TOWNSFOLK and bandsmen braved monsoon-like conditions as St Ronan’s Border Games reached its finale.

Bucketloads of rain came down for around 20 minutes at the start of the Beating of the Retreat on the High Street in Innerleithen.

And drummer Darren Barber showed great dexterity to catch his stick despite being flat on his back after slipping on the greasy surface.

The retreat is organised by the locals as a way of thanking the people of Innerleithen for their support throughout the year.

The two town bands marched together under the direction of Silver Band Sergeant David Lindsay, Bandmaster David Robb and Pipe Major Bruce Gillie.

They played David Robb’s “Games Pipe Marches” which combines “The Bear Gates,” “Lass of Fyvie,” and “Galloway Hills.” Another song that went down well was the Silver Band’s version of the Gloria Gaynor hit “I Will Survive”” with many of the crowd dancing along.

More marches back and forth had the crowds clapping and tapping their feet before it was time for the combined piece, which this year was an arrangement of “The Water is Wide”.

The Silver Band then rendered “Sunset” with Ian Aitchison and Douglas Couchman sounding the calls. The hymn tune “Eventide” was played by Douglas Couchman and conducted by bandmaster Robb.

Band Sergeant Lindsay then approached the Cleikum party where the President introduced him to the principals before being given permission to march off. To resounding applause, the bands made their retreat playing “On. St Ronan’s”.

Earlier in the day a huge crowd gathered to support the Flower Festival. There were over 400 flower-bearing children, preceded by the principals, in their usual order of march and the imposing figure of the De’il, making his first public appearance of the week.

John Cockburn, himself clad in a black cloak and hood, carried the fiery red carved head of the De’il mounted on the top of a stout pole draped in red cloth.

The Innerleithen Pipe Band, Peebles Burgh Silver Band and Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band joined along with some of the floats and characters from Thursday’s Fancy Dress Parade.

At the top of Waverley Road Dux Boy Alex Paterson hung a wreath at the wall plaque commemorating John Euman, who acted as master of ceremonies at the Cleikum for almost 50 years.

A similar ceremony was held at the Burgh Chambers with tributes to former `Games Chairman Walker McLaren and John Anderson, one of the instigators of the Cleikum Ceremony.

The procession, which opened the 187th Anniversary of St Ronan’s Border Games, took the form of a massed bands display.

St Ronan’s Silver Band and Peebles Burgh Silver Band combined to present an impressive march along the High Street just after the “Race Roond the Toon.” The final act of Games Week took place with the Burning of the De’il and Fireworks Display at the top of Curly Hill.

Earlier, Dux Boy Alex. Paterson arrived with his monks in a procession from the town while a huge crowd gathered to encourage St Ronan to do his duty.

Despite the earlier downpour, the the pyre burst into flames to the sound of loud applause and choruses of “On, St. Ronan’s, On!” As the waving lights were seen from below the good folks of St Ronan’s knew that their titular saint had again been successful in “cleikin’ ‘um.

Pipers Stewart Johnston and Kris Crowhurst of Innerleithen Pipe Band met the procession again at the foot of the hill and led the large, happy crowd to the home of the Dux Boy at the foot of the hill in Montgomery Square.