Published at 21:39, Wednesday, 27 July 2011

A FULL house enjoyed what was called “one of the premier events of the Common Riding” last Friday in the British Legion clubrooms.

Cornet Lee Earsman and his right and left-hand men Graeme Murray and Derek Hogg with the speakers and entertainers at the Legion night, left to right, are Irving Stuart, Billy Young, David Pool, Roger Maxwell, David McVittie, Ian Earsman and Kevan Grieve

This annual event kickstarts a week of celebrations and, with David McVittie in the chair, the audience anticipated being right royally entertained.

In between introducing the speakers and singers Big Deev trotted out an incredible number of original jokes which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

Billy Young was the first singer and his choice was When Bauldy Cried The Fair.

This was followed by the toast to the Common Riding given by ex-Cornet Kevan Grieve, in which he compared Common Riding day to an unstoppable juggernaut before giving his own personal experience of his Common Riding day in 2006.

Irving Stuart, the birthday boy, sang My Borderland in a strong voice which belies his eighty odd years.

Common Riding committee chairman Roger Maxwell replied to the toast to the Common Riding after which David Pool sang The Rose of Allandale which fairly set the feet tapping.

David, as is now expected of him, sings unaccompanied, while the other vocalists enjoyed Margaret Howe’s piano accompaniments.

The Toon Ban’ entered to great applause and, with its selection of Common Riding tunes (wi’ a’ the twirly bits) gave the audience the chance to join in with all the well-known songs.

Billy Young’s second song was the nostalgic Hame O’ Mine written, so Billy told the audience, for Sir Harry Lauder.

The toast to the Cornet was delivered by his brother, Ian, himself a former Cornet who didn’t spare his brother’s blushes when recounting their days together.

But Lee got his own back when, after David Pool’s rendition of the poignant Flo’ers of the Forest, he ably gave his reply to Ian’s toast and didn’t even need notes to help him with his speech.

The final song came from Irving Stuart and it was one he’s made his own, Highland Cathedral.

Finally, the chairman summed up in a mix of seriousness and humour from his own experience what Lee has to look forward to on Common Riding day before British Legion chairman Roger McMurdo brought proceedings to a close with a vote of thanks to everyone.

Selected members of the Toon Ban’ appeared on stage ready to play for the dance.

Mention has to be made of Big Deev’s epic poem in honour of Billy’s Paper Shop, a remarkable work.

Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk