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Melrose Festival
A Brief History by G J Bunyan
A Brief History by G J Bunyan
The Melrose Festival was inaugurated in 1936 and has been held annually since, during the third full week in June. It is a much more recent community celebration than the traditional Borders Common Ridings, and this for two very good reasons.
The first is that Melrose never had "common land" and the consequent need to protect its boundaries, as all the land around Melrose, and much beyond, belonged to the Abbey. The second is because of the huge popularity of the Melrose Sevens since its inception in 1883 and which had become for many the town's annual "festival" However, in the early 1930's, there arose the view that some other form of community celebration was required to acknowledge the long and rich heritage and historical importance of the local community and, in particular, to involve local children.
In 1936 a modest start was made and what was for many years known as the Melrose Children's Festival was born. The "founding fathers" were primarily from the Dingleton area of the town where for years previously what was known locally as the "Dingleton Picnic" had been held. This had provided sports, games and a picnic for youngsters in that part of the town, and this was to form the basis of the first Festival. There was also a Fancy Dress and the first running of the physically demanding Eildon Hill Race. It was also determined that the new Festival should "foster among the inhabitants of Melrose and District an interest in the life of the community, remind them (and particularly the young people) of Melrose's historical past and assist in the preservation of all that was worthwhile in the community". Such was the success of the first Festival that, for 1937, it was decided at the urging of Mr J E Fairbairn that things should be taken a stage further with the appointment of a Festival "Queen" and it was further decreed that she should be the Dux girl of Melrose Grammar School, at that time a Junior Secondary establishment. The next two girls in her class would be her Attendants and the top two boys would be Courtiers, with the senior of the two reading the "Royal Proclamation" at the crowning ceremony. There were also two Trainbearers, chosen from the infant class for their "academic ability and personality". The emphasis at this stage was still very much on "children" and the policy was then, as it remains now, on the members of the Court earning their places on academic merit. That 1937 event took place in the Greenyards on the Friday evening before a crowd of reputedly 2000 and the crowning of the first Queen, Hilda Ross, was preceded by a major Pageant depicting the town's long history. The Pageant was introduced by Mr Fairbairn and opened with scenes representing Melrose's first known residents - the Bronze Age settlers who lived on the north Eildon, after which came Druid priests from the early "cashel" at Old Melrose, Roman soldiers from Trimontium, and King Arthur who, legend has it, sleeps in a cavern under the Eildon Hills. This was followed by monks and masons representing the period of Abbey rule, and Thomas the Rhymer and the Faerie Queen. Lastly came a "lame old gentleman with a deerhound at his side" and some of the people immortalised in his writings - Dominie Sampson, Captain Clutterbuck and Captain Doolittle - he was, of course, Sir Walter Scott.
The first is that Melrose never had "common land" and the consequent need to protect its boundaries, as all the land around Melrose, and much beyond, belonged to the Abbey. The second is because of the huge popularity of the Melrose Sevens since its inception in 1883 and which had become for many the town's annual "festival" However, in the early 1930's, there arose the view that some other form of community celebration was required to acknowledge the long and rich heritage and historical importance of the local community and, in particular, to involve local children.
In 1936 a modest start was made and what was for many years known as the Melrose Children's Festival was born. The "founding fathers" were primarily from the Dingleton area of the town where for years previously what was known locally as the "Dingleton Picnic" had been held. This had provided sports, games and a picnic for youngsters in that part of the town, and this was to form the basis of the first Festival. There was also a Fancy Dress and the first running of the physically demanding Eildon Hill Race. It was also determined that the new Festival should "foster among the inhabitants of Melrose and District an interest in the life of the community, remind them (and particularly the young people) of Melrose's historical past and assist in the preservation of all that was worthwhile in the community". Such was the success of the first Festival that, for 1937, it was decided at the urging of Mr J E Fairbairn that things should be taken a stage further with the appointment of a Festival "Queen" and it was further decreed that she should be the Dux girl of Melrose Grammar School, at that time a Junior Secondary establishment. The next two girls in her class would be her Attendants and the top two boys would be Courtiers, with the senior of the two reading the "Royal Proclamation" at the crowning ceremony. There were also two Trainbearers, chosen from the infant class for their "academic ability and personality". The emphasis at this stage was still very much on "children" and the policy was then, as it remains now, on the members of the Court earning their places on academic merit. That 1937 event took place in the Greenyards on the Friday evening before a crowd of reputedly 2000 and the crowning of the first Queen, Hilda Ross, was preceded by a major Pageant depicting the town's long history. The Pageant was introduced by Mr Fairbairn and opened with scenes representing Melrose's first known residents - the Bronze Age settlers who lived on the north Eildon, after which came Druid priests from the early "cashel" at Old Melrose, Roman soldiers from Trimontium, and King Arthur who, legend has it, sleeps in a cavern under the Eildon Hills. This was followed by monks and masons representing the period of Abbey rule, and Thomas the Rhymer and the Faerie Queen. Lastly came a "lame old gentleman with a deerhound at his side" and some of the people immortalised in his writings - Dominie Sampson, Captain Clutterbuck and Captain Doolittle - he was, of course, Sir Walter Scott.
Things were taken a stage further again in 1938 with the appointment of the town's first Melrosian, and this by public vote. John Frater was elected from a field of six candidates, with David Bunyan and Tom Rutherford appointed to be his "Right and Left-hand Men". (David Bunyan was also Left-hand Man in 1939, but neither he nor Tom became Melrosian due to the intervention of World War 11). It had been determined that the Melrosian should be a young unmarried man, native to the Melrose area, and of good character. He would henceforth lead the community in a pilgrimage to some of the places of particular historical importance in and around Melrose and including the Eildon Tree (where Thomas the Rhymer met the Queen of the Faeries); the site of the first Masonic Lodge in Scotland at Newstead (Scotland's oldest still-inhabited village); the site of the Roman camp at Trimontium; Gattonside village where the monks of Melrose Abbey had their gardens and orchards; Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott; Darnick Tower, built by the Heitons of Darnick in 1425 and still owned by the same family; and concluding at Melrose Abbey. At each of these locations a short historical re-enactment would take place with "characters" in period costume welcoming the Principals and their followers - the introduction of the "Tour of Ceremonies". This established the Festival as it was to remain until the mid-1960's with the Kirkin' of the Melrosian on the Sunday morning of Festival Week, the Installation of the Melrosian and Crowning of the Festival Queen on the Thursday evening followed by a public dance and Fancy Dress a on the Friday evening, followed the same evening by the Festival Ball. The "Tour of Ceremonies" would take place on the Saturday forenoon with the Sports and Picnic (including the Eildon Hill Race) in the afternoon, and another public dance in the evening, and the Festival would conclude with a Service of Thanksgiving in Melrose Abbey on the Sunday evening.
From 1938 too began the practice of inviting Principals and Civic Dignitaries from neighbouring towns to join in the festivities. In the mid-1960's, with an increasing number of enthusiastic Ex-Melrosians living locally, it was felt that Festival Week could be improved and made more widely attractive by the inclusion of additional events so as to produce a near-full week of festivities. In 1966 they started the by now highly popular Rideout; in 1967 a celebratory Dinner and in 1968, in recognition of the large number of horses and ponies kept in the area, a Pony Gymkhana. The week's programme then became the Kirkin' on the Sunday morning with the Pony Gymkhana in the afternoon, the Rideout on the Monday evening, with the Tuesday given over to rehearsals; the Fancy Dress was moved to the Wednesday, with the principal ceremonies continuing on the Thursday, but followed by the new dinner. Friday evening was given over to the Ball, with Saturday's programme remaining as before.
Since 1938, the Melrosian has always led a pilgrimage to the War Memorial and laid a wreath to the memory of the fallen, visited local schools and Melrose folk in hospital and care homes etc. A further change was made in 2001 with the introduction of what has become a hugely popular "Cycle Event" and this is now held on the Wednesday evening (with up to 600 people of all ages taking part), with the Fancy Dress moving to fill the former "gap" on the Tuesday evening. Over the years other minor but important changes have been made, firstly in 1945 when it was decided that the Festival Queen should be the Dux girl of the Primary section of Melrose Grammar School, and again in 1950 when the Queen's Court was augmented by the inclusion of two "Heralds" to give two more boys the opportunity of active participation. Despite the passing of over 70 years since the inauguration of the Festival, the celebrations continue to evolve and it is likely that, in 2009, the Festival Dinner will be held on the Saturday evening to provide a more positive "closure" to Festival Week. This will also free up time on the Thursday evening for a social evening for Principals, invited guests and any "exiles" returning to Melrose for the Year of Homecoming. Please use this link for information regarding the Melrose Festival Homecoming Reception
Since 1938, the Melrosian has always led a pilgrimage to the War Memorial and laid a wreath to the memory of the fallen, visited local schools and Melrose folk in hospital and care homes etc. A further change was made in 2001 with the introduction of what has become a hugely popular "Cycle Event" and this is now held on the Wednesday evening (with up to 600 people of all ages taking part), with the Fancy Dress moving to fill the former "gap" on the Tuesday evening. Over the years other minor but important changes have been made, firstly in 1945 when it was decided that the Festival Queen should be the Dux girl of the Primary section of Melrose Grammar School, and again in 1950 when the Queen's Court was augmented by the inclusion of two "Heralds" to give two more boys the opportunity of active participation. Despite the passing of over 70 years since the inauguration of the Festival, the celebrations continue to evolve and it is likely that, in 2009, the Festival Dinner will be held on the Saturday evening to provide a more positive "closure" to Festival Week. This will also free up time on the Thursday evening for a social evening for Principals, invited guests and any "exiles" returning to Melrose for the Year of Homecoming. Please use this link for information regarding the Melrose Festival Homecoming Reception