Marchmont House owner Hugo Burge dies aged 51

The owner of artists’ retreat Marchmont House Hugo Burge has died aged 51. A statement issued by Marchmont House said Hugo died suddenly on Wednesday. In a tribute his family said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Hugo Burge who died suddenly at home on Wednesday 10t May.  ‘Hugo’s kindness,…

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Butcher crowned Haggis World Champion with family’s secret recipe

A delighted butcher has been crowned Haggis World Champion after she entered her family’s 40-year-old recipe into the competition. Laura Black, owner of butcher Coopers in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, lifted the coveted trophy at the Scottish Craft Butchers Trade Fair in Perth on Sunday. Laura admitted she entered the inaugural world title-chasing bid with the…

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Sir Walter Scott desk seal could fetch £18,000 at auction

A rare 200-year-old desk seal belonging to Sir Walter Scott could fetch up to £18,000 when it goes under the hammer this week. The finely carved hand seal is from Scott’s personal desk seal at Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders and is believed to date back to his knighthood in 1820. It is set…

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Record breaking £6,000 raised for SSAFA

A record breaking £6,000 has been raised for Armed Forces charity SSAFA. The incredible sum was raised at the charity’s annual Borders clay shoot at Bisley Braidwood in Selkirk. Twenty-one teams took part in the clay shoot, all in aid of a good cause. A gun from one team, Lieutenant General (Ret’d) John Cooper, said:…

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Rare Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh’s New Town hits the market

A Georgian townhouse that lies within a UNESCO World Heritage Site has gone on the market for nearly £2.5million. Buyers have a rare opportunity to snap up the property which is situated in one of Edinburgh’s most coveted addresses in the New Town. The row of classical terraced houses on Carlton Terrace were designed around…

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Medieval coin unearthed by amateur metal detectorist on show

A rare medieval coin recently unearthed by an amateur metal detectorist has gone on show. The silver penny depicting Malcolm IV of Scotland is being exhibited in Dunfermline, which was granted city status by King Charles last year. Just 20 millimetres in diameter, the coin was found in a field near Aberdour, Fife, in 2020,…

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Galloway registers to become Scotland’s next National Park

Campaigners in Galloway hope the area could become Scotland’s next National Park. Scottish Government Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater has unveiled a public consultation on the criteria to decide whether an area could become a National Park. And within minutes of the announcement the Galloway National Park Association registered the region’s interest. Locals said the area…

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