Crafts urged to back battle to retain sheriff court
RETIRED police inspector Gordon Legge appealed to the United Crafts to help prevent the closure of the local sheriff court.
The former head of the traffic department in the Borders made his comments during his proposal of the toast to the Crafts.
Mr Legge spoke of what he believed to be the three elements that made Selkirk and its Crafts unique – pride, history coupled with characters, and enthusiasm.
He believed the main element was pride. He told the gathering of Hammermen, Weavers and their guests: “I am sure that second to your family, is a pride in yourself, your town and your craft. And nowhere in my travels have I ever come up against such passionate pride as I have in Selkirk. I have never cast a flag, but I have watched young men over the years step down after their casting – and dignity, self-respect and generous elation would be just about right.”
Mr Legge went on: “I have never been a great believer in the ‘aye been’ philosophy, but at the same time without a past to look at and learn from, we cannot have a future at which to look with hope and expectation. We must always be conscious and aware of our local history and great heritage.
“I would never want the Crafts to be in any way political, but acting together, wouldn’t the United Crafts be a very powerful pressure group?
“I would not in any way countenance the group being used in anything, unless it directly involved the very destruction of the fabric of our town.”
He spoke of the merger of the library and the registrars and went on: “Do not let them take away our sheriff court. Along with its disappearance would be the erosion of the history of our most famous sheriff [Sir Walter Scott] and what would become of that most iconic building that has stood on our skyline for over 140 years – another block of flats?”
He said those battling to prevent the closure could do with as much support as possible – including the Crafts, whose credo over the years was to give time and skill in the services of the burgh.
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Weather for Selkirk
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 3 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
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