About

The Tweedsmuir Community Company (TCC) is a not-for-profit limited liability company (registered in 2007) that was formed in response to the loss of the historic, listed Crook Inn that had been a centre for employment and for social and cultural life for over 400 years (Registered Company Number SC332043).

It is a charity with broad aims for the local and wider community (Scottish Charity Number SC043714OSCR, registered 2013).

Our Charitable Aims and Objectives

  1. To promote rural regeneration for the public benefit, following principles of sustainable development, where ‘sustainable development’ means development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, in areas of social and economic deprivation within the Community by all or any of the following means:
    • The advancement of education, training or retraining;
    • The maintenance, improvement or provision of public amenities for the benefit of  the community and encouragement of tourism;
    • The preservation of buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance;
    • The provision or assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large and/or those who, by reasons of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities. 
  2. To advance the education of the Community about its environment, culture and/or history.

Board Members And Trustees

Gavin Parker, Chair. Retired Garage proprietor. 28 years’ experience in operating an owner- managed business in Peebles. Chairman of the Tweedsmuir Community Council. Local resident for 33 years and local sporting and events organiser.

Helen Wood, Treasurer. Studied Business Management & Economics while entering employment and gaining 16 years experience within the Credit Management Industry, holding a senior role as Business Development Director, Anderson Strachan Ltd.

Frances Leckie, Company Secretary. Created and runs the Independent living website, Britain’s longest-established site providing free information and advice about any aspect of mobility and independence for people living with disabilities and carers. Prior to that, she worked as a PR and marketing consultant.

Christine Parker, Director. Early Years Manager of Bananas Playgroup based at Broughton Primary school since 2007. Moved to Tweedsmuir while employed at the Crook Inn in 1984, working for four different owners over 12 years until doors first closed in May 2006. Over 16 years’ experience in retail sales and flooring. Office bearer and member of several community groups.

James Welch, Director. Studied at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Practising as a Chartered Landscape Architect, Environmental Planner and Expert Witness for 25 years. Founder and Director of Optimised Environments Ltd (OPEN) based in Edinburgh, & London & Manchester with 360 staff.

Debbie Cullen, Director. After working for 25 years in the NHS and a few years living in Germany, Debbie moved to Tweedsmuir in 2017.

Duncan Davidson, Director. Studied medicine in Edinburgh University. Consultant Neurologist, Dundee Hospitals Medical School for 29 years providing clinical services, teaching, research and administration. Retired. Former Editor of Upper Tweed Community News.

Jamie Bateman, Co-opted Director. Architect and Director of Smith Scott Mullan Associates, Edinburgh, with 22 years’ experience of historic building conservation, adapting existing buildings to new uses and in assisting clients in the procurement of complex projects.

Mark Davidson, Co-opted Director. Working in education, leadership development and coaching for 30 years. CEO/Founder of NCoach Ltd. 

Connections

We have strong links with the separate Tweedsmuir Community Council, sharing some TCC Board members with membership of the Community Council. The Tweedsmuir Community Council is currently developing a Tweedsmuir Community Action Plan which features the Crook Inn Community Hub project as a key strand in meeting the needs of the community.

We have links with:

  • Scottish Borders Council
  • Tweeddale West Councillors
  • The High Schools in Peebles, Biggar and Moffat
  • Upper Tweed Railway Paths
  • The Tweedsmuir Village Hall Committee
  • The Borders Forest Trust (which has embarked on a programme of developing ecological restoration in Tweedsmuir).

We are a member of the Development Trusts Association of Scotland, linking with other community organisations around Scotland.