The Cornet for the year is elected at the beginning of May, well in advance of the Common Riding proper when the Honorary 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 (Burgh Officer), accompanied by the Drum and Fife Band, is dispatched from the Town Hall at 7pm by the Honorary Provost bearing a letter of recommendation to the Cornet Elect. 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, at 7.45pm (approx.), the Cornet with his Right and Left Hand Men walk round the older parts of the town before attending a Congratulatory Smoker.
The Smoker begins at 8.30pm (doors open at 8pm) and is held in the Town Hall with tickets on sale at the door (tickets £7 each). It is at the Smoker that the Cornet receives his badge of office. This year’s speakers at the Smoker are Kenny Baillie, Marinos Calothis, Ex-Cornet Steven Anderson and Ex-Cornet Greig Middlemass. From then until the Common Riding is over the Cornet is an honoured figure in Hawick. The first recorded Cornet was in 1703, and other than the World Wars, Foot & Mouth and Covid-19, there has been an unbroken line to the present day.