'I Hate Hawick' website silenced, to Teries' relief

Published on 29/01/2004 00:00

A WEBSITE which ridiculed Hawick and branded local rugby fans as Masonic Neanderthals, disappeared from the internet yesterday, much to the relief of many of the "Teries" - the town’s citizens.

The I Hate Hawick site was peppered with foul language, decrying the Borders’ largest town at every turn. It even included a hall of fame dedicated to naming and shaming local shoplifters and other petty criminals.

The website, compiled by an anonymous author, prompted outrage earlier this week when it first appeared online.

The site’s home page said: "This site has been spawned from the hatred of Hawick shared by me, my friends and many others alike. Many people not from Hawick may see it as a little black dot on the map which isn’t worth visiting, and I’m here to tell you that’s exactly what it is."

But that was about the only contribution that could be safely quoted in a family newspaper.

There were invitations to elect, by e-mail, an alternative Hawick cornet to lead the traditional common riding events, the choices including "a black guy" who worked locally.

"It would be interesting to see a black cornet or would that make too many small minds malfunction?" the I Hate Hawick site declared.

Many of the most extreme views and the most colourful language were directed at rugby "bufters" [supporters], who were described as aged 18 to 40 with a "sheep-like mentality". "Extremely small minded group which works like a Masonic society where they only employ their own. Like to attack anything that’s different, closest thing to Neanderthal man left on earth," the site said.

A "hall of fame" competition promised a points system based on fines, deferrals and custodial sentences handed down by the courts to local petty criminals.

Ian Landles, a Hawick teacher and historian, said it was vital that the "horrible, destructive and damaging" site should be closed down permanently.

He said:

"The town has taken many a kicking in the past, and has suffered blows of all kinds, including unjustified inclusion in a book listing Britain’s 50 ‘crap’ towns. But in fact Hawick has so much going for it for those prepared to look."

Mr Landles said there was nothing harmful in the long-standing banter between Hawick and Galashiels or other Borders towns. But it was a different matter when someone decided to voice their own warped opinions for all the world to read.

Valerie Robson, one of Hawick’s six serving councillors, said:

"Disgraceful isn’t the word for it. To feel this way about a town and its proud people says more about the author than the town and its residents."

Ms Robson said the traditions and the pride kept alive in Hawick by those born and bred locally, and by adopted Teries [residents of Hawick] were known the world over. "The cornet epitomises all of this pride, as do the songs and poems and literature which annually reinforce all that Hawick stands for."

A local lawyer commented: "There was a bit of an insight into the criminal fraternity. But parts of the site were certainly defamatory."