Spurs night success

0 - 0 • Published 21 May 2008 12:00 0 Comments

THE annual 'Spurs Night' organised by the Gala Souters" Association got off to a great start on Friday evening in brilliant sunshine.

As Royal Burgh Standard Bearer Guy Blair and his two Burleymen, Alistair Craig and Scott Hermiston, rode in to meet up with Braw Lad Jamie Hynd and Braw Lass Lauren Horsburgh to be welcomed to Galashiels by the local principals.

The mounted procession made their way into Galashiels and were met at the public park by the Gala Ex-Service Pipe Band who led the riders and their foot followers to the Royal British Legion in Park Street for the annual dinner and dance.

There, the chairman of the Gala Souters Association, George Emond the Ex-Deacon of the Fleshers" Incorporation welcomed them all and proved an excellent host for the meal and for the after-dinner speeches.

He introduced Lindsay Grieve who proposed the toast to 'The Royal Burgh and her Ancient Crafts' and provided a thoughtful and thought provoking insight into the life and the history of Selkirk.

He went on to mention famous sons of Selkirk such as Mungo Park, James Hogg and Sir Walter Scott who, although he wasn"t born in the Royal Burgh, worked here as Sheriff and took the town to his heart; Andrew Lang, J. B. Selkirk, Thomas Craig-Brown and the artist Tom Scott.

'Nowadays,' he concluded, 'Selkirk is more diluted with folk coming and going from the town. We have to change, to embrace incomers and learn them our traditions and customs so that future generations can carry them on.'

Hon. Provost of the Common Riding Trust, Jim Henderson, responded to the toast and said, 'We are all part of this historic countryside of moors and rivers, this great panorama of rolling hills which seem never to end; this land where men have fought and died to secure our future . . . this glorious Borderland.

'The Royal and Ancient Burgh and her ancient crafts hold a special place in all our hearts and our Common Riding is the very essence of being a Souter.'

Before he ended the Hon. Provost congratulated Braw Lad and Lass Jamie and Lauren on their appointments and wished them a great year ahead and wished all present a great Selkirk Common Riding and the mounted supporters "Safe Oot and Sfe In".'

The Spurs for the Royal Burgh Standard Bearer, Guy Blair were handed over after a toast to Selkirk"s young man of the year by chairman George Emond and the Spurs for the Braw Lad and Lass were handed over by Helen Frankland the newest member of the association.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 21 May 08

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