Well, we scrabbled around for doctors and surgeons and it seemed to be a terminal case. Thankfully however, it wasn't - thanks to 'Dr' Simon Neal and the Friends of Nature House who came to the rescue and amputation was avoided.

As a village community we cannot express sufficiently our thanks to Simon for his immense belief in the Youth Hostel movement and the untiring effort that he has made to bring this Hostel back to life. These days Yetholm has to look to its assets to survive and our best asset is our location amidst some of the finest hill scenery in Britain - not great mountains, but hills that are eminently walkable yet still challenging and with a solitude and beauty all of their own.

Add to that, the fact that we are the terminus of that great national Walk -the Pennine Way - we are the halfway point of the St. Cuthbert's Way Walk and from October 30 the starting point of a new national walk - the Gore-Tex National Trail - which ends at Cape Wrath. What a place this is to be!! I am sure that all these walkers need us - and we of course need them: they are to a large extent our future.

So this is an inspirational day and on behalf of Yetholm Community Council and all the people of Yetholm we wish this Youth Hostel every success. We bestow on Simon our heartfelt gratitude for his energy, enthusiasm and foresight and we look to the future with optimism and indeed excitement for what we can achieve together.

Bari Gadgi , Bari Manushi, visiting Principals, on behalf of our villages and Parish, it gives me very great pleasure indeed to welcome you back from your Stob Stanes Rideout this evening . We do hope that you and your entourage have enjoyed the experience on such a lovely evening ,the views must have been magnificent.
You have ridden in the footsteps of countless folks over the centuries, from earliest times when ancient civilizations populated the many hill forts much in evidence today . Roman Legions marched along Dere Street to their camp at Chew Green just over the hills from Stob Stanes. St. Cuthbert was reputed to have passed very close to those very Stones on his way to Lindesfarne, and where almost daily many pilgrims continue to make this historical journey . You have been within sight and sound of Scotland's greatest tragedy at Flodden Field, where next year the 500th Anniversary of the battle will be commemorated.

These old drove roads you have ridden along bear witness to the countless stocksmen and shepherds, who drove their beasts over the Border to market, and whose descendants still manage their hefted flocks to this day, now on quad bikes with collies on board . The Cheviots have seen much reaving and many skirmishes over the centuries. During 2nd World War did those doomed planes fly over the Stob Stanes to their lonely graves on these Cheviot hills ? I rather think some of them did. The military are a real presence and you have been within hearing distance of the guns that boom from Otterburn Firing Range, and the jets that scream above and sometimes below, a sobering reminder of a world that is embroiled in conflict .

In spite of the Cheviots turbulent history they attract many hill walkers from all walks of life, to enjoy the spectacular ever changing landscape, and the solitude of a day outby. Wainwright's famous Pennine Way passes very close to those ancient stones ,a walk to be recommended, but beware the weather can change in an instant on the hill tops. You are the 30th Bari Gadgi and Bari Manushi to undertake this Stob Stanes Rideout, and now you also, have became part of the rich tapestry of these wonderful hills ;tell your story to your grandchildren, and enjoy the rest of your week. Thank you!