£ 0.70 The Upper Tweed Community News Issue 70 September AWARD AFTER A LIFETIME OF SERVICE An MBE was awarded in the Queen’s Honours list in June to Fiona Hamilton, community transport organiser East Scotland, for services to the British Red Cross Transport Service. This follows the award in 2011 of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work done in their local communities. Fiona has written of her life in serving and volunteering: ‘I was introduced to the Red Cross where I was brought up in Macclesfeld at the early sge of fve when VADs (voluntary aid detachment), as they were known then, practised bandaging in our lounge. Apparently l gave them a cup of tea if they were early! Around that time, the war was on, and l recall a feet of black ambulances driven by the VADs dressed in their uniform suits taking patients wherever they needed to go. There was a story of a psychiatric patient on his way north and when the ambulance developed an oil problem. He nipped out, fxed it and they went on their way. A few years on there followed yearly collections on Boots corner when l was under age and chaperoned. Later still l was involved in serving tea to blood donors whilst they relaxed for twenty minutes before returning to work. The Red Cross organised Mrs Fiona Hamilton quarterly blood sessions which were very busy. Looking back l remember an impressive number of VADs marching down the Main St each year proudly lead by their Commandant and admired by the crowds, a sight not seen for many a long year. Later on, l trained as a nurse and midwife and for a very happy six years worked on The Union Castle mailships, a wonderful way to see the world whilst earning one’s living. Thereafter l worked as a nursing administrator in a very busy nursing agency which operated round the clock seven days a week. A necessary service but without the appeal of hospital wards! My family moved to Broughton1966 and l moved up in 1980 to care for my widowed Mother. Believe it or not Tweeddale Red Cross just happened need a home-based secretary! I jumped at the idea and such was my enthusiasm l rang almost daily to enquire if the current secretary was ever going to retire! It was a great way to get to know the members throughout Peeblesshire and, of course, driving was one of the key services. In 2000, The Red Cross discontinued driving to hospital appointments leaving Upper Tweed somewhat vulnerable due to lack of public transport. Fortunately l heard of a lady in the South who, in similar circumstances, had formed her own company. I contacted her and shortly afterwards Richard Carr, Tony Fox and l set up our own system along her guidelines. The Community Hospital Car Service was born and still fourishes quite happily today. Request drives from the Red Cross are funded by the Red Cross and requests from the community are funded from the patient and proceeds set aside from the Upper Tweed Community News. I look on the award as a huge thank you for organising a service which is both needed and worthwhile and l feel privileged to receive it for something l enjoy being a part of. From the feedback over the years l know it is appreciated and my thanks go to the willing drivers without whom it would not be possible. tour o the Borders c ontents Atkinson-Pryce BookshoP P 2 WW1 rememBered. P 3 community cinemA ProgrAmme P 4 u t community council rePorts P 5 39 StepS PuBlicAtion celeBrAtion event P 6 chAPelgill PiAno dAy P 7 ruxton & the JigsAW murders P 8 Anne sheArer - oBituAry P 9 tWeedsmuir tAlk P 10 Queuing cyclists awaiting the continued tour skirling & BAnAnAs neWs P 11 rememBering tom sheArer’s gArden P 12 The challenging ‘Tour o the Borders’ for 120 km or 90 km was stopped for about an hour after an accident beyond Talla. Over 2000 cyclists completed the event. Overall it was very successful. This issue is sponsored by Atkinson-Pryce Bookshop Upper Tweed Community News 1 Upper Tweed Community News 2 WW1: Dead Remembered In June 2014, theUpper Tweed Community News listed the men from our communities who died in the disastrous, tragic World War 1. Some families still live in our HANDYMAN community. We will continue to feature some of these men over the next 3 years. FENCING GARDENING SMALL BUILDING REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS DOUGLAS A ROPER THE LOGAN, TWEEDSMUIR TEL: 01899 880284 Electrical Contractor (Prop: N Curatolo) Private William Mackie Private James Lorimer • Domestic, Commercial & Industrial Queens Own Cameron Scots Guards Installations Highlanders • Security Lighting & Alarms William Mackie came from Hartree. James Lorimer was born in • Electric Showers He joined the Queen’s Own Cameron Lamington and was a shepherd in • House Re-wires th Highlanders on 15 September just six Tweedsmuir. His name appears on • Portable Appliance Testing weeks after the declaration of war and the memorial in Tweedsmuir church. • SBSA Registered Self-Certifer he went to France in June 1915. He spent ffteen months training Unfortunately, little is known of with the Scots Guards at Wellington All work guaranteed William Mackie who was killed at the Barracks in London before going to Unit 2, Lindsaylands Road, Battle of Loos, which was the frst major France with the 2nd battalion. Biggar ML12 6EQ offensive of 1915. It was preceded by a Tel 01899 220160 07860 750982 Fax 01899 220160 day long artillery barrage and the start The last letter received by his family th E-mail: [email protected] was deferred due to torrential rain. The was dated 16 September 1916. infantry attack started on 25th September Soon afterwards, his regiment took http://www.nacelectrics.com/ and William Mackie was killed on that part in the battle of Flers-Courcelette frst day along with his offcer. Two also known as the third phase of the others from Upper Tweed died that same Battle of the Somme. It was the frst gArdening Work day, Thomas Tudhope of Broughton battle in which tanks were used in Place Farm and John Inch who came warfare. Forty nine tanks started but required from Cloverhill – he was also in the due to numerous problems, only 15 same regiment as William Mackie. In made it to the starting line. Mowing, Basic Garden total twenty men from Peebles and the Maintenance, Parishes of Upper Tweed died that day. Following the infantry attack, Autumn Clear-ups There were over 59,000 British James was seen by a friend in the Hedge trimming casualties in the battle and the 7th frst German trench that had been Battalion Cameron Highlanders lost captured but was not seen again. He victoriA stAvert 687 men. William Mackie’s name is on was originally listed as ‘missing in the Broughton War Memorial. action’ and his death was confrmed email [email protected] later on 25th September. Mob: 07708 333416 The Archive These biographies are drawn from the excellent book by Dr A Gunn, The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale Burgh and Parish, published in 1925. It provides short biographies and photographs of those who died in WW1. Additional information from families for the series will be welcome. The book is avilable in an impressive digitised version from the National Archives of Scotland at https://archive.org/stream/bookofremembranc1925gunn#page/n9/mode/2up. Upper Tweed Community News 3 noticeB o A r d UPPER TWEED COMMUNITY CINEMA The Upper Tweed Community Cinema (the Film Club) has been bringing interesting, entertaining and unusual flms to people in Broughton and beyond since 2003. The years have seen a wide choice of cinematic fare on offer and taken us on a variety of journeys: - from old classics like Whisky Galore (with tasting) to silent flms (with live piano); bhangra dancing lessons; stories about other village communities in Wales, Greenland, rural France; snapshots of life in Iran, Japan, India; blockbusters and Oscar-laden favourites have also been seen. A recent successful bid to the Lottery’s Awards for All has allowed the upgrade of the projection and sound equipment, with a move from a plain white wall to a large cinema screen and from 3 small speakers to a surround-sound system – and all without the hike to Edinburgh, Galashiels or even Biggar. Our continuing successful existence is due to the support of the local community through membership fees and guest tickets at screenings – we thank you all! We screen a flm each month at Broughton Village Hall from October to March with a special seasonal event between Christmas & New Year. Membership at just £20 per year per member gives admission to six screenings together with a complimentary drink – that’s less than £3.50 per show. Guests are welcome to pay on the door but regulars are encouraged to join to help maintain and support the club. Join up at the frst screening. Bring a cushion to enjoy the full big screen experience, complete with a complimentary glass of wine, beer or a soft drink. For further details, contact Joe Logan (01899 830551) or Mark Gilham (01721 720910) or see the weblink http://uppertweedcinema. blogspot.com/ We’re looking for some more volunteers to help run the cinema, so either call Joe/Mark or make yourself known at the frst flm show. So - DRUM ROLL - the 2015/2016 season kicks off on Saturday 3rd October at the earlier time of 7pm and here is what’s planned.........! October 3rd BOYHOOD The joys and pitfalls of life are seen through the eyes of a child, his parents and (2014) his sister.