A record turnout of riders is anticipated at this year’s Coldstream Civic Week Flodden Day ride, which takes place today (Thursday).
In the 500th anniversary year of the Battle of Flodden the annual oration on Branxton Hill will be given by the Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP.
The rideout will no doubt be one of the highlights for the 2013 Coldstreamer, Grant Campbell, who was presented with the Burgh Standard and sash in Henderson Park on Sunday.
Tradition now has it that the 25th anniversary Coldstreamer is entrusted to carry out the sashing ceremony and present the Burgh Standard, and this year the job fell to silver jubilee Coldstreamer Malcolm Simpson.
He told Grant: “Twenty-five years ago I stood here and I was filled with pride and all sorts of emotion.”
He also admitted that he was “greetin’ like a wee bairn” by the time he led the cavalcade to the top of Branxton Hill.
“The best advice I can give you Grant is to take a few moments every day to reflect on what you have done because it goes by so quickly and on Saturday you will stand here and wonder where the week went,” Malcolm added.
Finally receiving the sash and burgh standard, Grant told the crowd: “Coldstream Civic Week is finally here and I can’t wait to start the best week in the Borders.”
After his thanks to the Ex-Coldstreamers for choosing him and his parents for their support, Grant finished by thanking the people of Coldstream for making it ‘nulli secundus’ - second to none, the motto of the Coldstream Guards.