Borders Railway campaigner dies aged 95

Madge Elliot campaigned against the closure of the rail line in the Borders and then for services to return

One of the most prominent figures in the campaign to reopen the railway in the Scottish Borders has died at the age of 95.

Madge Elliot, from Hawick, fought the closure of the old Waverley Line - which ran between Edinburgh, Hawick and Carlisle - before it shut in the 1960s.

She joined the campaign for its return before the new Borders Railway opened in 2015 and a train was named in her honour.

Her son, Sean, confirmed that his "inspirational" mother had died on Saturday.

"Truly a life well-lived, she gave so much time to the community," he said.

He added that her efforts went beyond her well-known railway campaigning into contributing to tennis in the area and a long list of volunteer work.

She was also involved in successful efforts to reopen a day care service in Hawick which was closed by Scottish Borders Council.

"We’re very glad she was able to attend the reopening of Teviot Day Service a few weeks ago, the last campaign she was involved in," said her son.

"We will certainly miss her."

Madge was also part of successful efforts to reopen the Teviot Day Services

Madge was honoured with a train being named after her ahead of the opening of the Borders Railway.

During a campaign to keep a railway line in the Borders in the 1960s, she collected a petition of 11,768 signatures.

With her 11-year-old son Kim, and Liberal MP David Steel, she delivered it to Prime Minister Harold Wilson at 10 Downing Street on 18 December 1968.

After its closure, she actively campaigned for the reopening of the line as a member of the Campaign for Borders Rail.

That route opened in September 2015.

In addition to her efforts to bring the railway back to the region, she was given an MBE for her services to lawn tennis in the Borders in 1999.