Almost 100 turn up for Coronation Afternoon Tea in Galashiels

The event which was organised by the Galashiels Community Council utilising funding from Scottish Borders Council was deemed a huge success by those present.

The event started with a piper before guest were provided with tea and coffee, sandwiches, sausage rolls and trifle and were entertained by line dancing and live music.

Community Councillor Bill White said: “It’s been a huge success, excellent, first class and thoroughly enjoyable. The tea was open to everyone, free of charge and 97 people attended. It has brought the community together. And it was great to get the Braw Lad along.”

Among those present was Braw Lad Cory Paterson and Council leader Euan Jardine.

Liz Jardine cuts Coronation Cake which she donated

Councillor Jardine’s mother Liz donated a Coronation Cake and everyone got a slice.

She said: “It’s a great honour to cut the cake and a great honour to share a table with our Braw Lad.”

Braw Lad Cory mingled at all the tables and completed a stitch into a panel of the Galashiels Interchange Tapestry.

He said: “It’s so great to see the community back together and all smiling at such a happy time. And I’m really excited about putting a stitch into the tapestry.”

Braw Lad Cory Paterson with Susan Finlayson following his stitch on Interchange Tapestry Panel

The Tapestry has been commissioned by the Borders Railway Community Partnership with the aim of producing a hand stitched panel to hang in the Galashiels Interchange building which will link the public transport hub with the Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre in Galashiels town centre.

The panel has been designed by Andrew Crummy, designer of the Great Tapestry of Scotland, and stitching is being led by Susie Finlayson, one of the Great Tapestry of Scotland stitchers.