The ELSS Committee 2025/2026
The ELSS is organised by a committee which is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting, which is held during the month of February at a suitable location. The Committee consists of a President, a *Vice President, a *Secretary, a *Treasurer and General Committee members. All Committee members are volunteers who have been proposed by a member and seconded by another member. The committee members commence duties immediately following the annual general meeting and continuing until the end of the year or the next annual general meeting. The committee has the power to co-opt other members onto the committee if it is felt necessary during the Committee’s year. Full Members only, will serve on the committee and no Associate Members can be on the committee. No associate member can propose or second a member to be on the Committee.*We currently do not have a Vice President, and the Treasurer and Secretary roles are combined
We are delighted to have the Provost of the Common Riding Trust, Rodney Pow as our
Honorary President and ELSS Ex President George Thomson as our Honorary Vice
President and Committee Member.
Alan Elliott - President
I spent my entire childhood in Selkirk and then after finishing University I moved down south to work before coming back to Edinburgh and joining the Edinburgh Souters in 1990. I have been on the Committee for most of the time since, serving as President from 2000 - 2008.
I joined because I wanted to keep a connection with Selkirk and the Common Riding and have found ELSS to be a grand way of doing exactly that. It is important that exiles do what we can to maintain the traditions of the Common Riding for that great event is itself a combination of many many individual roles and that is what makes it special.
We have exciting times ahead as a Society as our Centenary approaches.
Margo Craig - Treasurer and Secretary
Margo has been a member since 1966; she held to role of President from 1988 to 1993. She became the Treasurer in 1993 and is currently Secretary and Treasurer.
Andrew Anderson - Committee Member
Andrew became a committee member in 2021. As the son and brother of Royal Burgh Standard Bearers I am keen to support and sustain the role of the society in Selkirk Common Riding. I have been a member since I moved back to Edinburgh in 2010 and enjoy being involved in Burns Night the Golf Day and other activities.
May Stark - Committee Member
“Yince a Souter aye a Souter’
My Dad was a great Common Riding man, and I always feel that the Common Riding is in my blood. I was delighted when the opportunity arose for me to join the ELSS in 1986 and was very proud to hold the role of Treasurer and Secretary for several years and was extremely proud to be President from 2022 to 2025. Given the demographic of the current membership, my hopes for the future of the Society are that we can attract young Souters who already live work or study in Edinburgh and those who plan to move to Edinburgh in the future. My ultimate dream is that the ELSS will still be in existence in another 100 years’ time and the long and treasured traditions of presenting the Sash to the Town (when needed) and the Medallion to the Royal Burgh Standard Bearer will continue.
David Young - Committee Member
Having attended Knowepark Primary and Selkirk High School I moved to Edinburgh in October 1986, joining ELSS very soon thereafter. I have served as a committee member in between two stints as President and am keen to remain an active member of the Society. Despite the years that have passed since I stayed in Selkirk there is always a yearn to go back home come that leafy day in June and I am delighted to say I have never missed a Common Riding. Whether that be simply as a proud Souter or representing the Society in the age-old traditions and roles we have fulfilled for nigh on a century you are sure to see me back in ‘Auld Selkirk Toun’ for our unique and wonderful Common Riding. I can only hope that ELSS continues to play an integral role in maintaining links with the town for those who now reside in Lothians as well as carrying out our annual pinning of the Medallion at the Colonial Bussin’ providing a treasured and lifelong memento for the RBSB of his year in office.
The Society has an Honorary President who is the person who is Provost of the Selkirk Common Roding Trust at the time of the Society’s Annual General Meeting (each year).The Society also has an Honorary Vice President who is or has been a member, and who in the opinion of the Society has served the society well as a member. Neither the Honorary President not the Honorary Vice President are part of the Committee unless co-opted by the Committee for good reason.
Rodney Pow - Provost of the Common Riding Trust. Honorary President
It is a great honour to be Provost of Selkirk Common Riding Trust, and to find out that I was also an Honorary President of the Edinburgh and Lothian Souters Society was a great surprise but filled me with the same amount of pride.
I’m very proud of my family connections to Selkirk Common Riding, an Ancestor Robbie Pow, a stonemason, rode as Attendant in 1819 and was widely regarded as being Sir Walter Scott’s right-hand man.
My mother Sheila is the Hammermen’s only 3-time Lady Busser, myself Standard Bearer in 1985. My Aunt Nancy and Granny Peg were Weavers, and Granny Peg bussed the Colonial Flag in 1931.
Another ancestor Sandy Pow a Flesher, used to have a Butchers shop in West Port next to Mitchell’s Close. Sadly, our family lost 2 young men in the great War of 1914-18, namely Forest Hall and William Brown of the KOSB.
Our story like many others, is represented in Selkirk’s Flags each year and that is the Selkirk Story - our traditional salute to ourselves.
Most of these connections were found in later life through minute books and photos and have given me a sense of belonging to the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Selkirk and her Common Riding and therefore I feel a huge responsibility not only to these family members ,but to all involved to accept the challenge of perpetuating and upholding a Souter Heritage like no other.
My heartfelt thank you to your Society for the privilege of Honorary President and I look forward to seeing you all in June and again to mark your 100th Anniversary next year.
George Thomson - Honorary Vice-President and Committee Member
Although George joined ELSS in January 1971 his first introduction to the Society was in 1969 when he travelled up to Edinburgh in the Selkirk bus for the Ex- Standard Bearer’s Dinner Dance as an Attendant. Elected as Committee Member in 1973 and served as President from 1980 to 1988. George proposed the Toast to Guests and Visitors at the Golden Jubilee Dinner Dance held at the Westfield Halls in 1977 when 141 people were in attendance. Changed days now but it is immense credit to so many ELSS members, past and present, that we sit on the cusp of the Society’s Centenary. A remarkable bond with the Ex-Standard Bearers Association and the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Selkirk has been nurtured over the decades. Long may the relationships flourish.
(George was co -opted on to the Committee in 2025 to assist with the Centenary celebrations)
