20 YEARS AGO
NEW OWNER FOR MART: Months of speculation over the future of the Auction Mart have ended with the news that Lanarkshire-based auctioneers, Lawrie and Symington, have made a successful bid. The new owners operate marts in Lanark and Pee
bles and now acquire Oliver's units in Hawick and Edinburgh.
FEAR OF KNITWEAR TRADE RECESSION: As most local firms prepare to shut down for the annual Trades Holiday in three weeks time, a certain amount of gloom has descended on future trading prospects with job losses and short-time announced by Lyle & Scott. The firm, which has a total workforce of about 600 at its Hawick, Kelso and Lesmahagow factories says there has been a substantial downturn in demand for knitwear. As a result 17 employees have been made redundant in Hawick, and a four-day week will be progressively introduced through all three factories.
MINISTER'S VISIT: Sectretary of State for Scotland, Malcolm Rifkind, is due to visit the Borders on July 14 when his itinerary includes a working lunch at the town hall, talks with senior councillors and visits to the Tower Hotel/Backdamgate redevelopments project.
HOSEPIPE BAN: A hosepipe ban will come into force on Saturday in Hawick and most parts of the Borders due to execessive demand for water in the present long dry spell.
40 YEARS AGO
REVIVAL OF SYDNEY CALLANTS' CLUB: An appeal through the local press to people living in New South Wales to get in touch with Mr Alex, Johnstone, one of the most ardent Australian Teries, has led to a most interesting sequel. Secretary of the Hawick Callants' Club, Mr W.G.R Robertson, has had a letter saying during the Common-Riding weekend about 30 exiled Teries had a very happy reunion.
PRINGLE FASHION SHOW AT GOLF "OPEN": For the third successive year, Pringle of Scotland are to stage knitwear fashion presentations at the Open Golf Championship to be held at the Royal Championship to be held at the Royal Lytham and St Anne's Course, Lancashire. The shows have become a popular attraction at the "Open" and this year new staging will be used in the Fashion Theatre, modelled on the set designed for Pringle's successful charity show attended by Princess Margaret in the Savoy Hotel.
60 YEARS AGO:
HIGHLAND SHOW: Her Majesty The Queen visited the Highland Show at Dundee in glorious sunshine and paid particular attention to the exhibit staged by Messrs John Forbes of Hawick. In conversation with Mr Forbes the Queen expressed surprise that such a fine lots of phloxes and pentstemons should be on show so early in the season. It was explained to her Majesty that both species were pot-grown. Attention also focused on the double peonies, delphiniums and lupins shown by Forbes. Her Majesty said it was a most colourful and tastefully arranged exhibit.
FANCY DRESS PARADE: The fancy dress parade organised by the Boys' Brigade attracted considerable attention on Saturday afternoon. It was the first of its kind since pre-war days. The judging took place in the Haugh,and thereafter competitors walked in procession along the High Street towards Volunteer Park. Music was provided by Hawick Saxhorn Band and the Boys' Brigade Pipe Band.
FILM OF THE MONTH: The British Documentary Film Society have chosen the colour film of Hawick (shown at the Odeon in the Common-Riding weeek) as the best documentary of the month.
WEDNESDAY HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR: Temperatures recorded at Messrs Forbes' Nurseries this week have been as follows:- Sunday 66 degrees; Monday, 72; Tuesday, 75; Wednesday, 80; Thursday, 73.
