New flag design leaves Borderers cross

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Published 1 Apr 2009 09:00 13 Comments

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COUNCILLORS have unfurled a furious row after giving the nod to a new Hawick-themed Borders flag.

The standard, which has a white saltire over a green background and a golden horse within a rugby ball, was officially adopted at a private meeting last week.

And it will be raised on public buildings and entrances to the region later this month.

But the design has angered many who feel it has an overwhelming Teri bias.

Stow-based councillor Sandy Aitchison has called for an emergency motion to be raised at tonight"s (Wednesday"s) Galashiels Community Council.

Councillor Aitchison told the Border Telegraph: 'This is supposed to be a flag that represents the whole Borders. 'This has nothing to do with Galashiels, Melrose, Eyemouth, Peebles, St Boswells or any other town in the Borders apart from Hawick. It has a Hawick colour and the Hawick horse symbol.

'I have nothing against Hawick, but this isn"t a flag for the Borders. I will ask Galashiels Community Council to vigorously oppose it being raised in the town.'

And Dr Lindsay Neil, convenor of Selkirk Regeneration Group, is calling for the whole banner brainwave to be abolished.

He told us: 'We were presented with this flag at the weekend and asked to raise it above the Victoria Halls at the end of the month. It"s going to turn the whole Borders into the Independent Burgh of Hawick.

'I don"t know what Scottish Borders Council were thinking of? We were led to believe it would be a flag to represent the whole region.'

A ceremony is being planned to take place at the Carter Bar on April 31 where the new flag will be officially unveiled. Council leader David Parker hopes parochial rivalries can be buried.

He said: 'The flag was democratically chosen by elected members and I feel in this modern day the people of Galashiels, Melrose, Selkirk and other towns should get behind our flag.

'Hawick has always claimed to be the Queen of the Borders and I don"t think we should take umbrage that it has had a heavy influence on our flag.'

Councillor Parker wouldn"t reveal if the adopted standard won his vote within the council chamber.

It is believed the 34 elected members were presented with five designs, including the Eildons, an ancient Christian symbol to depict the abbeys, a weaver"s loom and a mountain bike.

But a secret ballot saw the Horse and Rugby Ball image win most votes.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Borders Council told us: 'The Scottish Borders Flag will be flown from most public buildings in the region as well as strategic entrances such as the Carter Bar and Soutra on the A68, the A1 at Lamberton Toll, the A7 at Mosspaul and Fala Hill, and the A72 at Skirling.

'The iconic insignia will help give the Borders a better identity.'

This article appeared in Border Telegraph 01 Apr 09

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Annette Walker
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Apr 1, 15:28
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Hawick may claim to be "Queen o the Borders"-but only to Hawick folk. This is a slap in the face to all other Borderers whatever Council Leader David Parker may think.I hope all the other towns representatives will refuse to accept and fly this flag.

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John Johnston
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Apr 2, 08:44
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As an expatriated Souter of Selkirk, I am livid about this crazy decision.

Borderers are correct to feel proud of our area's wonderful heritage, and another admirable attribute of the region is the friendship between all the towns; but this is beyond the pail. Give us our Borders back! Councillor Parker for the chop!

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John Johnston
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Apr 2, 08:45
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As an expatriated Souter of Selkirk, I am livid about this crazy decision.

Borderers are correct to feel proud of our area's wonderful heritage, and another admirable attribute of the region is the friendship between all the towns; but this is beyond the pail. Give us our Borders back! Councillor Parker for the chop!

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Adam Sutton
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Apr 2, 08:47
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Do Hawick presume that because their common riding falls first in the calender that they get ownership of designing the flag? As the old adage goes, and is very fitting - first the worst, second the best. I vote Selkirk to design the flag as their townsfolk are more representative of your typical borderer.

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Eric Brown
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Apr 2, 08:50
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I've had to rub my eyes and double check this was not an April Fools Day prank! As a regular visitor to and admirer of the Borders I feel the council is selling itself significantly short by only choosing to represent Hawick in its flag. "Democratically chosen by elected members" - therefore such decisions are infallible? Methinks not sir!

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Adam Sutton
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Apr 2, 08:50
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Do Hawick presume that because their common riding falls first in the calender that they get ownership of designing the flag? As the old adage goes, and is very fitting - first the worst, second the best. I vote Selkirk to design the flag as their townsfolk are more representative of your typical borderer.

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Barry Shuttlesworth
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Apr 2, 09:02
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'A big tree attracts the woodsman's axe', as the proverb goes. People are going to take great umbrage with the town of Hawick if this sort of behaviour continues, mark my words. I kid ye not, many folks are unhappy with this new flag. Councillor Parker ought to hang his head in shame - and perhaps also step down from his post forthwith

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Adam Sutton
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Apr 2, 09:04
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Do Hawick presume that because their common riding falls first in the calender that they get ownership of designing the flag? As the old adage goes, and is very fitting - first the worst, second the best. I vote Selkirk to design the flag as their townsfolk are more representative of your typical borderer.

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Andrew Halstonethrop
Unregistered User
Apr 2, 09:11
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It's days like these when I can't fathom it. First one thing and now this. I can't imagine what the next might be!!I wish the council big-wigs would buck up their ideas!

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Novella Clunge
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Apr 2, 09:19
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I am neither from the borders nor have I ever heard of 'flags', but this surely must come as a slap in the face to all humans hailing from towns that do not begin with the letter 'H'.

Surely a 'flag' which represents the republic more comprehensively could have been chosen. I'm no Jean Claude Darchville, but a simple design of a horse wearing a rugby helmet hammering Calippos into the pavement with a traffic cone would encapsulate all ideas and eradicate any chance of infection.

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Bongo Goat
Unregistered User
Apr 2, 09:29
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Gala forever,

Hawick in the river,

Pull 'em out,

Wring 'em out,

Make 'em shout,

'Gala forever!'

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Bongo Goat
Unregistered User
Apr 2, 09:31
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Gala forever,

Hawick in the river,

Pull 'em out,

Wring 'em out,

Make 'em shout,

'Gala forever!'

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Jean Claude Darcheville
Unregistered User
Apr 2, 09:35
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"COUNCILLORS have unfurled a furious row after giving the nod to a new Hawick-themed Borders flag.

The standard, which has a white saltire over a green background and a golden horse within a rugby ball, was officially adopted at a private meeting last week.

And it will be raised on public buildings and entrances to the region later this month.

But the design has angered many who feel it has an overwhelming Teri bias.

Stow-based councillor Sandy Aitchison has called for an emergency motion to be raised at tonight’s (Wednesday’s) Galashiels Community Council.

Councillor Aitchison told the Border Telegraph: “This is supposed to be a flag that represents the whole Borders. “This has nothing to do with Galashiels, Melrose, Eyemouth, Peebles, St Boswells or any other town in the Borders apart from Hawick. It has a Hawick colour and the Hawick horse symbol.

“I have nothing against Hawick, but this isn’t a flag for the Borders. I will ask Galashiels Community Council to vigorously oppose it being raised in the town.”

And Dr Lindsay Neil, convenor of Selkirk Regeneration Group, is calling for the whole banner brainwave to be abolished.

He told us: “We were presented with this flag at the weekend and asked to raise it above the Victoria Halls at the end of the month. It’s going to turn the whole Borders into the Independent Burgh of Hawick.

“I don’t know what Scottish Borders Council were thinking of? We were led to believe it would be a flag to represent the whole region.”

A ceremony is being planned to take place at the Carter Bar on April 31 where the new flag will be officially unveiled. Council leader David Parker hopes parochial rivalries can be buried.

He said: “The flag was democratically chosen by elected members and I feel in this modern day the people of Galashiels, Melrose, Selkirk and other towns should get behind our flag.

“Hawick has always claimed to be the Queen of the Borders and I don’t think we should take umbrage that it has had a heavy influence on our flag.”

Councillor Parker wouldn’t reveal if the adopted standard won his vote within the council chamber.

It is believed the 34 elected members were presented with five designs, including the Eildons, an ancient Christian symbol to depict the abbeys, a weaver’s loom and a mountain bike.

But a secret ballot saw the Horse and Rugby Ball image win most votes.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Borders Council told us: “The Scottish Borders Flag will be flown from most public buildings in the region as well as strategic entrances such as the Carter Bar and Soutra on the A68, the A1 at Lamberton Toll, the A7 at Mosspaul and Fala Hill, and the A72 at Skirling.

“The iconic insignia will help give the Borders a better identity.”"???

You can't be serious! this is nothing short of characters

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