For more details on upcoming speakers and talks please look further down this page.
2026
Sep 10th Jan Ferguson: Central Borders Red Squirrel Network
Sep 24th Diane Bennett: Tweed Valley Osprey Project
Oct 8th David Hope-Jones: South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA)
Oct 22nd Mary Douglas: MS Society Border Group
Nov 12th Mark Nicol: The Catrail and Prehistoric People of Galashiels Area
Nov 26th Amanda Edmiston: Herbal Storytelling
Dec 10th Cat Barlow: South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project
CHRISTMAS BREAK
January 2027
Jan 14th John Davidson: Tourette Syndrome
Jan 28th Dominic Scullion: Sir Walter Scott and the Faculty of Advocates
Feb 11th Jim Barton: The Great Polish Map of Scotland
Feb 25th David Pencheon: Climate Change and Health
Mar 11th David Rainey: A Sustainable Energy Future
Mar 25th AGM & Lunch
Apr 8th Kate Martin: The Theory and Development of the Abbotsford Garden
Apr 22nd President’s Outing
May 13th Henry Borthwick: The Talk I Never Gave
May 27th President’s lunch
SUMMER BREAK
During the summer months, members of the club can meet informally at Ochiltrees Cafe, Abbotsford, on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, from 10:00 am for tea, coffee and cakes.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Dates for 2026/7
15th October 2026
4th February 2027
20th May 2027
DETAILS OF SPEAKERS AND TALKS
Sep 10th Jan Ferguson: Central Borders Red Squirrel Network
Biography:
Jan is a wildlife and pet portrait artist working in detailed watercolour and gouache, having many successful exhibitions over the years with an international clientele. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1955, from a small child Jan has been drawing animals. At the age of 18, she trained as a nurse, not wanting to make art her profession until later in her 30’s.
Living in Argyll for 34 year she was chair of Cowal red squirrel group for 11yrs, until she and her husband moved to the Borders. Once again becoming chair of the newly formed group CBRSN, which has had 3 name changes in 7 years as the group has evolved.
Her passion is wildlife and saving our iconic red squirrel.
Synopsis:
The talk will be based around a powerpoint presentation which aims to educate and inform about the plight of the red squirrels in the Central Borders region. It begins by explaining the background to red and grey squirrels in the UK and the problem we have with the non-native grey squirrel.
The presentation describes the main differences between the species and the work we, as Central Borders Red Squirrel Network, do to protect reds in our region. Recent research suggests that pine martens are ultimately good for reds, because they prey on grey squirrels. As such, the talk also touches on pine marten identification and distribution.
Sep 24th Diane Bennett: Tweed Valley Osprey Project
Biography:
Diane Bennett is a Senior Coordinator for the Tweed Valley Osprey Project, which was set up in 1998 to help to establish a breeding population of ospreys in the Scottish Borders. When the project started there were no known nests in the area. The project has grown to supporting around 18 active nests and raising over 350 chicks.
Synopsis:
Diane will provide a short introduction to the project, and will then narrate a film of the 2026 season for ospreys in the Borders, which has been completed in the past few days, and so our Probus Club will be among the first people to view it. We hope you can attend what promises to be a fascinating talk and film.
Oct 8th David Hope-Jones: South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA)
Biography:
David started as Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) in January 2023, following 15 years as Chief Executive of the Scotland Malawi Partnership, where he built a diverse and thriving cross-community national network. Before this he was Services Manager, then Youth and Schools Manager, for the British Red Cross.
The SSDA works to help coordinate, represent and support the many businesses in the visitor economy across the South of Scotland (Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway), delivering community and economic prosperity for the region. It’s consumer-facing brand is ‘Scotland Starts Here’ and it recently took over management of the inaugural South of Scotland Thistle Awards.
The SSDA hit its five-year Covid recovery ambition of having a £750m South of Scotland visitor economy and creating 6,500 new jobs, two years ahead of target.
David is based just outside Selkirk and is passionate about helping drive sustainable tourism across the South of Scotland. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list and received commendations from the First Minister amongst others as he began his role with the SSDA. David was recently made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society – nominated and awarded by Rory Stewart.
Synopsis:
David Hope-Jones OBE, CEO of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), will speak about current and planned work to grow the South of Scotland’s visitor economy by £1bn and support 20,000 jobs by 2034.
The SSDA is the destination marketing and management organisation for the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, representing 750 local tourism and hospitality businesses. It runs the official destination brand Scotland Starts Here and is the official tourism partner of both Councils, VisitScotland and South of Scotland Enterprise.
The talk will offer an insight into the current opportunities and challenges in the South of Scotland Tourism and how, by working together -public and private sector- we can grow this essential industry to support quality, year round jobs and community prosperity.
Oct 22nd Mary Douglas: MS Society Border Group
Biography:
After retiring early from a career in NHS Management, due to Multiple Sclerosis, Mary joined the Borders MS society Group steering group 15 years ago and has been there ever since. The group, run by volunteers, supports people in the Scottish Borders affected by MS.
Mary was elected to the MS Society Scotland National Council, and spent 7 years chairing the council, taking the Scottish voice to the Society in London, attending events all over the country, and promoting the work of the society.
Synopsis:
The talk will cover information about Multiple Sclerosis, living with the condition in the Borders, and the work of the local group.
Nov 12th Mark Nicol: The Catrail and Prehistoric People of Galashiels Area
Biography:
To follow
Synopsis:
To follow
Nov 26th Amanda Edmiston: Herbal Storytelling
Biography:
Writer, storyteller and artist with a background in herbal medicine Amanda Edmiston (Botanica fabula) has spent nearly 20 years collecting, creating and curating stories and folklore which reveal the way we work with plants.
Her work has taken her to Poland, China and the U.S as well as to some wonderful venues across the U.K. including The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, Chelsea Physic Garden in London and Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum amongst others.
Amanda’s work focuses on collecting the memories and legends about plants and herbal medicine that weave their way into everyone’s lives and resharing them in multisensory, interdisciplinary story led sessions.
Her first book The Time Traveller’s Herbal was published in 2023 and has been recently followed with her second Collected Curiosities which shares stories and elements of social history from 1800 to the 1930s.
For more about Amanda and her work see her website: www.botanicafabula.co.uk
Synopsis:
Amanda Edmiston shares her work exploring the social history surrounding the traditional use of plants in medicine and food and the science which often corresponds to our plantlore and legends. Looking at the vital role this knowledge can play through the lens of her books The Time Traveller’s Herbal and Collected Curiosities. The talk will be accompanied by herbal teas and tastes from the stories to try!
Dec 10th Cat Barlow: South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project
Biography:
To follow
Synopsis:
To follow