Craig Chalmers on RBS cup final defeat
Melrose coach Craig Chalmers spoke to ITV Border following their 25-28 defeat to Ayr in the RBS Cup final
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Narrow defeat for Melrose in RBS Cup Final
Melrose dramatically lost out to Ayr in the RBS Cup Final at Murrayfield.
A nail-biting final 3 minutes of extra time saw Ayr score the winning try just minutes before the whistle.
The final score was Melrose 25 - 28 Ayr.
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10th anniversary of Borders Book Festival
Arabella Brett and Sive Laurie, who were both born in 2004 helped Festival Directors Alistair Moffat, Frances Hamilton and Paula Ogilive celebrate the programme launch of the 10th Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.
Stellar line-up for Borders Book Festival
The Borders Book Festival will feature a host of big names from the world of fiction including Alexander McCall Smith, Kate Mosse, A.N. Wilson, Simon Scarrow and Dame Stella Rimington.
In non-fiction, historian and presenter Neil Oliver will speak about the Vikings, one of the ‘NatWest Three’ Gary Mulgrew will talk about his account of imprisonment for alleged banking offences, and Richard Holloway and scientist Frank Close talk about the relationship between science and faith.
– Jonathan Tweedie, Divisional Director, Brewin Dolphin"Every year the festival goes from strength to strength and we, as lead sponsors, are immensely proud to be involved.
"When you look back over the last decade, the quality, range and diversity and of the authors who grace the marquees is truly remarkable. And so we look forward to this year’s jam-packed programme of activity.
"We are privileged to have such a wonderful festival in the heart of Melrose."
The children’s programme has also attracted some big names with Lauren Child and Francesca Simon scheduled to about their new books.
The winner of the fourth £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction will also be announced at the festival
– Alistair Moffat, Festival director"In ten years, we have moved from the Wynd to the National Trust for Scotland’s Harmony Garden, the 220 who attended in 2004 has mushroomed into 13,000 in 2012, and the event has become a vital driver for the tourist economy.
"Our sponsors help us make it happen. But it is the authors who have made it sing.
"We couldn’t have hoped for a more diverse, starry and topical cast of stars to help us celebrate the ten years, than those in this year’s programme."
Joanna Lumley to front 10th Borders Book Festival
The programme for the tenth Borders Book Festival has been announced at the launch in Melrose.
Actresses Joanna Lumley and Phyllida Law will both give talks on their lives at the festival in June.
David Robb and Briony McRoberts will join Joanna Lumley for a unique rendition of Walter Scott's Borders poem 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel'.
Other big names attending the event include golfing star and comentator Peter Alliss, Scottish wordsmith William McIlvanney , and award winning novelist Hilary Mantel.
Borders book festival launched in Melrose
The tenth Borders book festival is being launched in Melrose in the Scottish Borders.
Three local children will cut a special birthday cake to mark the launch of the 'Brewin Dolphin' festival, which will be held in the middle of June.
A number of well known literary people expected to attend the event will also be announced at the launch.
– Alistair Moffat, Festival director"In ten years, we have moved from the Wynd to the National Trust for Scotland's Harmony Garden, the 220 who attended in 2004 has mushroomed into 13,000 in 2012, and the event has become a vital driver for the tourist economy.
"Our sponsors help us make it happen. But it is the authors who have made it sing. We couldn't have hoped for a more diverse, starry and topical cast of stars to help us celebrate the ten years, than those in this year's programme."
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Stroke unit opens in the Borders
The recently refurbished NHS Borders Stroke Unit in Melrose has opened for business.
The new unit, based at the Borders General Hospital, will deliver a high level of care to patients who have suffered from strokes.
Final preparations underway for Abbotsford House grand reopening
Conservator Joanna Cook is overseeing the renovation of one of Sir Walter Scott's favourite rooms, the library.
She said:
"We are carrying out a deep-clean of the house in preparation for all the objects coming back in before the re-opening in July.
"So at the moment we are washing down the bookcases in Sir Walter Scott's library, toning in any scratches and giving them a wax.
"He spent a lot of time in here consulting his books, so this is an important room of the house"
Volunteers help restore author's former home
£14m Abbotsford House restoration well underway
The former home of Sir Walter Scott, who lived in the Scottish Borders, is set to re-open in July after a multi-million pound regeneration project.
Abbotsford House, based near Melrose, was home to the famous author who wrote works such as 'Rob Roy' and 'Waverley'.
The house, which sits on the banks of the River Tweed, faced a possible closure in 2004, after the last of Scott's descendants died.
However, the Abbotsford Trust managed to raise £12 million of the £14.5 million needed to fully restore the house and secure its future.
The funding has enabled major regeneration works to be carried out and the house will now be re-opened to the public on 4th July.