The Peeblean: Friday 16 May 2025
Ground challenge for Peebles Rovers, School's Out 10th birthday, Drill Hall call to action, County Sports, Peebles March Riders Association May Ride, Tractor Run.
Welcome to Issue 19 of The Peeblean.
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We publish and update a monthly job board - the newest opportunities are at the top.
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We are publishing a Midweek Extra this coming week so if you have a weekend event not currently listed for the 24-25 May, please send us details.
TOWN CHAT
Peebles Rovers FC have been given an ultimatum by the East of Scotland Football League to upgrade their facilities or face demotion and ultimately expulsion from the league.
The club has been existence for 132 years and the challenge of finding upgradeable facilities has been a long running issue. A recent suggestion that they might ground share with Peebles RFC at the Gytes has faced "opposition and funding issues". A failure to put in place suitable facilities will mean demotion to the lowest league (in March 2026) and ejection from the league (by March 2027). The club has recently been working with Peebles FC to create a pathway that will enable youth players to continue through to the adult game.
The statement says "Clearly, this scenario severely impacts our ability to sign and motivate players going into next season where all they could be playing for is relegation from the outset." If anyone at all feels they can help the club in any way, whether it be potentially with land which could be leased and developed, financially or just with any advice or help at all, please do get in touch and we will be delighted to speak with you."
The story gained wide reporting this week with coverage from BBC Scotland, STV, and the Sun. It also leads this week’s Peeblesshire News with a write up from Mike Thomson. Commenters on the Pie & Bovril chat forum have also pointed out the inconsistency with which the league rules are applied elsewhere.
If you are keen to support venues threatened by the SBC/Live Borders sport and leisure review, then there’s an opportunity on Weds 28 May when the Drill Hall AGM takes place. They are looking for volunteers to increase the size of the management board and support the venue and its users. Drill Hall lounge at 19:00 or email enquiries (at) peeblesdrillhall.com
This morning the Drill Hall’s management committee have published a call to local sports clubs to work together to preserve spaces for accessible participation sport locally.
The A703 is closing between Peebles and Eddleston on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 May between 09:00 - 17:00. Diversion routes are in place but they are lengthy. Walking and cycling will be possible via the multi use path.
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
It doesn’t feel like a decade since they launched, but it is - School’s Out will turn 10 in June! The not-for-profit childcare service provides wraparound care for the school day and a popular holiday club. As nobody turns 10 without a wee celebration, Schools Out are hosting an event on Tweed Green on 7 June from 14:00 - 16:00 featuring inflatables, forest school, a Play Borders toddler area, live bands and a disco. They would love to hear from catering vendors interested in attending.
Innerleithen & District Amateur Operatic Society (IDAOS) are looking for a musical director for their production of Sunshine on Leith in March 2026.
Nomad Beat students are presenting a concert of music ‘Piano and Friends’ on Sunday 1 June, 15:00 at Carlops Village Hall. Tickets £7 but 16 and unders go free.
The Peebles in Bloom competition this year includes ten categories: Secret Garden, Very Small Garden, Small Garden, Medium Garden, Large Garden, All Year Round Garden, Business Premises, Courtyard Garden, Best Street and Community Garden. The organisers are happy to hear from people who wish to put gardens on the judges radar, especially in the secret garden category. Email secretary (at) ccrbpeebles.co.uk
Haystoun Gardens are open to the public on Wednesdays in May, 13:30 - 17:00, raising money for St Columba’s Hospice. £7, children free.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Saturday 17 May
Peebles Community Trust AGM at 10:00
Community Cuppa from 10:00 - 12:00 at the MacFarlane Hall.
Christian Aid Week coffee morning at St Andrew’s Leckie from 10:00 - 12:00
A fundraising plant sale today at Priorsford School 09:30 - 11:00. Cash only.
Eildon Housing recruitment drop-in event at the Tontine Hotel 10:00 - 14:00
Stobo Sesssions featuring California, Cat Mac and Kingsfall from 14:00 - 17:00 at Stobo village hall. Free.
An Evening of Arias and Songs by Kirstin MacDonald (soprano) at the Newlands Centre, 19:30, £10
Sunday 18 May
Peebles March Riders Association May Ride leaves from East Station Car Park on Edinburgh Road at 10:00 - they will head along Peebles High Street then over the hills to Eddleston, returning at around 16:00.
Peeblesshire Federation SWI afternoon tea at Peebles Hydro, 13:00
Peebles RFC Under 16s end of season dinner and awards at the Clubrooms 19:00
THIS WEEK
Tales from the Borderlands storytelling show, Tuesday 20 May
County Sports on Wednesday 21 May for all primary pupils from Peeblesshire Schools
Budapest Cafe Orchestra, Eastgate Theatre, Wednesday 21 May
Peebles Singers concert on Friday 23 at the MacFarlane Hall, 19:30, £6
WEEKEND 24/25 MAY
Fiona Henderson School of Dance Junior School Show - Saturday and Sunday
Coming up next weekend is the Traquair Medieval Fayre, 11:00 - 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday
Attention tractor fans! The Blyth Bridge and District Tractor Run is on Saturday 24 May, leaving from Newlands Centre at 09:30, with an anticipated arrival time in Peebles of 13:00
On Saturday 24, there are plant sale coffee mornings in Eddleston (10:00 - 12:00) and Innerleithen Memorial Hall (sale from 08:00, coffee morning from 09:00)
Peebles Orchestra Concert on Saturday 24 May at the Burgh Hall - Haydn and Mendelssohn
On Sunday 25, Peebles CC 55m Road Race leaving from Broughton Village Hall
BOOKING NOW
Thanks to Scott Hutcheson of Biggar Summer Sessions for sending us information on a forthcoming August gig. Ramona’s Tea Party are from Tønsberg in Norway and serve indierock inspired by Green Day, boygenius, Adrianne Lenker and Blondie. Their new single was released yesterday and they play Biggar’s Arcadia Music Cafe on 7 August after gigs in Glasgow (5 Aug) and Edinburgh (6 Aug). There’s talk of a minibus potentially going from Peebles and Biggar to the Glasgow gig, so if that’s of interest contact Scott on the number below.
AROUND AND ABOUT
The Laurel Bank Tea Room in Broughton is closed this week (from Monday 19 - Monday 26 May), reopening on Tuesday 27 May.
Around three miles west of the Scott Monument, Corstorphine Hill Tower (aka Clermiston Tower) is Edinburgh’s less well known memorial to the writer Sir Walter Scott. Along with Corstorphine Hill Walled Garden it is maintained by a volunteer group. If you’d like to experience the spectacular views from the top, the tower is open every Sunday afternoon from 14:00 - 16:00.
Following marketing for sale, Harehope East Forest is marked as ‘offer under consideration’.
BENCH OF THE WEEK
In Hay Lodge Park, close to Fotheringham Bridge is this bench which pays tribute to Bryan Begg (1965-2010) “who spent many happy days here with his beloved dog Jack”.
JOB VACANCIES
New vacancies added at Nomad Beat, Gall Robertson CA and Scottish Borders Council.
NEWS ROUND-UP
At the full meeting of Scottish Borders Council on Thursday 22 May, a proposal will be discussed (item 8) for replacing Area Partnerships initially with ‘Community Conversations’ themed around a specific issue.
The proposed topics are:
Borders Sporting and Cultural Review
Council Budget 2026/27
Council Plan 2026/27
Community Planning Partnership
Locality Plans (Bannerfield, Burnfoot and Langlee)
Challenge Poverty Week
Transport
Some further consultation with community councils is also planned about forming locality or ward-based networks. If agreed to, the arrangements will be reviewed again in 18 months. The meeting will also discuss Borders Innovation Park (7), Scottish Borders Strategic People Plan (9), Fair Work First (10), the Council’s future plans (11) and draft Active Travel Strategy (12).
Useful new guidance on e-bikes, e-MTBs and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code has been published by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland.
Thanks for reading.
The Peeblean
Thanks Kirsty for mention of gig and link to Ramona’s Tea Party’s great new single! Keep up the good work on your page.
Hi, thought you might like to know that the woman in pink on our left in the photo is Rowena a 16yr old Peebles High School student. She's recently got her first professional contract with Hibs and now has a league championship medal. Some achievement!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn84vled683o
Mark