PEEBLES Old Folks Welfare group has marked its diamond anniversary with a special dinner and a look back at its history.

The group held its celebratory evening at the Green Tree Hotel by the Eastgate last week.

Organiser George Gilchrist told the Peeblesshire News: “Our 75th anniversary was an eventful evening served up by a delicious meal and wonderful entertainment. 

“Robin Cowan, the past chairman for 30 years knew most of the history of the welfare group, gave an interesting and at times humorous and informed potted history and joined all the dots as to how and when all our guests were involved with the welfare over the years.

“He went on to describe how the welfare was formed in 1942 by the firemen of Peebles, who redistributed any serviceable furniture and household goods to the people of Peeblesshire. 

“The war stopped proceedings, but things continued when it ended. By then, the welfare was distributing food parcels to those in need in Peeblesshire at Christmas time and continued this right up to 1970.

“The group has raised money by collections on the High Street, plus raffles and coffee mornings to keep it going.

The organisation itself has evolved over the years and also shrunk in the catchment area to mainly Peebles, with only a few coming from further afield from Innerleithen and Walkerburn.

“Each of the parishes in the shire had a representative on the committee in times gone by, and at one point the welfare was running up to eight buses on day trips. 

“As numbers reduced, the aims of the welfare changed and today those aims are social inclusion of the senior members of our community, entertainment and outings. 

“This has changed from the holidays of days gone by.”
Rounding off the meal was entertainment from a three-piece group featuring one member from the HLI Caleigh band plus two of the Back Street Stompers from Selkirk.

George added: “I’d like to say big thank you to the Green Tree Hotel for a superb meal and service throughout the evening, and to our members for coming along.”