Convener: And the Selkirk Standard Bearer is...

Ally McGilvray • Published 6 Apr 2010 12:47 1 Comment

A BLUNDERING councillor broke centuries-old tradition by revealing one of the Borders best-kept secrets.

Local authority convener Alasdair Hutton publicly announced the name of the man who will lead this year's Selkirk Common Riding at the start of the full meeting of Scottish Borders Council in Newtown St Boswells on Thursday.

However, the appointment of Standard Bearer - who we have agreed not to name - was not due to be confirmed until next month.

Selkirk Provost Jim Henderson told the Border Telegraph: "I'm shocked. This has never happened before in my time in office.

"For practical purposes the Standard Bearer has to be appointed before the official appointment night and a meeting of the Common Riding Trust was held last Tuesday.

"But there is an unwritten convention whereby their identity is not revealed until the official appointment night.

"I'm disappointed that the convention has not been observed on this occasion and I'm quite surprised that Councillor Hutton didn't appreciate the sensitivity of the matter because he's been involved with festivals and common ridings throughout the Borders for a number of years."

Councillor Hutton, who was a guest of honour at the Common Riding last year, retracted his statement at the end of the three-hour meeting after his blunder was pointed out and apologised for his mistake.

However, organisers insist it will not spoil this year's festivities which celebrate the history of the town.

Community councillor Alistair Pattullo, an ex Merchant Company Standard Bearer, said: "It might take the edge off it for some people but the appointment night is still a big event whoever the Standard Bearer is and the town always turns out to support them and it will be the same again this year."

The Standard Bearer is not usually unveiled until the doors of the Town Hall swing open on appointment night which this year will be held on April 30.

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• 

  Ninian Reid
  Unregistered User
  Apr 6, 12:35
  Report comment

  I regard this as no more than an uncharacteristic slip of a famously diplomatic tongue that has spoken up for the Scottish Borders for more than a generation.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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