Gamekeepers donate to help Lucas

AS THE result of a chance encounter, gamekeepers from the Southern Uplands Moorland Group (SUMG) have been very pleased to be able to assist in a young lad’s future, writes the group’s Mark Ewart. Lucas Davies, 7, who lives with his family in Penicuick, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MD) in late 2014, a…

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Politics, myths and Scottish independence

Bannockburns is an intelligently written and rigorously researched book revealing how much the political is entwined with the literary imagination. Crawford uses Scotland’s myths and stories to shed light upon the romance behind the nation’s bid for independence. The 2014 Referendum, Crawford points out, coincided ‘mischievously’ with the 700th anniversary of the Scots victory at…

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Sustainable gifts for lovers of the outdoors

Ethical shopping is high on many a wish list, but it can be tricky knowing where to start. Innerleithen-based, award-winning activewear clothing brand FINDRA puts sustainability at the heart of what it does all year round, resulting in gift ideas at this time of year for outdoor lovers that are as kind to the planet…

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A biography of the Scottish First Minister

Nicola Sturgeon made history when she became the first female First Minister of Scotland in 2014. But what drives the SNP’s leading lady?  How has her background, family and education shaped her political life? In the first biography of Scotland’s First Minister, David Torrance examines how this woman, once described as a ‘nippy sweetie’, rose to…

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Matt got on his bike to highlight multiple sclerosis

Extreme athlete Matt Piper wants to help fellow multiple sclerosis sufferers. How did you find out that you had multiple sclerosis? I was training to become a Royal Marine but I failed the medical because I came down with what I thought at the time was just a bit of man flu. But it got…

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Meet Scotland’s four-legged police force

Scotland’s mounted police work out of Stewarton in East Ayrshire and provide policing for high-profile events across Scotland. Mounted officers carry out public order patrols and are a presence at sporting events, demonstrations and processions as well as open ground searches for missing persons, where they can get into areas that vehicles would be unable…

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Heritage sector generated £4bn for Scotland’s economy

Scotland’s historic environment is continuing to make a strong contribution to the nation’s economy, according to Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) latest annual report. Income generated by Scotland’s historic environment sector from 2017 to 2018 has risen to over £4bn, with the growth attributed to increasing tourist numbers, particularly international visitors. As well as economic value,…

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Innovation at the heart of watches’ ‘butterflies’

The innovative PanoInverse watch is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. In 2008, Glashütte Original staged a premiere for a very special element of its horological art. The PanoInverse XL unveiled its inner beauty, presenting the duplex swan-neck fine adjustment as an exceptional element on the dial side of the watch. Today, two Pano models in particular…

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100 pipers and drummers to mark Armistice centenary

A thoughtful Edinburgh school pupil will see an idea he came up with four years ago become a reality on Remembrance Sunday. In 2014, Merchiston Castle School pupil James Lascelles, then aged 11, wrote to the headmaster with an idea for the 2018 Remembrance Service. He shared his idea of commemorating the 100th anniversary of…

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Try these marshmallow toadstools at home

An ever-changing menu at Dornoch’s Links House means chef Jon-Paul Saint is always kept on his toes. In October 2014, Saint took the reins at Links House kitchen. Since then he has implemented greater flexibility, changing the menu daily, with the restaurant receiving rave reviews. ‘I’ve really enjoyed putting my own spin on things,’ he…

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