MELROSIAN Graeme Crawford was all smiles after being paraded through his hometown following his official appointment at the weekend.

The 20-year-old sports science student said he was looking forward to leading the Melrose Festival in June and representing the town at festivals across the Borders this summer.

His appointment was first announced at the Ex-Melrosians Burns Supper in January.

However, the former Earlston High School pupil, who has played rugby for Melrose and Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, was introduced to the local community for the first time on Saturday.

He was joined by the Festival Queen, Katy Wilkinson, and her Court - Queen's Attendants: Imogen Walls and Isobel Reid; Courtiers: Duncan Howard and Macx Clark-Wright; Heralds: Oliver Watson and Michael Jamieson; and Train bearers: Grace McWhinnie and Amelia Edmondson.

The Melrose Festival is a series of events to celebrate the history of the town and is held during the third full week of June.