£ 0.70 The Upper Tweed Community News Issue 76 What is new or changing in Broughton? March 2017 An opportunities to serve A Community Woodland? our community Everyone is invited to an open afternoon at ‘Tom Shearer’s Wood,’ just outside Broughton on the Edinburgh road from 2.00 pm on Saturday 18th March. This clear-felled site is proposed as a new community woodland. Drop in and explore the site for yourself, chat to people about the beginnings of plans for the woodland and its signifcant archaeology. Share your thoughts and ideas for the future. Families are most welcome with free nature activities for the children. Refreshements will be availalble. Thereafter, at about 4.00 pm for those interested in getting involved there will be a A Community First Responder team is meeting in the Village Hall. being established in the Upper Tweed Together we can create a great place for nature and recreation.. area. What is a First Responder? He Further details from Ingrid Campbell [email protected] and or she is a member of the public who Colin Shearer [email protected] 01753 861506 volunteers to help their community by responding to medical emergencies while the ambulance is on its way. If you would like to become a Community First Responder you would be trained in a wide range of emergency skills, and use specialised equipment such as automatic external defbrillators and oxygen therapy. You would then be able to provide an early intervention in situations - Postal Service A new mobile Post Offce is serving Broughton at the Primary School every Friday, such as a heart or asthma attack before from 1.45 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. It is operated by the Postmaster from Denholm the professional ambulance crew arrives. Post Offce, Hawick, who already provides similar facilities to a number of other This improves patient survival and communities. recovery. Communities with equipment A wide range of services are available. Customers can collect benefts in cash, and basic life saving skills can help save using Post Offce everyday banking services or a Post Offce card account. There lives. is a step into the mobile vehicle but an electronic tailgate is available to facilitate The Community First Response team easy access for wheelchair users and those with disabilities. Parking is available is being established in Upper Tweed, nearby (in Hawdene if all the places outside the school are taken). supported by the expertise of the Scottish The Post Offce would like to hear what you think of the new service and have Ambulance Service. A constitution started a consultation process which runs to 24th March. and an organising committee are being Options for the consultation: (1) post your comments in an envelope marked established, funding for equipment, FREEPOST (no further address details required). Latest date for posting is 22nd training and on-going expenses sought. March. (2) email to [email protected]. For (1) & (2) please mark The Scottish Ambulance Service your comments ‘Broughton, .’ (3) make your comments via a recognises the benefts in helping questionnaire on the web-site: postoffceviews.co.uk communities to develop their own entering the following code: Broughton 133824. resilience. This community resilience If we wish to keep this service, it is important that we use it. can beneft communities, patients, the NHS, and other community service C ontents providers with better emergency Quercus Garden Plants p2 outcomes and experience, less avoidable WW1 In Memorium p3 hospital admissions, better information Mary Reid Remembered p 4 and access to services, safer healthier The Killing Time inTweedsmuir p5 communities due to preventive actions, Talk p6 self-development opportunities through Favotite walk: Drumlzier -Logan Head p7 volunteering, education and involvement. Broughton Primsary School & Chairmaking in Broughton p8 Geordie Howitt Remembered p9 If you wish to fnd more, please contact Noticeboard p10 Ian Revell [email protected] or Bananas News p11 Laura Deans [email protected] Bananas Playgroup Report p11

This issue is sponsored by Quercus Garden Plants (p2) Upper Tweed Community News 1 ! it’s hard work creating a new sand pit!

Upper Tweed Community News 2 WW 1: In MeMorIaM ALASTAIR BUCHAN In June 2014, the Upper Tweed Community News started to list some of the men from COMMEMORATION our communities who died in the disastrous, tragic World War. On 9th April 2017, the centenary of the death of Alastair Buchan at Arras will be nd 2 Lieutenant Robin Ross Private Robert Hamilton marked in Kirkyard, where the Royal Scots Fusiliers Scottish Rifes family grave is. A short Service of Commemoration and Dedication will take place at 2pm conducted by the Very Rev. Dr Ian Bradley, who is now a Chaplain to the British Legion in . The replica wooden cross which Mrs Buchan commissioned in 1919 and which was placed on the family grave succumbed to the rigours of the weather some years ago and has been away for repair. It will be reinstated and blessed on Robin Ross went to Talla Resevoir when Robert Hamilton was the son of J Hamilton that occasion. Afterwards there will be tea he was just one year old and remained who was a shepherd at Standalane near and shortbread in the Museum. there for eight years. His father was a missionary at Talla during the construction Peebles and he became the shepherd at Everyone is welcome but it would be of the dam. Corstane in Broughton. helpful to have an idea of numbers. The He joined the forces on 3rd April 1917 Museum will be open on Sunday 9th April. He later went to Kinlochleven and then at Glencorse and was attached to the For further details, or to contact to Oban where he was educated at Oban Scottish Rifes and transferred to the the Museum, see http://www. High School. From there he went to Infantry Machine Gun Section. johnbuchanstory.co.uk Glasgow University as an art student. He arrived in France in November 1917 He enrolled in the army under the Lord and took part in the great offensive at HANDYMAN Derby Scheme which was devised in 1915 Cambrai. to see if the army’s recruitment needs He was reported as ‘missing’ on 25th April ENCING could be covered by volunteers and avoid F 1918 and nothing further was heard of conscription. Volunteers who ‘attested’ GARDENING him. under the scheme were required to report His father received the following letter SMALL BUILDING REPAIRS to a recruiting offce within 48 hours. from Captain Vivian Thomas: AND RENOVATIONS Robin Ross was trained at Woolwich and Dear Sir, With reference to your letter then Dover before going to France in the dated 17th June 1918, I am sorry to say Army Ordnance Corps. After ten months that I can give you very little more DOUGLAS A ROPER he was selected for offcer cadet training information than you have already. What THE LOGAN, TWEEDSMUIR and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on actually happened was that your son was 31st October 1917 in the Royal Scots on a hill which I am afraid must remain TEL: 01899 880284 Fusiliers. After a further eight months un-named and which was surrounded by he returned to France but only spent six the enemy. Practically all the offcers weeks at the front line before he was who were on it have been reported as fatally wounded near Armentieres. He prisoners of war in Germany so there is Electrical Contractor died on 29th September 2018. every possibility that he is also a prisoner (Prop: N Curatolo) At that time the British troops had just in which case you will be the frst to hear. th broken the Hindenburg Line on a six On 10 December 1918, Captain Thomas • Domestic, Commercial & Industrial mile front and had taken 22,000 German wrote again to Robert Hamilton’s father Installations saying that he was very sorry but could prisoners. • Security Lighting & Alarms give him no further news about the fate Robin Ross’s name is on the Tweedsmuir of his son. • Electric Showers War Memorial. Robert Hamilton’s name is on the • House Re-wires Broughton War Memorial. • Portable Appliance Testing • SBSA Registered Self-Certifer

Our attention was drawn to an excellent book by Dr Gunn, Book of Remembrance All work guaranteed for Tweeddale Burgh and Parish, published in Peebles in 1925. It provides short Unit 2, Lindsaylands Road, biographies together with photographs of those who died. Biggar ML12 6EQ We have used the photographs and the texts as sources for these articles.Additional Tel 01899 220160 07860 750982 information from families for future articles will be welcome. Fax 01899 220160 E-mail: [email protected] For anyone wishing to do their own research on their families it is available in an http://www.nacelectrics.com/ impressive digitised version from The National Library of Scotland at https://archive.org/stream/bookofremembranc1925gunn#page/n9/mode/2up. Upper Tweed Community News 3 Mary Agnes Reid 1931-2016 Mary Reid died in December 2016 after writing or whatever means suited each a long and amazingly productive life individual best. Mary’s drive, hard work in many different areas. She played an and ability, contributed to the success outstanding role in developing children’s story. Countless people have had a far psychiatric services in London. On richer lives because of Mary and Eva’s retiring to Tweedsmuir, she ran the Crook work. Mary was a great believer in that if Inn successfully with her son, Stuart, a job needed doing and then just do it and and then was active in many community don’t make a fuss. Staff unity was also organisations. one of Mary’s ideals, reinforced by the Mary was born Mary Agnes McCaa in regular Friday afternoon ‘wind downs’ 1931 in Dumfriesshire. Her maiden name over a tipple in the Duchy Arms. was always a source of pride to her. It is Mary was self-effacing. When asked so rare that there are now few with the later about her work in London, she said name in Scotland. Mary was often known “I worked with children”, not expanding to the family as Nessie – from Agnes, and on her leadership role or that she helped she had two younger sisters, Margaret write the defnitive text book of the time and Barbara. Her father, Jimmy, was a or her contributions to papers. farmer and mother, Helene, originally a Mary had a very close and long-time Mary was involved in many community maid. The family moved to a farm near friend, Jane, and as Alex’s health projects and activities. She helped to Hawick where Mary did very well at the declined, they took many enjoyable establish the Tweedsmuir Scots’ Night as High School. holidays together both in Britain and a regular fxture in the Village Hall after it On leaving school she worked as a nanny, abroad, including a notable tour of become too big to be hosted in the Crook then, to make better use of her intellect, the ‘Holy Land’, which left a deep Inn. She was an Elder of Tweedsmuir she trained as a Staff Nurse and worked in impression on Mary. Michael Ramsay, Kirk and was a stalwart, long-serving St Thomas’ Hospital, London. Archbishop of Canterbury in the late 60s, Treasurer of the Guild for many years. She volunteered her time and administrative Around this time, she met Alex who was another friend. She enjoyed many a skills in the John Buchan Centre, and the was the son of a native Gaelic speaker garden party at nearby Lambeth Palace. Biggar museum. When a University of from Ullapool and they were married in After retiring from nursing Mary the Third Age was proposed in Peebles 1958. After Stuart’s birth, she returned undertook a bold, completely new venture Mary became involved from the start. to her chosen profession of nursing and with Stuart. They bought the Crook Inn, Again, her hard work, attention to detail specialised in children’s psychiatric Tweedsmuir in 1988. It was a challenge. and intellect ensured success. She became nursing. Mary was described as ‘the The previous owner had stripped most heavily involved in the Eastgate Theatre: mainstay of the Children’s Day Hospital, of the assets. They proceeded to build her love of theatre, the arts and people London, linked to St. Thomas’ Hospital’, its reputation as an excellent, popular joined together. a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, Inn that provided a vital venue for social occupational therapists, speech therapists and cultural life in the community. It There are many ways to describe Mary and teachers. Also, registrars in child hosted bus tours, car rallies, walking and - hard working, intelligent, dedicated, psychiatry, educational psychologists and shooting parties. They offered Scottish loving wife and mother, devoted sister, social workers with visiting educational food where possible, and curiously, caring, self-effacing, loyal friend. It was social workers passed through on despite a cheeseboard of 10 or 12 an inspiring life. 6-monthly rotations. She became a tutor Scottish cheese, they were downgraded in Social Services, a lecturer in Child by a Scottish Tourist Board inspector DAVID Psychiatry and worked closely with the because they did not have a couple of consultant psychiatrist, Dr Eva Frommer, French cheeses! MUNDELL in innovative, pioneering work, including In 1991 Mary then changed roles again MP for Dum- starting a school for children with autism. while Stuart continued to expand the friesshire Mary chose to expand the range of Crook Inn until 1996. She managed the Clydesdale & experiences of life for the children in her Peebles Tourist offce until the Council Tweeddale care through speech, dance, painting, forced her to retire when she reached the Comstituencies age of 70. Six ways to contact David: • write to David at Monro House,Duncan 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 tHe KILLInG tIMe In tWeeDsMUIr The Killing Time was a period of Tweedsmuir Parish had been formed confict in Scottish History between the in 1644 from what had been part of Presbyterian Covenanter movement, Drumelzier Parish. A new Presbyterian based largely in the south west of the Kirk was built – the only one in the country, and the government forces of Upper Tweed valley.The new parish was King Charles 11 and James V11. The under the jurisdiction of Claverhouse but, monarchs were represented in Scotland reading through the records of the time, it by the Scottish Privy Council. This would appear that he could not have had period roughly from 1680 to 1688, was full control of what was going on there. subsequently called The Killing Time There is only one recorded execution in from the book by Robert Wodrow (1721). the Tweedsmuir area. John Hunter was In the immediate years leading up to this shot by a detachment of Dragoons in time the records of the new Tweedsmuir 1685. The incident took place just over Kirk give an informative feel of the the Parish Boundary on the slopes of atmosphere prevailing then. The the Devil’s Beef Tub and the event is following are a few examples of the many recorded on his headstone in Tweedsmuir Gravestone of John Hunter, ‘Martyr’ in entries. Kirkyard. What the headstone does not Tweedsmuir Kirkyard December 2nd 1677. “No session kept by tell us is that he had a companion, a Welsh reason of all elders being at conventicles”. from Tweedhopefoot, who escaped to his “No public sermon, soldiers being sent aunt’s house at Carterhope. The successful to apprehend the minister, but he was escape highlights the importance of receiving notifcation of their design, family ties, safe houses and associated went away and retired.” hiding places. The Welshes, apart from November 20th 1681. “There was no Tweedhopefoot and Carterhope, were sermon, the ministers not daring to stay also tenant farmers at Earlshaugh and at their charges”. Menzion. Other tenant farmer in the June 1682 “Claverhouse nearly captured Parish were the Hopes of Hawkshaws at the Crook by hillmen returning from and Badlieu, and also Hunters. There their quarterly convention at Talla were several farms tenanted by the Linns”. extended families of the Tweedies. It Not recorded here was the Great would appear that these families, together Conventicle (conventicles were secret or with their shepherds in the hills with their 1st Viscount Dundee illegal meetings) of 8th October 1682 at focks, formed themselves into a coherent or ‘Bonnie Dundee or ‘Bluidy Clavers’ Talla Linns. This conventicle lasted three resistance network to thwart Claverhouse and his dragoons. days and is immortalised by Sir Walter twenty-one names, none of which would Scott in his novel Heart of Midlothian. Tweedsmuir has several entries in the be of any interest to the Privy Council! 1679 had seen an escalation of civil unrest proceedings of the Privy Council in 1684. The Alexander Tweedie, Elder, listed was within Scotland with the assassination of There are entries for individuals, namely probably a close relation of the Laird and the Scottish Primate, Archbishop Sharp of John Tweedie, cottar at Cruik, Black the name was included to hopefully add St Andrews, by the Covenanters, followed Johne Welsh of Over Menzion – the some credence to the minimalistic list. by the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell nickname of Black was presumably as One can only admire the confdence and Brig. In response, the Privy Council he had very black hair and was named to the audacity of Thomas Tweedie, the authorised extrajudicial feld executions distinguish him from another ‘disorderly’ Laird of Oliver, who must have been of those caught in arms or refusing to person named John Welsh. the one behind the preparation of the list swear loyalty to the King and renounce In the proceedings in 1684 is the demanded by the authorities. following attestation “ We underscribers, the National Covenant. All over the The Killing Time was harrowing for the the minister and elders of the new church south west of Scotland there were many peoples of Southern Scotland but, thanks of Tweedsmoor, do testife and declair that executions either by hanging, or shooting. to the Tweedsmuir community, the effect this is the exact list of disorderly persons In one case two young women – The was minimised in the Parish despite large forsaid to our knowledge, as witness our Wigton Martyrs – were tied to stakes in conventicles taking place at Talla Linns. hands att the New Church of Tweedmure the Solway and drowned by the incoming Claverhouse moved on and died an 19th day of October 1684 years” signed tide. John Graham of Claverhouse, Sheriff honourable death on the battlefeld of Francis Scott, Minister; Alexander of Wigton, Kirkcubright, Dumfries and Killiecrankie. He had now earned a new Tweedie, Elder; Walter Somervell, Elder; Annandale was commissioned to carry nickname –‘Bonny Dundee’. However, Pat Langtone, Elder.” out the orders of the Privy Council and to the folks of Tweedsmuir he would he was responsible for various executions There then follows the list that should always be ‘Bluidy Clavers’. which earned him the name of ‘Bluidy have contained about eighty names Clavers’. including many of the name of Welsh, Tony Hope The dark blanket of the Killing Time Tweedie, etc. But, the list only contains hung heavy over Southern Scotland but perhaps less heavily over the Parish of Tweedsmuir. Upper Tweed Community News 5 t W eeD s MUIr t a LK

First Aid training took place on 22nd February. An emergency event training session will be planned to prepare the community to support the emergency services. A steering group has started the process of The Tweedsmuir Community Action Plan and consultations will take place shortly. “Community conversations” have also been gathered and will form part of the application for funding of The Crook Inn Community Hub. Two Scots nights were held in the hall, both following fantastic traditional haggis supper with recitations but in all other aspects totally different. Both evenings catered for different age groups – one with traditional and funny poems, song, singing and loads of trife. The other started off with the traditional piping in and Young Scots’ dinner in Tweedsmuir address to the haggis, children took to the microphone to recite poems, the ladies told of their night out “Tae a Selfe”, the men The community Christmas party was well attended in the retorted by singing national anthems – a sober Phil surprised all beautifully decorated hall with ceiling fairy lights, huge with a solo of the Welsh national anthem and the evening ended Christmas tree and lovely table settings. Thank you Santa for all with dancing. the presents you brought for our very excited children. Tweedsmuir will explore it’s past on 24th March Wool – Hills to The Kirk was full for the Christmas Eve candlelit service with the Mill, a traditional supper with song, poetry and flm. Tickets 11 children squashed into the front pew.Thank you to our readers from £10. Lesley Mason 01899 880200 or Christine Parker Euan, Michael, Faye, Ben, Rionna, Katie, Myles, Lottie, Zara, 01899 880370. Fergus, Freya and Hazel, our organist and soloist Ann and Rev Christine Parker Bob for his last Christmas Eve service in Tweedsmuir. The Bobby Kay memorial platter for the Boxing Day shoot at the Crook was won by Bobby’s nephew Fraser Kay. Due to a variety of reasons the hall committee decided not to hold their fundraising dance on 2nd January. There was a good turnout for the taking down of the decorations. The children brought their Christmas nerf guns and roller skates and after the tree was out had a full-scale battle in the darkened hall.With upturned tables and fast fypasts gathering spent bullets it looked so much fun that Mums and Dads soon braved the wildfre to join in. It didn’t matter how big your gun was – if you didn’t have bullets you were the target! The Community Council still waits for costs from BT while striving for better broadband coverage in the area for all residents. The Resilient Community snow shovels and mini gritters were put to use by local residents during January and the sandbag store has been flled. Children’s games at the Christmas party

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Upper Tweed Community News 6 a FavoUrIte WaLK – LoGan HeaD FroM DrUMeLzIer Many readers will be familiar with the In lambing season it might be better to you scan the the hills bounding the top of delightful walks up Drumelzier Glen, divert round this feld outside the fences. Drumelzier Glen and Manor – Pikestone, but fewer will have made the somewhat Leaving the feld by another gate at the the ever-so-aptly named Grey Weather more strenuous diversion to Logan Head. upper left, continue up the green track Law and the nearby Drumelzier Law, to This is the last hump of the long ridge to for another 200 metres before cutting left fnally arrive at, perhaps, the fnest view the west of the Glen sloping down from across a 100 metres or so of deep heather of all – Up Tweed. If the sun is in the Drumelzier Law to just before the steeper (unless it has been recently burned) southern sky it may shine straight down drop to Drumelzier Place and the Tweed. towards Drumelzier Law to reach an the river converting it into a glowing The half hour or so’s effort in getting obvious double track coming up from the golden pathway showing the way to the there is amply rewarded by one of the Glen, and which will now take you all mighty Tweedsmuir hills; a sight to be fnest views in the Borders. the way up to Logan Head. If the heather treasured for the rest of your life. The Drumelzier estate would like me to is out, your senses will be unforgettably And all for an hour’s hard work! Return remind all walkers thereon to keep dogs overwhelmed, both sight and scent, by the way you came or continue over permanently on the leash. Also, please try this section of the walk. You are now well Drumelzier Law. to avoid critical times such as lambing, above the Glen and enjoying ever more and the bird hatchling period in late May widespread hillside scenery. The track Mike Fleming and early June. Note also that the shooting takes you at a constant gradient apart from season extends from 12th August to the one short steeper section to the top of the end of January. ridge and to join the track coming up from Starting from the parking area by the Drumelzier Place. The cairn marking the SCOTT VEHICLE Grieve’s Cottage at the foot of the Glen top of Logan Head is just ahead. (check that shooting is not in progress if If it is a hot summer day and you have REPAIRS in season) head up the track past the farm brought the essential hillwalking kit of a to the frst gate at the foot of the Glen thermos of ice and a can of gin and tonic, proper. You can also reach this point by fop down by the cairn and enjoy the most SERVICE, REPAIRS crossing the bridge at the cottage and wonderful views in every direction. West, MOT TESTING STATION following the grassy track on the other across the Tweed valley you are looking TYRES, AND EXHAUSTS side of the burn which is recrossed at the up Glenholm, now partially desecrated next bridge reached. In late summer the by wind turbines, to the lovely group of CALOR GAS, COAL & heather in bloom by the foaming burn hills round Coulter Fell then way over CAR WASH can be most rewarding. Where the path the Lowther Hills to the far west. Look comes up from the bridge turn right off north over Broughton, looking its best THE GARAGE the main track and follow a steep grassy nestling under its own group of Heights, ‘trod’ to the left of the small wood. This is to the Pentland hills and up to Edinburgh. BROUGHTON actually the steepest bit of the whole walk To the east you are high enough to see TEL: 01899 830 240 so should be a reasonable indicator to the beyond the beautiful Glen over Stobo to effort to be required. This leads soon to the Meldon and Moorfoot hills. Swinging a gate and sheep pen then diagonally left round south across the ensuing feld to a pleasant grass track beside the feld’s left fenceline. DAVE CAMPBELL Your local handyman Available for most home maintenance and DIY jobs, small construction projects, tiling and hedge trimming 01899 830317/ 07531109530 SWANS [email protected] MINICOACH HIRE

3 Springwell Brae ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX ADVISORS TO THE AGRICULTURAL seCtor Broughton sInCe 1926. 01899 830251 • Self assessment tax returns, tax planning and advice • Audit and accountancy services • Secretarial and book-keeping services including payroll 16-seater mini coaches • General fnancial consultancy services including business plans for hire Please contact resident partner Leslie W Reid, 25 Bloomgate, Lanark, ML11 9ET Telephone: 01555 663251 Fax: 01555 702034 E-mail: [email protected] REGISTERED TO CARRY OUT AUDIT WORK AND REULATED FOR A RANGE OF INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES BY THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF SCOTLAND.

Upper Tweed Community News 7 Broughton Primary School News Chairmaking in Broughton One of the annual highlights is always the Don’t be chary!… If you go down to the shopping event, and once again this event, woods at Broughtonknowe this spring or held by the World of Work Group (formerly summer you may happen upon folk, hard known as the Enterprise Committee) at work in a leafy glade, making chairs. was a great success. Christmas presents I’ll be happy to show you what is going galore were purchased in one afternoon. on - a chairmaking course in progress. The SSPCA also came and discussed the Starting with freshly cut ash logs and important matters surrounding pets at 2016 was an incredible year at Broughton employing traditional techniques, each Christmas time Primary School, with the closing months of us will be making a spindle-back both eventful and hugely enjoyable for The pupil Council held their frst surgery chair in fve days. We cleave the log to all concerned. and allowed everyone the opportunity the right thickness, then shave each piece Book Week Scotland presented the to voice their opinions and concerns. with a drawknife to shape the parts. We children with the opportunity to tell us These will now be forwarded on to the steam-bend the back legs and some of the of their reading experiences in unusual management of Broughton PS and further other components. Then we squeeze the places, and the P4,5 class were also discussed and resolved. mortice and tenon joints together under informed and entertained by a visit from Learning Pits have been appearing around pressure, so that they hold fast without popular local author Anne Mathieson, the school and the P4,5 class hosted an glue, screws or nails. Finally we weave whose Scots prose and poetry enthralled assembly to explain this exciting new the seat with Danish cord. the class. The whole school also went concept to everyone. Mr Murray, our The chair design is based on those of along to Eastgate Theatre, allowing Sports co-ordinator, came and made the Philip Clissett, who was ‘discovered’ pupils to hear more live readings from presentations for the Olympic passports by the Arts and Crafts movement in his authors. and Ian from the Dukes of Uke started Herefordshire workshop in the 1890s. Within the school, a visit from Scottish up the after-school ukulele group again. The secret of the chair’s strength is that Schools Education Research Centre The Art club continues on a Friday after by using a drawknife we can follow the (SSERC) meant another fabulous school thanks to Mrs McGarry Watson, grain of the wood. We are seeking to science day, while the P4,5 and P6,7s and we even managed to ft in a Netball maximise the inherent qualities of the cooked up some great ideas as they Tournament. ash – strength, fexibility and resilience. enjoyed the super You Can Cook session After the festive break, everyone returned If the parts are curvaceous and waney, so in the dining hall. to the school refreshed and raring to go, much the better. The fnished chairs are beautiful, light Thoughts turned to music when the and 2017 promises to be every bit as busy and eventful for the children and adults at and comfortable, with a country-style Youth Musical Initiative(YMI) group Broughton Primary School. Shaker look. helped the P4,5 class perform some Jazz Already we have had our Scots poetry There will be a fve-day course each for the whole school as well as a ukulele month from May to August, and also a performance with the P6,7s. Meanwhile, recitals and our Burns lunch hosted by the P 6,7s and thanks to Rev Milne and Mrs Sunday School for those who cannot the P3,4,5s had a chilly but thoroughly commit to fve consecutive days. There enjoyable visit to Edinburgh Castle. Elder for judging the fnals for us. Thanks, too, to the regular parent volunteers who are only four places on each course so, As the year drew towards a close, the now attend and work with our children. if you are interested in joining a course whole school were treated to a delicious The help is much appreciated and the and making your very own chair, please St Andrews Day lunch prepared by children love having the news faces in book early. Tracey and Carolyne, our excellent their classes. Further details: www.greenashchairs. dinner ladies, and there was a real sense com Peter Young: 07747 698501 of anticipation in the air when the Parent Quotes Council arrived to put up the Christmas “There are only two things a child decorations. will share willingly: communicable That set the scene for a busy and eventful disease and his mother’s age”. December. With Christmas performance Benjamin Spock. rehearsals underway and the Christmas “Chopsticks are one of the reasons Lights being switched on with the help why the Chinese never invented of Ruth Kirby, it was also wonderful to welcome the Broughton Choir, whose custard”. performance delighted the pupils. Spike Milligan Regular visits from Mrs Elder enabled “Runners run because they love the children to practise our Christmas running. Joggers jog because they hymns, the parties went with a bang, love cake”. the visit of Santa captivated the younger Stuart Heritage, in The Guardian classes and the whole school enjoyed a visit to the Panto in Edinburgh. Peter Young and a chair being made The Broughton Primary Parent Council is active in suppoting the school and children. For more information see the website - http://www.broughtonprimaryparentcouncil.co.uk Upper Tweed Community News 8 Geordie Howitt 1922 - 2017 As an apprentice gardener he was told he On retirement he and Margaret became should be on the fower show committee Hall Keepers taking their duties very which he was for very many years and for seriously. They had to give up the Hall a long time was the staging convenor. He when Margaret’s health began to suffer was also much sought after as a judge and and eventually she died in 2007 after 58 there cannot be a Show for miles around years of happy marriage. that has not beneftted from his expert eye Geordie was a man who never saw a need in awarding the prizes. to travel far, there being plenty for him in He joined the carpet bowls club aged 13 Broughton and his love of this area was and eventually received a medal for 70 rewarded when he was invited to light years membership. Geordie was also a the Milleneum Bonfre on Dreva Hill great success on the outdoor green being something of which he was rightly proud. club champion on several occasions and he used his horticultural skills to great Geordie was many things in life. A devoted George or Geordie, as he was always effect as greenkeeper for several years. husband, loving father and grandfather, known, was born at Talla Cottage in In his youth Geordie was a great hard worker, dedicated helper at shows, Tweedsmuir 94 years ago. He moved frequenter of dances, cycling miles on a bowling clubs and dances. A gardener down to Broughton as a young boy and weekend evening to attend them and at of great skill and experience - a one man whilst still at school worked in the village some point during the war he attracted Countryfle. shop, starting a long, hard-working life the attention of his future wife, Margaret This is an abbreviated version of the which lasted until quite recently. Duties who worked at Rachan House when it tribute given by Bob Milne at Geordie’s at the shop including weighing out was a convalesent home for the wounded. funeral. cheese four and butter. Geordie became They were married in Leadhills in 1949 a regular sight in the village wheeling the setting up home at Applegarth where shop barrow up to the station to collect Margaret worked before moving into supplies. BORDERS what was to be their home for the rest of On leaving school Geordie became an their lives in Springwell Brae in 1952. apprentice gardener at Broughton Place CHIROPRACTIC Geordie’s passion was always his plants starting a life long love of gardening. and gardening, not only his own but When war was declared Geordie tried he maintained many others around the OfferingChiropractic to join up but was prevented from doing village. He became very good friends treatment for a variety of so due to ear problems. He worked for with Tom Shearer and when the TV joint, posture and muscle the Ministry of Supplies and among his programme “Beechgrove Garden” problems duties were collecting Prisoners of War featured Tom’s garden, Geordie was also from Thankerton and taking them to work included in the programme but proud as Acupuncture, massage, and in the forestry at Dreva and Altarstone. he was of that, he never watched a video ultrasound also available This started a long career of driving. of the programme. Later he drove the school bus, he drove Geordie for many years ran the Rachan Tel: 01721 720 694 the Threshing Mill all around the Biggar sawmill. It was hard work that he relished borderschiropractic.co.uk area as well as later the Rachan sawmill and his knowledge of trees became ever truck. All this and Geordie never actually greater. There was not one that he could 2 Cherry Court, Cavalry took his driving test. not identify either growing or cut. Park, Peebles, EH45 9BJ Drummond & Murray Ltd the Laurel Bank in Broughton tea room bistro bar Tel 01899 830462 Plumbing & Central Heating engineers Oil - Solid Fuel - Gas Installations & Maintenance Conversions

TEL: 01683 220065

FAX: 01683 221621 36 Well Street, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, DG 10 9DP Upper Tweed Community News 9 n otICeboarD HanDICraFt CLasses For borDers Forest trUst - sprInG tree pLantInG WeeKenD at broUGHton HortICULtUraL taLLa, satUrDay 29tH. anD sUnDay 30tH. aprIL. Volunteers welcome. sHoW on 26tH aUGUst 2017 Planting for all competencies from frst timers to the most experienced, from easy entrIes WeLCoMe For locations beside the track to high hillside niches and everything in between. A soft Toy, Come along for just half a day or longer, just as you like. You can even camp for Embroidered article, the weekend on lovely sites by the Talla Water. Picture using buttons, Bring a pack lunch if you are coming for the day. Although we are sure to get Sewn cushion cover, warm sunny weather bring a waterproof and some warm clothing just in case! We A Mask, will supply all the tools that are necessary. Gift-wrapped tissue box, Gather each morning at 9.00 at the bridge over the Talla Water at the top Article in knitting, of the steepest section of the road above Talla Linnfoot on the road over to Article in cross stitch, Megget but before you reach the Megget Stone at the top of the pass.” Article in patchwork, Article in crochet, Broughton Farmers Card in any craft. Dance Snapshot subjects: Yellow, Patterns, The Dance raised a grand total of Landscape,Bridge, any subject in The Laurel Bank Tea Room B&W. £16,000, to donate to Local Cancer Original painting in any medium, Charities. Another amazing effort by I am pleased to say that Laurel Item made from wood, the farming community. Thanks to the Bank Tea Room, Bistro and Bar in Broughton will be re-opening soon. A Item of any other craft, organising committee and to all those Something New from something Old. local partnership under the leadership that attended and contributed. of Linda Masterton will take on the Newcomers Party premises with the intention of re- opening in mid to late March. This will A welcoming party will be held in the A New Staff Member at include running the bar at weekends. Broughton Village Hall on March 17th. Broughton Village Store As the owner of the business I will Newcomers will have an oportunity to be working closely with Linda meet others and community members and her team to ensure that Laurel active in a variety of activities. Bank provides the much-needed Invitations have been sent but if any refreshment, eating and meeting space newcomer has not received one please that the community deserves. contact Richard Carr at We are in the process of applying [email protected] for planning permission for a phased refurbishment and reorganisation of STUART-MENTETH the entire building, which is likely to OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE happen sometime later in the year. The current plan is to build a new kitchen Amanda Robertson Mrs. Rosalind Stuart-Menteth, D.O. at the rear of the property and move the bar down to the “tea room” end of the Amanda moved to Broughton 15 years Osteopath building, thus providing a larger bar ago. She has two children James, 15, and Beth, 11. and more peaceful dining areas. Gentle osteopathic treatment, More details will be published on the She was born in but moved sometimes with ‘cranial’, is given for website www.laurelbanktearoom. to Eccles when she was 8 and her back ache, muscular aches, co.uk parents still live there. joint stiffness, poor posture etc. She trained as staff nurse at Borders All ages are seen: babies to senior citizens. and on our facebook page accessible via the website. This includes contact General Hospital and worked at Haylodge and the Royal Infrmary, details if you want to get in touch. paediatrics. She was a ward sister at the 31 Elcho Street, Astley Ainslie Hospital before retiring Peebles from nursing to have her children. EH45 8LQ Chrsitopher Lambton 01721 722301 For the last 4 years she worked at the primary school in the After School UPPER TWEED COMMUNITY NEWS Club and helped out at Bananas when welcomes articles and notices of interest to people in Upper Tweed. they needed her. Editor: Duncan Davidson. Assistant Editors: Richard Carr, Denise Lintott, Murdo In November she joined May, Mhairi, Elder, Lesley Mason. Louise, Katie and Vicky at Broughton Village Store. She says that she could Advertising & Sponsorshp - Murdo Elder; Treasurer - Brian Bushell. not have wished for a better team to The next issue will be published on 1st June 2017. work with - they are a fantastic bunch Articles and notices should be submitted May 15th 2017 to: and she is very lucky to be part of the Duncan Davidson, Oliver, Tweedsmuir, by Biggar, M12 6QN. Tel 0189 880278 team. or [email protected] Upper Tweed Community News 10 b ananas n e W s

Eating together at Bananas Environ-IT Ltd Software development service Website development Content management systems On-line database and tools Glitter season over and after the joy of We have been outside playing in all working with children at Christmas, weathers – apart from one stormy day Web GIS and mapping Bananas are looking at ways of recreating when we sent Coriena and Lesley out to Multiple device websites our indoor play area, introducing see just how windy it really was and had natural materials into everyday play and fun watching them through the window tel: AndrewMason encouraging more curiosity. If you have fghting the wind. any wooden bowls, baskets or natural Bananas still have space for children 01899 880200 materials – we would be very grateful. over 3. We open 8.35 am to 12.45pm [email protected] Bananas children have been busy learning Mondays to Thursdays during the school about the Arctic and polar bears, listening term until the end of June – contact us to stories, looking at reference books, the for more information on 01899830589 internet, crafting, creating displays and [email protected] , using a real ice sheet, to recreate what lives on top of ice and what lives under Christine Parker, Coriena Douglas ice. We celebrated Scotland’s most famous poet with a traditional Burns snack – one child refused to try turnip and some Barc coach hire going places didn’t like mash or haggis – but everyone had seconds! At Bananas we enjoy Barc coach hire have a variety of coaches operating throughout the Scottish sitting down together for snack - a real Borders. social occasion which also encourages We are focussed on great customer service at competitive prices and will pull out children to try new foods. Chinese New the stops to give you the best experience in coach travel. Year was also celebrated with a themed We cover all kinds of contract work & private hire – and are certain we snack of noodles and a chance to further can meet your needs. our chopstick skills away from table with We are going places and so can you. pompoms. 01721 722222 [email protected]

broUGHton vILLaGe store n e W saG ent, LICenseD www.treesurv.co.uk

G roC er anD M ore 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

OPEN 7 DAYS ALL YEAR 01899 830462 Upper Tweed Community News 11 Sheep Farming in Upper Tweeddale This article aims to give you a wee bit of background to the main farming enterprise in our local area. Sheep farming has been the main type of farming in our area for several hundred years. The traditional sheep farmed in the area would have been the Scottish Blackface or Cheviots. The Scottish Blackface is known for being very hardy, and can survive on our hillsides throughout the whole year, coping with extremes of weather, and a poor quality natural diet. Blackface ewes have a very strong mothering instinct, and will happily rear a lamb in the hill with very little intervention from the shepherd. The lambs tend to be smaller and slower growing than some of the modern commercial breeds. Many farms still favour the Scottish Blackface, including Blackface Ewes on the hills Cloverhill, Stanhope, Hearthstanes, and Kingledores. What is happening in Spring in Upper Tweeddale? You may, however, have noticed that there are quite a LAMBING – is on the mind of all farmers. The Beltex will start number of different looking sheep in our area. I will lambing in January, and then the different breeds in turn until the mention some of the more common or striking breeds. Easy Cares, Blackfaces and Cheviots in April to May. Obviously in the earlier months the lambs will be born inside, and stay inside until Cheviot hills in the Borders. A very hardy sheep, all white they are strong enough to survive outside and the grass starts growing with no horns. again). Soil temperature needs to be above 5C for grass to grow. By Beltex: You will see these at Kingledores in Tweedsmuir late spring the lambs will be born outside, and only come into the and Corstane in Broughton. These are a meat breed, and sheds if there is a problem. produce a lot of meat very quickly. They are, however, This is a very busy time for farmers. They have to do a signifcant not so hardy and need to be kept inside for the worst of amount of work preparing, feeding, vaccinating their focks in the winter, and are lambed indoors. They require better preparation for lambing, then it’s all hands on board during the busy quality grass, and would not survive on our hillsides weeks of lambing, with many farmers employing a round the clock where the Blackface thrive. patrol to ensure the sheep can lamb safely through the night. In the Texels: Again these are found in Kingledores and Corstane weeks immediately after lambing, there is a lot of work to do looking – similar to the Beltex, but perhaps not quite so ugly after the young lambs, ensuring their mothers have enough milk and (sorry Mary and Richard), and again go on to produce fast checking the fock regularly. growing lambs for the butcher. Blue Faced Leicesters: A taller breed of sheep, found What can you do……. Please access the countryside responsibly. at the Dreva and Parkgatestane. Not a very hardy breed, Keep your dog on the lead, even if it does not chase sheep, it will but can be crossed with other breeds to sire a daughter disrupt the fock, and if a young lamb gets separated from its mother who will produce strong lambs, lots of milk to feed them, for a few hours e.g over night, it is unlikely to survive. If ewes are resulting in fast growing lambs, with good meat – ‘the chased or disturbed in the weeks prior to lambing, it is common Mule’ for them to abort their lambs due to stress. Ideally if you can avoid walking in felds with ewes and young lambs for few weeks around Mules: Mules can be seen at Dawyk, Heavyside, and lambing time, it will make the farmers life much easier. Dreva. They are a cross breed between a blackface and However if you do see lambs on the road, that have escaped from a blue faced Leicester. They are very good mothers, and their feld – please tell the farmer. If you chase them into the wrong are prolifc, so a popular choice for farms on the lower feld, they will not get back to their mother and her milk bar. hillsides in Tweeddale Ground nesting birds are also laying eggs at this time – and dogs can Easy Care: At Mossfennan, a composite based on the old easily disturb birds on the nest, or break eggs, or kill young chicks. breed the Wiltshire Horn which sheds its own feece, (i.e moults like a dog or a cat or a horse) removing the need Ann Walsh, Lesley Mason. Photos - Sandy Walsh for these sheep to be shorn in the summer. They have been bred to require little intervention at lambing time.and Hobby Sheep – THE PRETTY ONES – you will have seen the Coloured Ryelands on the way out of Broughton. These are not very hardy, and will need a lot of help to survive in the cold and wet of Peeblesshire. Hebrideans: An all-black, are a traditional breed, very hardy and easy to look after – but you need about 6 chops for a meal. South Country Cheviots: at Stirkfeld , another traditional Scottish Hill sheep originating from the Cheviot hills in the Borders. A very hardy sheep, all white with no horns. Beltex ewes with lambs at Corstane Printed by Lanark Print Company, 116-119 North Vennel, Lanark, ML117PT Upper Tweed Community News 12