Gearing up for the Cleikum Ceremonies in Innerleithen

St Ronan’s Borders Games Week is the highlight of the summer for young and old, participants and spectators alike. 

Established in 1827, and originally encompassing two days of sport and evening entertainment, the Games are the oldest organised sports event in Scotland and now part of a jam-packed ten day festival.

Tonight’s historic ceremonies will see Dux Boy Rory MacDonald installed as the representative of the Patron Saint, Dux Girls Abbie Glendinning and Robyn Keddie invested, and 22-year-old Ross Brown installed as 2016 Standard Bearer, with the Blue Banner entrusted to his keeping.

The anticipation has been building for months with Standard Bearer Elect Ross Brown and his Lass Faye Nicholson attending endless festivals across the Borders since early summer.

But St Ronan’s Borders Games Week has finally arrived, and Ross can’t believed how quickly it has all come round. 

“When you first go to Hawick back in June, it seems like ages away,” said 22-year-old Ross. “But we’ve been so busy enjoying all the other festivals that the weeks have flew in and now Games Week is actually here!”

And it all kicked off with the Senior Citizens Social last Thursday, where Committee Chairman Keith Belleville wished everybody a happy week ahead - which it certainly has been. 

More dancing followed on the Friday night with the Ex-Standard Bearer’s Dinner Dance on the Friday, and the next evening, 400 guests arrived suited and booted at the Standard Bearer’s Ball including principals from Peebles, Galashiels, Yetholm, West Linton, Penicuik, Lanark, Musselburgh, Currie and Edinburgh, who all came to reciprocate the support Innerleithen has shown them in their respective festivals throughout the summer.

The Dux Girls and Boy

On Sunday, the Kirkin Service was led by Reverend Janice Faris and the lessons read by Duxes Rory MacDonald, Abbie Glendinning and Robyn Keddie. And, St Ronan’s Silver Band, as always, led the praise beautifully.

Shortly after, Rory Macdonald became a part of his town’s rich history as the nineteenth Dux Boy and to raise Innerleithen’s community flag.

The flag has been flying majestically throughout Games Week and later today will be raised on the flag pole of St Ronan’s Wells, so that the union flag may fly during the service ‘For the Fallen.’

On Monday, 31 cars entered the Car Treasure Hunt and the team of Karen, Kenny, Stevie and Gary Coltman and Steven McNeil managed to bag first place, winning the Cissy Barnett Trophy and £100.

George Blair from Peebles took second prize with Innerleithen’s Ian Anderson coming in third place.

The treasure hunt clues were devised this year by Jean Wilson, Claire Wilson and Jan McGlasson and when announcing the winners, Mr Belleville paid tribute to the team for taking on the responsibility following the untimely death of Adrian Keddie who had compiled the Treasure Hunt for over 20 years along with his wife, Sheila, and Ted McKie.

He said that the thoughts of everyone involved were with Adrian’s family. 

As we speak, the final preparations are taking place at Memorial Hall for tonight’s ceremonies, which will begin at 7pm, and the installation of the Standard Bearer Ross Brown who Chairman Mr Belleville described as “Innerleithen through and through”.

The ex-St Ronan’s Primary and Peebles High School pupil has been involved in the town’s Games Week since childhood and remembers feeling extremely honoured to have been appointed a monk in 2001 and Dux Boy in 2005 - but admits none will match the pride of carrying the Blue Banner of St Ronan’s.

And his Lass, primary teacher Faye Nicholson, also 22, will be on hand with the support that Ross said he couldn’t do without. 

The Principal Guest this year, Gen Harrison, will give the main address during tonight’s ceremonies. Gen was touched at her appointment, as she has long had a special connection with Games Week: “I’ve always been involved in Games Week behind the scenes,” she said.

“At Smail’s we produce the posters, leaflets, and various materials for Games Week every year, so it’s fantastic this year to be part of it all from another angle.”

“Working at Smail’s you are immersed in the rich history of Innerleithen and become really attached to it, and being involved in Games Week is very similar - you are immersed in this unique, historic tradition and even though I’m not originally from here, I certainly feel very patriotic and very attached now.”

Don’t miss next week’s Peeblesshire News for the rest of the Games Week fun and Cleikum Ceremonies coverage.