Published at 21:56, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

LETTER received and printed in the E&L, July 13, 1988

Sir – a thought for fellow Langholmites.

One of the most moving and dramatic elements of the Common Riding is the Crying of the Fair.

Smart fellows are the Elliots and John looks good declaiming our unique proclamation, but I feel it would be so much more striking if he were dressed according to ancient precedent in the garb of Bauldy Beattie, ie. with a three-cornered hat, a drab coat, red knee breeches and vest of the same colour, white stockings and “broad-nebbed” shoes.

Langholm is one of the very few Border towns with a genuine deep-rooted and on-going festival. Heritage and tradition is what the Common Riding is all about and in recent years in Britain we have seen an erosion of these values. If we can’t have a provost in a cocked hat we could legitimately have a fair crier in one.

Yours etc.

Blue Bonnet

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