One of the most impressive and colourful of all the Common Riding ceremonies, the Colour Bussing takes place on the Thursday evening in the Town Hall. The Honorary Provost and Magistrates are played into a packed Hall by the Drum and Fife Band. Then come the Lasses with the Maids of Honour. The Cornet’s Lass carries the Flag to the front of the Hall where she mounts the platform with her attendants and “busses” the Flag by tying ribbons of blue and gold to the head of the staff. This is symbolic of the days when women, as a sign of affection, bedecked their loved ones before going off to battle. The Lass then hands the Flag to the Honorary Provost. The Cornet with the Right and Left Hand Men now come forward. The Provost, after congratulating the Lass, passes the Flag into the Cornet’s keeping reminding him that it is “the embodiment of all the traditions that are our glorious heritage”. The Cornet is charged to ride the marches of the commonty of Hawick according to ancient custom and return the Flag “unsullied and unstained”. There follows an oration by a distinguished guest and song-singing.
Residents wishing to purchase Colour Bussing tickets should make written application by standard POSTCARD or C6 ENVELOPE ONLY (approximately 11cm x 16cm) to their representatives on or before Saturday 10th May.
Hawick North
Ex-Cornet David Blacklock
Cath Elliott Walker (Ticket, Gate & Stewarding Convenor)
William Fletcher
Ex-Cornet Ross Gibson
Keith Smyth (Race Convenor)
Euan Welsh
Hawick South
Rob Halliday
Cameron Knox (Transport Secretary)
Lindsay Nichol
Ex-Cornet Ian Nichol
Frank Scott
Caroline Wilkinson (Dinner & Ball Convenor)
Only one application per household may be made giving full name, address and phone number of applicant and preferred seating either downstairs or gallery (two seats are allocated, all seats are £16 per pair). Those applicants with accessibility problems please state on application “accessible seating required”.
Past successful applicants must not have been allocated tickets for the last three Colour Bussings. Children attending must be over 12 years of age.
All interested are invited to attend the ballot for tickets in the Town Hall on Wednesday 14th May at 7pm.
Allocated tickets will then be available for payment and collection at the front offices of the Town Hall on Saturday 17th May from 9am to 10am. Note, payment is cash only.