Festival time is here again for Jedburgh, with the annual programme of events now well under way for this year’s Jethart Callant, Jack Fraser.
The only change to the schedule has been the switch of dates for the swimming gala and the rideout to Crailing, with the latter being held last night to allow horses and riders more rest ahead of the rideout to Redeswire on Saturday.
That means the swimming gala is held tonight (Thursday) and festival convener Rory Stewart says things are going well.
“Things are well under way and we just need the good weather to continue into next week,” he told us.
“The festival is not just about equestrian events – there’s plenty of other things in the programme because it is a festival for families, and families really want to be out when the weather is good.
“So fingers crossed!”
PROGRAMME
Tonight - swimming gala at the pool, 6.30pm. Tickets only and available from pool.
Tomorrow (Friday) - Stewart Lindsay Memorial Cup Final (Jed Legion Football Competition), Elliot Park, 6pm.
Saturday - Redeswire Dinner, Town Hall, 7pm.
Sunday - Kirking of Callant/parade from grammar school, 6pm.
Monday - coffee evening, Jed Legion, 7.30pm. £1 on door, all welcome.
Tuesday - Callant’s Afternoon Social, Town Hall, 2pm. Patron tickets or £1 on door (recommended 14 yrs +)
Wednesday - Ancrum Social, Ancrum Village Hall, 10pm. Over 18s. Tickets £5 from Ancrum Pantry.
Thursday, July 10 - Investiture and Callant’s Walk, Abbey Place. 7.15pm. All Welcome
Friday, July 11 - Festival Lunch, Town Hall, 1pm. Fun day at Murray’s Green from 1pm. Fancy dress judging, Jedburgh Grammar School, at 5.15 pm.
RIDEOUTS
Saturday, July 5 - Redeswire.
Leave Back Bongate at 10am. Arrive Redeswire 12.30pm. Leave Redeswire 1.05pm approx. Arrive Dolphinston Moor 3pm approx. Chase events commence 3.10pm. Leave Dolphinston Moor 4.30pm approx. Badges and trophies presented in the Market Square. Band at Abbey Bridge 5.35pm. Market Place at 5.40pm.
Monday, July 7 - Queen’s Ride
On the outward journey to Fulton Peel Tower, the cavalcade follows a similar route as Mary Queen of Scots, when she visited the wounded Bothwell at Hermitage Castle in October, 1566. The Queen returned to Jedburgh the same day - a total distance of about 50 miles.
Riders leave Back Bongate 6.30pm. Arrives Fulton Peel Tower 7.35pm. Leaves 8pm.
Cavalcade meets band at castle back in Jedburgh at 9.10pm. Market Place 9.25pm.
Tuesday, July 8 - Lanton.
Leaves Back Bongate 5.30pm.
Arrives Lanton 6.45pm, where a selection of mounted events will be organised by the Lanton Committee, including best-turned out horse and rider. Leaves 9pm. Cavalcade meets band at Townfoot 9.55pm. Market Place 10pm.
Wednesday, July 9 - Ancrum
Leaves Back Bongate 5.50pm.
Arrives 7.10pm. Leaves 8.35pm. Cavalcade meets band at Townfoot 9.55pm. Market Place 10pm.
Friday, July 11 - Festival Day
8.30am - Cavalcade assembles at Back Bongate.
8.45am - Cavalcade, preceded by the band, arrives at the platform in Abbey Place where the Lady Provost pins a rosette to the Jethart Flag borne by the Callant.
9am - Cavalcade proceeds by Jed Road, Kenmore Toll, Oxnam Road, Blair Avenue, Lothian Road, Lochend, Howden to Ferniehirst Castle.
10.15am - Recitation of Walter Laidlaw’s “Reprisal” by a pupil from Jedburgh Grammar School. Address by a representative of the Kerr family. One verse of “Jethart’s Here” and one verse of “Brave Lads o’ Jethart”.
10.35am - Cavalcade proceeds to Douglas Camp, Lintalee.
11am - Leave Lintalee, proceed to the Capon Tree. Arrives 11.10am and the president of the Callant’s Club pins a sprig from the tree to the Callant’s sash. The cavalcade continues to King of the Wood, Inchbonny.
11.30am - The Toll. Band leads cavalcade to Market place, with the cavalcade saluting the war memorial as they pass it, and proceeds down the Canongate.
11.40am - The Jed is forded at Auld Brig, cavalcade then continues via Priors Road, Bongate to Townfoot Brig.
12pm - Bands lead cavalcade by way of High Street, Mercat Cross, Canongate onto A68 to Kenmore Toll and the war memorial.
12.30pm - The Callant and his Henchmen dismount. “The Flowers of the Forest” is played by an unseen piper. The Callant, attended by his Right and Left-Hand Men, lays a wreath on the memorial. One verse of “O God Our Help in Ages Past” is sung, followed by the sounding of “The Last Post” as the Callant dips the flag.
One minute’s silence is ended by sounding of “Reveille”.
The Callant resumes his place at the head of the cavalcade which moves on to the platform, there to witness the ceremonial return of the Jethart Flag, presentation of the Callant’s Cup and “The Queen”.
The cavalcade will then ride past the platform where riders will be acknowledged by the Callant.