Election night takes place annually on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in May.
ELECTION of CORNET
On the evening of the Cornet’s Walk around the town will start from the Cornet elects home at 7.45 p.m.
CONGRATULATORY SMOKER
The Smoker will be held in the Town Hall. (Doors open at 8.00 p.m.) Tickets priced £7.00 will be on sale at the door.
The Cornet for the year is elected at the beginning of May, well in advance of the Common Riding proper, when the Provost’s Council, on the recommendation of the two previous Cornets (called the Right and Left-Hand Men) invites a young man to act as Cornet.
The Halberdier, accompanied by the Drum and Fife Band, carries an official letter of invitation to the nominated Cornet. Invitation accepted, the Officer is rewarded with a new “shilling” and asked to carry the Cornet’s letter of acceptance back to the waiting Council.
Afterwards the Cornet with his two predecessors walk round the older parts of the town before attending a congratulatory Smoker. From then until the festival is over the Cornet is an honoured figure in Hawick. The first recorded Cornet was in 1703 and other than the World Wars there has been an unbroken line to the present day.