THE BRAW LADS'
GATHERING


the Ceremonial Parts of the Gathering



BRAW LAD RECEIVES THE BURGH FLAG



The Braw Lass and Attendants are mounted on horseback awaiting the morning’s 8 o’clock chimes of the Clock Tower of the Burgh Chambers.


As the chimes fade the balcony doors open, a trumpet sounds, and the Town Crier calls out the Proclamation to those assembled before retiring.


The President is accompanied by Braw Lad on to the balcony, the President of the Gathering transfers the Burgh Flag to Braw Lad and charges him to “carry it worthily this day” and to return it “unsullied and untarnished” when his duties are fulfilled. The Braw Lad then declares that he will “return it safely and to uphold the honour and traditions of the Burgh”. He then calls upon the Braw Lads’ and Lasses appointed as his supporters to help him in guarding the Flag whilst in his charge.


The Braw Lad carries the the Burgh Flag into the street where he mount his horse and rejoins the Braw Lass and Attendants before starting off at the head of the mounted cavalcade.



THE RAID STANE



The town of Galashiels has featured many times in the history books over the years, its first mention was in 1337. That incident gave the town its emblem, the “Sour Plums”.


The event is commemorated in the first ceremony of the day of in the Braw Lads’ Gathering. The Braw Lad, Braw Lass and Attendants dismount at Netherdale and gather in the shade of the Wild Plum trees at the Raid Stane.


It was here that in 1337 a party of English raiders, returning home over the Border, stopped to rest in the grove of trees. The men of Galashiels attacked and killed them. It is said that the stream (or Syke) ran red with their blood for three days. It is now known as the Englishman’s Syke.


Now, since the first Braw Lads’ Gathering in 1930, the Braw Lad and his male Attendants have a sprig of “Sour Plums” pinned to their riding jackets by the Braw Lass and female Attendants thus marking the first recorded mention of the towns history.



VISIT TO ABBOTSFORD



The Braw Lads’ Gathering maintains close associations with the home of one of the areas most famous sons – Sir Walter Scott and Abbotsford.


Following the Raid Stane Ceremony, the mounted cavalcade of hundreds, fords the Tweed at Galafoot, before going on to Abborsford House, the historic home of the Borders writer and Sheriff.


General Maxwell Scott, a direct descendant of Scott, invited the principals to visit in 1930. The ceremony itself is a simple one, a knock on Sir Walter Scott’s door, greetings and a few words spoken accompanied by customary toasts to Abbotsford and Galashiels. The Braw Lad, Braw Lass and Attendants also receive roses from the representative of the Trustees of Abbotsford. A tradition which, until 2003, was carried out by the novelist’s ancestors and the last of the line, Dame Jean Maxwell-Scott, who has sadly passed away.


The ceremony concludes with the Braw Lass remounting her horse using the “Louping Stane”, a sculpture of Scott’s dearly loved dog Maida. The principals then depart through the arched gate along the drive before re-crossing the Tweed at Boleside on the return to Galashiels.



OLD TOWN CROSS



One of the most moving and poignant ceremonies of the Gathering takes place at The Old Town Cross, or Mercat Cross, where the marriage of James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor of England is commemorated.


The couple were betrothed in 1503 (in what became known as the marriage of the Thistle and the Rose) and as part of her dowry. Margaret was granted the lands of Ettrick Forest, of which Galashiels was part and received the symbolic act of the transfer of all its land (Sod) and buildings (stone), Sasine, at the site of the Mercat Cross.

This led, 100 years later, to the Union of the Crowns in 1603.


Every year, at the Mercat Cross, the Braw Lass ceremonially receives the Sod and Stone, gathered earlier in the week from Torwoodlee, from the respective Attendants. She is offered the Red and White roses (marking Margaret’s decent from the House of York and Lancaster) which she mixes in a re-enactment in the Act of Sassine.


The second part of the ceremony sees the President of the Braw Lads’ Gathering mount the platform, along with the Laird of Gala and the Town Crier, marking the granting of a Charter in 1599, giving the town Burgh of Barony status.



VISIT TO THE LAIRD OF GALA



Links with one of Galas oldest families are celebrated when the Braw Lad, Braw Lass and Attendants along with the Official party visit Old Gala House after the Old Town Cross ceremony to be met by a representative of the Scott family and to renew the associations of both parties.


The Scott family has been associated with the Braw Lads’ Gathering since its inception in 1930, and the present Laird welcomes the official party to Old Gala House.


John Scott the 10th Laird, was a supporter and contributed to the plans to hold a summer festival in the town and was an advocate of the traditions and history of the town and the wider Borders.


His descendants now play and integral part of the festivities, maintaining the connections of the Scotts and the history of the town.



WAR MEMORIAL



It has been described as a “simple act of homage” but in reality the ceremony of Remembrance at the War Memorial at noon has a profound effect on all who witness it.


Only the Braw Lad remains mounted on horseback and as he dips the Burgh Flag in salute for the 2 minutes silence. Galaleans throughout the World remember their fellow townsfolk who gave their lives in service to their country in both World Wars and in other conflicts since.


The huge crowds that have cheered their Gathering Principals on all morning are suddenly quietened in a moment of reflection, as the pipers melancholy lament and the chiming of the War Memorial clock tower are all that can be heard.


The War Memorial provides the perfect backdrop for this emotional ceremony.


The Braw Lad then dismounts and rejoins the Braw Lass and Attendants before he returns the Burgh Flag to the President of the Gathering on the balcony of the Burgh Buildings having successfully completed their duties.



RETURN OF THE BURGH FLAG



To return the Burgh Flag to the President the Braw Lad, on his own, ascends to the balcony of the Burgh Chambers where “Unsullied and Untarnished”, keeping his vow, the Braw Lad returns the Burgh Flag he is charged with safekeeping into the hands of the President of the Gathering.


Once the hand back of the Burgh Flag is complete the Braw Lass and the Attendants join the Braw Lad and President on the balcony at the Burgh Chambers, where to great applause and cheer, the morning’s ceremonial events are brought to a close.



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The HISTORY of THE burgh FLag



POSSESSION OF THE BURGH FLAG



The moment the Braw Lad takes possession of the Burgh Flag from the President of the Gathering at 8am, It marks the start of the ceremonial ride out, which commemorates events and associations in the history of this proud town. The Braw Lad promises to return it "unsullied and untarnished." He knows he has the support of not only the Braw Lass and Attendants, but also the townspeople and visitors cheering him on his way.



HISTORY OF THE BURGH FLAG



The Flag itself tells the history of Galashiels. Its basis is the blue and white cross of St Andrew and at its centre is a wreath of Red and White Roses entwined with the Scottish National Emblem. The Thistle, circling the date 1503, this is the year James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor of England, and was known as the Marriage of the Thistle and the Rose, and which ultimately led to the Union of the Crowns 100 years later.



THE DESIGN OF THE burgh FLAG



The lands of Ettrick Forest were part of the dowry (commemorated in our Sod and Stone ceremonies at Torwoodlee and the Old Town Cross). The St Andrew’s cross divides the flag into four sections and in each of those lies a Coat of Arms: the Douglas family Coat of Arms, the Pringle family Coat of Arms, The Royal Coat
​of Arms, Scotland; and the Coat of Arms for Galashiels, all of which are synonymous with the Burgh.



RED LION



A Red Lion Rampant on a gold background is the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland and features as a reminder that all the men of Galashiels were loyal to the Scottish Crown.



DOUGLAS FAMILY
COAT OF ARMS



The Douglas family Coat of Arms (three white stars on a blue background, with a red heart on a white background) represents the giving of the Forests of Ettrick to Lord James Douglas by Robert the Bruce in 1321. The men of that area, of which Galashiels was part, became vassals of the Douglas family.



PRINGLE FAMILY
COAT OF ARMS



The Pringle family Coat of Arms (a blue St Andrew‘s cross on a white background with five shells) appears with the date 1599. This is the year that a charter was granted creating Galashiels as a Burgh of Barony. The Pringle family owned the lands of Galashiels and were the local leaders of the Braw Lads' under Lord Douglas.



GALASHIELS COAT
OF ARMS



The final Coat of Arms, that of Galashiels, features the Soor Plooms and the date 1337. This is when Galashiels was first mentioned in history, when the lads of Galashiels overcame and killed a band of Englishmen in a grove of Wild Plum trees at Netherdale. This symbol of foxes beneath a tree became the emblem of the town. The original Burgh Flag was presented by Provost Hayward, but it has since been replaced, and it is carried with pride and honour every year by the Braw Lad writing his own place in the history of the town and Border lands.



THE RIDEOUT HISTORY


Spurs Night



Spurs Night is the first official rideout of the year. The Braw Lad, Braw Lass and Attendants meet the Selkirk Standard Bearer and will receive a drink in a Stirrup Cup at the Burgh Buildings. Later that evening in a reception held by Gala Souter’s Association, the Braw Lad and Standard Bearer will be presented with their spurs.


Around 80 riders on horseback will follow a planned route from the muster point at Netherdale car park to Gala Foot where the Braw Lad, Braw Lass and their Attendants meet with the Selkirk Standard Bearer and his Burleymen. From there the cavalcade will proceed to Tweed Road and Abbotsford Road where they will be joined by the Town band and Galashiels Ex-Service Pipe Band who will play them into town to the awaiting crowds.





Threepwood



Threepwood Rideout celebrates the relationship between Galashiels and Lauder and dates back to the beginning of the Braw Lads Gathering when Lauder suggested an annual tryst at the county boundaries. It originally took place at Colmslie in 1931 but after the second World War, in 1945 Threepwood became the chosen spot. After a short ceremony at Threepwood where the Braw Lad and Braw Lass meet with the Lauder Cornet and his Lass, the two parties ride to Lauder where later that evening there are further celebrations.


The Braw Lad, Braw Lass and Attendants and around 50 riders on horseback will follow a planned route from the muster point at Netherdale car park across country to Threepwood where they meet with the Lauder cavalcade. Following a short stop both the parties ride back to Lauder together where the ride concludes, meaning private horse owners require their equine transport to be moved to Lauder.



Lindean



Lindean ride out commemorates the religious history of Galashiels with a ride to the Auld Kirk at Lindean where in a short ceremony the Braw Lad lays a wreath of wild flowers on the Preachers Cross.


Around 180 riders on horseback will follow a planned route from the muster point at Netherdale car park, crossing the river Tweed and off road to Lindean where the cavalcade stops whilst the ceremony at the Auld Kirk takes place. From there the cavalcade heads back to Galashiels stopping off at Hollybush for the Lindean chases, before riding back via Gala Policies to Netherdale.





Torwoodlee



Torwoodlee involves the Principals meeting with the Laird of Torwoodlee, who allows them to take a Sod and Stone from the grounds. The history relating to this, dates back to 1503 when James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor of England in what was known as the marriage of the Thistle and the Rose. 100 years later this led to the union of the Crowns and as part of Margaret’s marriage settlement she was given Ettrick Forest and Newark Tower, which in those days, the transfer of ownership was done by the symbolic exchange of earth and stone.


Around 140 riders on horseback will follow a planned route from the muster point at Netherdale car park through the town and out the A7 to Torwoodlee where they will stop whilst the Principles carry out their ceremonial duties. From there the cavalcade return via the A72 where they join behind the fancy dress parade to go through the town to the awaiting crowds.





THE BRAW LADS' GATHERING



Braw Lads day is a ceremonial ride out, established in 1930 to commemorate events and associations in the history of the town. It is led by the Braw Lad and Braw Lass along with their four Attendants, Bearer of the Sod, Bearer of the Red Roses, Bearer of the Stone and Bearer of the White Roses, who carry out ceremonies along the route.


Around 350 riders on horseback will follow a planned route from the muster point at Netherdale car park to the Burgh Chambers where they will be met by the Braw Lad and Braw Lass and attendants. From there they ford the Tweed to Abbotsford and will then ford the Tweed again to Boleside before crossing the A7 and galloping up over Gala Hill to Hollybush. The event concludes with a mounted cavalcade up Scott Street and then back to the War Memorial where the Braw Lad will carry out the dipping of the flag ceremony whilst the rest of the riders make their way back to Netherdale car park.





The Presidents of the Gathering
past and present


More information

Galashiels Ex-service pipe band



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