THE Principals for the Peebles Beltane Festival 2022 (Peebles Best Known Secret) were named last night in front of a packed Burgh Halls in the town.

The festivities kicked off at 7pm with tea, coffee and biscuits and a superb display by the Peebles Burgh Silver Band who entertained the crowd with a diverse range of tunes including A Man’s a Man For a’ That, Annie Laurie, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary 9-5 and Nut Brown Maiden.

At 8pm Chairman Paul Spence assisted by Vice-Chairman Ex-Cornet Angus Tait read out the names.

Cornet Elect is Iain Mitchell. Iain was educated at Kingsland Primary School and Peebles High School and works for the Scottish Government at St Andrew’s House.

He said: “To be standing here selected as Cornet for 2022 is a massive privilege and the greatest honour I have ever received. I am truly humbled to be given to opportunity to be written into the history of Peebles and to represent our town throughout the Borders and beyond.”

Cornet Elects Lass is Becca Lumsden follows in the footsteps of mum and dad who had the honour of representing the town in 1987.

She was educated at Priorsford Primary School and Peebles High School and works at Borders General Hospital as a Nursing Auxiliary.

She said: “It’s an absolute honour and pleasure to be standing here as Cornet’s lass 2022. I will do my utmost to assist and support Iain throughout his year in office and will continue to do so in the years to come.”

The Warden of Neidpath is Ex-Cornet Alastair Dodds, the Warden of Cross Kirk is Reverend Aftab Gohar, the Crowning Lady is Margot Swanston, and the Reader of the Boundaries is Nathanial Buckingham.

Congratulations to everyone from the Peeblesshire News. Photographs of the event will be available in next week’s edition.