Record of Past Principles

For well over a century, the people of Peebles have had the honour of serving as the Principals of the Beltane Festival, playing their part in preserving one of the Borders' most treasured traditions.

From the first Cornet appointed in 1897, through generations of Cornets' Lasses, Wardens of Neidpath and Cross Kirk, Crowning Ladies, and Proclaimers, these names tell the story of a community bound together by pride, service and tradition.

The records below celebrate those who have carried these responsibilities over the years, creating a remarkable roll of honour that reflects more than 100 years of Beltane history and the enduring spirit of the town of Peebles.

Note. This page works best in landscape mode on small screens such as 'phones and tablets.

Contents

Past Beltane Principals

"Please keep in touch"

The Beltane Committee's Programme Convener would be grateful if all Past Beltane Principals, or relatives and close friends on their behalf, could pass details of their current names, addresses and other contact details to him, especially if they have changed since last notified and recorded (some possibly around 1998/99 when the Centenary Book was being compiled) - if they now have email contact, or of course, if they have not previously notified their contact details.

Some Principals have intimated changes, but many have not. Beltane Queens and First Courtiers leave home, some go to college or work elsewhere, resulting in new addresses; Beltane Queens marry and have changed surnames and addresses and, of course other Past Principals relocate, some emigrating, which frequently results in us losing touch.

Our records include past Beltane Queens, First Courtiers, Cornets, Cornets' Lasses, Wardens of Neidpath and Crowning Ladies. The Programme Convener occasionally finds it necessary to contact some of our Past Principals, so it is useful and appropriate to keep our Contact Details up-to-date.

Sometimes the Beltane Secretaries wish to contact Past Principals. If your name, address, 'phone, or other details change over the years it would be useful to be notified accordingly.

Similarly, it is helpful if the Programme Convener is notified of the passing of Past Principals, especially those who now live abroad or who no longer have any local connections.

Please email information to Mr. Andrew Napier.
beltaneprogramme@gmail.com

Ex-Cornets

1897  William H. Williamson 1905  James C. Bonsor 1913  G. Harrison Ballantyne
1898  John Fergusson Jnr. 1906  Duncan MacPherson 1914-18  Clir. David Tweedie
1899  George Bridges 1907  William Yellowlees 1919  Alex. Anderson, MM
1900  Alex Irvine 1908  Charles Runciman 1920  J. Walter Buchan, MA, LLB
1901  J. C. Johnston 1909  D. Ballantyne Jnr. 1921  Robert A. Dickson
1902  William Watt 1910  James Thompson 1922  W. T. Blackwood, MC
1903  William Johnston 1911  William Thorburn Jnr. 1923  James McCulloch
1904  Robert Watson 1912  Robert E. Miller  

Ex-Cornets and Their Lasses

1924  Robert W. Jack Miss Agnes Watson 1977  Trevor Nicol Miss Katrina Nicol
1925  Robert Johnston Miss Nan Johnston 1978  Alan Bain Miss Dorothy Bogle
1926  William S. Dickman, DCM Miss Nellie Dickman 1979  Alastair Dodds Miss Jane Ritchie
1927  Robert Mathison Miss Bunty Currie 1980  William Porteous Miss Lorraine Haddow
1928  Robert Cowan Mrs. Robert Cowan 1981  Angus Oliver Mrs. Linda Oliver
1929  Walter M. Thorburn Miss Paul 1982  lan Thomson Miss Morag Thomson
1930  John S. Veitch Mrs. John S. Veitch 1983  Allan J. McDonald Miss Lesley Parker
1931  Robert Shearer Mrs. Robert Shearer 1984  David Parker Miss Elizabeth White
1932  ClIr. William J. Sanderson Mrs. W. J. Sanderson 1985  Robert Millar Mrs. Doreen Millar
1933  Norman Turnbull Miss Cathie Turnbull 1986  Ewan Forrest Miss Elspeth Forrest
1934  Robert S. Milne Miss Peg Murray 1987  Alan J. Lumsden Miss Yola Belka
1935  John Cairns Miss Annie Ewen 1988  Andrew Williamson Mrs. Joyce Williamson
1936  James W. D. Coulthard Miss Doreen Coulthard 1989  Jim Aitchison Mrs. Shirley Aitchison
1937  Robert G. Coulthard Miss Minnie Irvine 1990  Colin Hunter Miss Linda Meikle
1938  Leonard Grandison Miss Jenny Grandison 1991  George Blair Miss Fiona Fenton
1939  David M. Robertson Miss May Robertson 1992  Scott Anderson Miss Jacqueline Brown
1940-45  No Ceremony — 1993  Kenneth Greenshields Miss Carol Aitken
1946  Robert Allan Miss Mary Allan 1994  Gary Anderson Miss Jill Nicholson
1947  Jack T. Nicholson, DCM, MM Miss Mary Murray 1995  Tyrone Raeburn Miss Caroline Williams
1948  J. Hunter Smith Mrs. J. Hunter Smith 1996  Gordon Wilson Miss Lorna Murray
1949  William R. B. Whitie Miss Dorothy Forbes 1997  Douglas F. Millar Mrs. Kathleen Millar
1950  Douglas M. Edgar Miss Anna Bradburn 1998  Angus J. Tait Mrs. Catherine Tait
1951  Robert W. Jack Miss Emma Paterson 1999  lain Ronaldson Miss Gillian S. Duncan
1952  Douglas W. Veitch Miss Doris Allan 2000  David McGrath Mrs. Karen McGrath
1953  Ernest J. Murray Miss Ann Brunton 2001  David McGrath Mrs. Karen McGrath
1954  David B. Wright Miss Sheena Hutchison 2002  David Aitken Miss Natalie Edge
1955  R. Renwick Sanderson Miss Alice Haddow 2003  Allan MacKenzie Alison Connor
1956  Samuel D. French Miss Ruth Plenderleith 2004  Stuart Millar Miss Sarah Connor
1957  Andrew C. Hall Miss Jessie R. Jackson 2005  Martin McCullough Mrs. Lorna McCullough
1958  David Raeburn Miss Greta Milne 2006  Russell Copeland Mrs. Pauline Copeland
1959  George Raeburn Miss Ann Arthur 2007  Murray Bain Mrs. Yvonne Bain
1960  Robert D. Clapperton Miss Maureen Mason 2008  Colin Noble Mrs. Katy Noble
1961  William Williamson Miss Eileen Lyle 2009  Gareth Harrison Laura Robson
1962  lan Patterson Miss Allison Kirkpatrick 2010  Finlay Barber Joanne Cassidy
1963  Angus Drummond Miss Kathleen Shortreid 2011  Ewen Young Laura Cox
1964  Robert Millar Miss Milly Hay 2012  Cameron Young Rae Brown
1965  Tom Swanston Miss Judith Laycock 2013  Daniel Williamson Susan Thomson
1966  George Gilmour Miss Catharine Fraser 2014  Kevin Smith Sharon Rusnak
1967  Colin McEwan Miss Jane Steele 2015  Keiran Scott Beth Williamson
1968  William Reid Miss Larma Ellis 2016  Colin Dodds Scarlett Potter
1969  James Holness Miss Loretta M. Tammi 2017  Ross Falla Eilidh Falla
1970  Michael D. Rice Mrs. Elma Rice 2018  Gregor McGrath Loryn Paterson
1971  Gibb Todd Mrs. Joan Todd 2019  Andrew Napier Natalie Stewart
1972  Allan Beveridge Miss Susanne Orr 2020-21  No Ceremony —
1973  Kenneth Hope Mrs. Sheila Hope 2022  lain A. J. Mitchell Rebecca Lumsden
1974  David Turnbull Miss Gail Sherriff 2023  Robert Girdwood Allidh Copeland
1975  Michael Falla Miss Fiona Wilson 2024  Reuben Stericks Rianna Stericks
1976  Arthur Crittell Miss Patricia Swanson 2025  Jamie Hamilton Mrs Caitlin Hamilton

Beltane Queens and First Courtiers

1899  Margaret Muir Peter Montgomery 1963  Anne Hood David Bonsor
1900  Catherine Plenderleith Peter Grandison 1964  Eleanor McOwan lain Whitelaw
1901  Isabella Tait John Thomson 1965  Patricia Watson Eric Perkins
1902  Marion Brown James Wallace 1966  Patricia Swanson Ramsay Scott
1903  Bessie Robertson Robert Bonsor 1967  Dale Tennant George Frame
1904  Christina Ballantyne Hugh Cockburn 1968  Jane E. Campbell Charles McKenna
1905  Fanny Plenderleith James Henchan 1969  Margaret Frame Leonard McGill
1906  Nellie Louise Dickman Tom Caldwell 1970  Alison Pettigrew Murdo Beattie
1907  Jessica Taylor Adam Todd 1971  Susan Taylor Keith Brown
1908  Maud Dickman James Duthie 1972  Joy Sterricks Derek Simpson
1909  Bessie Ballantyne William Shortreed 1973  Alison Paton lain McLean
1910  Margaret Rankin James Turnbull 1974  Claire Dubar Donald Shearer
1911  Sarah Milroy William Robson 1975  Grace Kelly Timothy Luckhurst
1912  Jean Jardine Hamilton Neilson 1976  Joanna Goodburn Peter Peterson
1913  Dora Kerr William Crichton 1977  Heather Marshall Colin Thomson
1914  Peggy Runciman John Campbell 1978  Heather Coltman Robin van Dik
1915  Jeanie Fleming Morris Irvine 1979  Karen Turton Matthew Luckhurst
1916  Ella Johnstone Duncan Mathison 1980  Joanne Floate Gordon Shearer
1917  Helen Turnbull John Jardine 1981  Emily Noble Mark Murray
1918  Edith Turnbull Adam Kerr 1982  Lindy Fraser Mark Begbie
1919  Jessie Mitchell Donald Freer 1983  Joanne Burleigh Graeme MacKenzie
1920  Margaret Veitch Alex Somerville 1984  Laura Pemberton Andrew Turton
1921  Elizabeth Telfer James Campbell 1985  Jane Love Robin MacLellan
1922  Madge Freer Charles Graham 1986  Sammi Walker Christopher Patterson
1923  Betty Reid James Weir 1987  Margaret Fielding Hamish Hutchinson
1924  Cissie Gilmour Thomas Walker 1988  Sarah McGrath lan Cornwall
1925  Cathie Nisbet Dan Campbell 1989  Suzanne Wightman John Clyde
1926  Mary Thomson James Robertson 1990  Emma Buckingham Michael Johnston
1927  Molly Brockie James Moffat 1991  Clare Muckart Colin Shearer
1928  Mary Farquhar William Muir 1992  Joanne MacConnachie Colin Lyle
1929  Annie Mclsaac John Johnstone 1993  Kate Pearson Michael Hunter
1930  Elizabeth Taylor Robert Shearer 1994  Anna Muckart Colin Shaw
1931  Helen Doherty William Buchan 1995  Emma Musgrave Nathaniel Buckingham
1932  Jean Scott John Dalgleish 1996  Amy Finlayson Mike Allan
1933  Isabella Watson Marshall Fairbairn 1997  Caitlin O’Donnell Paul O’Donnell
1934  Effie Brown Tom Armstrong 1998  Natalie Gordon Liam Goodacre
1935  May Armstrong George Jack 1999  Sophie Elliot Michael Boyd
1936  Jessie Brown Alex Somerville 2000  Lynn Duncan Euan MacNeish
1937  Anne Swanston Harry Taylor 2001  Samantha Williamson Stuart Maitland
1938  Viva Semmens William Mitchell 2002  Eilidh Brown Ben Wills
1939  Jane Ewans Robert Lawson 2003  Eloise Leeson Benedict Jones-Williams
1940  Sheila Murray William Smith 2004  Hazel Sharpe Alexander Farrell
1941  Nancy Ness Robert Wilson 2005  Erin Ross David Scobie
1942  Margaret Heddle William Stevenson 2006  Sara Al Kashmim Craig Howie
1943  Ann Freckleton Norman Lawrie 2007  Kerry Woods Tom Lane
1944  Joy Morton Hugh McCutcheon 2008  Niamh Smith Jamie Wellington
1945  Edna M. Miller John Webb 2009  Rosie Bowick Daniel Madden
1946  Muriel Gilchrist Andrew Inglis 2010  Alana Craigmile Gregor Swinney
1947  Jesmine Nimmo Alastair Weatherston 2011  Amy Gilfillan Robbie Renwick
1948  Muriel Robertson Peter Walker 2012  Niamh Kinahan Alan Caddick
1949  Margaret Jack Robert Boyd 2013  Rianna Stericks Ross Aiken
1950  Marjorie Torrance Harvey Robertson 2014  Alice Bryce Michael Smith
1951  Irene Ferguson Peter Halliday 2015  Emma Latto Paul Armitage
1952  Isobel Boyd David Cook 2016  Madeline Collins Jack Scott
1953  Irene Mathew David Ferguson 2017  Emily Carrick-Anderson Fraser Carlotti
1954  Elizabeth Boyd Tom Swanston 2018  Katy Blackwood Callum McRobert
1955  Lyndal Smith David Cockburn 2019  Jenna Jones Fin Price
1956  Anne Hebenton Robert Lithgow 2020-21  No Ceremony —
1957  Gilian Smith Alastair Macpherson 2022  Elena A. Chrystie Murray Learmond
1958  Rosemary Smelt Rognvald Boyd 2023  Minnie G. H. Mitchell Struan A. Hume
1959  Dorothy A. Johnstone Sandy Melrose 2024  Lucy Crombie James McKean
1960  Alison Falla Michael McGrath 2025  Annie Moore Evan Esposito
1961  Shirley Logan Graham Whitelaw    
1962  Sandra MacKenzie George Laird    

Ladies Who Have Crowned the Beltane Queen

1899 Lady Ballantyne 1963 Miss Beatrice Benigno
1900 Lady Thorburn 1964 Mrs. G. Hall
1901 Miss Lizzie Thorburn 1965 Mrs. May Ritchie
1902 Miss Nellie Ballantyne 1966 Mrs. R. B. Wilson
1903 Miss Mary Thorburn 1967 Miss May Heron
1904 Mrs. J. A. Ballantyne 1968 Mrs. A. W. Walker
1905 Mrs. J. Ramsay Smith 1969 Miss Helen J. Davidson
1906 Mrs. C. L. Prior 1970 Mrs. Daniel Connor
1907 The Hon. Mrs. A. O. Murray 1971 Mrs. John Pemberton
1908 Mrs. C. B. Gunn 1972 Mrs. A. Melrose
1909 Mrs. F. W. Black 1973 Mrs. Margaret Scott
1910 Mrs. M. G. Thorburn 1974 Mrs. Adele Scorgie
1911 Miss May Ainslie 1975 Sheriff Isabel Sinclair, Q.C.
1912 Mrs. D. S. Thorburn 1976 Mrs. Betty Tammi
1913 Mrs. David Ballantyne 1977 Miss Jessie Ferguson, M.B.E.
1914 Mrs. Peter Dalling 1978 Mrs. Eleanor M. Thomson
1915 Mrs. W. E. Thorburn 1979 Mrs. Jean Maule
1916 Mrs. A. Dryden Moffat 1980 Miss Marjory Harper
1917 Mrs. James Forrester 1981 Mrs. Joan Mackison
1918 Lady Wolfe Murray 1982 Mrs. E. Jean Paton, MB., Ch.B.
1919 Mrs. J. Laidlaw 1983 Mrs. Helen Shortreed
1920 Mrs. George Hooper 1984 Miss Norah M. Tweeddale
1921 Lady Maclean 1985 Mrs. Anne McCulloch
1922 Miss Anna Buchan 1986 Mrs. Pamela Fairless
1923 Mrs. Robert Davidson 1987 Mrs. Maaike Campbell
1924 Mrs. William Scott 1988 Mrs. Kathleen Thomson
1925 Mrs. William Thorburn 1989 Miss Alison S. Geddes
1926 Miss Maria Dalgleish 1990 Miss Sheila E. Murray
1927 Miss J. C. Campbell 1991 Mrs. Evelyn van Dijk
1928 Mrs. George Anderson 1992 Mrs. Anne Smith
1929 Mrs. Joseph Westwood 1993 Miss Margaret Murray
1930 Mrs. Tom Martin 1994 Miss Janet Brown
1931 Mrs. H. R. Murray-Philipson 1995 Mrs. Anne Gibb
1932 Miss Mary Bonong 1996 Mrs. Jean Brown
1933 Mrs. W. Cleland 1997 Mrs. Nancy Forsyth
1934 Mrs. Wolfe Murray 1998 Mrs. Janette Cameron
1935 Mrs. H. N. Mitchell 1999 Miss Margaret Jack
1936 Miss Ramsay Smith 2000 Mrs. Marion White
1937 The Hon. Mrs. A. H. Maule-Ramsay 2001 Mrs. May Gillies
1938 Mrs. John Fergusson 2002 Mrs. Rosemary Napier
1939 Viscountess Elibank 2003 Mrs. Doreen Massie
1940 Mrs. M. P. Thorburn 2004 Mrs. Evelyn Brown
1941 Mrs. R. J. Thomson 2005 Dr. Elizabeth Clyde, MB, Ch.B.
1942 Mrs. A. P. Daniels 2006 Mrs. Margaret Brodie
1943 Mrs. R. C. Muir 2007 Mrs. Valerie Finlayson
1944 Mrs. A. White 2008 Mrs. Eva Bisset
1945 Mrs. Berry Preston 2009 Mrs. Jane Holmes
1946 Mrs. S. Smith 2010 Catherine Hamilton
1947 Miss C. B. Williamson 2011 Mrs. Margaret Abbot
1948 Miss M. E. Duthie 2012 Mrs. Sheila J. Wright
1949 Miss Isabel M. Winthrope 2013 Mrs. Theresa Hindhaugh
1950 Mrs. James J. Scott 2014 Mrs. Anne Snoddy
1951 Mrs. E. G. Thomson 2015 Mrs. Elizabeth White
1952 Mrs. J. P. Duthie 2016 Mrs. Susan Bell
1953 Mrs. E. Laverock 2017 Mrs. Janette Gordon
1954 Miss Ruth M. Wells, S.R.N, S.C.M 2018 Mrs. Katharine Mathison
1955 Miss Helen F. Smart, S.R.N. 2019 Mrs. Mandi Bain
1956 Mrs. J. S. Fotheringham 2020-21 No Ceremony
1957 Mrs. J. R. Lawrie 2022 Mrs. Margot Swanston
1958 Mrs. Margaret Armstrong 2023 Mrs. Nancy Fenton
1959 Mrs. J. T. Nicholson 2024 Miss Margaret Stalker, Dip.HE
1960 Police Judge Mrs. Ann M. Davidson 2025 Mrs. Julie Hopkirk, RGN
1961 Mrs. William Hamilton
1962 Mrs. A. Temple

Wardens of Neidpath

1929 Dr. Clement Bryce Gunn, M.D., J.P. 1981 Lt. Col. Aiden M. Sprot, M.C., J.P., Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale
1930 Dr. Clement Bryce Gunn, M.D., J.P. 1982 Robert S. Morton, M.A. (Hons.)
1931 Dr. Clement Bryce Gunn, M.D., J.P. 1983 Joe L. Brown, C.B.E., T.D., D.L.
1932 Dr. Clement Bryce Gunn, M.D., J.P. 1984 Rev. David C. MacFarlane, M.A.
1933 Ex-Cornet J. Walter Buchan, M.A., LL.B. 1985 William M. Goodburn, M.A., LL.B., W.S.
1934 James Hope Brown, Esq. 1986 Dr. Alastair G. P. Paton, M.B., Ch.B., D. Obst., R.C.O.G.
1935 Lord Tweedsmuir, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., C.H. 1987 Ex-Cornet Douglas Edgar
1936 Dean of Guild William Cleland, J.P. 1988 Clir. Archie Watt, L.Ch., S.R.Ch.
1937 Miss Anna Buchan, J.P. 1989 Cllr. Ron Runciman
1938 William Crichton, Esq. 1990 Donald Swanson
1939 1939 James Forrester, O.B.E., J.P. 1991 Chief Supt. Harry Gilmour, Lothian & Borders Police
1940-45 No Ceremony 1992 Norman Thomson
1946 Ex-Cornet Lt. Col. W. Thorburn, D.S.O., Lord Lieutenant of the County 1993 Jim Forsyth
1947 Councillor Arthur P. Daniels 1994 Ex-Cornet Douglas W. Veitch
1948 Robert W. Goodburn, Esq. 1995 Sir William Sutherland, Q.P.M., Chief Constable
1949 James Caldwell, J.P. and William Brown, Esq. 1996 Dr. George O. B. Thomson, M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D., ABPsS., Cpsychol., F.R.S.A.
1950 Bailie James R. Lawrie 1997 Robert B. Robb
1951 Sir Ronald J. Thomson 1998 Daniel T. Ward
1952 1952 Provost George Fraser (Hawick) 1999 James T. Raeburn
1953 James Veitch, Esq. 2000 lan Jenkins, M.A., MSP.
1954 George Rothnie, M.A 2001 Jim Carruthers
1955 The Earl of Wemyss and March 2002 Hugh T. Gilmore
1956 John S. Fotheringham Esq. (Johannesburg) 2003 Alastair Macpherson, M.A., B.A.(Hons.)
1957 James Muir, Esq. (Canada) 2004 Vice Admiral Sir Cameron Rusby, KCB, LVO.
1958 Lord Tweedsmuir 2005 Graeme J. Murray
1959 William C. Kerr, Esq. 2006 Stephen Howitt
1960 Bailie William D. Smith (Jedburgh) 2007 Dr. David R. Love, MB, Ch.B, FRCGP, FRCP (Edin)
1961 Dr. R. B. Wilson 2008 Ex-Cornet Tom Swanston
1962 Bailie Patrick O’Neil, B.Sc. 2009 lan Thorburn
1963 Sam Ferguson, Esq. 2010 George Tait
1964 Henry Ballantyne, Esq. 2011 John P. Campbell, O.B.E.
1965 Thomas A. Armstrong, Esq. 2012 The Rt. Hon. Michael Moore, M.P., Secretary of State for Scotland
1966 Sheriff J. Aikman Smith 2013 James Moffat
1967 Lady Tweedsmuir 2014 Mrs. Jacqueline Wilson, B.Ed., Dip. P.Ed.
1968 William Merrilees, O.B.E., Chief Constable 2015 Eric Gilmour
1969 Edward L. Smith, B.A. (Hons.) 2016 Robert B. Harrison
1970 James Gordon Fyfe, T.D., D.L., W.S. 2017 Alan Duncan
1971 Police Judge Alex W. Walker, J.P. (Ex-Provost) 2018 Douglas Wright
1972 Provost Len Thomson (Selkirk) 2019 Rev. Calum Macdougall, BD, MTh, Dip. Chr. Ed
1973 Sir Robert H. Scott, C.B.E., J.P., Lord Lieutenant of the County 2020-21 No Ceremony
1974 Provost William Pate, M.B.E., J.P., (Galashiels) 2022 Ex-Cornet Alastair Dodds
1975 Edward Laverock, M.A., LL.B. 2023 John Falla
1976 William W. Howitt 2024 Prof. Sir Hew Strachan, MA, Ph.D, FBA, FRSE.
1977 Alexander Melrose, J.P. (Ex-Provost) 2025 Mrs. Christina Elder, RGN
1978 John H. Orr, O.B.E., Q.P.M., Chief Constable    
1979 James K. Brockie, B.A. (Hons.)    
1980 The Rt. Hon. David Steel, M.A., LL.B., M.P.    

Chairmen

1897-1899 George Bridges 1964-1968 William W. Howitt
1900-1912 Unknown 1969-1973  William Lithgow
1913-1918 James Rankine 1974-1976 Angus Drummond
1919-1920 Dep. Chief Constable R. A. Dickson 1977-1981  J. P. (lan) Shortreed
1921 Cornet Robert A. Dickson 1982-1984 William W. Howitt
1922-1934 Ex-Cornet Robert A. Dickson 1985-1989 David A. Hoyle
1935-1936 Mr. G. Dodds 1990-1994 lan Thorburn
1937 Councillor Wm. Cleland 1995-1999 Eric Gilmour
1938-1939 Bailie Wm. Cleland 2000-2004 Ex-Cornet Allan Beverige
1940-1945 Stewart Smith 2005-2009 Mrs. Christina Elder
1946 Concillor Stewart Smith 2010-2014 Ex-Cornet Alastair Dodds
1947-1948 Bailie Stewart Smith 2015-2019 Keith Brunton
1949 Stewart Smith 2020-2024 Paul Spence
1950 Concillor Stewart Smith 2025 – Lorna Evans
1951-1953 Police Judge Stewart Smith    
1954-1958 Ex-Cornet Jack T. Nicholson, D.C.M., M.M., T.D    
1959-1963 George Buchan    

Wardens of the Cross Kirk

1930-33 Dr. Clement Bryce Gunn, M.D., J.P. 1980 Father Alexander Bremner
1934 Rev. Berry Preston, B.D 1981 Rev. David C. MacFarlane, M.A.
1935 Very Rev. Professor D. S. Cairns 1982 Rev. Duncan MacGillivray
1936 Rev. Alex Brown, M.A. 1983 Rev. A. Wilson McCay. M.A. (Oxon)
1937 Rev. Berry Preston, B.D. 1984 Father Alexander Bremner
1938 Rev. James Kerr, B.D. 1985 Keith D. Crozier, MA.
1939 Rev. W. G. Taylor, M.A. 1986 Rev. James Wallace, M.A., B.D.
1940-41 No Service 1987 Rev. Andrew P. Lees, B.D.
1942 Rev. W. G. Taylor, M.A. 1988 Father James L. Myers
1943 Rev. Oliver Russel, M.A 1989 Rev. A. Wilson McCay, M.A. (Oxon)
1944 Rev. Berry Preston, B.D. 1990 Rev. Nancy Norman, B.A., M.Div., M. Th.
1945 Rev. W. G. Taylor, M.A. 1991 Rev. James Wallace, M.A., B.D.
1946 Rev. James Kerr, B.D. 1992 Father David McCann
1947 Rev. Berry Preston, B.D. 1993 Rev. Gary J. Scott, B.D
1948 Rev. W. G. Taylor, M.A. 1994 Rev. David C. MacFarlane, M.A.
1949 Rev. George B. Wilson, B.D. 1995 Rev. James Wallace, M.A., B.D.
1950 Rev. Berry Preston, B.D. 1996 Rev. Gary J. Scott, B.D
1951 Rev. W. G Taylor, M.A. 1997 Father John Robinson
1952 Rev. George B. Wilson, B.D. 1998 Rev. Robin Lee, B.D.
1953 Rev. James Hamilton 1999 Rev. James Wallace, M.A., B.D.
1954 Rev. F. E. W. Weeks 2000 Father John Robinson
1955 Rev. Andrew Veitch 2001 Rev. Robin D. Lee, B.D.
1956 Rev. W. A. L. Hutchison, M.A. 2002 Rev. Nancy Norman, B.A., M.Div., M.Th.
1957 Rev. James N. T. Boyd, M.A. 2003 Rev. Calum Macdougall,
1958 Rev. James Hamilton, M.A. 2004 Rev. Jim Wallace, M.A., B.D.
1959 Rev. W. G. Tran, M.A. 2005 Rev. Charles B. Aitchison, B.Ed (Hons)
1960 Rev. F. E. W. Weeks 2006 Rev. Tony Maude, B.Sc., PhD., B.D.
1961 Rev. James Hamilton, M.A. 2007 Rev. Robin Lee, B.D.
1962 Rev. Alexander J. Geddes, B.D. 2008 Father John George Robinson
1963 Rev. F. E. W. Weeks 2009 Rev. Calum Macdougall
1964 Rev. James Hamilton, M.A. 2010 Barry Hughes
1965 Rev. Kenneth Matthews 2011 Rev. Jim Wallace, M.A., B.D.
1966 Rev. Alexander J. Geddes, B.D. 2012 Rev. Nancy M. Norman, B.A., M.Div., M.Th.
1967 Rev. Alastair M. Sutherland, M.A. 2013 Rev. Malcolm Jefferson, M.A., B.D.
1968 Rev. Albert Craig, D.D 2014 Rev. James Benton-Evans, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E., C.T.
1969 Very Rev. Canon Peter Donati 2015 Rev. lan K. Gray
1970 Rev. Canon Wilfred B. Currie, M.A. 2016 Rev. Pamela Strachan, M.A. (Cantab)
1971 Rev. Alexander M. Sutherland, M.A. 2017 Rev. Calum Macdougall, BD, MTh, Dip. Chr Ed
1972 Rev. David MacFarlane, M.A. 2018 Rev. Barry Hughes, M.A. (Hons), B.Th.
1973 Rev. Albert Craig, D.D. 2019 Rev. Fr. Anthony Lappin, B.D., M.Th, M.B.A.
1974 Rev. Canon Wilfred B. Currie, M.A. 2020-21 No Service
1975 Rev. J. M. Alexander, M.A., B.D. 2022 Rev. Aftab Gohar, M.A., M.Div., Pg.D.
1976 Rev. David C. MacFarlane, M.A. 2023 Rev. Malcolm Jefferson, M.A., B.D
1977 Rev. David C. MacFarlane, M.A. 2024 Rev. Lady Pamela Strachan, M.A. (Cantab)
1978 Rev. Duncan MacGillivray 2025 Rev. Aftab Gohar, M.A., M.Div., Pg.D.
1979 Rev. R. Haslam, B.A.    

Persons Who Have Read the Proclamation of Beltane Fair and Cried the Burgh Bounds

1897-1906 William Buchan Town Clerk
(1906)-1919 J. Walter Buchan, M.A., LL.B. Town Clerk
1920 James Keddie Depute Town Clerk
1921-1948 J. Walter Buchan, M.A., LL.B. Town Clerk
(1948)-1974 Edward Laverock, M.A., LL.B Town Clerk
1975 William M. Goodburn, M.A., LL.B., W.S. Blackwood & Smith, W.S
1976 A. Keith Christie, M.A., LL.B. Thorburn & Lyon
1977 David G. Fyfe, LL.B., W.S. Blackwood & Smith, W.S
1978 John Gibb, M.A., LL.B. J. & W. Buchan, Writers
1979 William M. Goodburn, M.A., LL.B., W.S. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1980 Donald Strathairn, M.A., LL.B. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1981 A. Keith Christie, M.A., LL.B. Thorburn & Lyon
1982 A. Morris Anderson, LL.B. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1983 W. Murray Charters, M.A., LL.B J. & W. Buchan, Writers
1984 Ronald E. Cobham, LL.B., N.P. Thorburn & Lyon
1985 Mrs. Patricia Ferguson, M.A., LL.B. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1986 Ronald E. Cobham, LL.B., N.P. Thorburn & Lyon
1987 Robin J. Hill, LL.B., Dip. L.P. J. & W. Buchan, Writers
1988 Miss Jane Clayton, LL.B. Blackwood & Smith, W.S
1989 Fergus J. M. Brown, B.L., W.S. Procurator Fiscal, Peebles
1990 David Gordon Fyfe, LL.B., W.S. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1991 Frank W. Drummond, LL.B., Solicitor to the Council, Tweeddale District Council
1992 W. Murray Charters, M.A., LL.B. J. & W. Buchan, Writers
1993 A. Keith Christie, M.A., LL.B., W.S. Thorburn & Lyon
1994 Andrew W. Crawley, LL.B., B.A. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1995 Philip M. Daly, M.A., Dip. L.P. Legal and Admin. Assistant, Tweeddale District Council
1996 W. Murray Charters, M.A., LL.B J. & W. Buchan, Writers
1997 A. Keith Christie, M.A., LL.B., W.S. Thorburn & Lyon, W.S.
1998 Mrs. Sally Swinney, LL.B., Dip. L.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
1999 Philip M. Daly, M.A., Dip. L.P. Scottish Borders Council
2000 A. Keith Christie, M.A., LL.B., W.S. Thorburn, Lyon & Buchan
2001 Mrs. Patricia Blackstock, M.A., LL.B. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2002 W. Murray Charters, M.A., LL.B. Thorburn, Lyon & Buchan
2003 David Kilshaw, O.B.E. Cullen Kilshaw
2004 Mrs Fiona Fleming, LLB., Dip.LP, N.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2005 Mrs Marion Blackwood, LLB., Dip.LP., N.P. Thorburn, Lyon & Buchan
2006 A. Morris Anderson, LL.B., N.P., W.S. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2007 Frank W. Drummond, LLB. Scottish Borders Council
2008 Fergus J.M. Brown Former Procurator Fiscal, Peebles
2009 Mrs. Sally Swinney, LL.B., Dip. L.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2010 Lawri J. Shanks, B.A. (Hons.), LL.B., Dip. L.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2011 Ross Hunter, LL.B., Dip.L.P., N.P. Cullen Kilshaw
2012 Mrs. Fiona Fleming, LL.B. Dip.LP., N.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2013 Struan Ferguson, LL.B. (Hons.), Dip. L.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2014 Nathaniel Buckingham, LL.B., LL.M. Shepherd and Wedderburn, Edinburgh
2015 A. Morris Anderson, LL.B., N.P., W.S. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2016 Ross A. Forrest, LL.B., Dip. LP, BSc (Hons) Balfour+Manson, Edinburgh
2017 David A. G. Kilshaw, O.B.E., N.P., Cullen Kilshaw, Peebles
2018 Douglas Neil, LL.B. (Hons), Dip. LP., N.P. Neil Solicitors & Estate Agents, Peebles
2019 Mrs. Sally Swinney, LL.B., Dip. LP., N.P. Blackwood & Smith, W.S.
2020-2021 No Ceremony  
2022 Nathaniel Buckingham, LL.B., LL.M. Shepherd and Wedderburn, Edinburgh.
2023 Caitlin O’Donnell, LL.B., Dip.LP. Senior Legal Counsel, The Scotch Whisky Association
2024 Fiona Morris, LL.B (Hons)., Dip.LP, N.P. Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
2025 Ross Kilshaw, LL.B, Dip.L.P., N.P. Cullen Kilshaw

Formerly, in the days of the Town Council, the Beltane Fair was “Cried” or Proclaimed by the Town Clerk, but with the demise of the Town Council in 1975 this duty has devolved mainly to one of the local solicitors in the town, on a rotational basis. The only departures from this have been when the Procurator Fiscal to the local Courts undertook this traditional role in 1989 (Fergus. M. Brown, B.L, W.S.), and when the Solicitors employed by the local authorities accepted the invitation to fill this important office in our Festival (1991 – Frank W. Drummond, LL.B., Solicitor to Tweeddale District Council, 1995 – Philip Daly, M.A., Dip. L. P., then Legal and Administrative Assistant to Tweedale District Council, 1999 – Philip Daly, Solicitor with Scottish Borders Council, 2007 – Frank Drummond, Principal Solicitor with Scottish Borders Council). In 2008, Fergus J. M. Brown, retired Procurator Fiscal, was honoured to undertake this office once more. This historical and traditional role has an important and respected place in our Festival.