Prior to our Ill-fated sojourn into East of Scotland football, we at Hawick United had a few conversations about trying to obtain the changing rooms at the walled gardens at Wilton Lodge Park. It was all put on the back burner once we went down to Albert Park, but, when Kevin Strathdee set up Hawick Colts, we started to chat about it again. Hawick United, were at that time being run by Alan Campbell and Dougal Prowse so we set up a meeting with them to discuss the option of a joint approach to Scottish Borders Council with the view to obtaining the facility.
I was at the helm initially, but the Colts secretary, now Hawick United secretary, Dave Slight, and United’s Rob Holland took the reins once we started to investigate it more seriously. It was felt that given Robs background, he was the ideal person to get us the best deal without falling into too many legal traps. After months of negotiating these things take time, a deal was struck and Hawick United and Hawick Colts leased the building on an annual basis from S.B.C. The annual fee is a nominal amount, and the utility bills and upkeep of the building was to be undertaken by the clubs.
Thankfully, and to the delight of all, it is now one club. That being Hawick United A.F.C. It was always the understanding, should we be successful, that we rename the building after Mr. Hawick United, Derek Ramage. The work, over almost 60 years, that Derek put into Hawick United is just phenomenal and a more fitting name you couldn’t find. The building is now therefore known as The Derk Ramage Pavilion.
Sadly, Derek passed away in 2022 but was able to be at the official opening before he left us. Ever enterprising, Kevin Strathdee, came up with the suggestion, that we should also go for the ground next to the D.R. Pavilion and turn it into a pitch. I’m happy to say that those negotiations were also successful, and the ground is now leased to Hawick United as well. We are in the process of turning it into a pitch suitable to play our matches on. More to follow.
Thanks must go to Dave Slight, Rob Holland, and Kevin Strathdee from the club for their contribution and hard work in procuring the pavilion. The club are also indebted to councillor Stuart Marshall, a long-time friend of the club, for pointing us in the right direction. We never rest on our laurels at this club and plans are afoot to turn the changing rooms into a clubhouse that will benefit Hawick United, football in the town, and many other local organisations, for many years to come. There is still a lot of hard work and negotiating required to make this happen but watch this space. The pitch is our main priority at the moment, but we are looking into everything else as well.
The Derek Ramage Pavilion by Douglas Leithead - October 2023