Published: Monday, 26th July, 2010 9:30am

On St Ronan's On

Standard Bearer Jason and his Lass Beth

ST Ronanites once more turned out in their droves last Friday night to celebrate the 109th staging of the Cleikum Ceremonies.

Like many generations before, townsfolk packed the Memorial Hall and lined the streets, once again reinforcing the community spirit and pride felt by all in Innerleithen.

Whilst other towns and festivals rely on past kings, queens and battles for inspiration the Cleikum concentrates on the greatest battle of all; that of good versus evil.

Almost 1300 years ago, it is said the 'de'il' attempted to pass through the Leithen Valley only to be 'cleikt' by the hind leg at the hands and more specifically crozier of St Ronan who thus drove evil out of the valley.

Well, if the 'de'il' was in the vicinity of Innerleithen last week he would have witnessed too clear a reminder of his fabled defeat and banishment.

The town's Memorial Hall was packed with hundreds of locals whose ranks were swelled by visitors from Peebles, West Linton, Galashiels, Duns, Musselburgh, Lanark, Biggar and Walkerburn.

An overseas regiment was also drafted in made up of visitors from New Zealand, Australia and America.

In his speech to guests, chairman of the Games Committee, Alan Patterson, spoke of the pride to be felt by the townsfolk due to the enduring legacy of the festival.

And in a fitting testimony to the ceremony's legacy he then told how it was 25 years ago that he was installed as St Ronan by Walker McLaren, he also welcomed both the 1960 Dux Boy and Girl, Irving Davidson and Margaret McDonald, to the festivities.

He said: "There have been many changes in our town since then but Games Week has changed very little. Our events have stood the test of time, as have a few committee members.

"In that respect Games Week is no different to the majority of our Border Festivals and Common Ridings and we must work hard to protect our history and traditions in order to give those generations that follow the opportunity to experience the sense of pride and community that being involved as a principal gave me."

This year's monks were then welcomed to the stage - Callum Anderson, Jamie Patterson, Jack Caven, Aedan Wilson, Rian Dougal, Kieran Leonard, Stuart Brown, Neil Martin, Callan Aimable-Erskine and Jonny Lea- followed by Lantern Bearer Alastair McNeill.

After this it was the turn of St Ronan himself as this year's Dux Boy, Andrew Edmiston, was installed as the patron saint of the town.

The colourful Christian investiture then continued with the installation of Dux Girl, Ellen Frost, and Sash Girls - Rose Moncur, Lucy Sked, Kiera Angus, Laura Patterson, Elizabeth Nguyen, Bryony Patterson, Emily Anderson, Jade Hutchison, Rebecca Irvine and Anna Young.

Lady Busser, Kirsty Meikle, then bussed the ribbons around the Cleikum Crozier and Staves, as a rousing rendition of 'On St Ronan's On' filled the hall, the Cleikum Choir impressively thinking fast on their feet, singing an extra two choruses as the bussin' took a little longer than usual.

Introducing this year's Principal Guest, Murray Charters, chairman Alan emphasised the debt of gratitude owed by the community to Murray for his years of hard work with St Ronan's Silver Band.

Originally from Kelso, Murray moved to Innerleithen in 1991, and has been actively involved in the town's community ever since.

Now chairman and a drummer in St. Ronan's Silver Band, his appointment is particularly fitting in this the year of the band's 200th anniversary.

Murray was joined on stage by his wife, Tricia. He began by telling the gathered crowd how during previous Cleikum Ceremonies he spotted the Monks were not really paying attention to the Principal Guest's speech and how on one occasion the Lantern Bearer actually fell asleep!

And so to keep them on their toes over the next few minutes and also as a nod to his own involvment in the percussion section of the band - he would be providing them with egg shakers.

The Monks were then instructed that upon each mention of 'silver band' he wished them to shake their eggs.

He said: "When chairman Alan first telephoned me some weeks ago and said he was phoning with his Games Week hat on, I immediately said, "Now Alan, I am far too old to be the Standard Bearer."

He said I was absolutely correct, but was phoning to offer me the next best thing and he was absolutely correct.

"Tricia and I have had a grand time this week and thank you and your committee Alan for being so welcoming and supportive to us both throughout the week.

"As you all probably know, this year marks the 200th anniversary of our wonderful Silver Band (shake, shake) and I am privileged to stand before you as the present chairman of the band in this it's bi-centenary year. I have no illusions that that is why I am here.

"It is not because I am generally a good egg but rather to celebrate the 200th. year of our Silver Band (shake, shake). So, Mr Chairman on behalf of the band, thank you very much for this honour.

"They say every speech should have a theme and mine tonight is involvement. When I was working as a solicitor in the Innereithen office a couple came in to have some remortgage papers signed.

"I had never met them before and asked if they had been in Innerleithen long as I had never seen them around the place. I asked if they were involved in anything local like the opera, the games or the silver band (shake, shake) and they said, and I quote, 'No, we don't do the community thing'.

"Well I nearly threw them out of the office there and then. I have always believed that for organisations to not only thrive but to basically survive, people need to get involved; they need to do the community thing. If people do not get involved, any organisation will find it hard certainly to thrive and ultimately to survive.

"When I was thinking about this speech, I was going to paraphrase that famous saying of President Kennedy and use as my theme, 'Think not what Innerleithen can do for you but think what you can do for Innerleithen'. However, David Cameron kind of nicked that idea in his election stuff.

"However, it is still true that the more you put in, the more you get out. Our new government are banging on at the moment about bringing back a sense of community to the nation. Well they could do a lot worse than come here for a visit to get a sense of community."

Murray then reminded everyone of various Innerleithen community events through the year such as New Year's Day and the silver band playing around the town and visiting the older folks at St Ronan's; the European Mountain Bike Championships; the pipe band competition in June and the silver band hosting the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band for a concert; the Games themselves- the oldest organised sporting event in Scotland - and the Innerleithen Music Festival in August.

He continued: "All of this ladies and gentlemen gives us a sense of community. However, none of this has happened, does happen or will happen in the future if people do not get involved.

"Every Border town has its traditions and festival week. I was brought up in Kelso and Tricia and I lived in Peebles for a while and know that these towns, like all the Border Towns think their week is best - there is nothing wrong with that at all - indeed it would be wrong if they did not. We are no exception - we all think ours is best.

"What for me makes Innerleithen special however is that it is such a great place to live. It is a great place to live because of its sense of community. That sense of community is in my view inclusive and welcoming.

"For our wonderful community to survive we need to get and keep involved. It needs you folk in here to get involved and those folk out there to get involved.

"Whether it is with the silver band (shake, shake), the pipe band, the opera, the Games, the music festival, the tennis club, the bowling club, the golf club, the football clubs, the sports clubs or whatever - you are needed.

"You will be welcomed and I am sure you will have a great time. The more you put into Innerleithen, the more you will get back."

Last year's Standard Bearer, Marc Linton, was next to the stage and he fought back tears as he returned the town's flag, untarnished and unsullied, following his year in office.

And then it was time for Jason Card to step up to the stage as he was charged to guard the standard.

Twenty two-year-old Jason, a machine operator with Glendinning Groundworks, has lived in Innerleithen all his life, attending St. Ronan's Primary and then Peebles High School.

Jason's Lass, is 21-year-old Beth Hardie, a final-year student nurse at Napier University who was also educated at St Ronan's and Peebles High. Beth was also a sash girl in 1999.

"Guard this standard securely and bear yourself well that you may long retain the trust of your fellow townspeople." With these words from Alan Patterson, Jason's wait was finally over and he stood proudly with Standard in hand before his fellow townspeople.

From the Memorial Hall, the guests then proceeded slowly to the War Memorial where they were met by a large group of townsfolk.

Heads were bowed and prayers softly spoken before the crowd and guests made their way up to St Ronan's Wells where Jason drank water from the well.

Speaking afterwards chairman Alan Patterson said: "It went really well - the kids and Standard Bearer both performed their duties admirably. I was delighted with how it has gone. We have also been lucky with the weather.

"But the crowds are fantastic and really support us no matter what the weather throws at us.

"It was nice to see how much the it means to Marc. I thought he was going to breakdown during his speech and I had to keep telling him to calm down. It is not an easy thing to give up being Standard Bearer."

Ex-Standard Bearer Marc Linton said: "I was standing outside the hall before I handed back the flag and it was a nightmare - I was so nervous.

"It means a lot to me - if you aren't nervous you maybe don't care as much. This last year has been amazing - I will never forget it. I have made so many friends.

"But Jason is an excellent choice and I am looking forward to supporting him."

Standard Bearer Jason said: "I was very nervous but it has been brilliant. I have followed Games Week since I was a wee laddie and you can't beat it.

"I have never been involved as a Dux Boy or monk so it was a bit of a shock to be asked but it is something I do not regret.

"It has been hectic attending all the other festivals and you don't realise how much work goes in until you are involved yourself."

His Lass Beth added: "I feel complete now I have my badge and sash. I am very, very proud of Jason. He has done well and despite being nervous about his speech he was great.

"The community is right behind us and you couldn't get a better community than that in Innerleithen."

This is also the view of local MSP Jeremy Purvis said: "I'm always amazed at how big hefty guys are reduced to tears by the honour of the occasion. It just goes to show how much it means to people and the pride that folk have in representing their town.

"I enjoy Innerleithen's festival immensely and love how it's the kids who are the stars and also the historical aspect of the proceedings.

"I attended St Ronan's Primary last week and it was quite something to see the excitement building amongst the pupils, each of them is well aware of the festival's significance which really bodes well for its future."

Local councillor Gavin Logan also attended the festivities. He said: "There's a lot of talk these days about the breakdown of community in society but this is definitely not the case in Innerleithen, as seen tonight."