Great Britain and Ireland

Meetings

Third Tuesday of the month in St Peter's Church Hall, Abbotsford Road, Galashiels TD1 3HS

Events

The Club has had a busy year so far and below are brief notes:

* We had three Table Top Sales in the autumn which were fairly successful and we are planning another three in March, April and May 2012.

* Several members attended the Rotary District Conference in Southport in October 2012. We all had a great time and enjoyed Southport very much.

* We attended the Eastern Borders Club’s 10th Birthday Lunch in Kelso.

* Some of the members started a cottage industry making and selling Brooches and Rosettes for the Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering celebrations. This was very successful and will be repeated this year. 

* Helping to collect and sort green plastic bottle tops which are re-cycled. Income from this is going towards the Margaret Kerr Palliative Care Unit at the Borders General Hospital.

* Once again we had a very enjoyable Christmas Lunch at the Philipburn Hotel in Selkirk.

* 15 shoe boxes for Blythswood Trust were filled and sent in October.

Future events include:

Beetle Drive – 22 March 2012. The proceeds from this go to the President’s Charity which is Borders Children’s Charity,

Annual Quiz - Vi is working on this even as we speak. Watch this space for your chance to enter.  Click here for last year's quiz and answers.

We worked with the Rotary Club at the following events: 

* Braw Lads Sports – Collecting entry fees

* The Melrose Pipe Band Championships - August 2011 where we helped the Rotary with organising car parking and collecting entrance fees at the gates.

* Selkirk Vintage Rally – September 2011 – Car parking and directing traffic

* Christmas collection for the purchase of water filtration equipment.

* Christmas Eve Carol Service – December 2011 – Helping with distribution of hymn sheets and the collection

About the area

At the heart of the Borders, Galashiels with a population of 12,367, lies in the narrow valley of Gala Water close to its meeting with the River Tweed. The town takes its name from "shielings" or summer shelters, built by herdsmen for their sheep.

At Old Gala House there is a fascinating insight into the early history of the town. The 19th Century saw the wool textile industry flourishing in Galashiels. Although it is no longer such a dominant factor in the local economy, you cannot fail to see its influence around the town at the famous Scottish Borders Campus of Heriott Watt University.

The Braw Lads' Gathering in late June is the focal point of the local calendar, with its week long ceremonies commemorating the history of the town. 1n1503 the lands of Ettrick Forest, of which Galashiels was a part, were granted to Margaret Tudor on her marriage to James IV of Scotland - an event remembered in a coiourfbl ceremony, mingling the red and white roses of England with the Scottish Thistle. One of the picturesque highlights of the Gathering is the rideout fording the Tweed to Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott, the famous novelist and poet.

To sport enthusiasts, Galashiels is synonymous with Rugby. Gala Rugby Club has a long and proud tradition of supplying players for the full international side. Other interests are well catered for with two golf courses, three bowling greens, puffing greens tennis courts and there is a swimming pool (used by the local swimming club) whilst children can enjoy playing in the freedom of Scott Park and the Public Park. At Tweedbank to the east of the town is an all weather athletics track and an indoor bowling stadium. Fishing, riding and walking can all be enjoyed locally. At the Pavilion Cinema there are four screens and the Volunteer Hall is the venue for the annual production of the local opera company as well as other concerts. The fine floral displays are a colourlul feature of the centre of the town. Down at Boleside you can take a pienic and enjoy the peacelul riverside setting on the banks of the Tweed.

With its central. location, Galashiels is an ideal base for exploring the Scottish Borders, with the four medievalabbeys at Dryburgh, Kelso, Jedburgh and Melrose. Whichever direction you choose you will discover quiet roads, rolling hills, mwinding rivers and spectacular views with an abundance of castles - Floors,Manderston and Thirlestane to name but a few - and small distinctive museums.