ASK any child in Selkirk how they know the Common Riding is coming and they’ll point towards a distant flag on the Linglie Hill.

For the past 50 years a summit banner has heralded the beginning of the town’s annual celebrations.

And to mark the half century of 'Ozzie’s Flag’ a special ceremony was held on Sunday.

The flag began as a bit of a prank by teenager Kenneth 'Ozzie’ Williamson to show his folks where he’d been walking.

It coincided with the 1964 Common Riding countdown - and it was there waiting for Standard Bearer Ian Galloway and his mounted cavalcade as they checked the town’s boundaries a few days later.

Every year since Ozzie - often on his own or with his brothers - has climbed back to the top of Linglie Hill to raise his customary banner.

The 67-year-old handyman told us: “It all started with a few of us being up on the hill and we wanted to show where we’d been. Our front door looks towards Linglie Hill.

“After I did it a couple of times I thought I’d better carry on. We’ve been through a lot of flags as they get torn to bits being up there for a week or two.” On Sunday a group of around 20 hiking Souters joined Ozzie and 2014 Royal Burgh Standard Bearer Greg MacDougall for the ceremonial flag raising.

And Mr Williamson also honoured a promise to present this year’s Principal with an antique riding crop.

Ozzie continued: “I have had the crop in the house for many years - it dates back to the 1920s. I promised Greg when he was a young boy that if he was to ever become Standard Bearer I’d give him the crop.

“It all came as a bit of a surprise for him.” The harsh hillside weather has often blown the standard down, leading to a hasty return for Ozzie to re-erect the pole.

More recently, with some help from local builder Alan Beattie, a special mount has been created to prevent the flag from toppling.

But there was nothing Mr Williamson could do about his mother’s desire to turn one of the flags into a pinafore for a trip to Canada.

Ozzie added: “Alec Monks came up to the house one day with a cut of tartan from Gardiner’s Mill for me to make a flag as the other one had been torn by the wind.

“My mum wanted the tartan for a pinafore but I wouldn’t let her. After the tartan flag came down off the hill she washed it and made her pinafore.

“She wore it for the first time when she went to see her friend in Canada - she must have told everyone that it used to be the flag on the hill.”