Millennium Quaich - Most Points in Classes 254 -277 Helen Hope, Broughton

Toc H Rose Bowl - Runner Up in Classes 254- 277 Maureen Mitchell, Jedburgh

Bi-Centenary Rose Bowl - Best Exhibit in Industrial Section Betty Turnbull, Melrose

Jedburgh Rotary Club Trophy - Best Exhibit in Stick / Men’s Handicrafts Section Bob Beaton, Jedburgh

Tom Lean Memorial Shield - Best Exhibit in Photography Section Dennis Laing, Jedburgh

Horticultural Society Cup - Best Exhibit in TD8 Photography Section Dennis Laing, Jedburgh

Tom McLeish Shield - Best Junior Floral Art Munro Currie

The Jed Eye Trophy (Children’s Pot Plants Lewis Ralston

Tom Pringle Cup - Most Points in 16 Years and Under Section Esmee Wragg

Jessie Scott Cup - Runner Up in 16 Years and Under Section Kay Sinton

Alice Nicol Cup - Class 320, Cross Stitch (or Committee’s Decision on Show Day) Esmee Wragg

Alistair McGinnis Cup - Best Exhibit in Primary School Section Jessica Stevens

President’s Cup (Junior) - Best Exhibit in Rainbow, Brownie or Guide Section Chelsea Lamb

First - Best Pot Plant Lewis Ralston

Second - Best Pot Plant Jessica Stevens

Third - Best Pot Plant Euan McKay

Fourth - Best Pot Plant Jake Leitch

Commended James Leitch

Commended Robbie Gordon

Best Garden

1st. John Frater 33 Priors Meadow

2nd. Ina Lunn 29 Lothian Road

3rd. Catriona Graham 53 Hartrigge Road

4th. Mary Beaton 22 Brewster Place

5th George Whitehead 44 Dounehill

Highly Commended

Margaret &Lawrence Armstrong 4 Allerton Court

Liz & Roy Spowart 6 Bongate

Carol Henderson Dunshill Drive

Harry Jeffrey 68 Howden Road

Commended

Billy Robson 89 Howden Road

Wattie Grieve 91 Howden Road

Jimmy Lauder Ryecroft, Ryerigg

More than half (54%) of women in Scotland admit to doing their make-up on public transport, as new research reveals the latest trend towards applying beauty products on the commute.

The study from beauty experts Cosmetify.com looked to establish whether, in today’s selfie society, women’s vanity is at the forefront when it comes to their morning make-up mantra.

And, the findings are surprising: the self-proclaimed “cosmuters” are defying this era of narcissism, with a quarter of women in Scotland admitting to leaving the house in the morning bare-faced.

When asked the reasons for not doing make-up at home, the top reason given by 43% of women is that they sleep in too late, making Scots women the third most likely in the UK to not set their alarms early enough.

Interestingly, this number rises to 58% for women in Edinburgh.

Top locations where women sleep in too late:

1. Northern Ireland (59%)

2. Yorkshire (46%)

3. Scotland (43%)

4. South East (40%)

5. Wales (33%)

Getting the kids ready in the morning is another reason that more than a third (36%) of Scottish women gave for preferring to do their make-up on public transport.

This is also the top reason in Glasgow, with 44% stating that’s why they don’t do make-up at home.

For 28% of women, doing their make-up on the commute is simply a normal part of their daily routine, however, 41% of “cosmuters” admit to feeling self-conscious and say they don’t like others watching them.

But, they needn’t worry - more than 1 in 5 (21%) actually say they find it fascinating watching other women do their make-up and even hope to pick up a few beauty techniques on their way to work.

And, while there could be fears of commuter beauty being banned in the UK like it is in Tokyo, 59% say they wouldn’t want to see make-up on public transport being made illegal.

Matt Davies, founder of Cosmetify.com said: “Commuter beauty is on the rise, but it often divides opinion, so we thought it would be interesting to find out women’s perceptions in Scotland.

“Our research shows that, on the whole, people are very accepting of it. Women have never been as time-poor as they are today, so by doing their make-up on the way into work they can save a few extra minutes in the morning – and who knows, they might even pick up a new beauty tip from a fellow commuter along the way.”

Kelso’s Horsemarket will be closing to vehicles for four days later this month.

There will be no access for vehicles from 9am on Monday, September 24, to 5pm on Thursday, September 27, to allow for Scottish Borders Council to carry out carriageway repairs between its junctions with Rose Lane and Cross Street

The alternative westbound route is via Rose Lane, Shedden Park road, A698, B6352 Station Road and Bridge Street to point of closure.

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During the closure parking will be prohibited on Horsemarket from the Square to Rose Lane, on the north side of the road, and in The Square, from Mill Wynd southwards for 10 metres on the west side only.

The one way order from The Square to Cross Street will be rescinded during the closure.

Selkirk’s experience proved key in this comfortable win over newly-promoted Kirkcaldy.

The home team had a speed about the pitch as well as swifter reaction which the visitors could not match.

Selkirk ended last season in the top half of last season’s National 1 table, and on this form could well be amongst the challengers again.

The game had hardly begun when Selkirk went ahead with McColm kicking his side into a three point lead which might have become six but for a second penalty striking a post and bouncing out.

It took the Blues the best part of a quarter of an hour to establish themselves in the Selkirk half and after a slow build and well taken line-out possession, they won a penalty kicked by Finlay Smith to tie the scores.

This equality lasted barely a minute – Selkirk re-started with a long kick deep into the Kirkcaldy 22 from which they won a throw-in.

Their forwards made little progress with the ball but they released it and McColm flashed through for the easiest of scores, adding the extra points himself.

A long build up in the home 22 eventually produced a smartly delivered ball for Kirkcaldy’s Josh Laird to scythe through with Smith conversion tying the scores at 10-10, but a 31st minute lapse by the visitors gave McColm the easiest of routes to the try line for a score which he converted himself.

Selkirk increased their lead before half time when full back Josh Welsh won the touch down for his side’s third try with the conversion taking the score to 24-10.

The Blues had perhaps their best phase of the game in the third quarter with backs moving much more sweetly and providing the fodder for an unconverted Finlay Smith try, but whatever hope they had of rescuing the game soon disappeared.

Excellent support work opened up the Kirkcaldy defence for replacement Nico Pavlovski to go in from 30 metres for a try which took the score to 29-15.

In the closing stages the Philiphaugh side emphasised their superiority with two further converted tries from James Bett and Darren Clapperton.

Two Borders rugby players are attempting to climb the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours this weekend to support a friend left paralysed by a sporting injury.

Jamie Livingston, 27, of Galashiels and Russell Mackay, 23, of Melrose, are part of a team of former Stirling University Rugby Club players taking on the challenge in aid of Connor’s Journey, a fundraising campaign set up to support pal Connor Hughes.

Connor, 23, of Kelso, suffered a spinal cord injury whilst playing a pre-season friendly for his uni team four years ago. He dislocated two vertebrae in his neck and was left paralysed from the shoulders down.

Since then, Connor has visited Project Walk in the US in 2014 and Thailand in 2015 to be fitted with electronic implants along his spine, which have helped in his journey towards recovery.

And in a bid to support Connor’s Journey and raise awareness of spinal core injuries in sport, Jamie and Russell will be attempting to climb Ben Nevis, near Fort William; Scafell Pike in the Lake District; and Snowdon in Gwynedd within 24 hours.

The pair will be joined by pals Jamie Laughlin, 25, of Belfast; Tom Ritchie, 26, of Glasgow and Tom Ross, 27, of Stirling, for the challenge this Saturday.

To donate, visit their Just Giving page here: ‘SURFC Old Boys Connors Journey’.

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.connorsjourney.com

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Borders-based boxer John McCallum is on the bill for one of the sport’s biggest events of the year.

The light heavyweight will feature in the Ultimate Boxxer show at London’s 02 Arena in front of 20,000 spectators on November 2.

McCallum explained it was three fights in one night and will go out live on Channel 5 with a host of celebrities and actors taking part with Radio One’s Charlie Sloth as guest DJ.

On the undercard is a feature bout with Idris Virgo, McCallum’s fellow contestant from TV’s Love Island.

However, despite the heavy showbiz element, the fighters are the eight best light-heavyweights in Britain and they are scrapping for £50,000 - described by John as “life-changing money”.

“The boxing side of it is very serious,” he said, “it’s at a very high level.

“They’re the best in the country, so whoever wins that can be considered the best light-heavyweight in Britain. Some people may even get a European or a world title shot on the back of something like that.”

John was in London recently to film some promotional shots and adverts for the bout and said it was very different, rubbing shoulders with celebrities when he would normally be boxing in front of a few thousand people and doing the odd press conference.

He says he wants to take this opportunity to impress: “It’s my golden ticket to the big stage,” he said.

Last season, the protagonists fought out a narrow Kelso win at Poynder followed by a 22-all draw at Stoneyhill.

There was no reason not to expect a free flowing game, as conditions were excellent. Quite the converse was the outcome.

The game was riddled with errors with both sides guilty of poor handling and uncertainty in their set piece play. Kelso, also, conceded an enormously disproportionate number of penalties.

Danny Owenson opened the scoring for the visitors when Kelso were caught offside at an early ruck.

Musselburgh dominated the next 10 minutes of play and it was only after a steal in their own half when Murray Hastie kicked well into the opposition 22 and an offside gave Craig Dods the chance to tie the game with a well struck penalty.

The kick off was poorly dealt with by the hosts and, following a break by Stuart Thomson for Muss, another penalty chance fell to Owenson to take the lead again.

A deliberate knock on by the Musselburgh scrum half allowed Kelso’s Dods the opportunity to level the game with a 48 metre penalty.

After 26 minutes we had the only try of the game when a high tackle by Kelso allowed Muss to put the ball into the corner and a driven line out took flanker, Jonathan Crain, over. The conversion was missed.

Penalties by Dods in the 10 minutes before half time took Kelso into a somewhat undeserved 12-11 lead at the break.

Musselburgh regained the lead after a Kelso scrum was disrupted and Owenson slotted the kick, before increasing the lead with a penalty after 70 minutes.

Kelso finished the game by exerting pressure on their visitors but, fell short by 17-12.

Police Scotland are seeking to have Borders prostitute Sarah McGill registered as a sex offender here too following her convistion in the US for having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

McGill, 28, originally from Selkirk but now living in Church Square in Galashiels, was kicked out of the US last week after being found guilty of lewd or lascivious battery, known as statutory rape in the UK.

Police Scotland will now apply to a court here to have McGill included on the sex offenders’ register.

Though the force say they can’t comment on individual cases, they added that they always apply for a notification order if someone has committed sexual offences abroad.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Paterson, of the force’s national offender management unit, said: “Where persons have been convicted of sexual offences outside the UK which would have made them subject to the notification requirements of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act had they been convicted within the UK, police can apply to the UK courts to seek to have a notification order granted.

“If granted, this notification order makes the person subject to the notification requirements of the 2003 act for such a period as section 82 of the act dictates.

“On receipt of information regarding a person who has been convicted of a sexual offence outside the UK coming to reside in Scotland or residing in Scotland, Police Scotland will always apply for a notification order where the act allows.”

An amateur rugby player who failed a drugs test after taking ecstasy has been banned from all sport for two years, the UK Anti-Doping agency (UKAD) confirmed.

Tyrell Wilson, who at the time played for Newton Stewart, tested positive for the prohibited substance methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) after a match against Haddington on January 13 this year.

Wilson was charged with committing an anti-doping violation rule (ADRV) in February and a suspension has been in place since then.

The case between UK Anti-Doping and Wilson (SRU) was brought before the National Anti-Doping tribunal and the verdict was published on Tuesday.

In the independent tribunal’s findings it said that Wilson, a full-back, admitted taking the drug twice already in the week before the match in question.

Wilson had also stated it was for recreational purposes only, that he was having problems at home and that had drove him to MDMA.

He also said that he was not aware that MDMA was a banned substance. UKAD claimed Wilson should not have been able to argue that the substance was taken out-of-competition even though he does not get paid to play.

He should therefore have been given a four-year ban subject to any reduction applied by the panel because the anti-doping rule violation was “intentional”.

However, the tribunal wasn’t “comfortably satisfied” by UKAD’s argument that Wilson used the drug to cheat believing it to be more likely for recreational purposes.

They therefore gave him a two-year ban to run from the date the sample was taken.

Wilson will be able to play rugby again once the ban finishes on January 12, 2020.

A statement from Newton Stewart, whom he played for at the time, said: “We fully accept and support the decision of UKAD to implement a two year ban.

“We operate a zero tolerance policy to drug taking at Newton Stewart RFC, whether performance enhancing or recreational.

“Following these developments earlier this year the club has begun putting steps in place to improve player education on the dangers of drug use, both to their health and their sporting careers. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, family-friendly club and as such it is our aim to increase awareness of this issue at all levels of our club, from the juniors through to the senior team.”

Back in June, the Schools Gala Day at Borders Book Festival had to be cancelled due to the wrath of Storm Hector, with winds far too strong for the marquees in Harmony Gardens.

But organisers were determined to arrange another event for the region’s schoolkids ... and it takes place next Wednesday, September 12, in Galashiels.

Festival director Alistair Moffat told us: “We were incredibly disappointed that it couldn’t go ahead this June, as it’s one of my favourite events at the festival.

“It’s so wonderful to throw open the gates of Harmony House and watch the hordes of St Trinian’s swarm in. The kids really love it, and it’s great to see.”

Not taking any chances with the vagaries of the Scottish weather, the event moves to Galashiels’ Volunteer Hall, as well as the MacArts building in Bridge Street, from 10am-2.30pm.

Alistair added: “What is even better is that all the children’s authors and performers booked for June are coming along.

“We’re expecting almost 800 kids to attend, which is perhaps not every child who was disappointed in June, but certainly most of them.”

Event sponsor, social landlord Scottish Borders Housing Association, is also still on board.

Five teenagers have been charged in connection with a shocking assault at Kelso Rugby Club after a video of the assault was posted on social media.

The incident took place at Kelso Rugby Club at around 8.15pm on Saturday, August 25, as reported in last week’s Southern Reporter.

A 47-year-old man was taken to Borders General Hospital as a result and four males, aged 14 to 17, have now been charged for the assault.

A 14-year-old female has been charged with a communications offence after the incident was filmed and posted online, causing alarm to the community.

Reports have been submitted to the Children’s Reporter.

Inspector Tony Hodges said: “Such violence is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community. Be assured that, when an incident like this occurs, we are committed to investigating it fully and pursuing charges.

“Like many people we were disappointed that, instead of a phone being used to call the emergency services for help, it was instead used to film as a person was being attacked.

“If footage has been captured of a crime, this should be passed to police to assist with the investigation and not posted to social media without the victim’s consent for potentially thousands of people to see.”

The near-700 servicemen from Hawick killed in the First World War are to be remembered at a poignant centenary service in the town later this month.

This autumn will see a range of special services to mark 100 years since the Allies and Germans’ guns finally went silent at the end of the 1914-to-1918 conflict.

In total 690,235 Scots served in the Great War, and more than 100,000 lost their lives.

In Hawick alone, 693 men died, and the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland plans to remember them all with a drumhead service at the Common Haugh on Sunday, September 16, from 2pm.

The service will replicate those held on the front line during the First World War, when, in long-held military tradition, piles of drums with draped colours were used in place of altars.

The salute at the subsequent march past will be taken by legion president Alistair Irwin, and the service will be conducted by the Reverend Michael Scouler, previously an Army chaplain and now chaplain at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

The Hawick Saxhorn Band will lead the parade, and a massed band made up of various Borders pipe bands will also perform.

Although the service will reflect on all those who lost their lives in the war, those from the Borders will be at the forefront of the thoughts of those present.

The memorial event will also feature the first public performance of the song Always a Borderer by Hawick musician Alan Brydon in memory of members of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers killed during the Great War.

Former legion chairman John Aitken added: “Sunday, September 16, will be a memorable occasion for Hawick and the Scottish Borders as people of all ages reflect on the end of the First World War, a war that was meant to to end all wars and resulted in the deaths of so many.

“The event will give a sense of what a drumhead service would have meant to the troops who served in the First World War and allows us, 100 years later, to remember and give thanks for their courage.”

Young and old are welcome to attend the event, including veterans from all services.

It is the only drumhead service planned in the Borders this year and the first to be held in Hawick for over 20 years.

The last to be staged in the town was in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

A man has admitted assaulting his partner by throwing a hot drink over her and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in Hawick’s Gladstone Street on March 28.

Paul Richardson, 44, of Hamilton Road, Hawick, also pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to driving a car away without the consent of its owner, having no insurance and failing to telling police the identity of the driver of a car.

He denied a charge of drink-driving by having a breath-alcohol count of 34 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22, however.

Sentence was deferred until the outcome of a trial on the drink-driving count due to take place on Tuesday, October 2.

Three days have been set aside for the trial of two Borders huntsmen accused of breaching fox-hunting legislation.

Buccleuch Hunt members Timothy Allen, 40, and Shaun Anderson, 28, are charged with deliberately hunting a fox with a pack of dogs.

That offence is alleged to have been committed on land surrounding Whitton Farm, near Morebattle, on December 20.

The pair, both of Eildon, near Melrose, pleaded not guilty at an intermediate trial diet held at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Their trial is due to get under way next month, starting on Monday, October 8.

It is understood that film evidence submitted by investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports will be shown at the trial.

The case is the latest challenge to the 2002 Protection of Wild Mammals Act recently subject to a review by Lord Bonomy.

Father and son John Clive Richardson, 67, and Johnny Riley, 24, became, in June last year, the first members of a mounted hunt to be successfully prosecuted since the act was introduced north of the Border.

The Jed Forest Hunt members were filmed by investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports, and following eight days of evidence, sheriff Peter Paterson ruled that in two incidents Richardson and Riley were in breach of the act and found them guilty of deliberately hunting a fox with dogs.

Riley was fined £400 at Selkirk Sheriff Court and Richardson, described as having a lesser role, was fined £250.

A motorist was found to be three times the legal alcohol limit for driving when breathalysed six hours after being involved in an accident, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Craig Robertson, 27, of Provost Melrose Place, Peebles, was banned from driving for 19 months and fined £300 after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence.

He admitted driving in Currie Road and Glenfield Road East in Galashiels with a breath-alcohol count of 66 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22, on January 14.

The court was told he had been at a social gathering and had driven to a supermarket but his vehicle left the road and ended up in a garden.

Robertson was also fined £200 for failing to report an accident to the police within 24 hours.

On top of that, he was fined £150 for assaulting his partner at a house in Forest View, Peebles, on June 12.

Assaulting his partner resulted in a £250 fine for a 53-year-old man at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Trevor Bellingham struck her several times to the face after an argument broke out between the pair over him losing his job.

That offence was committed at their home in Galabank Street, Galashiels, on January 28, the court heard.