The 69th annual Borders Heriot Club Dinner, usually held at Carfraemill near Lauder, was this year held at Goldenacre on Friday 31 October.

Forced to find a new venue when the Carfraemill Hotel was closed at short notice, organiser Hugh Henney (1982) waved his magic wands and, with the help of the Heriot's Rugby Club, saved the day. Hugh is Secretary to the Borders Heriot Club and David Henderson (1957) is President. 

The toast was proposed by Mel McCallum (1971) who gave a very moving speech about being at Heriot's, an experience 'which gave me a value set and a moral code' as well as instilling ambition. The main speaker was Edinburgh-based financier Gus Kirk who recounted some entertaining episodes involving friendships and celebration, while new Head of Senior School Alastair Anderson gave the top lines of school performance which were well received by guests.

Captain Eleanor (S6) delivered the Selkirk Grace and Capton Glynn gave the Vote of Thanks. 

A few words from David Henderson from the event:

It has become a tradition to raffle a bottle of whisky kindly donated by Jim Mitchell.  his year the charity chosen is the Borders Children’s Charity, a small purely volunteer run organisation which assists local children with grants for needy items and activities.They have recently aquired Paralympic wheelchair racer Sammy Kinghorn from Gordon as their Patron. 

The Borders Club goes back to 1949. One of the founders of the Club, Dr Willie Weatherhead, was the second President and brought me into the world in 1939 in the Cottage Hospital in Galashiels and then did the same for my younger siblings over the years. I was talking recently to Neill Short who some of you will know and it came out that he shares the same experience and place but a few years later!