The Peeblean: Friday 9 May 2025
Beltane Court announced, Creative Funding for young people, Traquair Church community purchase, summer choir concerts, May jobs board, Reuse/Repair Hub at Whitmuir, Eddleston School survey.
Welcome to Issue 18 of The Peeblean.
We launched on Friday 10 January and have been publishing weekly since with a view to expanding our coverage in the second half of 2025.
Thanks to all those who signed up this week - we smashed our 1,200 target, jumping from 1,117 to 1,210 readers. We’ve donated £50 to Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue which will be topped up with £12.50 gift aid. Donation reference: D207566680.
TOWN CHAT
Much excitement on Wednesday as the Beltane Court was announced for 2025. Annie Moore (Kingsland) is this year’s Beltane Queen with Evan Esposito (Kingsland) the First Courtier. Lois Sutherland and Max Ballantyne will support them as Chief Maid and Second Courtier respectively. Congratulations to all those selected to play a formal part and everyone who will participate in other ways across the week. Time to get those decorations planned! Lucette Wood, Peeblesshire News
The Peebles Town Action Plan will be discussed on Monday at an initial meeting of a ‘Town Team’ - an attempt to pull together community representatives from a range of organisations to co-ordinate activity and future developments. Details in this month’s Community Council chair’s report (item 7).
The Downright Homespun Creative Fund is offering grants of up to £400 for young people (age 8 - 24) to help them pursue artistic activity. Applications can be made for help with music equipment, courses, studio time, software, camera equipment, art materials or travel to a special event. Apply by 31 May.
Other snippets:
The Inspiring Life Festival starts this week with a wide variety of events.
There are cancellations this afternoon on the X62 service - see Borders Buses FB page for details.
A date for the keen gardeners in the town, the presentation night for Peebles in Bloom will be on 21 August 2025.
Helen Porteous is this year’s Peebles Highland Games chieftain.
Following the successful community purchase of Lyne Kirk earlier in the year, a similar purchase has been completed this week for Traquair Kirk which is now in the possession of a newly-formed charity. The arrangement will ensure that monthly services continue. A special service will be held on Sunday 11 May at 14:00 followed by a Spring Tea at Glen House.
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
A singing theme this week…
Peebles Old Parish Church Choir are hosting Scones and Songs on Saturday 31 May at the MacFarlane Hall, 15:30 - 17:00. The event will feature songs from the choir and for the audience to sing along. Suggested donation £10 for church funds.
Eddleston Voices Summer Concert is on Friday 6 June at 19:00 on Eddleston Parish Church with guest musician Michael Gemmell (piano) and others from Nomad Beat. Tickets £8 on the door.
The InChorus Summer Concert takes place on Friday 27 June at 19:30.
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday 10 May
Peebles Horti Society coffee morning at Peebles Rugby Club 10:00 - 12:00
Stobo Community coffee morning, 10:30 - 12:00
The British Cycling National Cross Country Series is at Glentress this weekend (Saturday and Sunday).
Penicuik Harriers 10k Road Race starts at 11:00 leaving from the Bog Road playing fields.
It is Summer Safety Open Day at West Linton Fire Station today, 10:00 - 13:00
Eddleston Duck Race kicks off with family activities in the orchard (Station Road) at 13:00, race at 14:00.
Local band Cavälry Park are gigging tonight at the Rugby Club as a fundraiser for Kingsland Primary School. Doors 19:30, band on at 20:30, £7 on the door.
The Foo Birds at the Eastgate Theatre tonight at 19:30 - this is a pay what you decide event (£16, £12 or £8). Have a wee listen here…
Sunday 11 May
Peebles Piranhas taster session (for children starting P1 in August) at Hay Lodge Park 10:00 - 10:45
Free Songwriting Workshop for 13-18 year olds with Sam Mundy and Robbie Tatler at Nomad Beat 12:00 - 16:00. Two places still available.
Tweed Valley Blogger Neidpath Castle guided tour, 13:00 - 14:30
Minecraft Movie at the Eastgate, 13:00 and later in the day The Return (18:00) which is repeated on Tuesday 13 at 19:30
Students from Nomad Beat will also be performing at Dovecot Court on Sunday afternoon at 14:00
The Crooked Sessions at the Wee Crook, Tweedsmuir 18:00 - 21:00, free entry.
THIS WEEK
New bus services start on Monday 12 May
Peebles Library is closing at 13:00 on Tuesday 13 May.
PHS Parent Council meets on Tuesday 13 May, 19:00 - 20:30
Gypsy Glen Hill Race this Wednesday 14 May at 19:00 from Victoria Park. Registration is at the Gytes from 18:15 - 18:45
Memorial Hall public meeting on Wednesday 14 May
Also Wednesday, Peebles Christmas Lights Association AGM at the Tontine Hotel, 19:30
Peeebles Library are running a lego session on Friday 16 May at 13:30 for primary aged children.
Movement for All are holding an open workshop in the Eastgate Theatre Studio on Thursday 15 May at 13:30
BOOKING NOW
Tempest Brewing in Tweedbank are holding a belated Housewarming Party for their new brewery on Saturday 17 May with live music, film screenings, street food and DJs. Tickets are free - the evening session is sold out but there are still some remaining for the afternoon.
Sign up by Friday 16 May if you want to take part in this year’s Open Studios Innerleithen and Walkerburn. This could be a shop window, a group show, opening a studio space or running a workshop. Contact openstudiosinnerleithen@gmail.com for information.
AROUND AND ABOUT
A new reason to visit Whitmuir is the newly-opened Reuse, Repair and Share Hub which is open today between 10:00 - 15:00. They can take in non-upholstered household items, furniture, kitchen equipment, electricals, gardening tools (including mowers and strimmers), garden furniture and mobility aids. They don’t take bedding, clothes, car seats, books or white goods.
Upper Tweed Community News are hosting a Meet N Greet event on Sunday 15 June at Crook Gardens, Tweedsmuir for all residents of Broughton, Drumelzier, Skirling and Tweedsmuir. Around 30 local organisations and interest groups will be coming along. Refreshments served.
Straiton Retail Park has been given planning permission to expand into the derelict land behind the Asda store. Marie Sharp, Midlothian View.
BENCH OF THE WEEK
This week’s BOTW is a bench you’ve probably walked past many times but may not have noticed that it was a donation from the Beltane Class of 1956. It sits outside the John Buchan Story museum on Peebles High Street. If any members of the ‘56 Beltane Group have a memory to share please let us know.
JOB VACANCIES
We are populating a new May jobs board today - send us your vacancies!
NEWS ROUND-UP
Catriona McAllister has been appointed chief executive of Live Borders. She is returning to Scotland from Jersey where she served for seven years as CEO of Jersey Sport and is a former CEO of the Oriam, Scotland’s sports performance centre at Heriot Watt University. Read an interview with her on the IOD Jersey website.
The office bearers of Peebles Community Council were all re-elected at their AGM on Thursday. Discussions at the meeting were on the TYA/Project Pizza situation, the Live Borders facilities review, the forthcoming meeting of the ‘Town Team’ (Monday 12 May), windfarm benefits and EV charging facilities.
A special meeting of Scottish Borders Council took place on Friday 9 May to discuss a single motion on the issue of mothballing nurseries. We have previously reported on the proposed closures of the early learning facilities at Walkerburn and other villages across the Borders which had been sprung on families with very little time to plan for the next session. After significant community concern, yesterday’s meeting agreed to reverse the mothballing decision for the 25-26 school year and to commence a three week consultation with parents of the children affected. Read the decision in full at the SBC website. Further coverage from Paul Kelly, Peeblesshire News.
The latest South of Scotland Cycling Partnership annual review for 2024 has been published.
Calum Kerr has been selected as the SNP candidate for Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale for next year’s Scottish Parliament election (May 2026). No other candidates are currently in place (as far as we’re aware) - we’ll bring you details as they are.
Nominations are open for the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards 2025. The nomination period closes on 27 June and the awards dinner is at Peebles Hydro on Friday 29 August.
If you are an operator of self-catering accommodation listed on the non-domestic valuation roll, SBC’s annual audit will be taking place in the next two weeks to check compliance. Details here. In addition, hospitality businesses (with a rateable value below £51k) can also apply for a 40% discount on rates in 25-26.
Consultations
Eddleston Primary Mothballing Review, closes 1 June
Skills Development Scotland looking for feedback from parents and carers on careers advice. The survey is here and runs until Friday 30 May.
NHS Borders are running a survey on long-acting reversible contraception (that’s coils and implants to you and me)
Enjoy the weekend!
The Peeblean