Regalia Night
Ex–Merchant Company Standard Bearer Bill Ainslie pictured beside the flag with which he made history in 1968.
SELKIRK Merchant Company celebrated the renovation of the town’s Montrose Plaque by staging a special Regalia Night in the County Hotel on Thursday 4th February. Some 72 members and guests attended the event, at which the company’s ancient flags were put on display and extracts read from the company’s early minute books.
The evening began in the West Port, where the refurbished Montrose Plaque was officially unveiled. The plaque was erected in 1945, and records how the Marquis of Montrose slept here on the eve of the Battle of Philiphaugh.
"The company is very grateful to local tradesman Andrew Bunyan, who undertook the necessary repairs," said the Merchant Company’s Master, Ian Clapperton. "He has made an excellent job, ensuring this important artefact will be preserved for the edification of future generations."
The Regalia Night itself took place in the County Hotel, the traditional home of Selkirk Merchant Company, on what was the 315th anniversary of the company’s first minute book. During the evening committee members took it in turn to read extracts from minute books dating from 1694 through to the present day.
Master Ian Clapperton explained how in the early years of the organisation monetary assistance was always available to members who fell on difficult times, while the company also invested in community projects such as bridges and roads. Education became the main focus of financial support in the 19th century, and continues to this day.
"Selkirk Merchant Company has, over the centuries, been a driving force and a financial supporter of the Royal Burgh," added the Master. "Although our financial power is now limited, we continue to make annual contributions to many local organisations, and support a variety of initiatives beneficial to the town, common riding, trade and community."
Over the course of the evening, minute book extracts were read by other company office–bearers, including secretary Stuart Kemp, treasurer Jim Cockburn, company officer Jake Wheelans, Viv Ross, Jim Harold and David Heard. Ex–Master Andrew Proudfoot and Ex–Standard Bearer Alistair Pattullo assisted in the display of the company’s regalia.
In order to safeguard their delicate fabric, the company’s ancient flags are rarely put on public display. Not surprisingly, the unfurling of these precious artefacts proved among the highlights of the evening.
The company’s first–ever ceremonial flag, carried at the 1721 Common Riding by Selkirk Merchant Company Standard Bearer Archibald Watt, is no longer in existence. However, every other flag used by the company down the years has been carefully preserved.
Members and guests were shown these flags in chronological order, dating from 1764, 1818, 1861, 1900 and 1939. This latter flag is still in use today, being carried by the Merchant Company’s present day Standard Bearers on Common Riding Friday.
Although Selkirk Merchant Company has been appointing Standard Bearers for almost three centuries, it wasn’t until 1968 that a Merchant Company Standard Bearer mounted the platform in the Market Place on Common Riding Day to cast the company’s flag.
The honour of making this historic first cast fell to Bill Ainslie, who was present at the Regalia Night, and who was happy to talk about his memory of that special day. "The flag I cast was the same ceremonial flag we use today," said Bill, "only it was not attached to the current heavy pole. A friend of Tom Henderson’s who lived by the Fleshmarket provided a lighter casting pole, so I used that.
"It helped that I’d been the Ex–Soldiers Standard Bearer in 1951, so I knew the routine pretty well. We also had a perfect day for the Common Riding in 1968, so all in all things went pretty much according to plan. It’s certainly an experience I’ll never forget."
As well as the company’s flags, members and guests were able to view the Standard Bearers’ sashes, the Master’s medallion and walking cane, as well as the company’s mortcloth, ballot box and halberd (commissioned to mark the millennium and fashioned in 1999 by Andy Scott).
At the end of night it was revealed that the company intends to celebrate its 325th anniversary with the purchase of a new ceremonial flag and a new Standard Bearer’s sash, in furtherance of which the annual subscription has increased this year.
The next important date on Selkirk Merchant Company’s calendar is the AGM and appointment dinner on Friday, March 5, in Selkirk Rugby Club’s Philiphaugh Suite.
Report by: John Smail
