Hurray for the Braw Lad and Braw Lass

Excitement is mounting here at Abbotsford as we await this year’s Braw Lads’ Gathering, when we particularly look forward to welcoming Braw Lad Ruaridh, Braw Lass Chloe and their Attendants to Sir Walter’s home early on Saturday morning. As a proud Gala man (or ‘pail mark’ as our friends from Selkirk never fail to remind me!) it has been my pleasure and privilege to represent Abbotsford at this delightful ceremony for many years. As this is my last year as a Trustee, I’ve been asked to say a few words about what this honour means to me.

And it is just that - a huge honour and privilege to be a part of the tradition that goes back to the very first Braw Lads Gathering of 1930. General Sir Walter Maxwell Scott agreed with the organisers of that first Gathering that a visit to his ancestors’ home would be an appropriate way of marking the close association between Sir Walter and Galashiels. An obvious symbol of that association is the black and white, or Shepherd’s, check that all Gala folk are proud to wear on the Gala Day. Scott made this pattern popular by wearing breeches of it on a visit to London, when it was taken up by the ‘fashionistas’ of the day…much to the delight of the Gala manufacturers! Scott’s breeches are on display in the Visitor Centre.

Anyway, back to the visit. The ceremony itself is a very simple and moving one. After a knock on our front door, and a few words by the Braw Lad, all are invited into the Hall, where a wee refreshment is taken, toasts to both Abbotsford and Galashiels are proposed and drunk. Then comes the most frightening moment for me! Abbotsford presents red and white roses to the principals, and it is my duty to pin these on to the lapels of the Braw Lad and Lass …and I am terrified of either stabbing the Braw Lad or, even worse, pricking my own finger and bleeding all over the Braw Lass’s immaculate white tunic! When all is finished, with no mishaps we hope, the official party depart on horseback, with the Braw Lass remounting her horse using the ‘Louping-on stane’, the statue of Scott’s beloved dog Maida, that sits outside our front door.

All this takes just a short time and is but a small part of the great day’s ceremonies – but it’s wonderful that every Braw Lad and Lass that I’ve had the privilege of welcoming to Abbotsford have said how much they enjoy what is a relatively quiet and peaceful interlude in an otherwise hectic day.

In my 16 years as a Trustee at our beloved Abbotsford, I have witnessed a host of tremendous achievements by our wonderful team, and not a few challenges, difficulties and indeed heartbreak. I am proud to have contributed in a small way to Abbotsford’s continuing success and its special place in the hearts of all who have come to know and love it.

George Dalgleish