Hobkirk and Southdean with Ruberslaw ctÜ|á{ axãá The Parish Newsletter of the linked charges of Hobkirk and Southdean with Ruberslaw No: 39 Autumn 2015 Hobkirk & Southdean Parish Church of Scotland: Charity No. SC012830 Ruberslaw Parish Church of Scotland: Charity No. SC034629 Octogenarian Elder! ne of the Borders’ most famous traditional musicians and Elder of Hobkirk and Southdean Church reached the Ofine age of 80 on the 9th August! In view of the popularity of Henry Douglas BEM, Parish News breaks from its normal format and publishes ‘Things you didn’t know about your Elder’ as front page news! Henry Douglas was born on the 9 th August 1935 at bikes to get around, and he Catslackburn, a farm in the Yarrow Valley, the youngest of a recalls that when he started family of three including sister Grace and his late brother, Bill. shearing there were no During Henry’s boyhood the family moved to Tinnis, then machines - just the ‘blades’ – Thirladean in the Philiphaugh Estate; then to Craik in 1946, and the annual ‘clipping’ on a Hyndlee in1948, and Howahill in 1949. farm was a great social occasion. Henry married Aileen From Catslackburn and Tinnis farms Henry attended Yarrow th School, walking three miles there and back in the dark days of in Cavers Church on 7 the war, and then Hawick High School from the time the September 1963 and they have family moved to Craik. Boyhood memories include the bad three of a family, John, Evelyn winter of 1947 when he was off school for seven weeks. and Jill along with eight Everybody who lived at Craik was blocked in by snow, grandchildren. surviving on potatoes and porridge, with a sheep being killed As well as through farming, regularly for meat. Henry has made great From his earliest days Henry saw himself as a farmer, and contributions to our remembers running around after the shepherd at Tinnis. His communities through singing (who has not appreciated special interest has always been sheep, and over the years of Henry’s rendition of traditional songs as well as the songs of his life he has seen enormous changes in farming. When he the Hawick Common Riding?), through the Common Riding began farming on leaving school, shepherds would do itself and rugby. Henry’s outstanding contribution in our everything on foot, and working on a farm was purely manual communities was recognised when he was awarded the British labour. There was no electricity, and water had to be pumped Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List. In talking out of the ground. Mechanisation has changed farming in so about the honour, Henry says that he did not do all he has done many ways, and in turn has led to a great reduction in the on his own, for over the years of life he has been supported by numbers working on farms. Henry is sure that the most many wonderful folk. He now looks back on 80 fulfilled years important innovation over the years has been the use of quad of life – and we wish him well for more to come! HOBKIRK & SOUTHDEAN ANNOUNCEMENTS RUBERSLAW Wedding 29 May 2015 at Roxburghe Hotel: Sarah Maclean and Wilson Baptisms Renwick 14 June 2015 at Bedrule: Harry John Reddihough Funerals 26 July 2015 at Denholm: Isla Catherine Thom 3 July 2015 at Hobkirk: Jessie Taylor Funerals 6 July 2015 at Borders Crematorium: Willie Phillips 17 June 2015 at Minto: Helen Latta 23 July 2015 at Hobkirk: Lloyd Ennion 26 June 2015 at Borders Crematorium: Margaret Jeffrey 28 July 2015 at Borders Crematorium: Rosemary (Jane) Bishop 5 August 2015 at Hobkirk: Nancy Weatherson Visit our web page at www.hobkirkwithruberslaw.org and like us at www.facebook.com/ruberslawchurch A Message from your Minister….. Dear Friends, THE MAPS FOR LIVING Summer days – be they sunny or wet – always remind me of my first summer as the minister of Hobkirk and Southdean with Ruberslaw some six years ago. That year, I was discovering the many roads linking the communities in our two parishes which stretch from north of Hassendean to the Carter Bar. My wife, Anne, had kindly given me a ‘sat nav’ to help me find my way around, but I soon found out that it was far from reliable in our country area so had to rely on the several Ordinance Survey maps! As the autumn drew near I was familiar with the five historic parishes that make up the present charge – from north to south, Minto, Denholm and Bedrule making up the present Ruberslaw parish, and Hobkirk and Southdean making up the present Hobkirk and Southdean parish. For interest, I’ve placed a map on the Denholm Church notice board and in Hobkirk Church which shows our parishes in detail. There are times when knowing the best way to go in life can be a challenge – and those who follow the Christian faith can find guidance in the maps God has given us to help us in daily living. The Bible is one map for life, with guidance as to the best way forward in all the its complexities and in Jesus Christ we have been given a living example to follow – with His keynote advice to ‘Love God, and love our fellows’. May we find God’s blessing in following Jesus’ example, Your Minister and friend, Douglas. Dates for your Diary: Sunday 30 August...............Hobkirk and Southdean Barbecue at Wauchope Farm Sunday 13 September........ Communion at Hobkirk Church at 11am Sunday 13 September........ Ruberslaw ‘Cafe Church’ at 2.30pm in Denholm Village Hall Tuesday 15 September:......Ruberslaw Guild meets in Denholm Church Hall with Dedication Service Thursday 17 September..... Hobkirk and Southdean Guild Outing to Scottish Parliament Sunday 27 September........ Ruberslaw Harvest Thanksgiving Service in Denholm Church at 9.30am Sunday 4 October...............United Service in Hobkirk Church at 10am Thursday 8 October............Hobkirk and Southdean Guild Dedication Service at Southdean Church Sunday 11 October.............Communion at Bedrule Church at 11am Sunday 25 October.............Hobkirk and Southdean Harvest Thanksgiving in Southdean Church at 11am Sunday 8 November...........Remembrance Sunday Services at Minto at 10am and Hobkirk at 10.45am DON’T MISS. ...the129th Rulewater Flower Show - 6 1st DENHOLM BOYS’ BRIGADE DIARY September at 2 p.m in the Laidlaw Hall. DATES FOR 2015 Thursday 24 September : BB’s begin in Denholm Sir James Murray Church Hall: 6-7pm. Subs £1 On Sunday 26 th July this year there was a Commemoration of Saturday 3 October : Coffee Morning in Denholm the 100 th Anniversary of the death of Denholm-born Sir James Church Hall: 10-12am. All welcome. Murray, the first Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Thursday 15 October : Mid-term holiday Ruberslaw congregation and the Hawick Archaeological Society worked together to organise the well-attended event which Sunday 8 November : Remembrance Sunday at included a service and an exhibition in Denholm Church and a Minto Church 10am. BB’s muster at 9.45am tribute at Murray’s birthplace. Thursday 12 November : Holiday Thursday 17 December : Rehearsal for Nativity Play at BB Ruberslaw Café Church Meeting – 6-7pm Everyone is invited to a Café Church in Denholm Village Hall Saturday 19 December: Deliver Denholm Christmas Post at on Sunday 13th September at 2.30 pm. 10am from Church Hall This will be a chance for an informal get-together and worship for all ages with various activities and refreshments. BB’s break for Christmas after Christmas Eve Nativity Play If you haven’t tried Café Church do come along and give it a try. Annual Denholm Flower Show The annual Denholm Flower Show will be on Saturday 5th September Please note there will be no morning worship in the in the Village Hall. The show will be opened at 2.30pm by Mr J Ruberslaw Churches that Sunday, but there will be a Coltman and exhibits will be on show until 4.30pm. Teas will be traditional service at Hobkirk Church at 11.00 am. served from 3.00 to 4.30 pm in the Church Hall. SOS Children’s village For the past two years, we have been sponsoring the SOS GUILD NEWS Children’s Village Davao in the Philippines. The islands of the Philippines are frequently affected by weather events, such as Ruberslaw Guild typhoons, and as a result, many families are devastated. In an Ruberslaw Guild’s first meeting of the new session will be SOS Children’s village like ours, a child lives in a family style held on Tuesday 15th September at 7.00 pm in Denholm situation with a ‘mother’, and ‘siblings’ of different ages – Church Hall. helping to meet the charity’s aim of “a loving home for every child”. Our yearly donation of £240 helps to support not only This session’s theme will be ‘Go in Peace’ and the meeting the maintenance and upkeep of their homes, but also the will begin with a dedication by Rev Douglas Nicol. education and medical needs of the children. The first meeting will concern Guild projects, with a review We receive not only newsletters from the charity, but also of the projects which have been supported over the past three letters from the village itself, containing news of special events years. The new set of projects will be considered and and activities which enrich the lives of the children in the members will decide which projects to support over the village. The most recent update included detailed information forthcoming three years. about the project week, when 20 students from an international We would like to highlight the November meeting, which will school visited the be held jointly with our Boys’Brigade Company, and will village for a week, feature a talk by Eleanor Bathgate who has attended the allowing all to World Scout Jamboree in Japan.