Celebrating Our Past: 60 Years of the NHS in the Scottish Borders

The National Health Service celebrated its 60th anniversary on 5 July 2008.

To mark this important milestone, NHS Borders is touring an exhibition, “Celebrating Our Past – 60 years of the NHS within the Borders area.” The exhibition outlines the history of the NHS within the Borders and includes fascinating medical memorabilia from the last 60 years.

Following visits to Peebles, Eyemouth, Duns, Hawick and Kelso, the exhibition will return to the Chaplaincy Centre at the Borders General Hospital, Melrose, for the remainder of 2008.

For further information, download our pdf brochure and visit http://www.nhsborders.org.uk.

A new sports website for the Scottish Borders has officially been launched.

Funded by Scottish Borders Council (SBC), the Sportborders site will now be the main source of information for all areas of sport in the region.

Visitors to the site can access a wide range of information including sports news, photo galleries, holiday programmes, event calendars and active schools information. In addition, the site offers a quick and free registration process for coaches, leaders and volunteers to become members of the site and gain access to:

• Details of training courses
• Regular updates about new coaching posts
• Various documents, forms and guides
• Links to other useful websites
• Advice and guidance
• The ability to communicate with other coaches, athletes and volunteers across the Borders.

SBC’s Executive Member of Sport, Culture and Community Education, Councillor Graham Garvie launched the site and explained his enthusiasm for the resource: “We already have a great supply of coaches in the Borders who work all year round to motivate, sustain and develop athletes of all ages and abilities across the Borders. Through this website, we hope that we can build on this and create a database of coaches, leaders and volunteers – so we can specially suggest coach education and development pathways to build upon our great success record here in our region.”

Scottish Borders Coaching Network Development Officer, Debra Martin is keen for everyone in the Borders to get online: “We truly believe this resource will develop sport across the region and encourage people to get involved and improve their skills and abilities. With its specific target focus, the site has something for everyone including parents, volunteers, coaches, leaders and running sport members who support and develop the local sporting events, clubs and organisations. We look forward to hearing what people think and take on board views to ensure we can accommodate all the needs and desires of the public into the future.”

SBC employees are trained to update the site and an overall site manager will ensure the site is continuously refreshed.

 

Sportborders follows in the footsteps of several other areas who have established very successful websites with similar purposes and functions including – Coaching Edinburgh, Coaching Highland, Sport Tayside and Fife and Active Glasgow.

Photograph: SBC’s Executive member for Sport, Culture and Community Education Councillor Graham Garvie navigates his way around the new website with Debra Martin the Scottish Borders Coaching Network Development Officer.

http://www.sportborders.org.uk

Best of the Borders Awards 2008

The best of the Borders was showcased at this year’s prestigious Scottish Borders Awards as the achievements of many Borderers were recognised. The event is all about celebrating achievement, good work and what the Scottish Borders has to offer.

Seven winners from a diverse range of businesses and organisations were presented with stunning handcrafted trophies made in the Borders by sculptor Sam Wade, and were cheered to the rafters by an audience of over 400 guests at the Springwood Hall, Kelso on Friday, 3 October.

They also received a range of prizes donated by local companies.

The gala dinner and awards ceremony, whose main sponsor was THUS, was hosted by broadcaster and Borders favourite, Jill Douglas, who presided over a programme packed with entertainment.

Talented young members of local music group Riddell Fiddles expertly entertained guests at the drinks reception, which was sponsored by Image Estates.

The keynote address was given by General Sir Mike Jackson who regaled guests with many interesting tales of his first hand experiences from front-lines around the world. His illustrious career includes commanding at Company and Brigade level in Northern Ireland, as a Divisional Commander in Bosnia, and as a Corps Commander in Macedonia and Kosovo.

Nigel Brown who is a partner in the St. Boswells veterinary practice of Reed, Brown & Cameron provided light hearted after dinner entertainment.

Patrick Haynes, Senior Client Director at main sponsors THUS, a Cable&Wireless business, said of the event: “I am sure that all who attended the awards ceremony were impressed by the quality and diversity of the finalists and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We offer our congratulations to those that triumphed and wish all the companies and organisations well in their future endeavours.”

The seven winners were:

Business of the Year – Award for Business Excellence, sponsored by New Ways: GB Telecom (Scotland) Ltd

Award for Best Community Project, sponsored by Sykes Global Solutions: Newcastleton Community First Responders

Award for Innovation in Environmental Improvement, sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission: Plastic Bag Free Selkirk

Award for Excellence in Skills and Learning, sponsored by Heriot Watt University, learndirect Scotland and Borders College: Plexus Corp (UK) Limited

Award for Promoting Health and Wellbeing, sponsored by Borders Sport and Leisure Trust: Burnfoot Community School

Award for Best Use of IT in a Tourism-related Business, sponsored by THUS: The Wheatsheaf, Swinton

Award for Young Ambassador, sponsored by TESCO:Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (Iona Stevenson & Liam Beattie).

Photos: Derek Lunn

Alasdair Hutton, Convenor of Scottish Borders Council said:

“I am delighted to be back at this annual celebration of the excellence achieved in the Scottish Borders. This is the sixth year we have presented these awards and the quality of the entrants increases every year.

These awards are about local leadership, providing examples of good leadership in business and in the voluntary sector, in training our young people and in helping our communities to stay vibrant.

I am also delighted that this year we are able to welcome our guest speaker, General Mike Jackson, one of the foremost leaders in their field in Scotland and one of the British Army’s most recognisable figures. A warm welcome also to our main sponsor THUS, a UK-focussed business telephone communications company at the forefront of the industry, and recently acquired by Cable and Wireless”

As well as great entertainment and a superb meal, guests received a range of “Our Scottish Borders” postcards and a Business Gateway USB memory stick (for more information on Business Gateway, click here)

A prize draw was held in aid of the NHS 60th Anniversary Appeal – “the difference”, with a prize of dinner, bed and breakfast at Burt’s Hotel, donated by Borders Banquet, and raised raised £2,554 for this worthwhile cause.

The Awards were also supported by Strategy Point, Kelso Graphics, Whitadder Sailing Centre, Cross Keys Hotel & Macdonald Hotels, Burt’s Hotel, James McLean Trust, Ahlstrom, Meigle Print and The Southern Reporter

For more information, and for photos of the event, contact Sarah Glendinning on 01835 826542,sglendinning@scotborders.gov.uk

The 7th Borders Banquet, a 10-day celebration of the best restaurants, the best chefs and the best locally produced ingredients available in the Scottish Borders, is taking place from 7th – 16th November.
Specially prepared menus and events showcasing the finest local produce and eateries are expected to be more popular than ever.

The Scottish Borders can boast some of the best fish, game, beef and lamb in Scotland. Not to mention the succulent fruit and freshest vegetables.

The establishments taking part will be making the most of seasonal ingredients. There will be something to tempt every taste, from mouth-watering gourmet dining with wine tasting in award winning restaurants to scrumptious afternoon tea in the picturesque surroundings of the many delightful hotels and cafés.?
Why not make the most of your trip by staying for a day or two? There is everything from luxury country house hotels to welcoming B&Bs to rest your weary limbs and full bellies. Remember to bring your camera: autumn is a beautiful time of year in the Scottish Borders.

If you’re looking for culinary inspiration, take a visit to www.bordersbanquet.co.uk. There you will find recommendations for cook books, details of our food websites and delicious recipes featuring local produce.
Book your table today to make sure you don’t miss out and enjoy the very best of the Scottish Borders at the Borders Banquet from 7th – 16th November.