DUNS DINGS A'. BUT BE CAREFUL

Duns Summer Festival or Reiver's Week starts tomorrow with the Kirkin' O' Reiver and the Openin' Ceremony (Swallow your most of your final consonants and you are speakin' correc' loca' lingo)The very attractive Festival Programme is out and amidst the historical articles, poetry and programme lurk a sense of possible impending disaster or civil disorder. The Family Cycle Run ( British safety standard helmets must be worn, take part at your own risk) Family Ceilidh (Participants must be accompanied by an over 18 year old) Family Fun Day (cancelled if weather bad) Five-a -side- Football (Participants take part at own risk) Gymkhana (Participants etc) Reiver's Dinner and Ball (Strictly over 18's only)Fun Run (Yes, at own risk) Hand Ba' ( In case of damage property owners in the vicinity of the of Market Square may care to board their ground floor windows...dangerous nature of the Hand Ba' ..children are not to be left unattended)


Its a relief that apparently the Teddy Bear's Picnic and the Tea Dance are risk free and , surprisingly, the same applies to the DUNS GOT TALENT event. But the most striking (Npi) plea for good order and military discipline is connected to the Bed race on Monday evening

Competitors take part at their own risk

A risky bed race? Really?

The clue lies in the large print at the bottom of the page

PLEASE DO NOT THROW MISSILES AT THE COMPETITORS

Labels: Duns Dings A', Duns Summer Festival, Health Warnings, Reiver's Week

  ¶ 8:18 AM (4) comments

 
Duns still Dings A'

"Wi' lads singing, wi' hooves ringing
And standard straining braw-
Past the Castle's grey auld towers
And ower the Law;
Frae Merse clear tae Lammermuir.
The wind, blawing Caller-Pure,
Will joy to hear the galloping cheer
For it's Duns dings a!"

You will of course recognise the chorus from 'The Reiver's Gallop' written by the Rev.Hugh Mackay as long ago as 1974. Huttonian came across it in the Duns Summer Festival programme-a snip at £2.50 at most outlets in Duns. The week begins tomorrow with the Kirkin' O' Reiver (I doubt if the 15th century lot went any where near a Kirk) and ends next Saturday with the Closin' Ceremony.

One of the images in the souvenir programme show the 1958 Reiver on his 'Rideout' stopping for a glass of milk at Borthwick Quarry

A Glass of Milk!

Did Robin Hood and his Merry Men take time out from robbing the rich for a nice cup of tea, two lumps and just as it comes?

Nice thought.

In the meantime the Festival will be worth a visit-especially the Ba' Game, about which more, later.

If I am spared

(Yes, yes I have used this image before of three Reivers waiting for someone to bring them their milk as a horse enjoys his greens. The telephone pole adds a touch of modernity to this ancient scene)

Labels: Duns Summer Festival, Reivers

  ¶ 5:57 PM (1) comments