Thomas Telford was born 250 years ago, in a remote cottage in Dumfriesshire, and went on to become Britain’s greatest civil engineer, responsible for hundreds of bridges, aqueducts, canals and roads. Now an exhibition to celebrate his work is touring Dumfries and Galloway and can be seen, until October 6, at the Stewartry Museum in Kirkcudbright.

Telford (below) shouldn’t have amounted to much. An only child, his father was a shepherd who died shortly after his birth. At 14, he was apprenticed to a stonemason in Langholm, where his marks can still be seen on a bridge.

Largely self-educated, Telford went on to found the Institute of Civil Engineers, which has launch-ed a website in his honour. On his death in 1859, he left money to fund libraries in Westerkirk and Langholm. Pupils at Langholm Academy have developed a booklet and audio guide for the anniversary.

* www.thomastelford250.org

Curling

If there was a time to concede the summer is over, it is when curling looms on the sporting calendar.

This weekend sees the Under-17 Grand Slam at Lockerbie Ice Rink, where Scotland’s stars of the future will be looking to make their mark.

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club, which runs the sport in Scotland, is putting more money into junior development for the new season. With an established schools and junior competition program-me, 52 athletes across 10 regions will receive support through the regional academy programme.

Under the guidance of Nancy Murdoch, the RCCC’s performance development coach, the programme which supports curlers from the age of 14 upwards will take another step forwards. Additional coaches have been brought and there will be more competitions and an increasing focus on athlete fitness.

Training camps will be held during the season, as the RCCC looks to build on the recent success of Scottish teams at international events.