A 'truly remarkable' lady: Scottish Borders Council pays tribute to Hawick rail campaigner Madge Elliot
Last updated 30th May 2024
One of the founding members of the Campaign for Borders Rail is being remembered by councillors in the region this morning (Thursday).
Madge Elliot - who has been described as a "truly remarkable" lady - died at the weekend, aged 95, following a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s.
Paying tribute to her at today's full meeting of Scottish Borders Council, local authority convener Watson McAteer said she had fought "tooth and nail to right what was to her and every other Borderer a terrible wrong" - the "unnecessary closure" of the Waverley Line.
And while ill-health took its toll in recent years, it did not, he said, stop her continuing to fight for the extension of the railway to her beloved Hawick and on to Carlisle. A campaign, he added, that will continue in her name.
Following the moving tribute, councillors stood for a moment's silence to reflect on the achievements of a "great Borderer".
Madge and her late husband Bob were awarded MBEs in 1998 for services to lawn tennis and contribution to local life - with the Borders Tennis Centre describing her as a "trailblazer", who inspired so many youngsters to take up the sport.
But Councillor Watson said: "Madge will be remembered most for her tireless campaigning following the unnecessary closure of the Waverley Line."
On December 18th, 1968, she hand-delivered an 11,000 signature petition calling for the rail route to be saved to the British Prime Minister Harold Wilson at 10 Downing Street.
Her efforts were celebrated when a section of the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank reopened in 2015.
Councillor Watson continued: "While that round of the fight was eventually lost, Madge never gave up hope and, during the next 55 years, she became a founding member of the Campaign for Borders Rail; and continued to fight tooth and nail to right what was to her and every other Borderer a terrible wrong.
"How proud she was on 26th of July, 2015, when she was to be the first passenger at Tweedbank on the newly-established Borders Railway, an honour that incuded having a freight carriage named after her.
"While ill-health began to creep up - and to an extent overtook her priorities - it did not, however, stop her continuing to fight for the extension of the railway to her beloved Hawick and on to Carlisle; a campaign that will continue in her name."
Despite a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s, Madge continued to fight for worthy causes.
Just weeks ago she was invited to reopen the Teviot Day Service (pictured above) for the elderly.
The campaign to restore the service in Hawick was led by Madge’s son, Sean, who has described his mum as “inspirational”.
He said: "Truly a life well lived, she gave so much time to the community, not just in terms of the railway campaigning (well documented elsewhere), but a huge contribution to tennis (in partnership with our Dad, Bob) and a whole host of other campaigns and volunteering roles over her lifetime, too many to list.
"She loved Wilton Park and spent so much time at the tennis courts, playing, coaching, organising juniors, matches and competitions, as well as managing the courts when the Council would no longer provide a court attendant. She loved to see young people playing sport.
"We’re very glad she was able to attend the re-opening of Teviot Day Service a few weeks ago, the last campaign she was involved in. We will certainly miss her."
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