Bog StandardHutton's size hardly justified a public park although there was some talk of turning Farmer H's field, opposite the Kirk into a village green-although there was a possible Faustian bargain involving a housing development at the top of the field along the Hutton Castle road. This might have gone ahead had the new village hall been sited in that field as was once mooted. Paxton, by contrast, has a very pleasing if miniscule Village Green, the result of a local (incomers mostly)initiative. After some sullen opposition mostly from the 'Ay Bees' it is now an accepted part of Village life.But Duns, the County Town, has a Park. (The 'P' is capital but the loos are closed)The autumnal scene is pleasing enough. But if you look closely at the image (click to enlarge) you will see a...
Duns Roamin? Scotus ReturnsI don't know who selects what items from the Berwickshire should go on line but this week is an example of a really interesting article, well written and researched, being omitted from the website. So you will have to fork out 62p (a silly figure) and turn to page 3 where any thought of a topless filly (and in Berwickshire it would be a filly) has been abandoned in favour of the camp image of John Duns Scotus-similar to Huttonian's post of a few days back. Unsurprisingly similar as it is the same statue which graces Duns Park. Next November is the 700th anniversary of Scotus' death-the statue was to mark his birth in either 1265 or 1266; birth certificate mislaid presumably. The writer claims Duns Scotus as the town's greatest son and even more distinguished...
Duns to rival Olympics suggests a bloggee. An event which will switch world attention from China to Chirnside or more precisely from Donkin to Duns. Read all about it at: http://www.airmaria.com/international-centenary-symposium-on-the-mariology-of-bl-john-duns-scotus-2008/Not Jim Clarke nor even John Hutton, but the great late Duns Scotus whose connection with Berwickshire is being widely if belatedly recognised 700 years dead. Fancy that.Will you remember what you were doing when the Pilgroms hit town.Book your seat in the Parish (as in Catholic) Church) now-or resign yourself to watching it live on Al...
Duns Who?At the Middle Englander party referred to in the Last Post below one guest had the courtesy to take some interest in our move to Duns, perhaps not realising that it is in Scotland. 'Somebody famous came from there?' 'Jim Clarke?' I suggested, although of course he was more closely connected with Chirnside, but why muddy the waters. 'That doesn't ring a bell' he said but then wandered off to talk to someone more interesting. Just as we were about to leave he returned bubbling with excitement-'I have just remembered your famous Duns person- a real giant in his time; oh dear' he is going to say Rabbie Burns and I will have to correct him.' 'Yes' he said : 'Duns was his name'Duns Scrotus'Ah well, marks for effort-not unlike the young Essex girl who rushed up to handsome young Scot...
Duns boasts a number (well two at least) of famous sons-Most notable perhaps was the late "Jim Clarke the Grand Prix racing driver (actually a Chirnside man but his 'museum is in Duns) and of course the great Duns Scotus. Wikapedia has this entry:"Though of dubious nativity (one school would have it at Duns, in the Borders; another, elsewhere: off in Ireland) in 1291 Duns Scotus was recorded duly an ordained man of God, in Northampton, England; he was a student, and subsequently a teacher, beginning in 1293 and running through 1297, at the University of Paris, later at Oxford, and likely again at Cambridge. He was expelled from the University of Paris for siding with then Pope Boniface VIII in that pontiff's feud with Philip the Fair of France. At length, Duns Scotus settled in Cologne,...
