'Honour of a lifetime' for Warden of Neidpath Bob Harrison

But this year’s Warden, the well-kent Bob Harrison, is especially touched with his election, as for him 2016 marks a special anniversary.

Bob told the hundreds gathered at Neidpath Castle that this year’s Beltane will be extra special as it has been 40 years since he arrived in Peebles to stay.

“When the Harrisons arrived in Peebles exactly 40 years ago, with the stour on our feet, I could not possibly have imagined I would be granted the honour of following the many distinguished wardens who have gone before me,” he said.

“This is an honour that will last my lifetime.”

Bob gave his address in the picturesque setting of the ancient Neidpath Castle

Bob looked back fondly on his arrival in Peebles all those years ago. He spoke of taking his motor mechanic’s apprenticeship whilst working in his father’s Edinburgh car showroom, and becoming “addicted to the motor trade.” 

He sought to buy a Ford Dealership but was advised that Peebles was a better place to do so than Edinburgh, and after he and his wife Elizabeth bought the Greenside Motor Company at Crossburn Garage, they made the move.

“We were welcomed so warmly to the town and have never looked back,” he said.

“And secondly, we were impressed with the commitment of the townsfolk to protecting and caring for the future of the town of Peebles.”

His company Harrisons now employs over 60 staff with a garage in Edinburgh Road, two filling stations and an accident repair centre in Innerleithen. Harrisons have also supplied all the cars using during Beltane Week over the past 30 years.

The garage owner joked in his address to the Cornet: “I have the great honour of welcoming you, your Lass and your supporters to this ancient Castle of Neidpath from where you will ride our boundaries and ensure no one is encroaching our borders. I have a one personal request...

“When you are riding the boundaries I would like you to ensure that no other Ford dealer is found encroaching our borders and if one is found that you dispose of them in an appropriate manner!”

Over the years, Bob has contributed vastly to the community and was chairman of both the Peeblesshire Youth Trust and InChorus, each for five years.

And, he recalled connections to Peeblesshire long before he started a business here and reminisced about the many childhood holidays spent at South Slipperfield Farm, just outside West Linton, “with our two caravans set down by the West Water, just beside the ancient Roman bridge.”

“Sometimes, and probably to keep us out of mischief, my father would often take us a run in the car ow’r the hills to Peebles.”

The Warden of Neidpath then welcomed the new Cornet and his Lass and said: “Let’s all of us join together and, in the traditional way, wish Colin and his supporters safe oot, safe roond, safe in!”

Don’t miss next week’s Peeblesshire News for our bumper Beltane pull-out