Serving and ex-Service men and women from the district formed up at the Walkerburn Public Hall on Remembrance Sunday and marched to the village War Memorial led by ex-Service Piper Bruce Hamilton, writes John Purves.

They were met there by a number of ex-Servicemen who, although unable to march, still wished to participate in the Act of Remembrance.

A large gathering of Walkerburn folk attended the ceremony at the War Memorial which was conducted by the Reverend Canon Cedric Blakey.

During the Act of Remembrance, Colonel John Purves MBE and Colin Kerr read from the War Memorial the 72 names of Walkerburn’s Fallen of the two World Wars.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale, Scottish Borders Council, Walkerburn and District Community Council, The Royal British Legion, the Ex-Service men and women of Walkerburn, the Church of Scotland, the Scout and Guide movements and the military charity, Who Dares Cares.

Afterwards, as has now become customary, everyone attending was invited to refreshments in the Public Hall.

The hall was packed – well over 150 residents are estimated to have attended. Hot lentil soup was welcome on a cold morning and everyone enjoyed the spread of hot and cold food, tea and coffee.

A display of photographs of Walkerburn men and women who had served in the Forces over the last 100 years was displayed around the hall, those of the Fallen being marked with a single poppy. Pictures of the war graves of all of Walkerburn’s Fallen were also on display.

The display stimulated much reminiscing, memories and grateful remembrance of our fallen heroes in an atmosphere of old fashioned, good-natured Walkerburn community spirit.