Town Band excel in Perth BANDMASTER DELIGHTED WITH PERFORMANCE AT SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS : PAGE 13 Series 2 No. 8346 Established May 1848 Thursday March 12, 2020 www.eladvertiser.co.uk 80p BRIEF ING NEWS Inspirational Libby Moorland purchase reaches critical stage SHE survived three skate-offs, EXCLUSIVE: Public urged to get behind buy-out and sign petition had the judges in tears and Open days will be held in community support for the buy- had the audience and viewers Welcome to Langholm on out, the Initiative will embark at home jumping up and down Wednesday, March 18, Thurs - on a fundraising campaign to in their seats. day, March 19 and Saturday, raise the required funds for the March 21. community purchase, including Full story: Page 4 Members of the Langholm an application to the Scottish WHAT’S ON Initiative working group will Land Fund. be available on these days be - The plans being released are Spring, in theory tween 10am and 12pm, 2pm expected to include protection and 4pm and 6pm and 8pm. of the Common Moss, the cre - anyway This is a vital stage of the ation of a nature reserve, native process towards community woodland planting, environ - ownership. mental climate action and busi - The areas of land have been ness development. agreed between the Initiative Ownership of the identified and Buccleuch and positive dis - areas also has the potential to cussions continue towards an provide increased access for a agreement on price. host of community organisa - SPRING has sprung or, at The Initiative will apply to tions. This could benefit people least, meteorological spring, the Scottish Land Fund towards of all ages and interests. which started on March 1, and the end of March if people sup - A number of these organisa - for a couple of days last week port the plan to buy the land tions have given letters of sup - it really did feel as though for the community’s benefit. port towards the potential pur - warmer days were here to stay. It is vital that the Initiative chase, including Langholm Full story: Page 16 shows vast support for the buy- Common Riding members, Out - out and encourages as many Post Arts, the Muckle Toon Ad - SPORT Langholm is one the verge of a historic buy-out of its moor from Buccleuch, which has owned the land for centuries but is now negotiating its sale to the community people as possible to sign the venture Festival, Langholm petition. Academy Cluster, Langholm Trail season kicks THE potential community Moor this Saturday. tion is for the people of It is also extremely important Playcare, Langholm Day Centre, off at Middlemoss buy-out of Langholm Moor The information is based on Langholm and the surrounding that the Initiative itself has a Langholm Archive Group, Es - has reached a critical stage feedback from the community area to show their support for strong membership base. kdale and Liddesdale Archaeo - in its bid to buy several thou - and the comprehensive feasi - the buy-out. The information pack being logical Society, Langholm and sand acres of designated land bility study and business plan - This will be done via an online delivered to homes will contain District Art Club, Xcel Youth from Buccleuch. ning work. petition which can be signed at membership forms which can Trust, Langholm Probus Club, After five months of round- Information packs will be post - www.langholminitiative.org.uk, be completed and returned to Langholm Chilli Club, the-clock preparation, the team ed to houses in the town and available from this Saturday or Welcome to Langholm or the Langholm Digs for Victory and behind the buy-out is ready to surrounding area and the infor - in hard copy form at Welcome Initiative office at Bells Mill in the Church of Scotland Parish present its plan to the public. mation will be available at to Langholm, Latimers, The Glenesk Road. of Langholm, Eskdalemuir, THE Border Hound Trailing Their support is crucial to be - www.langholminitiative.org.uk Buccleuch Centre, The Paper People can also become mem - Ewes and Westerkirk. Association kicked off the new ing able to move onto the next This will be followed by a Shop, Cumberland Building So - bers online through the Initia - The Langholm Alliance and season at Middlemoss last stage and people are being asked period of community consulta - ciety and the E&L Advertiser tive’s website. Membership is Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk Saturday. to sign a petition. tion on these plans running from office, the Post Office in Canon - free and takes only a minute community council have also The Langholm Initiative will next Monday until Monday, bie and the Eskdalemuir Hub. online. expressed their support. release the information about March 30. The forms will be available After the consultation period Full story: Page 24 its plan for part of Langholm The purpose of this consulta - from next Monday. and provided there is strong >Turn to page 2 THE ESKDALE & LIDDESDALE ADVERTISER • Owned by the Community, Published for the Community 2 Thursday, March 12, 2020 Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser www.eladvertiser.co.uk Deaths Church Notices A bright future REID Peacefully after being in ill health for a long time. Dancer Melissa wins West End award On Sunday 23rd February 2020 at Pendruccome CANONBIE UNITED A DANCE student with a Nursing Home. John beloved husband of Betty & LIDDESDALE and much loved Dad of Julia and a good friend to PARISH CHURCHES bright future ahead of her has many. been presented with a special Funeral service will be held in Langholm Parish Sunday 15th March award by her Carlisle school. Church on Monday 16th March 2020 at 12noon Melissa Park, 18, the daughter followed by interment at Langholm cemetery to Morning Worship of Lisa and Graham Park, won which all friends and family are invited. Family Liddesdale 10am flowers only, donations in lieu to the fire service Canonbie 11.30am the West End award at the benevolent fund and Langholm social club. annual Razzamataz Carlisle Services led by awards ceremony at the Crown Hedley & Turnbull Funeral Directors 07896 557941 Worship Groups & Mitre Hotel in Carlisle last Sunday to celebrate the All welcome success of all the students in Thanks for Sympathy Charity no. SCO00717 2019. Melissa’s certificate and medal RYAN encompassed her commitment, David would like to thank all friends and neighbours passion and her performance on for the kind expressions of sympathy received LANGHOLM, following the sad loss of Eileen, all who attended ESKDALEMUIR, the stage at Her Majesty's Theatre in London which the the service and kindly gave donations. EWES & WESTERKIRK school took part in last month. PARISH CHURCHES Melissa said: “I’m very proud Sunday Funeral Services and honoured to have received 15th March this award and would like to Langholm 10am thank Debbie and all her Ewes 6pm teachers at Carlisle Razzamataz FUundnerteakrera &l M Donuimrenetacl Sterovirce s for their continued support and New Memorials supplied Mondays & Fridays dedication.” Additional Inscriptions and Cleaning Langholm 9.10am Debbie Mitchell, principal, Daily Worship added: “Melissa has been a strong presence during the Services led by entire rehearsal period and DBriaervy iBdan kW, Ew. eEs, rLsankghionlm e Rev Dr Robert Pickles consistently performed to her Tel: 013873 81251 or 07710 906257 very best each and every week. Charity no. SCO11946 “We have watched Melissa grow from a shy young girl to an FUNERAL outgoing, talented, focused and DIRECT ORS dedicated performer with a For a Personal Service bright future ahead of her. “Melissa shone on the West Hedle y and Tur nbull End stage when we performed 013873 75404 / 013873 75532 / 0789 655 7941 at Her Majesty’s Theatre and is very deserving of this award.” Melissa Park of Langholm receives her West End Award from Razzamataz Carlisle Thank You Thank You >TFroma Pagel 1 ks with Buccleuch continue A big thank you to everyone for the The Langholm Alliance and for the people here. well wishes, visits, cards and gifts Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk “The opportunities presented community council have also ex- through this buy-out have the po- after our accident. pressed their support. tential to be a well-deserved turning It was incredibly kind and has been Any a organisation, which would point for the community. a great comfort during a difficult like to lend their support, can write “The working group hopes people time. to kevincumming@langholminitia- can see the ambition and the possi- tive.co.uk. bilities presented by our plans and Cara & Matthew Kevin Cumming, the community get behind them. buy-out project leader, said: “It has “This is a project for the commu- The Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser been an extremely tense and de- nity and we will proceed only if is part funded by manding five or six months. people want us to. “In this time the working group “Signing the petition and becoming LEADER has worked around the clock to get a member of the Langholm Initiative the community to this stage. are the best ways people can show Dumfries & Galloway “We continue to have very positive their support.” and charitable trusts and individuals talks with Buccleuch and this has The Langholm Initiative working from the community of Langholm. helped keep the process flowing.” group consists of Kevin Cumming, He added: “Community ownership Margaret Pool, John Hanrahan, Scottish Dumfriesshire of the land is something which does Alison Hutton, Peter Renwick, Mairi Rural Development East Community not happen often in southern Scot- Telford Jammeh and Niall Benefit Group Kevin Cumming: “It’s been an extremely tense and demanding five or six Programme land but it gives a unique opportunity Weatherstone.