Nobody expected ABO to accept local democracy and the appeal appeared on the last day allowed.

Anyone who lodged an objection will have been notified by SBC of the appeal and all the objections from individuals and the community councils have been forwarded to the Reporter.

The application was refused on two grounds, some involving the MOD and the Eskdalemuir Noise Budget.  ABO disputes the “non-MOD” grounds for refusal. SBC has countered these arguments in a strongly worded response.

SBC have left arguments on MOD grounds to the MOD. ABO claim that recent developments on the ENB should mean the appeal is put on hold (or sisted). The MOD’s interpretation of what has happened is very different to ABO’s but they also believe a sist is appropriate.

Colin originally hails from Hawick though he no longer lives in the Borders. In 2012 he ran a similar workshop for us but this time he will also be teaching us how to do peg loom weaving. Last year Colin had so many novel ideas for creating unique jewellery that we didn’t have enough time to try everything!

Colin says

Due to popular demand Margaret returns to Roberton for the third year running.

Margaret says

I began making Rag Rugs after completing a Fine Art Degree at Newcastle in the 1970's.  As soon as I embarked on making my first Rag Rug, I was hooked, loving the sense of freedom and the scope for 'painting with cloth' which the craft provided. I still find Rag Rug making an exciting blend of the traditional and the contemporary: it has endless design possibilities and opportunities for self-expression I enjoy the process of making by hand and the discoveries that happen during the process, and find Rag Rug making a most rewarding way of pulling together many aspects of my life that I find interesting and fulfilling.

The workshop was fully attended by 12 people mainly hailing from the valley. Paula Constantine was an excellent tutor and everyone left the class with a lovely basket.  We look forward to seeing Paula again when she returns on 2nd November to run the Christmas Basketry workshop.

We now have a Facebook page: BorthwickWaterArtsProject

The Borthwick Water Arts Project is pleased to be able to thank Scottish Borders Council and the Community Grant Scheme for funding their project in 2013.

Timetable for the week prior to the show.

Sunday 1st September 1pm - Set up the sheep pens.

Wednesday 4th September 6pm - Erect tents.

Thursday 5th September 12 noon - Erect staging in the tents.

Friday 6th September 1pm - Covers on the staging.

If you can spare an hour or two to help with any of the above, please come along.

June Wilson

Show Secretary.

We'll see some extra traffic on the valley road over 2nd - 4th August weekend, with visitors attending a festival in honour of the life and legacy of Jalalu'l-Din Rumi, to be held at Chisholme House.  All are welcome.

Rumi, born in Persia in 1207, is held in great regard throughout the world as a person who represents profound meaning for humanity, the words of his poetry and addresses cutting across time and going straight to the heart.

The AGM was attended by a small group of members.  David Apthorp gave a short resume of the business during the last twelve months.  David and Peter Mabey retired as directors and were thanked for their contribution to the CDT, especially David who has acted as Chairman during the year.  Tamsin Growden was co-opted as a director during the year following Keith Powell’s retirement and elected as a director at the meeting together with Ben Young.  This leaves one vacancy for a director to be co-opted during the coming year.  David Pollard expressed interest in filling the vacancy and volunteered to assist with the design of a CDT website.

The accounts were presented and adopted by the meeting. 

Joint President, Alison Riddell, welcomed members to the June meeting of the WRI.  She then introduced Police Constable Rory Campbell who gave an excellent and very interesting illustrated talk on his work as an accident investigation officer with Road Traffic Control.  Rory then took the members step by step through an actual accident that had happened at St Mary’s Loch.

The vote of thanks was given by Betty Hopkins.  The raffle winner was Kathleen Jackson.  Competition photo “A Scottish View” was won by Alison Riddell.  The sales table realised £20.40.

Our local star ex-racehorse took part in the final of the Retraining of Racehorses Tattersalls Scottish Show Series at the 2013 Royal Highland Show last week. "Belem Ranger" qualified by winning at Kelso Show last July. He went well at the biggest show of his career so far, to come a creditable fifth of 17 entries. The 2013 Champion was "Louisa" ridden by Charlotte Dun.