The battle for the Borders

The relevant date marks fifty years since the declaration of David Steel’s famous victory at Jedburgh Town Hall and important memorabilia will be on display, including portraits of candidates, important imagery of contested battles, photographic evidence of key moments and relevant cartoons of the time, all in this unique depiction of ‘The Battles for the Borders’ which celebrates winning a ‘Voice for the Borders’, David Steel’s famous battle cry of the time.

Organised by Judy Steel, with the help of the Scottish Borders Council Museum Staff, the event provides highlights of the political landscape fifty years ago when the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles were in the grip of election fever. At that time, a by-election caused by the death of the Conservative MP, Commander Charles Donaldson had been fixed for 24th March, 1965 and four candidates called on doors, toured round mills, and held public meetings from Tweedsmuir to Yetholm, from West Linton to Newcastleton. Three of the candidates had fought the seat in the General election of 1964.The eccentric Anthony JC Kerr standing as an independent, the Labour advocate Ronald King Murray and in the Liberal corner there was 26 year-old David Steel, who had made his home in the Borders when he became candidate, and whose vigorous campaign has slashed the Tory majority from 10,000 to under 2,000. The newcomer picked to defend what was once regarded as the safest Tory seat in Scotland was Berwickshire aristocrat Robin McEwan.

These four would battle it out over three weeks not just in the eyes of the Borders people but for the first time, bringing the national spotlight on the Borders via top political writers from The Daily Express, the Record, The Times, The Telegraph and the Guardian who covered the whole event. Mr Peter Preston, as the only one of those political writers still alive today, has been given the honour of opening this celebratory event.

The exhibition, which is open from 10am-12noon; 2-4pm and 6-8pm each day, marks fifty years of the declaration of David Steel’s famous victory at Jedburgh Town Hall and includes portraits of candidates, important imagery of contested battles, photographic evidence of key moments, election materials and even a Spitting Image puppet of David Steel will be on display in this unique depiction of ‘The Battle for the Borders’ which celebrates winning a ‘Voice for the Borders’, David Steel’s famous battle cry of the time.

Appropriately, the exhibition is at the Haining House in Selkirk. The Haining was the home of the radical Whig MP for Selkirkshire, Robert Pringle, during the early nineteenth century. Ronald King Murray, who went on to become MP for East Edinburgh, Lord Advocate, and a distinguished judge, will also be present at the opening, as will the inimitable Tam Dalyell.