60 YEARS AGO
MOTORCYCLE ON FIRE: What might have been a really serious fire occurred on Wednesday night when a motorcycle belonging to Mr Ian Clarkson went on fire when he was kick-starting it in the Crown Garage. The petrol went up in flames. The
re are several cars in the garage, and had the police not dragged the burning bike into the Crown Lane there is no saying what might have happened. Soldiers helped by carryinng the fire extinguishers from the Crown Hotel.
SEATS IN DRUMLANRIG SQUARE: It has been agreed by the Town Council to consider the erection of seats for old people, near the monument in Drumlanrig Square.
OVER 1,600 CHILDREN ON MARCH: The Vertish Hill Sports Committee found their choice of date this year for perfect summer weather as over 1,600 children took part in the procession, the spectacle being a decidedly colourful one. English bus parties who happened to be in the town during the proceedings were greatly charmed by the fine turnout of the children.
40 YEARS AGO
"SHOWPIECE" HOUSING APPROVED: A £100,000 housing development in Allars Crescent, approved at yesterday's Dean of Guild Court, may be one of Hawick's "showpieces" – in the words of Councillor Neil Mackay – and will include trees, seats and coloured paving stones and cobbles in a carefully landscaped scheme.
The project, the second phase of the Allars Crescent area redevelopment, will incorporate 32 houses to provide accommodation for about 60 and it is expected that a start will be made in August or September.
WEISZ'S BRAEMAR brief: Mr Otto Weisz, former joint managing director and chief designer of Pringle of Scotland, who retired to the Channel Islands earlier this year, has formed his own fashion consultancy and is to design for Braemar and Ballantyne Sportswear Company.
MILLIONS WILL SEE PIPERS: Hawick Pipe Band will appear in front of 60 million television viewers when they take part in the international "It's a Knockout!" competition which is being televised in Edinburgh. The appearance of the pipers, led by Drum-Major Oliver Angus, is obviously a boost for Hawick as well as the Band, which has been completely re-equipped and with new feather bonnets and blue-and-yellow hackles, is in great demand for all types of functions.
20 YEARS AGO
TEE TIME FOR CHARITY GOLF: A golfing spectacular gets under way at Hawick on Sunday when two of the sport's greatest names join two local champions in a charity match over the Vertish Hill course. The match, co-sponsored by Lyle & Scott and Pringle of Scotland, is in aid of the "Heart Start" Appeal and other charities.
Playing the competitive match will be Tony Jacklin, OBE, British Ryder Cup team captain in 1983-85-87-89 and winner of the Open in 1969 and American Open in 1970. He will be paired with Warren Renwick, the 1988 Border Champion, to comprise the Lyle & Scott team. James Oliver, Hawick junior champion for the past three years, will have the honour to caddy for Jacklin.
The Pringle team comprises present on-form star Nick Faldo, winner of the British Open and American Masters. His partner is the 1988 Hawick club champion Ian Oliver. Pringle frameworker Bruce Lindsay will caddy for Faldo. Up to 5,000 spectators are expected to converge on the Vertish course.
MORE JOB LOSSES: The town has been dealt another jobs blow with Slumberdown announcing 17 redundancies. The news is the latest setback in the current gloomy climate of textile industry job losses and short-time working.
GARDEN ROADSHOW: The popular BBC Television Beechgrove Garden Roadshow, recorded at the leisure centre this week, will be broadcast next Friday night. As well as resident presenters Jim McColl and Carole Baxter, the panel includes parks department foreman Jock Thorburn.
