LAST month the Guildry Corporation of Peebles held its Annual Supper at the Tontine Hotel.

On February 11, members gathered at the hotel, welcomed by Dean of Guild John Falla – in his first year as Dean – before Guildry Clerk David Kilshaw swore in Paul Spence – the chairman of the Beltane committee – to the corporation.

Chris Patterson proposed the toast to the Guildry Corporation.

Mr Patterson said: "Today there exists a need for voluntary groups such as the Guildry to support the amenity and wellbeing of our town and to supplement, and on occasion challenge the activities and actions of our statutory bodies.

"But of course there is another role that the Guildry plays in our town and it’s a very powerful one, I am of course referring to the expectation that you will act as role models and positive influences within our community.

"Upstanding men that future generations respect and look up to.”

Colin Woods, a local farmer, gave the reply to the toast.

Proposing the toast to the Town and Trade was local historian Steve Dubé.

He said: “This town punches above its weight.

"You can buy just about everything here to a quality that’s maybe unmatched in a town of this size.

"No wonder people come here from Edinburgh and beyond for the shops, the hospitality and the character of a High Street where no two buildings are alike.”

In his reply to Mr Dube, Ian McLeod – who owns Elmbank Printers – reflected on trade in the town in 2019.

He said: “The Town and Trade was going along as usual, very steady.

"There were the perennial issues, the management of the Chambers Institution, the ongoing March Street Mills situation and new house building in Peebles.

"Then in November we had the major destructive fire at Peebles High School.

"Little did we know the further disruption that Peebles School children along with the rest of the country were about to endure in their education.

"March 2020, approaching lockdown there was a genuine fear amongst the local population, especially the elderly, local businesses including my own worrying about how we were going to survive.

"Then some relief when the government rescued us all with Furlough, business grants and bounce back loans.

"We were grateful and thankfully most of our businesses were saved from what would have been certain closure.

"Backed by our unstinting NHS and care staff we managed to get through the COVID years of 2020 and 2021 albeit sadly with many deaths.”

Guildry member Malcolm Bruce officially welcomed Paul Spence to the Corporation and highlighted the good work Paul has carried out in and on behalf of the Peebles community.

The vote of thanks was carried out by Guildry member Les Turnbull.