BRIDGE CLUB

RECENT results: 1, P. Gilligan and M. Millar; 2, V. Johnstone and R. Francombe; 3, R. Goldie and McLeod; 4, P. Young and J. Beedle; 5 (equal), M. Crawford and M. Hearth and M. Bishop and M. Henderson.

50+ WALKING GROUP

ON JULY 6, 15 members left Ewes Hall for the annual 'Cream Teas' walk. The group took the Stennieswater Forest access road from Bush Farm, followed the Meikledale Burn past Bush Cottage and Rigfoot to Burn Grains. There the track started to rise to Jock's Hope, winding through Black Grain and Thacky Sike, before walkers finally reached the height at Stennie's march.

The group then turned southward, following the fence over Broad Head. In sharp contrast to the glorious day of the February walk, the weather had not turned decidedly dreich. A cold driving drizzle seeing even the die-hards donning their waterproofs. The trees on the fringe of the Stennieswater Forest provided shelter for the ???? on Wolfhope Head.

The amount of rain during the past four weeks was evident in the moss as walkers followed the fence, now between Bush and Westerhall Estate, until crossing onto Sorbie on the rig. From here, walkers followed steep tracks contouring Great Muir, after which a banana stop in Hare Hope gave members views down the lower Ewes Valley in weather which was now more clement as the sun shone on Glendivan and Hoghill.

The final descent down down Brieryshaw Hill brought walkers to Ewes Kirk, where the cars were parked, and so to the highlight of the day – the cream teas.

ROTARY CLUB


After the monthly council meeting, president Keith Bird introduced Rotarian Jim Walker, whose informative and at times humorous talk on housing issues saw him outlining the main aspects of his role with Eildon Housing, with whom he gained a great deal of satisfaction when helping tenants with their problems.

Jim, who started his working life as a painter and decorator with his father's business, produced several old tenant housing handbooks and read extracts from some of them. The rules and regulations of many years ago were somewhat different than they are nowadays, remarked Jim. Though there were still many families living in rented properties, it was up to their landlords to maintain standards that were fair to all, explained Jim. Over the years successive governments had brought in various housing acts and there were differing views on the success or otherwise of some of this legislation. President Bird proposed the vote of thanks.

Due to several members being on holiday the bowls competition at the Wilton club on July 31 has been cancelled.

The golf tournament at Minto on August 7 is going ahead. There will be a meal in the clubrooms afterwards followed by a golf dice competition.

Committees for the new Rotary year are as follows: Vocational and community service committee – Convener Robin Mason, Watson McAteer, Liz Wood, Norman-Elliott-Walker, Derek Lunn, John Thorburn, Douglas Blackman and Tommy Mulvee. Foundation committee – Convener Billy McWatters, Robert Cairns, Iain Smith, Jack Swanston, Kerr Scott and Archie Purves. International service committee – Convener Jim Walker, Sandy Bannerman, Ron Laidlaw, Andrew Suddon, Ian Welch, Ron Smith and Ron Sutherland. Membership – Gus Neilson (378768).

The £450 proceeds of the recent coffee morning have been sent to Rotary headqurters as a donation towards Rotary's own 'Foundation' charity. These funds are invested for three years and the interest accrued is used for many humanitarian purposes both local and international.

For more information on Hawick Rotary Club contact rhs@ellistrin.com or log on to www.hawickrotary.com