£ 0.70 The Upper Tweed Community News Issue 77 June 2017 Tractor Tours to Primary Schools of the Borders

The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) arranged for a tractor to visit every primary school in the on the 9th of March. The tour was organised by RHET’s Scottish Borders Countryside Initiative (SBCI). RHET SBCI had the use of 10 tractors kindly donated by tractor dealerships in the Borders. These tractors visited each primary school on the day, and were seen by over 4000 children. Rose of Lamancha provided a Case tractor for all the pupils in to see, kindly driven by RHET volunteer Kate Rowell from Hundleshope Farm. The morning started at West Linton school, with the P1, 2 and 3 pupils joined by the nursery children, to send the tractor on its way. It then headed to Newlands and Broughton, where the children and teachers had dressed up as farmers and animals to welcome the tractor. Both schools also made generous donations to RHET SBCI. The tractor then went on to 6 further primary schools in Peeblesshire before all 10 touring tractors gathered in Newtown ’ auction mart. Pupils asked some great questions throughout the day, including “How tall is the tractor?”, “How big is the engine?” and “How fast does it go?” There were also some very challenging questions from a few of the children from farming backgrounds. Following on from the tractor tour, RHET SBCI are producing a fundraising recipe book showcasing the great food produced in the Borders. Many schools have provided RHET SBCI with fantastic recipes, and Ally McGrath from Osso Restaurant in has kindly supplied some of his tasty recipes too. The recipe book will be published in the near future. If you would like to see some of the other work RHET does see www.rhet.org.uk Lesley Mason, RHET Borders Project Coordinator

C ontents

Peebles Show p2 WWI: In Memoriam p3 Denis Read Remembered p4 Wool you believe it? p5 Broughton Heights Hill Race p5 Talk p6 Favourite walk: Gameshope Burn p7 Broughton Primary School News p8 David Reed Remembered p9 Upper Tweed Arts for All p9 Noticeboard p10 Bananas News p11 Sheep Farming in Upper : Summer: p12 The Rev. Bob and Sheila Milne at the joint service in Broughton Kirk on March 26th. People from all four Upper Tweeddale parishes gathered to mark their appreciation of his 8 years service in Upper Tweed.

This Issue is sponsored byPeebles Agricultural Society (p2) Upper Tweed Community News 1

Lance Corporal James Graham Kings Own Scottish Borderers James Graham was a ploughman at Coomlees when he joined up in June 1915 aged just sixteen. After training in , he was sent to the Dardanelles in September 1916 on his seventeenth birthday. He had a severe attack of dysentery and was taken to Cairo for treatment thereby missing the Gallipolli campaign where so many thousands were killed. After recovering, he was sent to the Western Front in France. He was shot in the hand while charging enemy trenches and took refuge in a shell hole in No Mans Land before waiting for dark and making his way back to the British lines. He went back to hospital in the South of England and then rejoined his regiment at the end of the year. He was then transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders and for a time was on guard duty at Sandringham. He left home for the last time on 2nd January 1918 bound once more for the Western Front. Life was quiet until early March when there was a major battle which he survived without injury but later he confronted the Germans when they made a mass frontal assault on the British lines. He was reported missing but after several weeks he wrote home to say that he had been taken prisoner and was in a German Field Hospital. He died of his wounds on 22 September 1918 aged just twenty. Photo opposite page 164

Photo opposite page 145 PEEBLES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY GRAND OPEN SHOW Nether Horsburgh, by Cardrona Saturday 12th August 2017

CLAN Mountain bike display Birds of prey

Dog show Craft tent Food hall

Equestrian events Licensed bars Carriage driving Grand parade Vintage tractors and much more!

Rabbit tent Peeblesshire bee keepers ! it’s hard work creating a new sand pit!

Sheep Cattle Poultry

www.peebles-show.co.uk Upper Tweed Community News 2 WWi: in memoriam In June 2014, the Upper Tweed Community News started to list some of the men from our communities who died in the disastrous, tragic World War. Private Archibald Douglas Scott MM Lance Corporal James Graham Scottish Rifes Kings Own Scottish Borderers SwanS MiniCoaCh hire

3 Springwell Brae Broughton 01899 830251

16-seater mini coaches for hire

Archibald Douglas Scott was the son of James Graham was a ploughman at William and Agnes Scott of Kirkgate and Coomlees when he joined up in June was working as a shepherd at Menzion 1915 aged just sixteen. After training in with his grandfather Archibald Douglas. Edinburgh, he was sent to the Dardanelles in September 1916 on his seventeenth He joined the army in 1915 and did HANDYMAN birthday. excellent service in France winning the Military Medal (MM) and receiving high He had a severe attack of dysentery and FenCing was taken to Cairo for treatment thereby praise from his commanding offcer for gardening his conspicuous gallantry as a despatch missing the Gallipoli campaign where rider. so many thousands were killed. After small building repairs recovering, he was sent to the Western and renovations He was taken prisoner during a battle in Front in France. He was shot in the hand March 1918. He did manage to get news of while charging enemy trenches and took his situation to his family but he later died refuge in a shell hole in No Mans’ Land DOUGLAS A ROPER at Stendal in Germany from pneumonia before waiting for dark and making his th THE LOGAN, TWEEDSMUIR on 20 June 1918. It appears that from way back to the British lines. evidence given by a fellow prisoner, who TEL: 01899 880284 was repatriated, that Archibald had been He went back to hospital in the South of made to work by the Germans. He was England and then rejoined his regiment seen to be in a very poor condition only a at the end of the year. He was then week before he died. transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders and for a time was on guard duty at Archibald had been a member of the Sandringham. Local Volunteer Company before he He left home for the last time on 2nd joined up and, after his death, the January 1918 bound once more for the Volunteers paraded at a memorial service Western Front. Electrical Contractor in Tweedsmuir conducted by the Rev W (Prop: N Curatolo) S Crockett, where mention was made of Life was quiet until early March when Private Scott’s many admirable qualities, there was a major battle which he • Domestic, Commercial & Industrial his devotion as a shepherd and his courage survived without injury but later he Installations confronted the Germans when they made as a soldier. • Security Lighting & Alarms a mass frontal assault on the British lines. Archibald’s name is on the Tweedsmuir • Electric Showers He was reported missing but after several War Memorial. • House Re-wires weeks he wrote home to say that he had been taken prisoner and was in a German • Portable Appliance Testing Field Hospital. He died of his wounds • SBSA Registered Self-Certifer on 22 September 1918 aged just twenty. All work guaranteed Our attention was drawn to an excellent book. by Dr Gunn, Book of Remembrance Unit 2, Lindsaylands Road, for Tweeddale Burgh and Parish, published in Peebles in 1925. It provides short Biggar ML12 6EQ biographies together with photographs of those who died. Tel 01899 220160 07860 750982 Fax 01899 220160 For anyone wishing to do their own research on their families it is available in an E-mail: [email protected] impressive digitised version from The National Library of at http://www.nacelectrics.com/ https://archive.org/stream/bookofremembranc1925gunn#page/n9/mode/2up. Upper Tweed Community News 3 Denis Read– A Life 1924-2017 at the time. Hunting for a leading lady In 1993 Denis and Dessie came to see he was put in touch with a WAAF called Fiona in Broughton as she had previously Mickey who was soon to become his worked with Bobbie. He loved the area, wife. The acclaimed show travelled met a lot of people and after visiting around and went to Egypt with the Whitslade 32 times he bought 3 Dreva scenery going by Dakota courtesy of the Road (Reedsholm). He entered into powers that be. village activities, joining the Men’s Luncheon Club, the Guild and collecting Denis and Mickey had their honeymoon the stamps from the Upper Tweed whilst the show was running, living Churches for charity. Most of all he in an Egyptian hotel. Denis also did enjoyed the Buchan Museum, welcoming numerous sketches, a favourite being and taking an interest in the visitors. He ‘Gin Guzzling’ and he also delighted had a lot of interests, being instrumental in in adopting his Lancashire accent and setting up the frst RAF Police Museum. mimicking Al Read and George Formby. He was a leading light in the Provost Denis and Mickey fnally returned to Parade (RAFP Magazine), a life member the UK. Denis worked with the RAF of the American Security Institute and Denis Read was born in Preston in 1924 security team. He also commentated attended meetings there when able. and grew up in the small village of New for the BBC at RAF dog displays, one His latter-day research told him that Langton. He won a scholarship to the time flling in for Richard Dimbleby Mickey had worked at Bletchley Park but Grammar School where he excelled who was late and when he turned up due to the secrecy of that operation she at drama and after a visit to his school he indicated to Denis to carry on as he had never divulged her involvement. from a Drama Academy he had was doing such a good job! He was dreams of a career in acting. His plans unfortunate to sustain a serious fracture Denis was above all a true gentleman, were thwarted when he learned his father whilst undertaking a covert operation with impeccable manners and a dry, had secured him a job in Woolworths testing nuclear security and falling over understated humour. He was a kind and commencing forthwith. an RAF police dog. This fracture along thoughtful loyal friend. His last years with his spinal problems from Rhodesia were spent at Kintyre Cottage surrounded After a period, Denis escaped ‘Woolies’ ended his RAF career. by friends and his last two months at and joined the RAF in 1944. He was sent Craw Wood Care Home. to Canada to train as an air gunner on The RAF Police Association have agreed Lancaster Bombers, the Canadian skies to a ‘paver’ to be dedicated to Denis at being free of enemy aircraft. The war was the RAF Police Memorial in the National ending, Bomber Command scaling down Memorial Museum in Staffordshire on rd, so the crews returned home having seen June 23 2017. no action. Denis joined Securicor and was Denis elected to join the RAF Police responsible for introducing the frst while still conscripted to the RAF. In cash-in-transit van into the UK and was honoured to show the ropes to Prince 1946, he joined the BSAP responsible for DaviD police work in Southern Rhodesia where Philip. Several security jobs followed Denis was sent. After a year or so he fell including Sharrock Alarms, Shell and MunDell fnally his own advisory company. off a boisterous horse, remounted and MP for Dum- was later found unconscious having been Sadly, Mickey died in the late 1970s and friesshire pitched over a fence and into a ditch – this then Shell moved Denis to London. He Clydesdale & resulted in his return to the UK. re-met Bobbie, an old friend of them Tweeddale Denis re-joined the RAF police and was both and subsequently married her. He Comstituencies despatched to the Canal Zone in the was bereaved again when Bobbie died in 1991. Denis, with Bobbies’ dog Dessie, Middle East. He was approached by the Six ways to contact David: theatre group and found himself directing moved back to his roots in Lancashire but couldn’t settle there. • write to David at Monro House,Duncan ‘Worms Eye View’, a big hit in Whitehall Drive, Moffat, DG2, Moffat, DG10 9JW • telephone on 0800 731 9590 (freephone) • visit one of David’s surgeries – see local press for details • E-mail [email protected] • David’s website at www. davidmundell.com • Tweet at @DavidMundellDCT

Upper Tweed Community News 4 Wool you believe it? Ryland Ewe and We started keeping sheep 6 years ago. Lamb What started as 3 sheep to keep on top of the grass has grown into a small fock of around 25 animals. We decided we wanted a rare breed, to help preserve the heritage of the UK sheep breeds and started researching different types, eventually deciding on Coloured Ryelands as they are hardy, easy to keep and a good mixed breed i.e. they have good feece and they are renowned for their meat. Ryelands are thought to have been developed originally community as we have progressed on our spun samples in December and made the from the Spanish Merino breed and sheep keeping journey. We occasionally short list. They request that I send some have been farmed since medieval times, show mainly to support the local events raw fbre for them to test and in January typically, on the Rye felds of the English and give people a chance to see some advised that we were one of two suppliers downs, hence the name. Their wool was different breeds. This has led to one or two being considered. We were successful in popular and there was much trade in it people approaching us to purchase stock, being given the contract and in February from the 14th Century onwards and it’s so don’t be surprised if you come across I received an order for 150kg of raw thought the Lord Chancellor’s seat in them elsewhere locally in the future. feece which I dutifully weighed and the House of Lords, the Wool Sack, was Since we got sheep I have also got into bagged up into wool sacs. This was not originally stuffed with Ryeland wool. The hand spinning and go to the local spinning an easy task when we don’t have large breed declined commercially since the class on a Tuesday in Broughton village scale equipment; I weighed each feece Second World War and by the 1970s there hall. It also led to us exploring different with an Ikea bag and some fshing scales! were fewer than 1000 ewes. They have avenues for making products from them. The fbre will be processed in Yorkshire since become popular with smallholders We have had feeces tanned and turned into and then woven into 360 metres of fabric, and numbers have recovered but are still sheepskin rugs, as well as having a batch of which they have promised me a few on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watch of wool commercially spun into knitting metres to keep for myself list. yarn (if you are interested in buying some We have been slowly trying to create please get in touch). Through Matthew’s If you are interested in coming to the a closed fock for ourselves whilst background we also have contacts who Broughton Spinning Group please come generating some new blood lines for the still work in the textile industry. Earlier along to the village hall on a Tuesday broader fock community. Currently, we this year a friend contacted us to see if we evening at 7pm; you will be made very have fourteen breeding ewes and our would be interested in a weaving project. welcome. own ram plus a number of lambs that we Mitsubishi in Japan wanted to source a Lisa and Matt Davies are keeping for breeding or sale in 2017. naturally brown British wool that they We have been fortunate to have had could weave together with British cotton signifcant support from the local farming to produce cloth. I sent off some hand

BROUGHTON HEIGHTS HILL RACE: 2017 UK INTER-COUNTIES SENIOR FELL/HILL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP On Saturday 13 May, over 150 runners tackled a formidable course prepared by Mark Johnston. They began gently, starting at the Shepherds Cottage going up the John Buchan Way until they broke off up the shoulder for Hammerhead, and turned back along the ridge towards Quarry Park, and down through the two re-enclosed parks and Hollows Burn. Then they climbed straight up the north side, running back along the top to Clover Law and dropping down onto the John Buchan Way to return to the fnish at Shepherds Cottage. The course was 9.6Km with 600m ascent. The fgure of eight route was particularly appreciated by the spectators who had excellent views of the contest between the lead runners, particularly as they ran up the northern slope, and again as they sprinted to the fnish. Andrew Douglas, leader. Photo by David Woodhead The winner was Andrew Douglas (from Scotland East) who completed the course in 40 minutes 24 seconds. The frst lady home was Lizzie Browne of Cumbria in 47 minutes 41 seconds. Teams had travelled from as far away as Kent and Northern Ireland to compete, and the historic rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire was obvious - with Lancashire winning the team event. Full results are available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2EfPi0Un7R2LW1zWFlKQk1sUjA It was clear how much this little corner of Upper Tweeddale was appreciated by all involved. Jemima Elliott Upper Tweed Community News 5 t W eedsmuir t alk No midgies so far! They again responded quickly on 7th commissioned the study by STAR (Small The Fruid road, although in dire need May to a hill fre which luckily was Towns and Rural) Development Group. of a satisfactory surface, has had a few stopped just short of the forestry and A Steering Group was established. potholes repaired. houses near Tweedsmuir junction. Consultations have been undertaken. Sheep have been the topic at many Discussions have focused around the gatherings and meetings. The needs of the community such as transport, Countryside Code is being promoted and broadband, a meeting place for social the nuisance of feral sheep discussed. and cultural life, local services as well Sheep were also the subject of a sermon as needs for employment and support in the Kirk where sheep followed their of local businesses. A vision for future shepherd’s voice . Now 2000 years later developments over the next decade they come running to the sound of a should, hopefully, emerge. quad to get fed. Patchy patching on Fruid road .A community event is planned for 1st Fibre broadband may still be a long way Our Locum minister, The Rev. Tony July in the Tweedsmuir Village Hall. It away but 4G has arrived and residents, Foley had his congregation really will combine fun events for chidren and who have had the worst broadband speeds, worried that he was about to deliver a adults and will include refreshments. It are parking up near our upgraded masts to 2 hour sermon on his frst visit when, will also be an opportiunity to review download large fles and access emails. 40 minutes in, he hadn’t even had the the draft report of the Tweedsmuir Dry weather has made lambing much 3rd hymn. Then he announced he had Community Plan compiled by STAR easier this year for sheep but farmers, like forgotten it and with which hymn did we Development Gtoup... gardeners, were starting to shout for rain want to fnish? Relief all round and time Watch for notices on the details of the and were happy with the rain when it did for a coffee! event.. come! The river beds are dry, Fruid is still Poker boys and loose women negotiated running through to Talla but the level in late night taxi deals and we discovered The Tweedsmuir Community Company the reservoir has dropped well below the that the boys have been trying new is progressing proposals for a phased overfow. tipples such as linoncello while playing – development of the Crook Inn Community The Fire and Rescue service turned out in The girls held their tequila much better! Hub. It is a big, bold, multi-faceted force (seven emergency vehicles!) in early Tweedsmuir is in the midst of a development for Upper Tweed. March to rescue a visiting dog which had Tweedsmuir Community Action Plan, fallen into the spillway at led by the Community Council, who

Talla water level in mid-May

The consultation process: community members thinking through their possible futures in Tweedsmuir Village Hall

P Taylor Painter and Decorator all types of Interior and Exterior Decorating Fully Insured For free quote call Paul Tel: 01899 220489 Mobile: 07709 323125

Upper Tweed Community News 6 a Favourite Walk - gameshope burn

This walk takes you painlessly at an easy gradient up a reasonable track into some of the wildest country of the Borders. It is real covenanting territory involving a deep glen cutting into a rugged upland which seldom drops below 2,000ft on either side of the defle. But the feature that really makes the walk memorable is that it is accompanied throughout its mile and a half length by the fnest mountain burn that I know – foaming cascades, thundering rapids and deep pools. There is simply never a dull moment on this delightful route. Gameshope Valley Photo ©Morag Fleming The track heads on from Talla Linnfoots is a really favourite area of mine to quite where the road has passed Talla and turns and drop straight to the car. literally chill out and simply be glad to be sharp left for . Gameshope burn is Or simply return back the way you came. alive. It is also a good place to contemplate straight ahead through the gate. Parking I can guarantee that your day won’t have the wonderful prospects available to the is possible off the edge of the road, been wasted. dedicated hillwalker should he decide to taking care not to obstruct the narrow Mike Fleming go further. carriageway. The track was, many years Going on up the valley then breaking ago, a surfaced approach to a shepherd’s out rightward will take you on to Hart SCOTT VEHICLE hut which has now been converted into Fell – the big one towards the Devil’s a fne open bothy at the end of the walk. Beeftub. On the other hand, if you break REPAIRS Then the father and mother of all spates up very steeply and immediately left you washed out much of the track and nearly will eventually reach the upland 2,000ft took out the farm at Talla Linnfoots as plateau which can be followed all the Service, repairS well. So now the path is a little rough in way to White Coombe, the other big one MOT TeSTiNG STaTiON places, but perfectly ‘do-able’. The walk above the Grey Mare’s Tail, then circle and return by the same route can be done TyreS, aNd exhauSTS round the head of Loch Skeen (wonderful in about an hour, but you will certainly alOr GaS cOal vistas) before heading back to the Megget c , & wish to take much longer to divert to Stone and down the road to Talla. Back car wa Sh explore the many attractions of the burn at the picnic pool, you can ford the burn and simply admire the fne mountain at the bothy then climb steeply onto the The GaraGe scenery. ridge between Gameshope and Fruid then After the frst stretch past a barn and close follow the ridge to Talla Linnfoots BrOuGhTON by the water where the food damage is Tel: 01899 830 240 most apparent, angle up a little more steeply away from the burn and admire a pleasant evergreen copse across the water and the emerging view of the frst fne DAVE CAMPBELL waterfall and pool. Thereafter the falls Your local handyman and rapids come thick and fast and can Available for most home maintenance and DIY jobs, small construction projects, best be seen by diverting down, with some hedge trimming, servicing of petrol strimmers and lawn mowers and 'hire of a diffculty, towards the burn. The views man with a van' back towards Talla are also fne, but can 01899 830317/ 07531109530 be more easily enjoyed on the way back. [email protected] After some way the track largely levels out and again approaches the stream. Bending left into even more wild upland scenery you will eventually come in sight of the bothy across the water which needs ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX ADVISORS TO THE AGRICULTURAL seCtor to be forded to attain the hut. Otherwise sinCe 1926. keep to your own side and pass a well- • Self assessment tax returns, tax planning and advice maintained barn. The track’s main reason • Audit and accountancy services for existence being over at the passing of • Secretarial and book-keeping services including payroll the bothy, it quickly deteriorates, but it is • General fnancial consultancy services including business plans well worth continuing for a further 200 Please contact resident partner Leslie W Reid, 25 Bloomgate, Lanark, ML11 9ET metres to reach the fnest swimming pool Telephone: 01555 663251 Fax: 01555 702034 E-mail: [email protected] of the trip with a pleasant grassy picnic REGISTERED TO CARRY OUT AUDIT WORK AND REULATED FOR A RANGE OF INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES BY THE area overlooking it. In high summer this INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF SCOTLAND. Upper Tweed Community News 7 Broughton Primary School News

The boys and girls at Broughton Primary art specialist, is coming in to work with BORDERS have enjoyed another active and busy the P1,2 and 6,7 classes on landscapes, spell despite the weather. The P6,7 as all in the style of Joan Eardley. The CHIROPRACTIC children have been learning about the 2nd school will then exhibit their work for the World War and some of them were clearly community. Staff are thrilled that the Hill inspired by the wartime spirit when they House Gallery has been kind enough to OfferingChiropractic chose to come to school on a cold, wet, offer their space for this exhibition. treatment for a variety of wintry Saturday morning to complete their The children of Broughton said a fond joint, posture and muscle air raid shelters, taking their independent farewell to the Rev. Milne at their end problems outdoor learning to a new level. of term service. Rev. Milne has served The P7 children headed off on their the school and community well for Acupuncture, massage, and residential trip this week while the P6 many years and we wish him health and ultrasound also available class are preparing for a visit to The happiness in his retirement. Museum of Flight. The gardening club had their annual Tel: 01721 720 694 Last week the whole school celebrated a garden clean up earlier this year. Only borderschiropractic.co.uk very successful Red Nose Day when, as a few hardy souls braved the miserable well as dressing in red for the occasion, weather to come and help but their 2 Cherry Court, Cavalry the children also took part in the Great contribution made a signifcant difference Park, Peebles, EH45 9BJ Broughton Bake-off and brought an and was greatly appreciated. impressive collection of cupcakes to The Gardening Club would like to extend school decorated in the theme of comic an appeal to anyone who may have some relief. Mrs Elder, Erica Revell and time to spare to share their expertise and Drummond & Carolyne our dinner lady judged the keep our garden ticking over. The children Murray Ltd competition and the worthy winners, thoroughly enjoy getting out and working in the garden. They love planting and Torquil and Ben were delighted with their comic relief day prizes. producing but we really do need people The P4,5 class reached this year’s fnal with the expertise and know-how to help Plumbing & Central of the Royal Highland Educational us make the garden a success. We would Trust (RHET) Farmhouse Breakfast be thrilled to hear from volunteers. Please Heating engineers Competition. Joshua Lintott and Faye get in touch with the school offce if you Oil - Solid Fuel - Gas Hewitson represented their class at the can lend a hand. Installations & Maintenance The school is always delighted to involve Council Offces to receive their certifcate Conversions and a much-appreciated book token for members of the community in our the school. activities and we do so on a regular basis. TEL: 01683 220065 The assistance of volunteers, whether The P4,5s also enjoyed a Farm Visit to working in classrooms, helping out in FAX Corstane Farm where they learned all : 01683 221621 the library or accompanying teachers on about sheep farming. An unexpected 36 Well Street, Moffat, school trips or walks, is always hugely bonus came when they were fortunate Dumfriesshire, DG 10 9DP valued and helps enrich the experience of enough to witness the birth of two new our children. To all of those who give their lambs - an event that will live long in the time to become involved in the life of the memory. Huge thanks are due to Mary school, we extend a heartfelt thanks. Environ-IT Ltd and her son Andrew and, of course, to We are also delighted to report that our Lesley Mason from RHET for organising Software Art Club run by Mrs Adele McGarry such a great visit. Watson has enjoyed another successful development service The class also greatly enjoyed a visit term. So too has the Ukulele Club with the from Ann Welsh of Mossfennan and were assistance of the ever-popular Dukes of Website development treated to a hugely interesting talk on food Uke. The fnal Cook-Off also took place in Content management systems and food production from our local farms. March with the children again savouring On the second last day of term the class the chance to learn from professionals as On-line database and tools will be treated to a Farmhouse Breakfast they served up some fabulous food which Web GIS and mapping cooked and served by RHET and their was sampled on the last night before volunteers in the school dinner hall. What parents and invited guests. Multiple device websites a treat! Our Netball and Basketball Teams The P3,4 and P4,5 classes have been continue to enjoy some success. tel: AndrewMason working recently with local artist Anna The arrival of Spring and (hopefully) 01899 880200 Welch. Anna accompanied the classes sunny weather will enable the children to on a trip to the National Gallery to view be out and about as much possible. We are [email protected] the Joan Eardley exhibition earlier this having a busy, challenging and exciting month. Anna is working on portraiture current term. with these children and Mrs Clifford, our Upper Tweed Community News 8 David will be remembered by many david reed 1969-2017 students for his excellent skills in secure, caring support of his parents, guidance which demands empathy, Chris and Pearl. listening, talking and encouraging. Sport was important: running, David had a great love of the outdoors, swimming, skiing and rugby. When enjoying running and walking in the hills. David was 16 and Jonathan 13 they won He became an experienced hill walker, the Junior Carnethy Hill Race. David spending a few days each year bagging waited for his younger brother to catch Munros when feasible. up so that they could cross the fnishing After David and Fiona married they line together - hence the joint win. That moved to Broughton where they became action refects an attitude of care and founding members of the Broughton thought that continued through his life. Choral Society. Fiona led the choir with David did well at school and ended as great skill, while David sang as a tenor. Head Boy at Penicuik High School. He After twelve years living in Symington enjoyed and excelled at music, playing they were both enthusiastically welcomed instruments and performing in musicals. When a relatively young, active, talented, back to Broughton and to the Choral After leaving school, he went to Napier much-loved and respected person dies Society. Fiona has managed to combine College to study music and it was there suddenly it is a very sad loss and diffcult her busy, responsible job as Head of that he met Fiona. to come to terms with. David leaves an Music at Peebles High School, David inspiring legacy. Then he went on to study at the Royal with his work at Biggar High School, and Scottish Academy of Music and Drama both with their son, Aidan, who recently His family and friends, colleagues and in Glasgow before taking up his frst joined his father in the choir as a tenor. many past and current students at Biggar post in the Music Department at Biggar David’s life was short but he packed High School joined together in Biggar High School. His enjoyment of musicals much in. The impact of his qualities Kirk on May 13th to celebrate his life. continued and he produced a number of enthusiasm, integrity, high personal David was born in Edinburgh and, with of memorable shows. It is an excellent standards, charisma and humour was great his older brother, Kevin, and younger way of developing a variety of skills in and will live on, and be greatly missed by brother, Jonathan, lived a very active, students – and great fun. Fiona, Aidan, the extended family, friends happy childhood in Penicuik with the and by students past and present that were upper tWeed arts For all inspired by him. In the run up to Easter Upper Tweed Arts for All ran a family handblown egg decorating workshop in Broughton Primary School that was partially funded by a microgrant from Infnis. Children and adults alike had a lovely morning decorating eggs with their own designs using watercolour pencils and learning how to thread the eggs to hang up in an Easter tree. We thought that next year we might open this activity up to the wider community, so if you have any other lovely ways of decorating eggs that we could try out let us know. The Friday Afterschool Art Club continues to be a great success with children, being supported to follow their own creativity in many different media. Looking forwards, we have plans for a fundraising concert in the autumn and we are currently working on an Upper Tweed Community Music Egg decorating in ‘Arts for All’ Project. .for 2018, so watch this space.

STUART-MENTETH OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE the Laurel Bank in Broughton tea room bistro bar . Mrs. Rosalind Stuart-Menteth, D.O Tel 01899 830462 Osteopath

Gentle osteopathic treatment, sometimes with ‘cranial’, is given for back ache, muscular aches, joint stiffness, poor posture etc. All ages are seen: babies to senior citizens.

31 Elcho Street, Peebles EH45 8LQ 01721 722301 Upper Tweed Community News 9 n otiC eboard Upper Tweed Community Council Upper Tweed and Bus Trips 2017 Skirling Newcomers’ This year we will organise our bus trips differently. We will use a minibus from Tweed Wheels, which will pick you up from the Broughton Village Store at 10 a.m. Party or from your home between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., whichever you prefer. The frst Newcomers Party since Three trips are planned: October 2015 was held in Broughton Trip 1: Saturday July 8 – North Berwick – a day at the seaside, for boat trips, Village Hall on 17th March. This children’s paddling pool, seabird centre. party is held to welcome new arrivals Trip 2: Monday August 7 – Edinburgh Festival – this is a day when two people into Upper Tweed and Skirling and it can often get tickets to a show for the same price as one person. has been a regular annual event in the Trip 3: Saturday December 9 – Christmas shopping, Edinburgh – experience the community for the past 15 years. It excitement and joy of the festive period in the city. had previously always been held in the On the return journey the bus will leave the destination at 5.30 p.m. autumn but, with the success of this most recent party, it will probably now Tickets will be £5 each, obtainable in advance from the Village Store during the become a regular Spring fxture. The booking periods shown below. You will need to give pick-up and contact details. party was organised by Donald Stewart If you choose to be picked up from home, you will be contacted by phone on the and Richard Carr and sponsored by the morning of travel after 8 a.m., and at the end of the day you can be brought back Upper Tweed Community News, to your home. Everyone is welcome and you can travel more than once if you wish. Children Twenty-fve represntatives of local under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. organisations in Upper Tweed met with Please note: The minibus seats 14 passengers plus the driver. This reduced the same number of guests and were able to introduce many of them to the seating capacity, compared with last year, means that it will be advisable for various clubs and societies in the area. everyone to book up early. Booking will be open during the following periods only: Our guests were from: Trip 1: Monday May 29 – Friday June 30 Broughton, Trip 2: Monday July 3 – Friday July 28 Steve & Gill Mellanby, Margaret Leith Trip 3: Monday Nov 6 – Friday Dec 1 and her daughter, Jim & Kate Jeffery, The minibus can be adapted to carry one passenger with a wheelchair and 11 seated Joe Harper and Laura Deans, Graham passengers. If you are planning to use a wheelchair, you should advise the Village Hughson, Andrew Weston, John Store at the time of booking. The vehicle is ftted with handrails and a ramp. It will Harley. be driven by a volunteer who is approved and registered with Tweed Wheels, and who is fully trained for wheelchair-accessible minibuses. Graham Bonner. Any questions? – phone 01899-830250. Tweedsmuir Jane & Ashley Strickland, Bill & Upper Tweed First Responders Samantha Billingham, John & Victoria The First Responders group has been formally constituted. It has obtained Burnham. funding for equipment from SSE Clyde Borders Community Fund. Two days Stobo of training of volunteer members has been undertaken. Further volunteers Martin Eastwood. for this service are welcomed and training will be provided. For information Skirling contact:[email protected] or phone Ian Revell 07531348436. Tony &Yvonne Foley, Tim Miller & Esther Daborn. UPPER TWEED COMMUNITY Upper Tweed Community Rev. Bob Milne and his wife, Sheila, NEWS is published quarterly. We sup- News website for the local also came as special guests prior to port the Hospital Drivers Scheme and directory, history and heritage and Bob’s retirement after eight years as the Newcomers party. We welcome ar- for archival copies of the Upper our minister of the Parishes of Upper ticles and notices of interest to people Tweed Community News 2014-6 see Tweeddale. in Upper Tweed. uppertweed.org Editor: Duncan Davidson. Assistant Edi- Barc coach hire going places tors: Richard Carr, Denise Lintott, Murdo

Elder, Lesley Mason. Advertising & Sponsorshp - Murdo Elder; Barc coach hire have a variety of coaches operating throughout the Scottish Treasurer - Brian Bushell. Borders. The next issue will be published on 1st Sep- We are focused on great customer service at competitive prices and will pull out tember 2017. Articles and notices should be the stops to give you the best experience in coach travel. submitted by August 15th 2017 to: We cover all kinds of contract work & private hire – and are certain we Duncan Davidson, Oliver, Tweedsmuir, by can meet your needs. Biggar, M12 6QN. Tel 01899 880278 or We are going places and so can you.

[email protected] 01721 722222 [email protected] Upper Tweed Community News 10 b ananas n e W s Sticks and stones, mud and sand - we have introduced Bananas still has space for children over 3 and is open 8.45 am to more natural materials into daily play and the results are 12.45pm from Mondays to Thursdays during the school term until amazing:- the end of June and the next school year starting in August. A Boy Band was formed when Vincent and Angus Contact us for more information on 01899830589 or gathered wider interest playing wooden log drums with [email protected] and visit our web site www. wooden kindling and twigs. After performing their pieces bananasplaygroup.org.uk of music entitled Timber and Iron Man – the Band called ‘Black Sabbath’ soon had everyone involved and played Christine Parker Corienna Douglas again when we invited the parents to stay for Red Nose Day funny face snack and entertainment. We dressed up as farmers – and a zebra for Tractor Day on 9th March when we joined the whole school in raising awareness and fundraising for RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust). An unusually dry spell has meant we haven’t (yet) needed our yellow puddle suits but have been outside each day and even had some picnic snacks. Parents and grandparents struggled to keep up with excited children looking for a sign of the Easter Bunny on the upwards slopes of the Dawyck Gardens on our annual Easter outing. Visitors to the garden may not have seen any rare birds that day, but the egg hunt did not disappoint and everyone had a lovely morning – and the Easter Bunny made lots of friends with her chocolate moustache. We have been watching and learning about birds, making Constructive play at Bananas our own nests and were amazed at the amount of sticks that the school jackdaws stashed inside the rag bin. The bare branch that attacked our hair has now been transformed into a beautiful spring tree with colourful birds. As we discuss lifecycles, we have been making butterfies and talking about symmetry, numbers, colours, shapes and patterns. Just now we are working with the school to ensure a smooth transition for our Big Bananas into Primary 1 with many shared activities and opportunities to play together in what will be their new classroom. Bananas are also about to start a course of music with ‘Jon the guitar man’. This is part of a 2 year Scottish Borders Council funded venture being provided across the region. The tractor visit to Bananas broughton village store n e W sagent, l i C ensed www.treesurv.co.uk

groC er and more establishment, greetings C ards. Fresh bread management and restoration Frozen Fish & Cooked meats oF native Woodlands Fruit & vegetables rboriCultural laundry serviCes a deliveries on request surveys tel 830465 hedge planting & Open daily 7.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. maintenanCe Sundays 7.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Tel: 01899 830 465 tree surgery timber ConstruCtion tel: 01899 830 578 mob: 07903 924 565

home baking ♦ lunches ♦ bistro meals & bar every evening OPEN 7 DAYS ALL YEAR 01899 830462 Upper Tweed Community News 11 s heep Farming in u pper t W eeddale: s ummer s hearing, skills, energy, and e C onomiC s

Cheviot ewe with lambs: a fne feece ©Sandy Welsh Mule ewe with lambs: for shearing soon ©Sandy Welsh Sheep in Upper Tweeddale are usually shorn (clipped) in June Farmers sell their feeces to the British Wool Marketing Board and July to remove their feeces which stops them becoming – the closest depot is in , and from here the wool is overheated in the summer. In very hot weather, (and we might graded, and sold all around the world to the most appropriate get a day or two this year), the sheep can suffer heat stress, so it is market. important that the feece is removed annually. A long, heavy feece Generally, production of wool is not a very proftable enterprise is more likely to become dirty, and soiled with faeces, which will in Tweeddale, with the cost of clipping being near to the value lead to an increased chance of fy strike. of the wool. Some of the local breeds with better quality wool Fly strike is a horrifying condition which occurs when fies lay and heavier feece weights, eg mules and cheviots give a better their eggs in dirty areas of the feece. When the maggots hatch return. However, it is an essential welfare requirement. Some they literally eat the sheep alive, and so it is very important that farmers have chosen to eliminate this overhead by breeding the sheep are “dagged” (any soiled wool around the tail clipped sheep that no longer need shearing. Easy Care sheep, such as off) in advance of the hot weather, and this often has to be done those at Mossfennan, naturally shed their wool, exactly like a before the sheep are ready to be completely clipped. dog moulting so they don’t need to be clipped. When sheep have a thick feece, they often become itchy, and roll Historically, when we all wore woollen clothing, wool was onto their backs to try and scratch. However, big ewes, with heavy worth much more money, and the cheque from the wool clip feeces, often can’t roll back, and become stuck –“couped”. When would cover the cost of the shepherd’s wages for the year. this happens the sheep bloats very quickly, and can die, so if you Nowadays, very few of us wear wool, preferring synthetic ever see a couped ewe, push her back onto her feet, don’t wait for fabrics, so the value of wool has decreased, and is no longer as the shepherd to do his rounds, as this may be too late. highly sought after. The sheep are ready to be clipped when the feece has a ‘rise’. There are records from the 19th century, mentioning gypsies The rise is a natural break in the feece, there is usually no wool camping by the Gala Burn in Tweedsmuir, gathering all the growth in the winter because conditions are harder and the feece tiny fragments of wool from fences and bushes in the area, and begins to grow again when the sheep begins to thrive in the spring washing them clean in the burn – because it was economically and summer. There is a clear band in the feece, and the shearers viable. Imagine if they were passing Mossfennan now – with can use this natural break, so it is much easier to shear the sheep. the bits of wool from entire feeces lying in the felds – they An experienced clipper (shearer) should remove a feece in about would think their fortunes were made. 1.5 minutes, and probably clip about 300 per day. However, an Ann Welsh Lesley Mason inexperienced shearer could take 15 -30 minutes to clip 1 sheep! It is hard work. The record for ewes set last year by Matt Smith in Cornwall was 731 ewes clipped in 9 hours, roughly 45 seconds per ewe. The feeces are then rolled, a skill in itself, as the feece has to be rolled in a certain way, so that it can be graded, and fetch the best value. The sheep shearer could be charging a range of about £1.00 - £1.50 for every ewe clipped. Currently the average price for the wool is £1.06 per kilo. However better quality feeces such as Bluefaced Leicester will get a premium price (£3.57/kilo). A Blackface ewe produces a poor quality feece, that will be used to make carpets or for household insulation, and her feece will Sheep shearing:calculated to be one of the most physically weigh about 1- 2.5 kg and be worth £0.65 per kilo. demanding jobs in the world.. Calorifc demands for shearing 250 sheep over 8 hours has been calculated at 5,000 kilocalories. Another estimate is that it is equivalent to running 2 marathons. Printed by Lanark Print Company, 116-119 North Vennel, Lanark, ML117PT Upper Tweed Community News 12