60 YEARS AGO
BURNFOOT AND A CHURCH: Hawick Presbytery have discussed arrangements for using the site at Burnfoot earmarked for a church. The Home Board of the Church wrote stating that they were negotiating with the Town Clerk regarding the cost of
the site, and they said the time had come for the Presbytery to advise the Assembly Committee what their plan was for the new area, and to consider appointment of an architect. The Clerk said for the next few years they must expect constant migration from the old town of Hawick to the new Hawick, and it was going to be a very important suburb with shops, school, community centre, maybe a cinema and a church.
SATURDAY PICNICS TO SPITTAL: The heatwave ideally suited the picnic parties at the weekend, and hundreds sought the glens, riverside and seaside in search of relaxation and suntan. Sunday school picnics on Saturday were very largely attended. The eleven hundred travelled by train to Tweedmouth. One huge train of 13 coaches left Hawick in the fornoon with picnickers. The Sunday schools represented were West Port, St Mary's, East Bank, St Margaret's and Wilton South, Orrock and Baptist. St Cuthberts Sunday school picnic went to Belses, and Hawick Old Parish to Wilton Burn. Bus traffic was exceptional. Heavy on Sunday, demand was mostly for short distance travel to favourite spots in the district. The Merchants Holiday on Tuesday was also a day of travel for the shopkeeping fraternity. Two busloads of Co-Operative employees travelled to Ayr, and one conveyed the Archaeological Society members to their annual field trip which was to Borthwick Castle, Roslin, Barnton, Dunfermline and Linlithgow.
MOSSTROOPERS' RACE MEETING: A crowd estimated at about 2000 enjoyed excellent racing at the Mosstroopers' meeting for amateur riders at Hawick Moor on Saturday. Those passing through the turnstile numbered 720, and 200 was the approximate number for the paddock.
40 YEARS AGO
COMMON-RIDING BALL TICKETS WERE FORGED: Three Common-Riding Ball tickets for entrance to the Crown Hotel at this year's festival were forged. This was revealed by Provost David Atkinson at last night's Common-Riding Committee meeting.
The Provost said he had been given the name of the individual involved and if there was the slightest possibility of proving the facts which had been given to him, he would have no hesitation in reporting the matter to the police. He added: "This was a dirty, low-down trick to play on the people of Hawick, particularly at that time. I'd like to get the culprit and make an example of him."
CAR ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR ON SUNDAY: Although newspapers always endeavour to present the very "latest" in news, we are happy to take this a stage further by revealing that there will be a car accident in Slitrig Crescent on Sunday, around 2pm.
The "accident" will occur outside the Red Cross headquarters. Members of the public are invited to pop along and see how the "casualties" are dealt with.
UNEMPLOYMENT TOTAL IS LOWEST IN ALMOST THREE YEARS: The total number of unemployed in the Border area last month was the lowest since September, 1966, and with a figure of 0.8 per cent Hawick has the smallest number of unemployed in the area.
NOT A FLOWER PERSON!: A 23-year-old Lynnwood man who plucked a tulip from a flower box at the Tower Knowe traffic island on Common-Riding Saturday, broke the stem and crushed the head of the flower, pleaded guilty at the Burgh Court yesterday to malicious mischief.
20 YEARS AGO
GLOOM AS THE KNITWEAR SLUMP WORSENS: The current slump in the knitwear industry has continued this week with Pringle putting 400 employees on short-time working, 250 of them in Hawick, while the chief of Lyle & Scott the current downturn is the most severe for years.
ACTION ON HAWICK TRAFFIC PROBLEMS: The Scottish Development Department has authorised the Regional Council roads authority to conduct a detailed feasibility study on how to overcome Hawick's serious traffic problems. The survey will be conducted over 16 weeks, commencing next month.
Officials acknowledge there is considerable congestion at North Bridge/Commercial Road junction and a need for suitable alternative routes to reduce vehicle numbers using the high street. Improvements were also needed at the Croft Road-North Bridge Street and Duke Street/Bridge Street junctions.
21ST ANNUAL BURNFOOT CARNVIAL AND SPORTS: The Burnfoot Carnival this year was a special occasion as it marked its 21st anniversary. The Carnival has taken place every year since 1968 and the programme it similar today to the original and earlier Carnivals. On this occasion some events were held on the Saturday as well.
ROYAL VISITOR: Princess Anne, in her capacity as president of the British Knitting and Clothing Export Council, will visit Hawick next Friday to tour the Clan Douglas factory at Princes Street.
FUN RUN: A total of primary six and seven pupils took part in the sixth annual Hawick and Denholm Schools' fun run on Tuesday. A heavy shower of rain failed to dampen the youngsters' enthusiasm when they were officially started from the town hall by councillor Gideon Yellowlees, district council chairman.
