John Buchan, author of The Thirty Nine Steps and many other books, often about the Scottish Borders, was called “Teller of Tales” by the Cree First Nations when he was Governor-General of Canada.

His granddaughter, Ursula Buchan, is a very different Teller of Tales – come and hear her tell the story of gardening during the Second World War and the legend behind the famous Dig for Victory poster.

A celebrated garden writer and plantswoman, Ursula will be speaking at Peebles Library on Thursday, April 24 at 2.30 pm. (no tickets needed, but please book your place (017221 726633 or libpeebles@scotborders.gov.uk) and, in the evening, at Atkinson Pryce bookshop in Biggar (tickets £5 to include refreshments (01899 221225 or tomes@atkinson-pryce.co.uk). One of John Buchan’s passions is not shared by Ursula – he loved arranging flowers in the house: Ursula prefers them in the garden!