BBC's My Kind of Town visits Hawick for third series

My Kind of Town, presented by Ian Hamilton with his guide dog Major, will showcase Hawick in an upcoming episode out next week.

As part of the series, Ian and Major visit different towns and communities around Scotland, learning about their history and the people living there today.

Euan Walsh from Welcome Hawick with presenter Ian Hamilton and his guidedog Major in Hawick (Image: BBC Scotland)

On his visit to Hawick, Ian spoke to Euan Walsh of Welcome Hawick and local historian Wendy Tait, and even joined a battle re-enactment with sword training from Keith Douglas.

Known for its weaving, Ian also visited Johnstons of Elgin to try his hand at quality testing.

Community concerns were also on the agenda, as Ian and Major discovered how the flood prevention scheme in the town has taken shape after speaking with councillor Stuart Marshall (who is part of the flood defence group) and how campaigners like Marion Short are working to see the Borders Railway extended to Hawick and on to Carlisle.

Ian with councillor Stuart Marshall discussing flood protection (Image: BBC Scotland)

Ian said: “The people of Hawick are aware where their communities’ challenges lie and that the key is to provide opportunity for people to stay and make a life here.

"The town has always punched above its weight with sport and ceremony.

"They don’t want to let go of their tradition, but they are moving forward to secure their future.”

For the episode Ian also spoke with Ian Landles and Scottish Rugby star Lisa Thomson at Mansfield Park, Jim Sykes from the Dementia Café and Sian Snowdon of the Escape Youth Café.

Ian and Scotland Rugby star Lisa Thomson at Mansfield Park (Image: BBC Scotland)

This is the third series of My Kind of Town, and this latest run has so far seen Ian visit Girvan, Wick and Larkhall.

Ian added: “Two-thirds of us in Scotland live in small towns or near them.

"They are the towns that aren’t in the headlines that often and are not always tourist hotspots either, but they are the beating heart of the country in many ways.

“It has been really interesting over the course of the three series to go into these towns, many of which are facing challenges in this post-industrial age or through the drift to bigger cities, and find out how they are fighting back, how they are doing day-to-day, ploughing their own furrow and building on their already strong sense of community.”

My Kind of Town: Hawick will air on BBC Scotland 8pm on Thursday, January 26, and will later be available on BBC iPlayer along with previous episodes.