Peebles Life February 2015

1

Issue 113

A community magazine serving the residents of Peebles and Cardrona

Delivered FREE to every home in the area February 2015

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Editor - Charles Cormack Advertising - Linda Cormack Editorial content - Jacqui Campbell

DEADLINE FOR MARCH ISSUE - 18TH FEBRUARY

CONTENTS

Diary 4/12

Big Issue 7

Annual Charity Book Sales 8

Peebles Pensioners Association 11

Recipe from the Sunflower 15

Fitness advice from Lesley Mitchell 16

The Peebles Garden 18

Sudoku 20

Outdoor Film Festival 23

Music in Peebles 26

Growing Business Together 28

John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick & John Doyle Trio play Eastgate

35

Land Matters 38

The Bridge 40

Peebles Community Centre 46

Peebles Portraits 50

Political Page 55

British MTB Championship returns to Borders

58

Peebles Rugby Club 60

Index 62

For most people, February is generally a bit dismal, a kind of not really anything month, with little to celebrate unless you are a hopeless romantic who enjoys going all out for Valentine’s Day. In the Peebles Life office, however, two of us celebrate birthdays, adding a little excitement to February. Much as both of us like to imagine that we remain in the heady days of our early twenties, unfortunately the niggly aches and pains remind us that those days are sadly behind us. The Big Issue this month addresses this subject of health, looking, as it does, at the review NHS Borders currently has underway and the possible implications locally.

Out and About brings details of Tweeddale Peace Group’s annual book sales, which in 2014 raised a truly incredible £11,000, and the Christmas Lights Association have a round-up of their activities over the festive period. There is an invitation for toddlers to join the various groups running in St Andrews Leckie most days and local music group, Serenata, bring us details of their forthcoming concerts along with an invitation for both instrumentalists and singers to join the group. Music in Peebles’ event for February features 13 members of the Scottish Wind Ensemble, playing Mozart’s epic Serenade in B flat and, finally, Tweedgreen are hosting an event featuring author, Andy Wightman, talking about his book, “The Poor Had No Lawyers” about land ownership in Scotland and why it matters. Slightly further afield in both distance and time, we also have information on the Mountain Bike Marathon Championships, to be held in Selkirk in early May.

Amongst our regular items, this month’s Portrait features Dave Hodson, project manager of Tweeddale Youth Action and our political page has kindly been contributed by local councillor, Gavin Logan. We also have our regular reports from The Bridge, including ways we can get involved in the voluntary sector, Peebles Garden, sharing their New Year’s Resolutions and the Community Centre, bringing their regular update on the different classes and spaces available within their facility.

As you will be aware by now, Peebles Life tries to include a huge variety of information, whether it be a topic of local or national interest, a forthcoming event, a charity fundraiser or even an item about a local achievement. We really do enjoy seeing so many different sides to the town and we would like to encourage you to send in any items you would like publicised to the usual contact details.

Jacqui

Continued on page 12

Community Events & What’s On in FebruaryTuesdays at 7.30pm

Peebles chess club meet at the Neidpath Inn, they would be happy to invite anyone who is interested to join them, whether it be an experience player or someone new to the game.

Thursdays at 7.30pm

Peebles Singers, Meet in Dovecot Court. New members made most welcome. Further information available from Isabel 01896 831924.

Saturdays at 9am Peebles Local Food Market, Eastgate, High Street. Check Peebles CAN Facebook page for further details.

To 21st March Tweeddale Museum - The Guid Scots Diet - Explore our complex and changing relationship with food from hunter gatherers to farmers’ markets

Sun 1 10amTweeddale Ramblers ** 7mile circular walk from West Linton Golf Club to Garvald. This is manageable by almost everyone! Welcome to join us at Kingsmeadows Car Park

Tue 3 7.30pm

Music in Peebles presents a concert by The Scottish Wind Ensemble at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles. Tickets £14 (£7 if accompanying a child under 12) from the Eastgate (01721 725777); free entry for members and school students. For more information see www.musicinpeebles.org.uk.

Wed 4 7pm Border Prostate Cancer Support Group meetings held at the B.G.H. Chaplaincy.

Wed 4 7.30pmPeebles Camera Club - Whatever your ability - beginner to advanced - come along and enjoy the ‘ first meeting for free ‘. There is a varied syllabus with guest speakers, practical sessions and competitions. Community Centre, Walker’s Haugh, Peebles.

Thu 5 7.30pmTWEEDGREEN presents Andy Wightman talking on Land Matters - land reform for the 21st century. See page 38 for more details. £6, Tweedgreen members £5, students £2, tickets from Eastgate Theatre.

Sun 8 9.30am Tweeddale Ramblers ** Transport will be provided from Peebles to Dalkeith. 8 mile walk to Newbattle Abbey, Dalhousie, Cockpen, etc.

Sun 8 10.30am Tweeddale Quaker Meeting for Worship. Nomad Beat, Cherry Court, 10-11 Cavalry Park, Kingsmeadows Road PEEBLES EH45 9BU

Mon 9 7pm Tweeddale Amnesty Group Meeting in St Andrew’s Leckie Bakehall (upstairs). We welcome warmly anyone interested in upholding justice and supporting human rights,

Tue 10 2pm

Tweeddale U3A monthly meeting, at St Josephs Neighbourhood Centre, Rosetta Road, Peebles. All visitors are welcome to attend. The speaker this month will be Professor Bill Hardcastle who will give an illustrated talk about diagnosing and treating speech disorders using new technology. This will be followed by refreshments.

Tue 10 7.30pm MS Society, Peebles Branch monthly get together in The County. If you or someone you know has MS come along, all welcome.

Tue 10 7.30pmTweeddale Society. Eastgate Theatre. Talk on “The Battle of Loos, a Century On” Non members always welcome. On this occasion, as usual, excellent speakers, Alasdair Hutton and Lady Deborah Stewartby

Tue 11 2-4pmArt Workshop (Painting and Drawing) - Peebles Art Group meets fortnightly in the Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles. New members welcome. Help for beginners - details from Richard J Digance 01721 723 676 or Email [email protected]

Sat 14 - 11 April Tweeddale Museum Gallery Working Perspectives: Artists in the Workplace. What happens when you let artists loose in the workplace - a fresh perceptive on the familiar

Sun 15 9.30amTweeddale Ramblers ** Peebles to Cramond Brig to wander through Dalmeny Estate to admire the Snowdrops. 7miles, pretty level walking. Come to Kingsmeadows Car Park and you will get a lift to the start.

Tue 17 7pm Embroiderers’ Guild: a talk by Phillipa Turnbull entitled ‘Lady Anne’s Needlework’. Peebles High School Sports Centre. All welcome. £5.

Tue 17 7.30pm sharp

Tweeddale Astronomical Society. Guest speaker Dr Dave Gavine (FRAS) will give a presentation entitled “Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights”. Please note the venue for this meeting will be the Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles. Adults £2, U18’s (accompanied) £1. Everyone welcome.

Please mention Peebles Life when responding to adverts

5

Continued on page 12

Community Events & What’s On in FebruaryTuesdays at 7.30pm

Peebles chess club meet at the Neidpath Inn, they would be happy to invite anyone who is interested to join them, whether it be an experience player or someone new to the game.

Thursdays at 7.30pm

Peebles Singers, Meet in Dovecot Court. New members made most welcome. Further information available from Isabel 01896 831924.

Saturdays at 9am Peebles Local Food Market, Eastgate, High Street. Check Peebles CAN Facebook page for further details.

To 21st March Tweeddale Museum - The Guid Scots Diet - Explore our complex and changing relationship with food from hunter gatherers to farmers’ markets

Sun 1 10amTweeddale Ramblers ** 7mile circular walk from West Linton Golf Club to Garvald. This is manageable by almost everyone! Welcome to join us at Kingsmeadows Car Park

Tue 3 7.30pm

Music in Peebles presents a concert by The Scottish Wind Ensemble at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles. Tickets £14 (£7 if accompanying a child under 12) from the Eastgate (01721 725777); free entry for members and school students. For more information see www.musicinpeebles.org.uk.

Wed 4 7pm Border Prostate Cancer Support Group meetings held at the B.G.H. Chaplaincy.

Wed 4 7.30pmPeebles Camera Club - Whatever your ability - beginner to advanced - come along and enjoy the ‘ first meeting for free ‘. There is a varied syllabus with guest speakers, practical sessions and competitions. Community Centre, Walker’s Haugh, Peebles.

Thu 5 7.30pmTWEEDGREEN presents Andy Wightman talking on Land Matters - land reform for the 21st century. See page 38 for more details. £6, Tweedgreen members £5, students £2, tickets from Eastgate Theatre.

Sun 8 9.30am Tweeddale Ramblers ** Transport will be provided from Peebles to Dalkeith. 8 mile walk to Newbattle Abbey, Dalhousie, Cockpen, etc.


Mon 9 7pm Tweeddale Amnesty Group Meeting in St Andrew’s Leckie Bakehall (upstairs). We welcome warmly anyone interested in upholding justice and supporting human rights,

Tue 10 2pm

Tweeddale U3A monthly meeting, at St Josephs Neighbourhood Centre, Rosetta Road, Peebles. All visitors are welcome to attend. The speaker this month will be Professor Bill Hardcastle who will give an illustrated talk about diagnosing and treating speech disorders using new technology. This will be followed by refreshments.

Tue 10 7.30pm MS Society, Peebles Branch monthly get together in The County. If you or someone you know has MS come along, all welcome.

Tue 10 7.30pmTweeddale Society. Eastgate Theatre. Talk on “The Battle of Loos, a Century On” Non members always welcome. On this occasion, as usual, excellent speakers, Alasdair Hutton and Lady Deborah Stewartby

Tue 11 2-4pmArt Workshop (Painting and Drawing) - Peebles Art Group meets fortnightly in the Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles. New members welcome. Help for beginners - details from Richard J Digance 01721 723 676 or Email [email protected]

Sat 14 - 11 April Tweeddale Museum Gallery Working Perspectives: Artists in the Workplace. What happens when you let artists loose in the workplace - a fresh perceptive on the familiar

Sun 15 9.30amTweeddale Ramblers ** Peebles to Cramond Brig to wander through Dalmeny Estate to admire the Snowdrops. 7miles, pretty level walking. Come to Kingsmeadows Car Park and you will get a lift to the start.

Tue 17 7pm Embroiderers’ Guild: a talk by Phillipa Turnbull entitled ‘Lady Anne’s Needlework’. Peebles High School Sports Centre. All welcome. £5.

Tue 17 7.30pm sharp

Tweeddale Astronomical Society. Guest speaker Dr Dave Gavine (FRAS) will give a presentation entitled “Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights”. Please note the venue for this meeting will be the Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles. Adults £2, U18’s (accompanied) £1. Everyone welcome.

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Big Issue Back in December 2014, NHS Borders announced that it is to carry out a review of all its clinical services, including the role of community hospitals as part of its delivery strategy. As with almost every public body, NHS Borders faces financial cutbacks, combined with an increased workload, and with buildings being one of their three main expenses (along with staff and drugs), it is inevitable that these should come under the spotlight, with any potential savings then being redirected towards increased staffing and other areas. Dr Sheena McDonald, NHS Borders Medical Director, notes that “if we can reduce our spending on buildings and less overheads for heating and lighting that will allow us to use the same amount of resource for a much larger group of people by investing in more staff.” She goes on to say that any decisions will be made with full public consultation.

This current review follows on from one three years ago which resulted in one of the two wards at Hay Lodge being closed, leaving 23 beds in the hospital. The facility supports acute hospital services including acute medical care for the elderly and also terminal care, convalescent care, respite care and rehabilitation both on an in-patient and daycare basis. NHS Borders have stated that reviews such as this provide an opportunity to innovate and to transform the models of delivery by exploring new models of

care, for example “hospital at home” which enables patients to be cared for in their own homes.

NHS Fife currently runs a Hospital at Home team, whose role is to treat patients at home, providing the same level of care expected in hospital, led by a medical consultant. Following referral, generally by a GP, patients are assessed at home by a nurse or doctor, tests are carried out and a care plan, covering nursing and social needs is put in place. Between April 2012 and February 2013, the scheme cared for 335 people in Dunfermline and West Fife and it was subsequently rolled out throughout Fife. Positives include avoiding hospital admissions which can potentially erode elderly patients’ ability to live independently and allows time to be freed up in hospital for those who are really sick.

Whilst there are some clear advantages to this system, it falls into a similar category to social care being provided at home, a system which is already under huge pressure in Peebles. Whilst all of us wish to live independently in our latter years, sometimes it is simply not realistic and more intensive care becomes essential whether in a residential home or in a hospital setting. At this stage community hospitals like Hay Lodge (and the other three within the Borders) become an important bridge between living at home or being based in

Melrose at the Borders General Hospital. Patients who require medical care can remain within their local community, meaning that important social contact is not lost. Family and friends can pop in for regular visits rather than face a round trip of about an hour and a half by car or even longer by bus which may not be manageable as regularly, given other work and family commitments. In a community like the one we live in, more often than not, patients actually know each other and, indeed, the treatment team, offering a more friendly, comforting environment.

The other side of the issue is the strain that removing these community facilities would place on the Borders General Hospital. The combined capacity of the four community hospitals within NHS Borders is 92 beds. The main Borders General has around 330 beds and, assuming the closure of the outlying facilities, this is almost certain to impact by “bed blocking” space at the BGH. Given that the demographic for our area is predicted to be an aging population (and we already have one of the older demographics in Scotland), it is surely shortsighted to mothball options that may become vital in a few, short years, if indeed, they not already a vital part of caring for our community within our community.

Jacqui

Google images

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Tweeddale Peace Group is once again organising two huge second-hand book sales, thanks to the very generous donations of books, CDs and DVDs from the people of Tweeddale and beyond.

Annual Charity Book SalesEarly in queue

Eager readers at last year’s children’s sale

The proceeds will be shared among peace and justice charities. In 2014 this amounted to £11’000. Thank you donors.

The Children’s Sale,

including a large selection of Art Books, will be on Saturday 21st February. The Main Sale (nearly 20,000 book) will be on Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th March. Both sales will be in the Burgh Hall from 10am to 5pm.

It would be very helpful if books intended for either sale could now be handed in as soon as possible, at Cabbage Hall, Tweed Green, Peebles.

If up-lift is needed, please phone 01721 720371.


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Peebles Pensioners Association

This year the Tontine has created the recipe for a fabulousValentine’s evening of romance and celebration.

Our mouth-watering menu is individually priced to suit everyone. So if it’sa candlelit dinner for two with champagne and chocolate, or a quick biteto eat from our main course option partnered with a smart cocktail – we’dlove to have you here to celebrate Valentine’s in your own way!

To book a table, buy a voucher, or take a look at our Valentine’s menu,just give us a call on 01721 720892 or pop in to see us.

LOVE at the

Saturday 14th FebruaryBooking essential

HIGH STREET PEEBLES T : 01721 720 892 WWW.TONTINEHOTEL.COM

The first meeting of the New Year will be held on Wednesday, 18 February 2015 at 2:00pm sharp, in Peebles Rugby Club, Eastgate, Peebles. The Community Bus will operate as usual. Will members who require the Community Bus, please remember that you must phone the Secretary (telephone number below) by 1pm on Monday, 16 February 2015 and that collection will be from the pre-designated collection points only. The kitchen rota for this meeting is Fran Price, Margaret Morrison, Irene Howie and Doreen Motion.

The meeting will commence with a short AGM. Reports will be available from both the Secretary and the Treasurer. If members wish to suggest items for discussion, please contact the Secretary as soon as possible.

Following on from the AGM, we are pencilled in for a talk by David Wilson who is the Community Firefighter, based in the Safer Communities department at Scottish Borders Council. Due to the nature of his job, David may have to cancel at short notice, but in that event, I have organised a film show all to do with

Peebles from days gone by!

Membership to Peebles Pensioners has re-opened, so if you would like join us and need any information, please call me for a chat: Laura Scott (Secretary) 01721 723430.

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Continued from page 4

Send details of your events to [email protected]

Thu 19 7pm

Peebles Floral Art Club held monthly, in St Andrews Leckie Bakehall. A Practical Evening will be led by Margaret Adamson and suitable for all skill levels. Beginners especially are encouraged to come along and enjoy an introduction to the basics of the craft. There will be a sales table for materials. Visitors £5. For further details or a worksheet ring 01896 833154.

Thu 19 7.30pm

Peeblesshire Archaeological Society - talk by Ross Murray (Headland Archaeology) “Discovering Edinburgh’s lost Friary” – excavations at the Old High School, Edinburgh (skeletons galore!). Meeting held in the Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles. Guests/non-members welcome (charge of £3 towards expenses.)

Sat 21 10am-5pm Children’s Book Sale - Burgh Hall see page 8 for details.Sun 22 10am Tweeddale Ramblers ** Innerleithen to Walkerburn by high route. Bus back to start.


Tue 25 2-4pm Art Workshop (Painting and Drawing) - Peebles Art Group. See Wed 11 for details.

Sun 1 March 10am Tweeddale Ramblers ** Peebles to Eddleston via Stewarton, and bus back. 7miles.

* Tweeddale Ramblers. All walks meet at Kingsmeadow Car Park unless stated. For further details phone 01721 720275.


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To book an appointment today, please call the team on 01896 833 703 or email: [email protected]

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weeddale Kitchensest. 1992

TWE20 advert 129x92 2011.qxp 13/12/2012 12:48 Page 1

2 tbsp rapeseed oil1 tbsp pesto 2 Forsyth’s skin on chicken breasts2 small red onions 4 cloves crushed garlic 2 small bulbs fennel 1 red pepper1 bag rocket Dressing 2 tbsp runny local honey Zest & juice 1 lemon 1 chilli (optional)1 handful mint 1 handful coriander 4 tbsp rapeseed or olive oilGood pinch Maldon salt

Recipe from Val at the SunflowerWarm Chicken & Fennel Salad with Honey & Lemon Dressing

Heat oven to gas mark 4 180C

Score the chicken about an inch deep. Chop vegetables into chunks. Take a large bowl & add the oil & pesto & mix well. Add the chicken and all the vegetables except the rocket (use at the end). Leave to marinate for a good 20 minutes. While the chicken is marinating make the dressing in a clean bowl or in a large jar, mix well and set aside.

Heat a griddle pan or frying pan. When the pan is hot place the chicken skin side down in the pan & leave for 5 minutes then add the rest of your ingredients and make sure they have some griddle marks on them it makes the salad have a good appearance. Remove from the heat and place the griddle (not frying pan) into a warm oven & bake for a further 15 minutes. The vegetables should still have a little crunch to them. Slice the chicken into a bowl, pour over the dressing and toss the rocket through the salad. Divide the salad into bowls and enjoy with crusty bread.

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Last month I was explaining about why we should focus on a more healthy lifestyle rather than a mad flurry of activity every January after the Christmas festivities (where we all relax from normal routine and enjoy ourselves which is OK). So I was pleased to hear in the national media about a study by the University of Cambridge that a lack of exercise could be killing twice as many people as obesity does. It was a 12 year study of more than 300’000 people which makes it credible. They said that about 676’000 deaths each year each year were down to inactivity whereas 337’000 were due to being overweight, which was interesting. People think that being thin makes you fit and healthy

but unfortunately this is not always the case, thin people are also at higher risk of health problems if they are inactive. But obese people who exercise can have better health than those who do not. They suggested that only 20 mins of brisk walking or similar exercise every day is all that is takes to help improve your health. I totally agree with this and for most people a few “tweeks” to their daily routine is all it could take . Even if you think you don’t have enough time , you need to make time this is not a dress rehearsal it is your life, live it!Lesley MitchellFitness and Pilates in PeeblesPersonal Trainer, Pilates, Zumba, Ante/Post Natal PilatesT: 01792 156458 www.pilatesinpeebles.co.uk

Fitness advice from Lesley Mitchell


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Is it too late for resolutions? The three things that I would encourage all gardeners to do in 2015 are: improve drainage, make better compost and choose better plants.

Most of us have stony clay soils so improving drainage is crucial. New houses are often built on hillsides or fields where the ground hasn’t been ploughed and has now been compacted by builders.

Spiking, scarifying and feeding will improve grass. Digging and planting with plants that take up water will make it a better garden. Raised wooden frames can overcome poor drainage and they help to design the garden. However, boggy, squelchy areas need more drastic action: install land drains preferably leading to a drain or else a deep soakaway. This is a professional job but you can manage other measures yourself.

When you are digging, only remove fist-sized stones. Try to dig about one spit deep - the depth of the fork. Below that the ground is likely harder and stonier so there’s no point in bringing that to the surface. Avoid rotavators unless the area is huge; best to do it by hand.

When you’ve done the first dig, get the wooden frames built. Raising the growing area six inches will make an enormous difference. Sleepers

are one option but two by six is cheaper and easier to handle. Fill the frames with decent compost allowing for settlement.

What is decent compost? Most compost is made from woody material, with chemical agents added. If it is cheap then this is fine for bulking up a large border that you are raising, but the gold standard is the compost you make yourself. Whatever you use to top up your frames, don’t dig it in. It will mix with your soil as you plant it up. Use a plank and don’t walk on the beds.

Some gardeners have a go at making compost, fail and never try again. Making compost is simple - just remember this: not too much of anything, add brown stuff like newspaper or egg boxes, keep it turned and moist. Don’t use any diseased material or perennial weeds, branches or leaves. It takes

about six months to make but it will be quicker if the bins are in a sunny place.

What plants to choose? Hardy ones with three snow flake ratings that accept moisture and suit the amount of light in that spot. If you don’t know which those are, look in the RHS Encyclopaedia of Plants and Flowers. You might find an old copy for pennies in a book sale or online.

This doesn’t mean that the garden will be boring; it means plants will thrive, no matter what the weather is like. Healthy plants will have less disease and pests. So you get a better result and spend less time and money on hopeless causes.

Sheila DrummondPortland Garden Design07905 [email protected]

The Peebles Garden:

February


19

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Call: 01721 540 505or visit taylorwimpey.co.uk/KingsmeadowSales centre open: Thursday-Monday 10am-5.30pm

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The first ever Peebles Outdoor Film Festival takes place from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February when The Eastgate Theatre offers two days and three nights of films and live events covering everything from distance running and trail biking to mountain climbing and microadventures.

As well as the chance to see a great line-up of high-adrenaline documentaries, features and short sharp shockers; there will be opportunities to hear first-hand accounts by intriguing and inspiring people.

The festival opens on Friday at 6pm with short films including a bird’s eye view of the Tweed Valley and an introduction to ski mountaineering. At 7.30pm downhill bike racer and stunt rider Rob Jarman will talk about his near fatal accident and introduce an excerpt from the

gripping and emotional film “All My Own Stunts”.

On Saturday at 2pm Borders Doctor Andrew Murray drops in after running 50 kilometres a day across the Namib Desert. At 3.30pm Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue will tell you how to get the best out of the Borders hills. Saturday evening is all about bikes. The feature film Wadjda, at 4pm, tells of a young Saudi girl’s dream to race her own bike. At 6pm there are 3 extraordinary films including The Ridge starring Danny McAskill and, at 7.30pm, cyclist and writer Richard Moore will introduce Slaying the Badger, the story of the chaotic 1986 running of the Tour de France.

Sunday begins at 2.30pm with adventure as author and motivational speaker Alastair Humphreys introduces his ideas

for microadventures that you can have on your doorstep. Only weeks after professional climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson made the first 19-day ascent of the Dawn Wall in California’s Yosemite National Park, the film Valley Uprising (at 4pm) captures the history of the climbers’ struggle against the laws of gravity, and the laws of the land. Short films at 6pm tell personal stories by very particular adventurers. The festival culminates in a Celebration of Wild Women, at 7.30pm, when cameraman and adventure photographer Lukasz Warzecha introduces a selection of his stunning films capturing breathtaking outdoor adventure all over the world.

More information and tickets from the Eastgate Box Office on 01721 725777, www.eastgatarts.com

Peebles Outdoor Film Festival

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GEORGE HAYDOCK PAINTER & DECORATOR

Experienced all round tradesman for friendly, professional, free advice

and estimates.

Contact George on 01721 721264


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The Electricians for Home and Business

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T: 01896 830421 www.scotlightelectrical.co.uk

Whatever your electrical requirements are, if youneed a quality contractor you can trust, give us a call.

Lighting installations Energy saving solutionsSockets, switches and rewiresFuse board upgradesSafety and maintenanceSmoke alarm installations

From single sockets to complete rewiresour team have the experience to deliverthe highest standards of work matchedby our fantastic customer service.

SCOTLIGHT_general_half page_Layout 1 18/07/2013 12:21 Page 1

Serenata is a forum where local musicians and singers present a series of short chamber music and recital concerts, meeting monthly on Sunday afternoons in the Eastgate Studio.

Serenata offers a performance platform for instrumentalists and singers, either solo or in ensemble in front of a sympathetic audience of fellow musicians and music lovers. It provides an opportunity to develop new musical relationships for both practice and performance.

Dates for 2015

Sunday 22nd February

Sunday 15th March

Concerts start at 2.30 p.m.

We need another item for both February and March.

Please do get in touch if you would like to play or sing on one of the above dates. Anyone who is interested in contributing to Serenata should contact Claire Garnett, t 01721 740256, e [email protected]; or visit Eastgate Theatre, Eastgate, Peebles, EH45 8AD, t 01721 725777.

Serenata

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There are many ingredients that can contribute to a concert having ‘special’ status. There’s no denying the sense of excitement ahead of an appearance by a highly acclaimed performer, or the anticipation of hearing a well-loved masterpiece.

By any standards, February’s Music in Peebles concert is certainly special. Whilst most of the concerts feature soloists, duos, trios or quartets, this one boasts 13 players. Add to that the fact that they are to play a work that stands at the very pinnacle of wind band repertoire, and the stage is set for a night to remember.

Scottish Wind EnsembleNowhere else in the UK will you find another dedicated chamber

music group like the Scottish Wind Ensemble.

A collective of 15 musicians, they enjoy performing a wide range of repertoire written for larger wind ensembles, some of it at the core of chamber music but so much of it neglected and yet to be explored. Made up of award winning graduates from all the UK’s leading conservatoires, the ensemble never performs with a conductor, preferring instead

to rely on interaction between ensemble members. At the heart of their performances is the famous description of chamber music as “the music of friends”.

The MusicMozart wrote over 30 serenades, for a wide range of instrumental combinations. Most were fairly light-hearted pieces, often performed as a background diversion at social occasions. One, however, towers above the rest and that is the great Serenade in B flat, known as the ‘Gran Partita’. In length, it is epic - at over 50 minutes, it is longer than any of Mozart’s symphonies. This is matched by its scale, being written for 13 players, including four French horns.

The seven movements of the serenade vary between the noble, the brooding, the lyrical and the joyous. Early audiences, expecting something much more flippant from a serenade, must have been astonished at what they heard. No wonder one audience member at the first performance described it as “glorious and grand, excellent and sublime.”

The first half of the concert also consists of a single work, composed over 200 years later in 1995. Gary Carpenter wrote his ‘Pantomime’ for exactly the same line-up of instruments as Mozart’s mighty serenade. It is a very attractive work in five movements that explore the shadowy and half-forgotten world of smoky Music Halls, Vaudeville and Burlesque.

The character of the piece is hinted at by the names of the movements, including ‘Grand March of the Chief Executive’ and ‘Waltz Finale – Depravity’. Prepare to be entertained!

Music in SchoolsWhile in Peebles, the Scottish Wind Ensemble will present music workshops in Peebles High School and all 3 Peebles primary schools. Music in Peebles is very grateful to Enterprise Music Scotland for their generous financial support, and to everyone who has bought raffle tickets, for their help in funding this important work.

Thirteen winds to hit Eastgate Theatre!

February ConcertTime: 7.30pmDate: Tuesday 3 FebruaryVenue: Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, Peebles

__________The Scottish

Wind Ensemble__________

Gary CarpenterPantomime for 13 windsMozartSerenade in B flat, K.361

__________Tickets£14 (£7 if accompanying a child under 12) from the Eastgate Theatre (01721 725777) or www.eastgatearts.comAdmission is free for members of Music in Peebles and school students.

For full details of all concerts, please visit www.musicinpeebles.org.uk


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With offices in Galashiels, Hawick, Langholmand Peebles, JRW offer a genuine ScottishBorders presence with a team of localprofessionals available from each of theseprime locations. But at the same time theirclients enjoy city standards of accountancywith a genuine understanding of working ina rural area - and at an affordable price.Whatever your financial situation is, whetherbusiness or personal, JRW offer the completerange of financial services including businessstart ups, taxation, compliance services,PAYE and NI, accountancy support oradded value services.As well as providing clients with the bestfinancial advice, JRW pride themselves inbeing friendly and approachable and offer

outstanding levels of service. They treat alltheir clients as individuals and offer a trulypersonal service that is tailored specificallyaround the needs and circumstances of eachunique client. You can expect a real handson approach with close involvement from thewhole team. This is a firm who love to buildclose relationships with their clients andoffer easy and direct access to specialistsin the team.

Of course choosing the right accountant isa vitally important decision. But if you arelooking for top quality financial advice righthere in the Scottish Borders, where you willbe treated as an individual by a team offriendly experts, then you can count onJRW to deliver every time.

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From left: Julie Robertson, Kevin Ferguson, Joanne Gibson, Alan Simpson, Alister Biggar, John Craig, Kevin Crowford and Robert Johnstone and inthe foreground Bruce Short from Shorts of Hawick.

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One of the largest accountancy firms in the Borders, JRW CA are proud to havean established presence here in Peebles. And as the business continues toexpand, the start of a new year seemed like a very good time to introduce theteam to those of you who are looking to grow your business and investmentsin 2015 and beyond.

Formed in 2007 by the merger of twoof the oldest accountancy firms inthe Borders, JRW combined theexperience of the James Rosiepartnership with Welch and co. Andwhilst the firm are proud to be builton the strong reputation of theselong established firms, this modernand dynamic team certainly havethe vision and ability to helpbusinesses to grow for many,many years to come.

“Often it is easy to assumethat everyone knows thesheer range of specialistservices that we offer ourclients. We have a wealth ofexperience and quite literallywork with every type and sizeof business. From farming tocharities and builders tobakers, our range of clientsis diverse but we have thespecialist knowledge to makesure that they all enjoy thevery best financial advice.And our personal clients canenjoy exactly the same levelsof service with the same teamof experts at their disposal.

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JRW_Peebes Life_DPS_Layout 1 20/01/2015 11:22 Page 1

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Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm and Thursday to Saturday from 6pm Osso, 1 Innerleithen Road, Peebles EH45 8BA

01721 724477 www.ossorestaurant.com [email protected]

New year, new look, new menu

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Osso

Back by popular demand– the Osso Sirloin Steak for Two (available Valentines weekend alongside our usual menu)

To Book– call now on 01721 724477

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SPASPASPASPAP E E B L E S H Y D R O S P ASPASPA

Peebles Hydro Spa | 01764 651 558 | Open Daily 9am-6pm www.peebleshydro.co.uk

Book now call 01764 651 558 and quote promotion code 30FEBvalid until 28 Feb

Relax with 30% offWhether it is half hour pick me up, essential beauty or a full day of pampering, just head to our spa and our team will be able find you the perfect treatment for you! Plus enjoy a further 30% off treatments till the end of February

Park Hotel | Innerleithen Road, Peebles | 01721 720 451www.parkhotelpeebles.co.uk

Opening Soon!Back to business on the 16th February

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SPASPASPASPAP E E B L E S H Y D R O S P ASPASPA

Peebles Hydro Spa | 01764 651 558 | Open Daily 9am-6pm www.peebleshydro.co.uk

Book now call 01764 651 558 and quote promotion code 30FEBvalid until 28 Feb

Relax with 30% offWhether it is half hour pick me up, essential beauty or a full day of pampering, just head to our spa and our team will be able find you the perfect treatment for you! Plus enjoy a further 30% off treatments till the end of February

Park Hotel | Innerleithen Road, Peebles | 01721 720 451www.parkhotelpeebles.co.uk

Opening Soon!Back to business on the 16th February

We’ve been closed for a couple of weeks, doing a wee bit of work on the hotel.

Great news! We’ll be open again on 16 Feb

Join us for Scrummy afternoon teas

Lovely lunchesCosy bar suppers

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Three members of the BBC acclaimed TRANSATLANTIC SESSIONS will perform as part of a unique UK tour. It’s a rare chance to see three of the world’s finest musicians share a stage together.

Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle three members of the BBC acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions will play Eastgate Arts Centre, Peebles on Thursday 19 February as part of a unique European tour. With both Mike McGoldrick and John McCusker also having toured for the past year with Mark Knopfler, this is a rare chance to see three of the world’s finest musicians share a stage together.

Master of flutes, whistles and Uillean pipes Mike is a founding member of Flook, and Lunasa and is a current member of Capercaillie. Regarded as one of the greatest flute players of all time, Mike has toured Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler, as

well as with The Afro Celts, RTE Orchestra and Kate Rusby. He has collaborated with the likes of Jim Kerr, Youssou N’Dour, John Cale and Zakir Hussian amongst many others. BBC Radio 2 folk Musican of the year 2006, he was again nominated this year and has just completed his first soundtrack for TG4 and the Smithsonian channel.

John McCusker’s unique fiddle playing has earned him a worldwide reputation as one of the most gifted and versatile musicians of any genre. John was also part of the legendary band that toured with both Bob Dyland and mark Knopfler. Joining the Battlefield band at just 17 John spent 11 years touring the world with the now legendary folk outfit. Renowned for his skill at transcending musical boundaries he has worked with artists ranging from Paulo Nutini and Jools Holland to Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash and has recorded with Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene to name but a few.

John’s expanding portfolio as a producer includes debut albums by Kris Drever and Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble. He’s also manned the controls for top folk chanteuses Eddi Reader, Heidi Talbot, Eliza Carthy, Linda Thompson & Kate Rusby. In 2013 John performed as a soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Proms in the Park, playing his own compositions live on BBC TV. 2015 will see John Celebrate 25 years as a professional musician, publishing a book of his compositions, releasing a new solo record & embarking on an extensive UK & European tour.

John Doyle’s gifts as guitarist, songwriter and vocalist have played an essential role in the ongoing renaissance of Irish traditional music. Now living in the states, John was the recent musical director for Joan Baez and toured with her for 2 year. One half of the stellar duo Liz Carroll and John Doyle, he is also a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Irish group Solas.

John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick and John Doyle Trio playing Eastgate

Photo by Louis DeCarlo

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For children from ages 0-3 years and their parents, grandparents, or carers

The Parents & Toddlers Groups meet Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings during school term times from 10-11am

On a Wednesday it’s “Cricky’s Music Group” where the emphasis is fun with music and the children get juice and biscuits.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, the group offers a fun and friendly

environment in which both babies and pre-school children can play safely while the adults can enjoy a coffee and chat.

If you’d like to find out more, please come along to the Toddler Groups where you will be made most welcome!

Alternatively, if you wish any further details, please phone Heather at the Church Office on 723121 (office open Monday~Friday 9.30 a.m. ~ 12 noon)

An Invitation and Welcome to St. Andrews Leckie Parish: PeeblesParents & Toddlers Groups

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A Scottish miner walking home with a brace of pheasants bumped into the landowner. “This is my land and those are my pheasants so hand them over,” said the laird. “Oh aye, and where did you get the land from?” asked the miner. “From my father. It’s been in the family for more than 400 years,” said the laird. “And how did your family get it?, said the miner. “Well, er, they fought for it,” said the laird. Said the miner, “Take your jacket off and I’ll fight you for it now.”

The story is apocryphal and only slightly true. For Andy Wightman in his latest book, The Poor Had No Lawyers, shows that the land of Scotland was often appropriated by sleight of legal hand and retained over the centuries through power and influence. The land grab began with the Crown continued with the Church and breached new boundaries with the Reformation, legal reforms and the irresistible power of the landed aristocracy.

The poor didn’t stand a chance. Not only had they no lawyers, but they spoke no Latin and were not in the habit of travelling to Edinburgh to check on the title deeds of the nobility, let alone get down to London to see how the aristocracy – including the Royal Family – manipulated successive governments to secure their

often doubtful acquisitions and transactions.

When Andy Wightman tried to find out who actually owned the land in Scotland today he entered a maze of legalistic subterfuge, in spite of the fact that Scotland has the earliest land registers in the world.

His latest book is a triumph of research – years of work distilled into a comprehensive, sometimes complicated but always readable account of exactly how the rich came by their wealth and how they have maintained by manipulation of the tax system, let alone property and inheritance laws.

Wightman will talk about his work, and his views of land reform at Eastgate Theatre on Thursday 5 February at, 7.30pm. The event explores why land matters in Scotland today. Wightmen’s talk will cover the history of land and how it shaped and continues to shape life in urban and rural Scotland and include discussion of the Scottish Government’s proposed of land reform programme.

The event is the first in a winter series presented by the local environmental group, Tweedgreen. This

community organisation works towards a self-sustaining Tweeddale, promoting local food & sustainable transport, encouraging local energy generation and reducing energy use and waste.

During its first five years, Tweedgreen has run the 50:50 food project, an eco-driving project, cycling campaigns, annual energy fairs, insulation workshops and Carbon Conversations. Members are now running an Ecoheroes project in primary schools and, with Peebles Community Trust, is promoting the use of locally sourced wood fuel. When the weather is better, they will work to establish a plot of land off Dean’s Wynd as a Community Garden.

To join Tweedgreen, come to the talk on February 5th or watch this space for further details.

Land Matters


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For professional help callTrevor Keen on 07795 102273 or

Martin McCullough on 07968 064570

For professional help callTrevor Keen on 07795 102273 or

Martin McCullough on 07968 064570

www.impactlandscapes.orgwww.impactlandscapes.org

TIME TO TIDYTHE GARDEN?TIME TO TIDY

THE GARDEN?

Winter tidy upsOdd jobs

Landscaping& planning

for the Spring

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The BridgeLatest news from The Bridge Tweeddale

The Bridge is part of a national network of Councils for Voluntary Service. We aim to represent and support the voluntary sector and to assist local organisations to get together for common purposes. We look to enable local people to gain access to decision-making processes which affect their lives and their communities.

TWEEDDALE THRIFT SHOP INNERLEITHENOne of the services delivered by The Bridge is the Thrift Shop in Innerleithen. We are very proud of the shop and the service it provides; retailing recycled goods; offering volunteering opportunities; providing a valuable meeting point for local people; and raising much needed cash to support Tweed Wheels, our Community Transport service in Tweeddale. Many of you will be loyal to the Charity Shops in Peebles but please do consider donating items and shopping in the Thrift Shop in Innerleithen as, by doing so, you will be directly supporting the local community.

Which leads nicely on to…………

Save the date! Pass It on Week is comingZero Waste Scotland is launching a new national re-use awareness week called Pass it on Week. This will take place from 7th to 15th March 2015. They’re encouraging individuals, workmates,

schools, colleges, universities, communities and organisations to hold events that spread the word that re-use is the new recycling, and second hand is not second best. Pass it on Week can be about swapping, and getting people to trade things they don’t want any more for things that they do. It can be about upcycling, and turning something tired into something inspired. It can be about repair, and getting the bug for fixing things again. It can be about borrowing, and setting up a ‘library of things’ like tools and equipment that people can borrow and return. To chat to a member of the Zero Waste Scotland team about any aspect of Pass it on Week, please drop an email to Kim Young at [email protected]

IF YOU CAN DRIVE, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!Regular readers will know that we are always looking to recruit new drivers for Tweed Wheels, our Community Transport Initiative. We are particularly keen to do so just now as our regular pool of drivers has depleted somewhat recently. The more drivers we have the more we are able to support the people in our communities who rely on us so, if you want to do something useful and you have some spare time and enjoy driving, why not consider becoming one of our volunteer drivers?

You can drive for local community groups, using our

15-seater wheelchair accessible minibus, or for individuals, with our 6-seater wheelchair accessible community car. We will provide you with appropriate training and support and out-of-pocket expenses and you will be free to drive as often or as little as you wish. Half-day training courses take place regularly. To find out more contact Rosa or Anne at here at The Bridge at the number below or by email: [email protected] .

Glossary of TermsWhen I first joined The Bridge over two years ago I entered a world of acronyms and strange terminology! Now that I’m getting to know what some of it means I thought it would be good to share this with readers of Peebles Life. So I am covering a few terms each month and hope that some of you will find it helpful if not enlightening! The following terms relate to three of the most common legal structures for community and voluntary groups:

Legal structure An essential part of the framework of all organisations. A legal structure combines an organisation’s legal form - the type of organisation it is in the eyes of the law, and governing document - how it plans to work and govern itself.

Community Interest Company (CIC)A new type of company introduced in 2005 designed


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for social enterprises that want to use their profits and assets for the public good. CICs are intended to be easy to set up, with all the flexibility and certainty of the company form, but with some special features to ensure they are working for the benefit of the community. A community interest company is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

Please call The Bridge if you want to find out more about this legal structure and others.

FundingThe Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has a new grant website called Funding Scotland. It lists over 800 records of funds which help Scottish projects. It’s a simple process to register and use of the resource is free. Go to http://www.fundingscotland.com/.

SERVICED OFFICE SPACES AVAILABLE.The Volunteer Resource Centre is the office base for the staff of The Bridge. Within the building we provide serviced office spaces at competitive rates for local community and voluntary organisations. This includes desk space, access to meeting rooms and part-time reception. We currently have two desk spaces available. Please get in touch for more details.

Til next time…….Graham

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you wish to advertise an event we are happy to display posters, preferably no bigger than A4, in our windows. The Bridge Tweeddale offers reduced rates to its members but is here to support all community not-for-profit groups and can be contacted at:

The Volunteer Resource Centre, School Brae, High Street, Peebles EH45 8AL.Opening Hours: 9.30am – 1pm, Tuesday to Friday.

Tel: 01721 723123 Email: [email protected] Web: www.the-bridge.uk.net

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If you are thinking of renting out your property then please give us a call, our management fee starts as low as 9% of the monthly rental.

18 Northgate, Peebles EH45 8RS Tel: 01721 721 550

E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.accommodate-rural.com

PROPERTIES REQUIRED

TENANTS WAITING

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Retreats Online

Mindfulness Training Scottish Borders

Elaine Henderson 01896 [email protected]

www.livemindfully.co.uk


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Awards for All grant for Peeblesshire Beekeepers AssociationThe extreme winters of 2 & 3 years ago were disastrous for local bees: a check of local beekeepers in spring 2013 found 80% of our bee colonies had died out. That summer, beekeepers had managed to keep their bees going, but by the autumn of 2013, there was still a dire local shortage. Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association decided that we needed to rebuild the bee population in this area. We also need to encourage people to start beekeeping, and not to be put off by the start-up cost. So some outside help was needed, and Awards for All came to the rescue. We were delighted to be awarded almost £10,000 to allow us to set up an Association apiary, and stock it with hives, bees and equipment.

Spring is just around the corner, and we’re planning for the new beekeeping season: we’ll be running a beginner’s course, stocking the apiary, and providing mentors for people starting beekeeping. We especially want to involve people who might want to take up beekeeping and who have the time to devote to it, but want to minimise or spread the cost of starting up.

Of course lots of people are happy to be Bee supporters, but don’t actually want to keep bees themselves. We can provide beekeepers to come along to speak to local

groups or schools etc, and can arrange for interested individuals or groups to have a look at a working beehive.

We have already been offered one possible apiary site, and we’d be delighted to hear about any other suitable sites – quiet, secure and accessible by vehicle.

Our next meeting is on 24th February - a chance to meet local beekeepers and put your questions about beekeeping to our local experts.

Our first event is on 28th February, a day course on Beginning Beekeeping, held at the Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles.

Further information is on the Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association website, www.peeblesbeekeepers.org.uk or contact the Secretary, Mandy

Clydesdale on 01721 720 563.

Events:

24th February: Peebles Beekeepers Hat Night: queries about beekeeping answered by our panel of experienced beekeepers!

28th February: All-day course, “Beginning Beekeeping”

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Peebles Community Centre Welcome to the monthly newsletter from Peebles Community Centre (Drill Hall) Walkershaugh, Peebles.

Peebles Community Centre is available for bookings every day with a caretaker present on site Monday to Friday 9am-1pm. Rooms can accommodate meetings, conferences, training, activity clubs, parties and functions for users of all ages. The facility offers disabled access, toilets, use of 140 chairs and 34 tables (large and small) and has a variety of rooms which can be set up in a variety of layouts including:Large Hall (approx 24m x 15m) which is used regularly for sports groups and fitness activities as well as parties and functions. There is access to badminton nets, table tennis equipment, indoor bowling and curling as well as a pool table and a dartboard. This room can also be set up for a more formal occasion and can comfortably seat 100 people.Room 1 is bright and spacious and is therefore ideal for group activities and can accommodate up to 30

people and has adjacent storage facilities for regular user groups. In addition we now have installed a large drop-down screen, projector and speakers which enhances the facility for conferences meetings and demonstrations.The fully fitted kitchen with serving hatches open to the lounge and hall areas has a modern layout with a central island designed for demonstrations, a hot water boiler, microwave, fridge and kettle. The gas cooker features 6 rings and has a large oven with grill. A comfortable Lounge area is available for a variety of occasions, with seating around tables for up to 40 people and access to the kitchenMeeting Rooms that can seat 20 people are also available and the Centre also boasts a Computer Suite, soon to be upgraded, that is available for adult education classes, however it can also be booked on request. The Centre has additional spaces available and our caretaker can

be contacted on 01721 720975 to discuss your requirements in more detail. Adult Learning ClassesOur Adult Learning Classes that take place within the Community Centre are designed to support individuals and groups become successful and confident through a learning process designed to enhance their personal, work, family and community lives. Please contact our Adult Learner worker Margaret Smail on 01721 720975/726903 for more detailsParents as Early Education Partners (PEEP)Regular PEEP Babies (0-1yrs) and PEEP Ones (1-2yrs) meet every Monday morning between 10am-1045am and 11am-1145am, this is followed by our Lunch Club which takes place between 12am – 1pm. PEEP is for parents/carers and young babies to enhance their


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children’s learning from birth by making the most of everyday learning opportunities. More details from Margaret Smail on 01721 720975/726903Community Centre Drop-in sessions Friday Group Drop-inOur established Friday Drop-in sessions (1-4pm) for active semi-retired and retired ladies and gentlemen is still gaining strength and it is particularly nice to see some more ladies attending on a regular basis. The Walking Football team members also meet here every Friday and are looking for other teams in the area and beyond to take part in organised games over the winter months. If you would like to join the Friday Group but not necessarily take part in walking football there are other activities of interest on offer including indoor bowls, indoor curling, badminton, pool, darts as well as a wide variety of board games. For more details contact Graham in the Community Centre on 01721 720975 or 07881842807 Open Doors – our new drop-in projectOpen Doors our brand new learning drop-in project is now up and running. It is designed to offer members of the local community an opportunity to partake in, or to get more information on Adult Learning

Opportunities, Information Technology Support, Basic Computing and much more. In addition there will be refreshments available for a small charge, and the sessions will take place every Thursday morning between 10-12.30 commencing on Thursday 22nd January 2015. Junior Youth ClubThe Community Centre hosts a Junior Youth Club (8-12yr olds) every Monday night between 6-7.30pm during school term time. For more details call Graham Easton on 01721 720975. There is room for any new members to take up the opportunity of attending the club and it would be great to see some new faces.For information on any of these items and any other enquiries including hall/room hire charges please ring 01721 720975.Other Information• We are pleased to

announce that we are in the final stages of installing an overhead projector with a large drop down screen, complete with audio sound. This will be ideal for presentations and meetings as well as showing films and will be available for use towards the end of February.

• The House Management Committee would like to pass on their thanks to Jane McGarry at the Age Scotland shop for her continued support in supplying and stocking our many and varied books within the Centre. These books are free but people are asked to either return them when they have finished with them or to replace them, this ensures that others can benefit from the facility.

• Lastly, a reminder that the Annual Poultry Show takes place over the weekend of 21/22 February within the main hall.

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49

Peebles PortraitsDave Hodson

Kenneth Martin Photography, Unit 1 Silverbirch Studios, Cavalry Park, Peebles

01721 724044 www.kennethmartinphotography.com

From last month’s lifelong Peeblean, this month we turn to a more recent arrival in town though one who is certainly making his mark amongst the youngsters. Growing up in the Peterborough area, Dave Hodson would be the first to admit that he wasn’t the most perfect of children but firmly believes that his experience has put him in a great position to work as Project Manager for Tweeddale Youth Action, an organisation which aims to engage with teenagers in the area.

Leaving school at 16 with only a swimming certificate to his name, Dave took a job as a “dish pig” in a local Italian restaurant which he describes as his salvation. Having been running with a pretty bad crowd, he found he no longer had time for mischief and that he enjoyed the discipline of a working kitchen. Dave rose to the position of commis chef before deciding that he wanted to move somewhere bigger. Dismissing London as being too close and the North (beyond Birmingham) as being too scary, Dave settled on Dublin and with one night’s accommodation booked and no job, he moved. He describes Dublin as being a chef’s paradise in the mid 90’s with the economy booming and chefs in high demand. Finding a job at the Boulevard Café within 24 hours, he rose to sous chef within a year and, at the age of 22, found himself running the restaurant in the head chef’s absence. During this time, Dave had met Jill, originally from Peebles, and the pair decided a change was in order so, once again with no concrete

plans, and despite Dave not speaking French, they moved to Montpelier for a few months before returning to Dublin.

Having married in Peebles in 2002 and with the arrival of daughter, Kate, the couple decided to return to the town to raise their family which soon grew to include son, Sean. Dave worked in Edinburgh before joining the new venture at the Courthouse and then moving on to the Leadburn. It was here Dave had what he describes as an epiphany. Throughout his career in restaurants, he had always enjoyed bringing on younger chefs and felt his experience could be used to work with young offenders. Talking his way onto a working with communities course at Stevenson College (the first to be accepted with no formal qualifications) Dave began volunteering with Peeblesshire Youth Trust as a mentor, going on to join Tweeddale Youth Action as a sessional worker before being appointed as manager earlier this year. He adores working with young people and loves engaging them in the kitchen, with a particular highlight being organising and running a barbeque as part of the Joint Churches Day in August this year where 12 of the group managed to feed 1000 people despite some awful weather conditions. With drop in sessions twice a week as well as group work, individual meetings, day trips and volunteering opportunities, TYA is going from strength to strength, recently adding an extra member of staff to the team of 5. One group is currently working on a film project whilst regular live music

nights are also planned to add to the weekly jams in the recording studio. As Dave says, he was fortunate to have made the journey from his disengaged roots and relishes the chance to offer this same opportunity to others.

Turning to Peebles, he loves the strong sense of community and the feeling of being part of that community. He also loves that there is a sense of safety in the town, though he does admit that makes him feel a little “soft” when he heads back to his home town. Dave believes Peebles is a great place to bring up children though, just occasionally, he misses the buzz and hubbub of city life. In terms of change, he would like to see the plans for a skate park put into action as he feels that that particular group of youngsters have put a lot of hard work into this project.

The topic of who Dave admires is easy as he quickly cites Jamie Oliver, not for his cooking ability, but rather for his work with young people and particularly the concept of his “15” restaurants. He admires his ethos and that Jamie puts his money where his mouth is.

Finally we turn to the Portrait’s secret which Dave believes to be the fact that he used to have long hair which he wishes he had shaved off years before he did as he would have saved a fortune in shampoo. We believe it might be that his kitchen Italian is nearly fluent which would probably make the dockers of Naples blush!

Jacqui

Kenneth Martin Photography, Unit 1 Silverbirch Studios, Cavalry Park, Peebles

01721 724044 www.kennethmartinphotography.com

52


A well planned dismantling of the Christmas Lights on Sunday 4th January went to schedule, with the lights now safely stored away. The Association Committee would like to thank everyone that assisted in any of many ways.We appreciate the many individuals, businesses, voluntary organisations, musicians, bands that participated and supported the Association over the festive period.The continued support of our Main Sponsor, So Stobo has been instrumental in adding to and improving our display.Our list includes:-Beltane Queen Alice Bryce and a well known figure in red and white who successfully switched on the lights as well as the Round Table who assisted Santa’s arrival without the need for snow.The Tontine Hotel for the use of steps and square as the focal point for the

Big Switch On.The Funfair Rides – Hornes Pleasure FairsPeebles Bell Ringers, Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band, The Peebles Burgh Silver Band, In Chorus, StrumashWhitie’s, Tony Storey, Tontine Hotel, Elmbank, Stobo Castle and Kingsland School who stocked our cards, advent calendars and baubles.Premises which supplied power to some parts of the display including Castle Warehouse, Cocoa Black, Couchee Righ, Two Rivers, Peebles Masons, Dunnydeer Pottery, and the many businesses that supported us in other ways. (See how many of our support stickers you can spot around the town).The Guides who rattled their money buckets on the switch on night.A very big thank you for those that turned out on the Sunday mornings to assist with the erection and

dismantling of the display, and to the ladies that supplied the mid morning hot soup and beverages and Ramblers for the excellent coffee and bacon rolls. The Callants for the ongoing support they have pledged.Although it is over for this winter, the story does not end there. Throughout the year, committee members will be engaged in repair, refurbishment and extension projects, as well as fund raising activities, including Coffee Morning on 26th September in the Ex-Servicemen’s Club and there will be a Christmas Card competition, to be announced shortlyAs with all voluntary organisations, we would welcome new members and new ideas for 2015.Please contact our secretary Anne Snoddy - [email protected] or 01721 722882Once again many thanks for all who participated; It has been a real community achievement.

Peebles Christmas Lights Association

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POLITICAL PAGEGavin LoganCouncillor for Tweeddale East0300 100 [email protected]

There was a very lively debate at the December meeting of the Scottish Borders Council when we debated whether the Great Tapestry of Scotland should be housed in a purpose built building at Tweedbank. I am a member of the Conservative opposition group and we argued strongly that to spend six million pounds of taxpayer’s money (£3.5m. of Council Taxpayers money and £2.5m. of Scottish taxpayer’s money) was poor value given an opaque business case which was prepared by Jura Consultants at a cost to the Council of over forty thousand pounds. It was unfortunate that this expensive document did not mention that every tapestry that it highlighted ran at a loss and the building that housed one had to close down for the winter months. It is worth noting that at the moment the Great Tapestry of Scotland is in storage which suggests that there may not be a great demand after all. It is also a fact that no other Local Authority in Scotland is willing to commit to financing this adventure. Another compatible venture, the Scottish Centre of Textiles, was given short shrift by the tapestry trustees and by the leader of the Council when they suggested a joint initiative.

There does seemed to be a blinkered determination that

the tapestry should be housed in an Industrial Estate next to a railway siding. Unfortunately it is a fact that before the business plan was even produced Alex Salmond, the then First Minister, and David Parker, the Council Leader, announced that the tapestry would be housed in a purpose built building at Tweedbank. It is obvious that this was a SNP give away before the Referendum. The Border folk are not so daft as to be influenced with such an obvious stunt as the Referendum result clearly demonstrated.

It was disgraceful that the Council SNP/Lib.Dems/Independent administration had to force this proposal through against the wishes of some of their members. A Tweeddale portfolio holder was quoted in the local press saying among other things that this massive investment at Tweedbank could backfire and that things might well go wrong. So there you have it. Two Hawick councillors, Stuart Marshall and Watson McAteer, at least had the integrity to resign from the administration and become truly independent and will be independents in the opposition. This is by no means the first time the Council Leadership has resorted to such tactics

and I suppose it will not be the last. When there is such an emotive scheme surely there should be consultation with the public. However we should not be surprised given there was no public consultation prior to the Garden Waste debacle or the Asymmetric week decision. A lack of consultation brings a lack of democracy.

If the Council is serious about promoting tourism in the Borders where better than Innerleithen and the AimUp project. Tweeddale has become a world destination for all the different cycling disciplines. There would be a synergy between AimUP, Glentress, Tweedlove, Tour o’ the Borders etc. with all the add on benefits to the local economy. Over a hundred jobs are envisaged along with a huge increase in trade to the hotel and B&B businesses. One of the great advantages that AimUp and Tweeddale as a whole will have over the tapestry is that people will keep coming back and bring even more people with them. So there is no doubt in my mind that the Administration is backing the wrong horse at Tweedbank and should put its money on Innerleithen and AimUP.

Gavin Logan

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The 2015 British Mountain Bike Marathon Championships are again to be staged over a challenging 75 km single lap course in the Scottish Borders, as part of the ever popular Selkirk Mountain Bike Marathon open cycling event, on Saturday 2 May 2015.

A British Cycling Spokesman said: “We are delighted to be working with Durty Events once again. Selkirk has rapidly become the home of the British Mountain Bike Marathon Championships in recent years, and has established a fine reputation for the excellence of its trails and the high standard of event infrastructure.”

Award winning Selkirk based event organisers, Durty Events, who have staged the Selkirk MTB Marathon since 2013, are also pleased to announce National Events Programme funding from EventScotland, Scotland’s

national events agency, to support the staging of this prestigious event.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for mountain biking with all disciplines catered for amongst some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.

The British Mountain Bike Marathon Championships will see some of the country’s top riders compete in the Scottish Borders, with amateur riders also given the chance to test themselves along the three single loop courses.”

With a choice of three single-loop and fully marked courses (approx.

British MTB Championships Returns to the Scottish Borders

Photos Ian Linton

www.ianlinton.co.uk


5925km, 50km and 75km), all setting off from Selkirk High Street, the Selkirk MTB Marathon is an epic ride through the best trails the Scottish Borders has to offer, something for families, novices, intermediates, enthusiasts and racing snakes alike. All three courses are filled with a mix of flowy natural and man made singletrack, twin-track forest roads, ancient drove roads, lung and thigh busting climbs and grin-inducing descents - ‘real’ mountain biking. Riders will visit the valleys of the Rivers Tweed, Yarrow and Ettrick with stunning views across the Scottish Borders guaranteed.

The 2015 British MTB Marathon Championships will be run as a separate ‘wave’ start shortly before the ‘sportive’ events begin. It will be raced over the single lap 75km course that also includes some of the man-made trail centre downhill tracks at Innerleithen Trail Centre. It is open to male and female riders (19+) who are British citizens and hold a full British Cycling or UCI recognised racing licence. Coveted red, white and blue British Championships winner’s jerseys will be up for grabs in both male and female classes.

Paul McGreal of Durty Events said: “We’re really chuffed to have been asked to organise the British Championships alongside the Selkirk Mountain Bike Marathon again. With the best trails the Scottish Borders has to offer and the most popular and challenging course in the UK we are keen to challenge riders of all abilities whilst making sure that they have the maximum amount of fun at the same time.

“The additional financial support from EventScotland will make an enormous difference to both the marathon events and our family Bike Festival in Selkirk on the first of May.”

On the evening of Friday 1 May

2015 Durty Events are taking over the centre of Selkirk and will turn it over to a free festival of two-wheeled mayhem for all the family. From 19:00 to 21:00 The Selkirk Bike Festival will be staged on the High Street with an action packed programme that includes bike stunt displays, head to head Rolalpolluza style racing, Bike film screenings, a Pump Track and a mountain bike obstacle course.

To round off the weekend in style The Selkirk MTB Marathon and The British MTB Marathon Championships will be followed up by ‘The Reivers Raid’, the fourth round of the Scottish MTB Challenge Series (mtb orienteering) on Sunday 3 May 2015 - www.smbo.org.uk/.

The British MTB Marathon Championships and the Selkirk MTB Marathon will take place on Saturday 1 May 2015. Entry fees (including camping) are:

British MTB Marathon Championships (age 19+) - £45

Selkirk MTB Marathon - 25km (age 16+) / 50km (age 16+) 75km (age 18+) - £35.

Selkirk MTB Marathon - Entry on the day (subject to availability) - £40.

12-15 year olds ride for free over the 25km course but must be accompanied by a full price entry adult.

Online entry is via www.entrycentral.com

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While ground conditions had been very good into the new year, frost and snow have put paid to matches at all levels of the Club.

A good win against Aberdeen Grammar, against two narrow defeats to Biggar and high flyers GHA sees the 1stXV remain just in the top half of BT National League 1, and with the next few scheduled matches due to be against opposition either level or below them in the league, hopes are high of climbing a couple of places over the next month. The 2ndXV remain at the top of BT Reserve League East 1, albeit by a single point, although with a game in hand. With the likely crunch match against

second placed Boroughmuir not scheduled until March, they will hope to open up a bit of daylight between the two teams over the next month.

Both youth teams in the Club had very good months to secure top four places in their respective leagues. With wins over nearest rivals Selkirk Youth Club and Kelso Harlequins, the Colts were able to secure fourth place by the cut off and are due to travel through to Glasgow to play Allan Glens Colts in the quarterfinal of the Under 18 National Youth League Bowl. The Under 16’s also succeeded by finishing third in the Border Under 16 League and are due to host Highland Under 16’s in the quarterfinal of the Under 16 National Youth League Bowl. This is an excellent result for both of the Club’s youth squads to be in the top 16 of their respective agegroups.

Again, the High School’s fixtures have fallen foul of the weather with no matches yet played since starting back from the Christmas holidays, and they will be hoping for some

milder and drier weather to get back out onto the pitches.

The Piranhas meanwhile start back at Hay Lodge Park on Sunday 22nd February, from 10am until 11.30am. Any boy or girl of primary age, interested in rugby, should go along on that date. Alternatively, contact me for more information.

As ever, full details of all matches at all levels, including kick off times, can be found on the Club’s website – www.peeblesrfc.org Should any readers be interested in learning more about the Rugby Club and rugby for all ages in the Peebles area, please do not hesitate to contact me using any of the avenues below.

George BlairPeebles RFC Development

OfficerT - 07801 791253

E - [email protected] - www.peeblesrfc.orgT - @PeeblesRugbyDev

Peebles Rugby Clubwww.peeblesrfc.org

Contact Linda for information about advertising in Peebles Life on 01896 831011 or [email protected].

www.peebleslife.com


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Index of Advertisers

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Peebles Life February 2015

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