Recently added articles from Hawick News (Hawick, Scotland):

Swinney picks up jobs mantle.

Jul 04, 2008 ... SCOTLAND'S finance minister John Swinney made a special visit to Hawick on Wednesday night to hold talks with Pringle bosses. The government chief had taken a detour from a previous engagement in Kelso to attend a private meeting at Glebe Mill with three members of the Pringle ...

The day Pringle lion was no longer king.

Jul 04, 2008 ... TOWNSFOLK were stunned on Monday to learn that Pringle was planning to end its 187-year history in Hawick. It was revealed that the firm, which is owned by the Fang Brothers, planned to cease the manufacturing of Hawick's famous brand in the town - resulting in the loss of 80 ...

A look back at some of the defining years.

Jul 04, 2008 ... Compiled by Jason Marshall 1815 Robert Pringle establishes Pringle of Scotland, producing hosiery and underwear 1922 Private company called Robert Pringle & Son is incorporated 1923 Future chairman Willie Mactaggart joins firm as trainee manager ...

Demand for finer garments sees firms struggling to adapt.

Jul 04, 2008 ... OBVIOUSLY the news from Pringle is very disappointing. However, given the size of the accumulated losses, it will have come as no surprise to many that a global company such as the Fang Bros enterprises represents, has taken such a decision. The market is constantly changing and ...

Chairman Fang and his knitting empire.

Jul 04, 2008 ... Kenneth Fang is chairman of Fang Brothers Knitting Limited, which has a payroll of 15,000 and an annual output of 24 million garments. The Chinese tycoon first declared an interest in buying Pringle on February 15 2000 with the [pounds sterling]10m deal for the ailing firm being ...

Councillors lay it on the line over factory closure.

Jul 04, 2008 ... Elected members give their reaction to Glebe closure threat Stuart Marshall: "Over the years Pringle has employed some of the finest, skilled and dedicated workers that the industry has to offer, and those workers that are affected by today's announcement have every ...

'I never thought Pringle's would finish'.

Jul 04, 2008 ... It was the war years when Betty Reid, pictured, first stepped through the doors of Pringle after having just left Hawick High. It wasn't her first job as she had worked in an office elsewhere for two or three weeks. But a lot of her friends worked in Pringle's, so she decided to ...

'I was proud to work for Pringle's'.

Jul 04, 2008 ... "The emphasis was on quality and this was drummed into you. And you took pride in your work. I was proud to say I was a Pringle's worker." These were the comments of one-time Pringle frameworker Andy Amos, pictured, as he reflected on the Pringle's of yesteryear. When the ...

Mill chiefs' contrasting outlook.

Jul 04, 2008 ... THE proposed closure of Pringle's Glebe Mill has led to questions being raised over the future of Hawick's knitwear industry, but, according to the town's three main mills, the outlook is far from bleak. In stark contrast to Pringle's, factory bosses at Johnstons, Peter Scott & ...

Long-term plan for Pringle that never materialised.

Jul 04, 2008 ... GIVEN the enormity of Monday's jobs blow which left the Pringle workforce devastated, the subsequent comment from boss Douglas Fang that the firm had "strongly supported the Hawick plant over the past eight years" has quite rightly been met with much anger and incredulity. This ...

Townsfolk lament the end of an era.

Jul 04, 2008 ... Shock news of Pringle mill closure has left Teries stunned and saddened, finds Sarah Williamson Jackie Powolny, Brydon's Bakery: "This is devastating, really sad. It always has an effect on the town's High Street businesses, we always notice it. I really ...

Duo get their kicks.

Jul 04, 2008 ... RADIO Borders DJ Paul Richardson and mum-of-three Katrine McMichan, both pictured, have been awarded the rank of 1st Dan Black Belt. The two Wado-Ryu karate club members, pictured right, passed a gruelling two-hour test of their skills in front of a panel of senior Black Belt ...

Motorist put off road.

Jul 03, 2008 ... A man caught driving without a licence, insurance, and a test certificate, repeated all three offences eight days later. At Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, Robert Smallwood, 39, of Burnfoot Road, was fined a total of [pounds sterling]420 and banned from driving for 12 ...

Police used CS spray on Burnfoot man.

Jul 03, 2008 ... A drunken man who struggled violently with police, who had to resort to two sets of handcuffs and CS spray to control him, was sentenced to 150 hours' community service. At Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, William MacFarlane, 31, of Fairhurst Drive, admitted disorderly ...

Youths charged.

Jul 03, 2008 ... TWO Glasgow youths have been charged following the recent incident of vandalism at Hawick Rugby Club. The 17-year-olds were traced following extensive enquiries by officers from ...

Lamont's fears over 'token' Hawick office.

Jul 03, 2008 ... HAWICK-based MSP John Lamont has voiced concerns that Pringle will continue to trade on its Scottish heritage, despite ceasing manufacturing in the town. Speaking to the Hawick News after it was revealed on Monday that the firm was proposing to keep only a head office and sales ...

Schools keep tight grip on trophies.

Jul 03, 2008 ... Following their victories at last year's Stow fives tournament, Drumlanrig and Stirches retained their trophies and, just like in 2007, they did so without conceding a goal. In the girls' competition, Drumlanrig Wildcats eased past Stow 'A', Fountainhall and Drumlanrig ...

Knights on the spot in Slorance Shield.

Jul 03, 2008 ... Drumlanrig Knights emerged the victors of the new primary school cup football competition. Playing for The John Slorance Shield, the Knights (pictured), who were one of three ...

Boxing Club's knockout dinner.

Jul 03, 2008 ... HAWICK'S own kings of the ring took a bow last Friday night at the Boxing Club's inaugural dinner and awards night. And among the 70-odd inside the Lodge 111 to celebrate the achievements of the town's finest fighters was a veritable who's who on the local boxing scene - ...

Sean verdict was 'a bad decision'.

Jul 03, 2008 ... BOXING a lot better than the final score reflected, the Hawick club's Sean Allison more than held his own before going down eight points to six at last Friday night's Four Nations Championships in ...