SELKIRK Provost David Anderson described it was a perfect day and few that witnessed this year’s Common Riding would disagree.

From the Flute Band’s Rouse Parade at the crack of dawn to the Return of the Burgh Flag more than seven hours later this was an emotional celebration that will live long in the memory.

The rain clouds may have threatened but they knew better than to even try and spoil this historic occasion.

Frae a’ the airts they had come to follow Royal Burgh Standard Bearer Greg MacDougall.

There was a self-assured calmness displayed by the town’s Principal throughout a morning of tears, cheers and song.

But the 27-year-old auctioneer wasn’t fooling the man who charged him with checking these ancient town boundaries.

Provost Anderson said: “Greg has a fantastic public persona – he looks as though he doesn’t have a care in the world – but he would have been feeling the nerves just like the rest of us.

“When he was coming in at the Toll or casting the Burgh Flag his heart would have been racing.

“But Greg, like all the other Standard Bearers today, did us proud.

“It was a perfect day – there’s nothing you would change, it all went like clockwork.” FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHS AND REACTION FROM SELKIRK COMMON RIDING, PICK UP A COPY OF THIS WEEK'S BORDER TELEGRAPH - IN SHOPS NOW!