Aye Be Cee


There should be a local pop group called something like 'Aye Be and the Incomers'

'Aye Be here for McYonks and can't stand the bloody incomers, telling us all what to do'

Echoes of this in Greenlaw apparently

SIR, - In response to the anonymous letter which refers to “incomers” contributing to the organisation of the Greenlaw Festival, one feels compelled to ask, if there are to be no incomers, what is the option for growth in the community: inbreeders?
It is sad that in difficult times the Borders small town mentality persists at just such a time when we need inward investment and skills to help us through the depression we are in.
One distinctly hears a tone of neo-Nazi sentiment in the first letter, which is most worrying, and it is no wonder it was sent anonymously.
There appears to have been a misunderstaning over the Slaters incident.
What it has uncovered, though, is an extremely worrying attitude which I thought we had moved-on from. Sadly, it appears not.

To be fair we did not find too much antagonism when we first came to the Borders in 1997. Having the Post office on our kitchen table helped.But you had to watch it a bit. Of the five Community Councils closest to Hutton and Paxton four had incomer Chairs (Worse: English) and at one time on the H&PCC there was never more than two menbers out of 8 who were locally born and bred. There was a fine balance to strike: too involved you were pushy, keep away from loal matters and you were stand offish.

Here in Norn Iron my grandparents bought this house in 1921-now belongs jointly to the three daughters: 4 generations and five coming up. And the bigger house, next door, was continously occupied by the family for 40 years, this cottage off and on for 85! But I suspect that most people around here would assume that I was not an incomer but

A Blow In.

(The image is of a County Down Sea Pink. Not an incomer but could be a blow in. Killard Nature Reserve near Strangford)

Labels: Hutton and Paxton Community Council, incomers

  ¶ 9:50 AM