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Scottish Borders Liberal Democrats

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Brian McCrow

Since Brian moved to Tweeddale from Edinburgh he has been active as a member of the Innerleithen Community Council and the Cardrona Residents Committee. He is also serving as the Chair of the Tweeddale Community Safety Panel and Chair of the Peebles Community Sports Club as well as promoting the Future Peebles project. In Edinburgh he was responsible within the Portobello Community Council for Community Safety, promoting local businesses and developing a long term plan for the regeneration of Portobello. He is a Director of a Computer Consultancy for Small to Medium sized businesses and has worked with major Retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley and Boots. Brian has lived and worked in Europe and the USA on computer projects for a variety of industries including manufacturing, textiles and services. He started his career teaching Maths at Knox Academy, Haddington and along with his wife Fay has interests in the theatre, arts and sport, especially ice skating.
1 Cardrona Way Cardrona Peebles EH45 9LD
01896 833 188
07712 841 768
brian.mccrow@borderslibdems.org.uk

East Berwickshire

David Raw

David Raw lives in Cockburnspath in the East Berwickshire Ward. He was born in Northumberland and educated at Bradford Grammar School and London University where he graduated in History and Education. Before moving to the Borders, David was the Head of three schools in Cumbria. He has experience of local government as a member of South Lakeland District Council and Eden District Council. David has been an active Liberal all his life and first joined the party having been influenced by the leadership of Jo Grimond. He is the author of two books on the First World War : a biography of the Rev. T.B. Hardy V.C., D.S.O., M.C., and 'The Bradford Pals'. He has appeared in and provided research for radio and television programmes with Border, Tyne Tees and the BBC. David is currently working on a doctorate on the generalship of Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston of Hunterston which has strong resonances with the K.O.S.B. in Gallipoli and on the Somme. He leads groups on guided tours of the First and Second World War battlefields, including D-Day Veterans to the Normandy Beaches 60th Anniversary Ceremonies in 2004. David's hobbies include reading, music, the theatre, gardening and walking as well as watching soccer and cricket.
Rose Cottage,3, The Orchard, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire TD13 5YG Rose Cot
01368 830 530
07710 270 640
david.raw@borderslibdems.org.uk

Galashiels & District

Jim Hume

Born in Peebles and raised in Selkirkshire, Jim Hume is a born and bred man from the South of Scotland, with his roots in East Lothian, Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire. He works in the family run conservation minded farm in the Yarrow Valley, finishing his livestock in Dumfriesshire and also has a diversified part to his business operating throughout the area. Jim Hume has been busy in the last 10 years representing the community and engaging in public service. He is Chair of "Environment and Land Use" for the National Farmers Union of Scotland, a Director of NFUS and recently was Chairman of Lothians and Borders NFU, with 1300 members. With this you can imagine how active he was during the Foot and Mouth Crisis and throughout his whole term. In these posts, he has gained experience, with giving evidence to Scottish Parliament Development Committees, Lobbying regularly against and with Ministers, MEPs, MSPs, MPs and Councillors. Hume has led and taken part in delegations to the European Parliament, with successful presentations to Commissioners and has also had a short internship with an MEP in Brussels. All the time fighting for a better deal for the region. Jim Hume currently sits on the board of Scottish Enterprise Borders, and has done so for the last 4 years, Chairing their Land Based Advisory Group and being involved in a small business scheme for the South of Scotland in cooperation with Dumfries and Galloway. "Economic development is key to bettering the future of any region and country" states Hume.
Sundhopeburn,Yarrow Sundhope
07776 2570 000
jim.hume.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Hawick and Denholm

Jock Houston

Jock was born in New South Wales, Australia and is married with four grown up children and one grandson. He was a History Teacher at Hawick High School for the period 1966-2002. Jock was the Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland in the Borders from 1979 until -2002 and has been the Treasurer of St Cuthbert's Scottish Episcopal Church, where he is currently the Trustees' Warden. He was first elected to represent Alewater, Denholm and District May 2003 and serves as a Member of the Eildon , Teviotdale and Cheviot Area Committees. Jock is especially interested in high standards of building / design and in renewable energy and is a member of the main Planning Committee. He is a member of the ` Climate Change and Environment Working Group ` and of ` How the Council Consults ` working party. Jock is a very strong supporter of small schools, especially in our rural areas.In his spare time he enjoys watching Rugby, walking and cycling in the beautiful Borders countryside.
Beechhurst,Hawick Beechhur
01450 374 920
jock.houston@borderslibdems.org.uk

Alex Martin

Alex formerly worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service as an emergency medical technician. He went to Denholm school and has lived in Hawick for most of his life, firstly in Silverbuthall and now very happily, in Burnfoot. He still drives patients about for out-of-hours appointments for the Ambulance service, as a volunteer driver. Alex cares for people. He is a past president of the Hawick Burns Club ( 6 years ) and felt very proud when his brainchild, the James Thomson statue, was erected last year. He was also president of the Borders Burns Clubs association. Alex has been a member of the Hawick Comm Co and is serving on the Burnfoot Comm Co currently, along with his partner, Mary, who he is marrying this April. He was a Roxburgh and Scottish Borders councillor for a total of 10 years. His hobbies are golfing, bowling, gardening and helping people
41 Galelaw Road, Hawick 41 Galel
01450 374 165
alex.martin@borderslibdems.org.uk

Hawick and Hermitage

Etta McKean

Etta has lived in Hawick for 24 years. She served as a member of Hawick Community Council for 11 years, during which time she was elected vice-chair, and chair, and was also a member of the Provost's Council. She was appointed Bailie and Chief Bailie. She also successfully presented Hawick in Scotland in Bloom and Britain in Bloom campaigns. She has been involved with Hawick Pantomime Group and Hawick Amateur Operatic Society. Etta works with Roxburgh House Studios supporting adults with learning difficulties, as a volunteer worker with a national children's charity in the Borders area, and is vice-chair of the A7 Action Group.
Heronhill Lodge,Weensland Road,Hawick Heronhil
01450 375 059
etta.mckean@borderslibdems.org.uk

Ron Smith

Ron came to Hawick and the Borders 35 years ago, to teach at Hawick High School, as head of Geography and then as assistant headteacher, but nowadays he is employed part time as a travel agent. His wife Eileen worked in special education but also has for 17 years operated their house as a bed & breakfast establishment. They have three adult sons. Ron joined the Scottish Liberal Democrats four years ago, contesting the Teviot & Central ward at the 2003 election, and is currently secretary of Roxburgh & Berwickshire branch of the party. Hobbies include gardening and golf (being better at the first than the second), collecting Irish stamps (well, Eileen is Irish), historical research including family trees, and watching the Greens (in fact green seems to be the dominant colour in all of this!!). For many years filling various roles at Hawick Rugby Club and produced two books on the club's history - The Gren Machine (with Dr Ken Bogle) and Gimpses of Green. He isan elder and treasurer of Teviot & Roberton Church. Since his early retirement from the school, Ron has involved himself in community affairs, through Hawick Business Partnership, the Welcome Hosts Initiative, the Christmas Lights Group, and Hawick Online website, as well as being an active member of Hawick Rotary Club. He is a Mosstrooper, and a member of the Hawick's 1514 Club and Anvil Crew.
Ellistrin,Fenwick Park,Hawick Ellistri
01450 374 216
07774 113 066
ron.smith@borderslibdems.org.uk

Kelso and District

Alec Nicol

Alec lives near Morebattle, married with three grown-up children. Born and brought up in Fife, attended Buckhaven High School and studied in Edinburgh. Alec has lived and farmed in the Borders for some 30 years and is enjoying every minute of it. Before that he was a farm manager in Cambridgeshire for 7 years. He is a past chairman of the local National Farmers Union and served for 2 years as vice-chairman on the national Legal and Technical committee. Alec is currently a member of the Rural Affairs committee in the Convention of Local Authorities. He was chairman of the Kalewater Comm Co for 6 years and was elected as Councillor for Kelso South and District in 1999. For 2 years Alec was a portfolio-holder for Education and Life-long learning at SBC. Currently he is the leader of the group of liberal Democrat councillors and chairman of the Council`s Scrutiny committee. He chairs the development trust ` futureKELSO `, enjoys fishing, reading, the theatre and watching rugby at Poynder Park, Kelso.
Marchcleugh Farm, Jedburgh Marchcle
01573 440 222
07799 598 283
alec.nicol@borderslibdems.org.uk

Leaderdale and Melrose

John Paton-Day

John has lived at Mellerstain in the Melrose and Leaderdale Ward for the past 17 years. He is married with two children 12 and 10, both born at the BGH and go to local schools. John`s wife worked at the East Green nursery, Earlston before taking up the post of project manager of the SPPA mobile Creche Service. He has been the chairman of the Gordon primary school board for the past 4 years. John is a fervent supporter of small schools, especially in rural areas. He was a founder member of the Borders Small School Support Network, which does a great job in protecting them against closure. John is an artist so most things about Life interest him. In tackling problems, John never gives up easily and says he has very little patience for petty rules and regulations. He loves all aspects of life in the Borders, no matter what the weather ! John really appreciates the importance of sport for our youngsters and is keen that Services for our youth and older people in the Borders need to be enhanced.
6 Darlingfield Cottages, Mellerstain,Gordon 6 Darlin
01573 410 650
john.paton-day@borderslibdems.org.uk

Mid Berwickshire

Frances Renton

Frances lives in the new Mid-Berwickshire ward at Fogo and is married with three children and five grandchildren. She is very involved in running the family haulage business. Frances has been a member of the Gavinton, Polwarth and Fogo Comm Co since 1997 and is currently Vice-chairman, a post she has held for four years. She led a highly successful Heritage Lottery Fund project which provided a footbridge with paths and visitor information at Fogo. Frances was the Entry Secretary and assisted in the running of the Jim Clark Rally for many years. ( now recovering slowly ! ). She is a keen gardener and her special interests are better health and social care for older people, affordable housing and more support for Border youngsters, especially in sport.
1 Rashie,Fogo,Duns 1 Rashie
01890 840 368
frances.renton@borderslibdems.org.uk

Selkirk

Vicky Davidson

Vicky Davidson was brought up in a large family in the Ettrick Valley where she went to Kirkhope Primary and then Selkirk High School. She studied Politics at Edinburgh University where she ran the Politics Society and was President of the University Liberal Club. After graduating she worked for several years producing events for campaigning groups including the Freedom at 70 Rally for Nelson Mandela on Glasgow Green when she was employed by Anti-Apartheid. She then helped to launch the Edinburgh International Children's Festival and ran it for two years. After spending some time travelling Vicky returned to Edinburgh to work towards becoming a radio producer. She achieved this, producing many feature programmes for Radio Scotland, Radio 2,4 and 5 and winning several awards. Latterly she spent two years producing the live sports programme, 'John Beatties Sports Weekly' for Radio Scotland. Now back in the Borders, Vicky looks after her six year old daughter, helps on her brother's hill sheep farm, and for the past four years has been an effective voice for her Selkirk ward on Scottish Borders Council.
East Deloraine,Ettrick,Selkirk East Del
01750 62 369
vdavidson@scotborders.gov.uk

Tweeddale East

Graham Garvie

Graham is one of Scotland`s most experienced local government professionals. A Tweeddale councillor since 2003, he was previously Chief Executive of the former Tweeddale District Council prior to its merger in 1996 into the Scottish Borders Council. Chairman of the Council`s Tweeddale Area Committee he has an outstanding record of achievement. Examples include the saving of Peebles Town bus service when threatened with withdrawal; the putting together of a financial package to keep afloat the Eastgate Theatre; securing(along with Peebles Councillor colleagues) over £14m for new primary schools provision in Peebles at Priorsford, Kingsland and Halyrude; and the re-zoning of Cavalry Park to enable local businesses to expand by relocating there. But his top priority is always to assist constituents with their individual concerns wherever possible In his spare time he sings and much enjoys, along with his wife Christine, his growing number of grandchildren. His great sporting love is rugby evidenced by his membership of three clubs -Peebles , Heriot`s and Edinburgh Rugby (where he is a Director)
34 Kirkland Street, Peebles EH45 8EU
01721 721 010
graham.garvie@borderslibdems.org.uk

Brian McCrow

Since Brian moved to Tweeddale from Edinburgh he has been active as a member of the Innerleithen Community Council and the Cardrona Residents Committee. He is also serving as the Chair of the Tweeddale Community Safety Panel and Chair of the Peebles Community Sports Club as well as promoting the Future Peebles project. In Edinburgh he was responsible within the Portobello Community Council for Community Safety, promoting local businesses and developing a long term plan for the regeneration of Portobello. He is a Director of a Computer Consultancy for Small to Medium sized businesses and has worked with major Retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley and Boots. Brian has lived and worked in Europe and the USA on computer projects for a variety of industries including manufacturing, textiles and services. He started his career teaching Maths at Knox Academy, Haddington and along with his wife Fay has interests in the theatre, arts and sport, especially ice skating.
1 Cardrona Way Cardrona Peebles EH45 9LD
01896 833 188
07712 841 768
brian.mccrow@borderslibdems.org.uk

Tweeddale West

Catriona Bhatia

Catriona was born in the Borders, and lives in the ward. She has four children who attend local schools and nursery. During the past 4 years she has been a very effective representative for Peebles, with an impressive record of securing over £30 million investment for improving schools, bus services, kerbside recycling, pathways, and more affordable and sheltered housing for local people. She cares passionately about the Borders, and will continue to work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all.
Kiltane,Eshiels,Peebles Kiltane,
01721 720 634
catriona.bhatia@borderslibdems.org.uk