Latest News

November 2009

Here is a great offer to all our listeners from an Edinburgh charity, to take part in art gallery tours and practical workshops for the visually impaired.

Artlink Arts Access supports people to take part in the arts. We have been working in Edinburgh and other cities for some years. Now we are happy to be able to extend an invitation to the people of the Borders. For the blind and visually impaired, we offer a programme of descriptive gallery tours, called In the Frame. Art and architecture are clearly described. There is time for questions and discussion . Group numbers are kept small so events are friendly and sociable. For people who are hard of hearing a portable loop system is available.

Recently we have described treasured and historic paintings at the Queens Gallery, contemporary art at the Fruitmarket gallery, a National Trust property and tried our hand at printmaking. 

Anyone wishing to attend must provide their own transport to and from the venue, and bring a guide. Contact Evan at the Borders Disability Forum if you need help with transport on 01896 668 578.

As well as information on gallery tours, four times a year we can send you listings of audio described theatre performances in Edinburgh and Glasgow.. All information is available in large print or electronically. There are more tours planned for the Autumn, if you would like to find out what’s coming up please contact Susan at Artlink on 0131 229 3555 option 1, for more information or to be added to the mailing list. Ask about “In the frame” events.

September 2009

New Convenor for Borders Talking Newspaper

A new Convenor has been appointed to replace Matilda Mitchell who retired recently after serving as Convenor since BTN was founded seventeen years ago. Convenor Tim Usher has been a volunteer for many years. Not only will his voice be known to many listeners as one of the readers but he has also served as a Trustee and on the Committee for several years.

Tim told us that there have been Ushers in the Borders since the sixteenth century. They were originally stonemasons in Peebles. They prospered and became lairds who acquired land at what is now Huntlyburn near Melrose. This land was sold to Sir Walter Scott in 1780. The youngest brother of that laird went into trade, selling gloves in London. However, he prospered too and, by the time he died, had established a brewery and whisky distillery in Edinburgh. He was Tim’s great great grandfather. The wheel turned full circle when Tim returned to the Borders as a farmer’s husband who is ‘much involved with the sort of activities around the place for which farmers used to employ young laddies but no longer can afford to’.

Tim was a soldier in the Black Watch for fifteen years before going into business, building and planning houses. He then was employed with more exotic tasks such as office blocks round the peripherique in Paris before coming back to Scotland as a sort of friendly estate agent to the Scottish Licensed Trade based in Fife.

He is now fully retired except for chairmanship of the East of Scotland War Pensions Committee and, of course, his Convenorship of Borders Talking Newspaper. He says ‘I am blessed with nine grandchildren, curl with the Kelso Auld Yins and hope to end my days in the old Ancrum churchyard’.

August 2009

The end of tape!

Now that BTN has successfully moved to digital recording and about half of our listeners listen to the weekly newspaper digitally, the decision has been made to stop producing tapes. The plan is to have the changeover completed by 31 December.

Starting over the next few weeks, listeners will be contacted by Wendy who will arrange a time for delivery of a free digital player and demonstration of how to use it. The deliveries will only by carried out by volunteers who have received disclosure under the Scottish scheme.

The main benefit to listeners will be a clearer sound which is especially helpful to anyone whose hearing is not as good as it used to be. More news items will be included and all listeners will have the opportunity to hear the Hawick News each week. All recorded material will be on a single memory stick which will be sent to listeners in the same yellow wallets as before.

July 2009

Swine Flu

Swine flu has been designated by the World Health Organisation as a pandemic ie it is prevalent in many countries around the world. This does not mean that it is a deadly illness. In general, symptoms are much like these suffered during normal outbreaks of seasonal flu.

To reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus you should:

• cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue

• put the tissue into a waste bin quickly and carefully

• wash your hands regularly with soap and water

• clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product

CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT

To prepare for the possibility of becoming ill with swine flu:

• always carry tissues - catching the germs in a tissue could help limit the spread of the virus

• confirm your ‘flu friends’ - these are friends and neighbours who can help you if you become ill; they could get your medication or food for you so that you don’t have to leave the house - this will help stop the virus from spreading

• have a two-week stock of food and other supplies in case you and your family are ill

• keep up to date with the latest help and advice available through radio, TV and the internet

The symptoms of swine flu are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever (a high body temperature of over 38C or 100.4F), fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

As with any sort of influenza, the severity and duration of symptoms will vary. Most cases reported in the UK to date have been relatively mild, with those affected starting to recover within a week.

Talking Hawick News

The new team in Hawick started recording the Talking Hawick News on 3 July. This was made possible by financial help from the Rotary Club of Hawick and Teviot Church which has provided premises. The recording is made on a Friday morning and then sent electronically to our studio in Duns where it is added to the digital recordings made there and sent out to all our listeners who use data sticks. It is also available on this website.

More volunteers of all ages are still needed so, if you think you can help this venture for Hawick, please get in touch with Wendy at BTN.

March 2009

New website goes live!

February 2009

Click HERE for our latest Newsletter

Borders Talking Newspaper Association
Registered Scottish Charity No. SC020192