The Coldstream and District Local History Society met on 23 August 2012. The Society convened in the Eildon Centre to discuss the collapsed Purves headstone in Lennel Kirkyard.
James Charles Purves is mentioned on this headstone and he was killed as a result of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. The committee has commissioned the services of Robertson Memorials of Kelso to resurrect and reinstate the broken headstone. This is likely to take place in September or October. This venture completes the circle in respecting this war hero. Previously a plaque has been placed in the Parish Church. SBC has also kindly cut the grass at the kirkyard. A film show of old Coldstream photographs and a supper is to be convened on Thursday 25th August in the Eildon Centre to help raise funds for the headstone reinstatement. Other parties, too numerous to mention and/or embarrass have contributed to this project.
The committee also agreed to invest further in this website and develop an extra section for the war memorials, add functionality to research Cornhill and Mindrum church yards, link the existing audio system to the new website and create functionality to research further eminent Coldstream citizens. At the meeting, the provosts were mentioned as one example but there are others including internationalists at sport, vice admirals of the fleet, a famous Newcastle United footballer and a pioneer in the Bible Press. Watch this space.