Plans Announced for £16,500 Homecoming Grants
The Common Ridings & Festivals were invited to suggest improvements that could be made to the events through a unique Homecoming grant scheme. Each Riding & Festival is in the final stages of securing their grants and the improvements that are planned are announced below. These improvements will make the Ridings extra-special in 2009 and beyond for the Borders' Diaspora returning to the region for the year of Homecoming.
The Common Ridings & Festivals Committees drew up proposals to maximise the impact of the grants on each of the town's celebrations, successful proposals include firework displays, street decoration, transport, song & dance, local heritage displays and ex-pat databases. Each of the towns will have the grant activities completed for the Ridings & Festivals in 2009.
Each of the Return to the Ridings improvements selected by the towns' committees are outlined below:
Coldstream - plans to use the Homecoming Grant to draw people from the surrounding area into the town. Attracting visitors from England over the Border is a major objective of Homecoming Scotland. Coldstream will also host an ‘Exiles Tea' enticing exiled residents back to reacquaint themselves with the town, each other and old friends. A new sash will be created and each of the Principals will leave a lasting legacy as their names will be embroidered onto the fabric.
Duns - plans a total revamp of the street decoration for the Summer Festival, to maintain the visual vigour of the celebrations throughout 2009 and beyond. The grant will also be used to update the regalia for the Wynsome Mayde and her Court as befits the importance of the crowning ceremony.
Galashiels - Ensuring the celebrations start with a bang, the announcement of the Principals for the 2009 Braw Lads' Gathering will be accompanied by a stunning fireworks display. The Homecoming grant has allowed the fireworks, which proved very popular in the past, to return for 2009 and bring the town and visitors together to start the Braw Lads' Gathering.
Hawick - The town will host a reception for Exiled Teries. Around 200 exiles and their families are expected at this evening of entertainment which recognises those who have travelled from abroad back to their town. Entertained by local artists the Reception is an opportunity to catch up with old friends and local news. A souvenir booklet will also be produced for exiles attending the reception.
Jedburgh - Having sought feedback from the Jedburgh Community the Callants Festival will increase the decoration of the town throughout the celebrations. These long-lasting, eye-catching banners, flags and bunting will raise awareness of the Festival, its heritage and the programme of events.
Kelso - A new exhibition which considers the influence that the men and women of Kelso have had on the world will take place as part of Kelso Civic Week. ‘We're from Kelso' looks at the impact of the Kelso Diaspora as they have moved across the globe through the centuries. This exhibition will work closely with local businesses and the voluntary sector as locals and visitors look into their past and learn about their ancestors.
Lauder - The Homecoming grant will be used to bring the Lauder Common Riding Ball back into the town. Following three years of the Ball being held outwith the town, Return to the Ridings will herald a bigger and better Common Riding Ball within the town limits. Invites will be extended to Lauder exiles from outwith Scotland and the local community will be able to attend their town's showcase event which provides a glamorous and exiting end to the Lauder Common Riding.
Melrose - will invite previous Principles and exiles back to the Festival and host these guests at a special reception. This formal ball and dinner will take place in the Melrose Festival marquee and aims to bring back more Melrose ex-Principles and exiles than ever before.
Peebles - Plans to procure and install permanent flag pole fixtures in Peebles High Street to compliment the street decorations that are erected for the Beltane Festival each year. These will greatly enhance the look of the town centre during the celebrations and will also be available to use during other high profile visits to the town.
Selkirk - The Selkirk Common Ridings will be enhanced in four areas for Homecoming 2009 each aiming to enhance and augment the Common Ridings experience and continue as a legacy beyond 2009. The four parts are: the re-introduction of the Highland Dancing competition at the Saturday Selkirk Common Riding Games; the introduction of a Children's Choir which will sing the Common Riding songs, in cooperation with local schools and the Selkirk Silver Band; additional bus services to and from the Race Meeting at Selkirk Rig; and work to update and maintain the Selkirk Colonial Society database of names and addresses of Selkirk exiles throughout the world.
The intention is that these new and reintroduced elements of the Common Ridings week-end will continue in perpetuity for the enjoyment of visitors in years to come. The database of exiles is seen as particularly important for the Year of Homecoming in 2009 but also as a resource for the Colonial Society in the future.
West Linton - Raise the profile of Whipman Week by purchasing new advertising banners to be displayed throughout the village, the banners will be used alongside new bunting to dress the village during the celebrations and as backdrops for photographs. A new public address system will be put in place to keep visitors informed during the many outdoor events taking place. Principals will receive personalised saddle-cloths to wear on their official Ride Out duties.
Kate Pearson, Scottish Borders Homecoming Coordinator, said:
"Each of the Common Ridings and Festivals participating in Return to the Ridings was approached for their recommendations on how their events would benefit from utilising a Homecoming Grant. With grants totally £16,500 invested in the Common Ridings and Festivals the events will not only be highly attractive to the Scottish Borders Diaspora in 2009 but will leave a legacy in years to come.
"The recently launched Return to the Ridings set of postcards with a selected image for each Common Ridings are now available to download from www.returntotheridings.co.uk, and we are encouraging all Borderers to use these to invite their friends and family back to the ridings in 2009."
A Homecoming spokesperson said:
"The successful Hogmanay celebrations and the launch of the new expanded version of the Homecoming events guide has dramatically raised the profile, interest and awareness of the Homecoming programme around the world. This is set to continue with the launch of Burns Weekend on the 24th & 25th January, officially launching the year long programme, of which Return to the Ridings are a key highlight for the south of Scotland."
Andrew Johnston Chairman of the Border Common Ridings and Festivals Association, said:
"The grant initiative is going to add something special to the Scottish Borders Ridings & Festivals in 2009 and we hope to encourage all Borderers to extend an invite to the Return to the Ridings. Common Ridings and Festivals are unique events which celebrate the culture and history of the Scottish Borders. Homecoming in 2009 should provide an extra incentive for Borderers to invite their friends and family to Return to the Ridings."