One of the many privileges and traditions upheld and enjoyed by the Edinburgh Souters is to attend the Appointment Night, the night when the Royal Burgh Standard Bearer and his attendants are appointed.
The Ex Standard Bearers Association invites the Edinburgh Souters to tea on the Appointment Night, while the *Selkirk Common Riding Trust, invites the Edinburgh Souters to the attend the meeting in the Town Hall when the Standard Bearer and his Attendants are appointed and to attend the Concert in the Victoria Hall which follows the meeting.
Over the years the Ex Standard Bearers tea has been held in the County Hotel, the Queens Head and the Philiburn Hotel.
The first record we have, of the Edinburgh Souters being invited to the Appointment Night, is in the minute of a ELSS Committee Meeting held at 22 Forth Street on Tuesday 18th May 1934.
20 members of the ELSS were invited to attend.
*(formallyestablished as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 1974
(though operating earlier), was created to preserve and perpetuate the historictraditions and ceremonies of the SelkirkCommon Riding,essentially taking over the duties and management from the previous informal
structure, often involving the Provost, Magistrates, and Councillors of the
Royal Burgh of Selkirk, ensuring the continuity of events like the "Bussin' the Burgh Flag" and the historicalreenactment of border patrols).
The Appointment Night 2025
Ex Standard Bearers kept up an Old and Treasured Tradition - Appointment Night Tea.
On Friday 25 the April 2025 Ex Standard Bearer Chairman Alasdair Craig, along with Ex Standard Bearers Mike Craig, Peter Forrest and Rory Monks welcomed seven members of the Edinburgh Souters to the County Hotel for the Annual Appointment Night Tea.
Diamond Jubliee Standard Bearer Harry Russell joined the party.
George and Susan Thomson, Hazel Johnstone, Margaret Foggo, Margo and John Craig and May Stark represented the Edinburgh Souters.
In the absence of the ELSS president Alan Elliot, May Stark gave the Vote of Thanks.
Margo Craig Treasurer and Secretary advised the company that the ELSS will celebrate its Centenary in 2027.
Following the meal, as is tradition the Edinburgh Souters were invited by the Common Riding Trust to the meeting of the Trust in the Town Hall / Walter Scott's Court Room for appointment of the 2025 Royal Burgh Standard Bearer and his attendants.
The Appointment Night 2024
Eight members attended the Ex Standard Bearers Tea at the Philipburn Hotel.
Margaret Foggo, Margo Craig, John Craig, David Young, Alan Elliot, Hazel Johnston, Susan Robertson and myself.
Ex Standard Bearer Chairman, Scott Tomlinson and Four Ex Standard Bearers namely, Mike Craig, David Mitchell, Gary Guthrie, Rory Monks and Ally Craig gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed a lovely meal and a grand blether.
I gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the ELSS members after the meal.
We then made our way to the Town Hall to see the Appointment of Royal Burgh Standard Bearer for 2024, Mathew Stanners, and his attendants Darren Knox, Nathan Mill, Derry Alexander and Robbie Reilly.
Several ELSS members attended the Concert in Victoria Hall.
It is always great to be in involved in the Appointment night events and to be part of the excitement and anticipation of another Common Riding.
The Appointment Night 2023
Twelve members attended the Ex Standard Bearers Tea in the Fleece/No1 Restaurant.
Margo, John, Susan, George, Pam, Malcolm, Margaret, David, Hazel, Helen, Steve, and May.
Ex Standard Bearer Chairman, Scott Tomlinson and Four Ex Standard Bearers namely, Mike Craig, David Mitchell, Gary Guthrie and Alasdair Craig gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed a lovely meal and a grand blether.
May gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the ELSS members after the meal.
We then made our way to the Town Hall to see the Appointment of Royal Burgh Standard Bearer for 2023, Thomas Bell and his Attendants - Mathew Stanners, Sam Coltherd, Fraser Easson and Thomas Stanners being appointed.
Several ELSS members attended the Concert in Victoria Hall.
The Appointment Night 2022
Eight Edinburgh Souters (plus Steven Squance who was both a member of the ELSS and the Ex Standard Bearers Association) attended the Ex Standard Bearers tea in the Fleece Hotel and were present in the Town Hall for the Appointment of Standard Bearer Adam Nicol. Several Edinburgh Souters attended the Concert in the Victoria Hall. It was a most enjoyable evening.