Local news

Candy Philip has been chosen to be Duns Citizen of the Year 2019, through a public nomination process organised by the town’s Rotary Club. The award recognises Candy’s work in spearheading the ‘Blooming Marvellous’ project, which sets up and maintains community planting schemes around the town and is supported by A Heart for Duns.

When Scottish Borders Council gave up responsibility for the maintenance of the flower beds in town, Candy took on the role and has worked tirelessly to secure funding and to recruit volunteers, both individuals and groups, to assist. She has even managed to fund a polytunnel, a community garden and an electric vehicle based at the Volunteer Hall. The result is that through her leadership and organisational skills the town now has blooming flower beds to be proud of.

Candy was surprised but delighted to receive the award. She was keen to point out that this was very much a team effort and without the assistance of all the helpers she could not have achieved it.

Rotary Club of Duns President, Ricky Amos, said that he was very pleased with the number of nominations submitted this year and thanked all members of the community for their continuing support for this project. He went on to say that all nominees were unsung heroes in the community, but Candy had won by a clear margin.