The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


The false borders 281

Posted on June 21, 2014 by

The second weekend in June played host to the Selkirk Common Riding, the oldest of the Ridings events in the Scottish Borders. For the uninitiated, this centuries-old tradition incorporates a series of festivities in the town, the centrepiece of which is a cavalcade of several hundred horses galloping around the perimeter of the Royal Burgh, ensuring the town’s ancient boundaries are in good order (ie that no pesky Sassenachs have invaded the territory).

Despite being raised in the nearby village of Ashkirk and attending Selkirk High School, I was never interested in the Riding. Even in primary school whilst being taught the lyrics to “Auld Selkirk” and “Hail Smilin Morn” it didn’t seem relevant – I only went to my first ride-out last year because my Polish girlfriend was intrigued.

selkirkjack

That’s when the penny dropped.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category comment, scottish politics

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,946 Posts, 1,246,410 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

    and finally and firstly arithmetic fail braveheart klaxon britnats captain darling cartoons Chris Cairns confused cringe crybabies dateline debates Devo Nano Federalists Unionists and Devolutionists flat-out lies foreigner watch from the archives fundraisers galleries Greg Moodie hamish hypocrisy liars light-hearted banter lizards memogate misinformation one nation perspectives poll project fear project feart qft Scott Minto smears snp accused soapbox the positive case for the union The Vow ticktock toldyouso too wee too poor too stupid unionist of the day vote no get nothing

  • Recent Comments

    • Lorncal on Search And Replace: “What do you mean, sarah, we can do nothing? Of course we can. Yes, undoubtedly, we need independence, but going…” Jul 7, 13:03
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Interests Of The Many: “No. Returning the money doesn’t get you out of embezzlement. The crime is committed when you spend it.” Jul 7, 13:00
    • Jeremy Wickins on The Interests Of The Many: “I contributed to the first fundraiser, but I checked my emails yesterday, and I’ve obviously deleted the acknowledgement. Not to…” Jul 7, 12:58
    • diabloandco on The Interests Of The Many: “Brilliant idea!” Jul 7, 12:55
    • Blackhack on The Interests Of The Many: “If I ever get a rottweiler, I’m going to name it Stuart” Jul 7, 12:47
    • sam on Search And Replace: “The English nationalist can’t engage in a debate without abuse. Big cars do cause problems. Big cars come with big…” Jul 7, 12:44
    • MP on The Interests Of The Many: “Very nice. I hope we get to read the Defence once it is filed by the SNP. You’ll need a…” Jul 7, 12:40
    • Effijy on The Interests Of The Many: “If they can recover the ring fenced funds and properly ring fence it for Indy Ref 2 would that help…” Jul 7, 12:38
    • Graf Midgehunter on The Interests Of The Many: “I didn’t donate because I’d already left the SNP in 2017. It was clear for me at the time that…” Jul 7, 12:23
    • Alf Baird on Search And Replace: ““you are saying all nationalism is colonialism” No I am not saying that at all. So-called ‘unionism’ (so-called because in…” Jul 7, 12:06
    • Southernbystander on Search And Replace: “All nationalism, including the Scottish variety is a ‘political and cultural ideology’ by definition but to then say that means…” Jul 7, 09:51
    • Captain Caveman on Search And Replace: “Well the main problem, I think, is that you constantly come across as some clueless whinger with an axe to…” Jul 7, 09:32
    • Alf Baird on Search And Replace: “British ‘unionism’ is ‘a nationalist political and cultural ideology’ (Pettigrew). Or, what Elkins describes as ‘nationalist imperialism’, i.e. colonialism. Colonialism…” Jul 7, 09:04
    • Dan on Search And Replace: “It really isn’t that much of a conundrum. You should maybe take some time off endlessly posting on here and…” Jul 7, 08:48
    • Hatey Mchateface on Search And Replace: “Really Twat H? Anybody saying that Scotland should develop its resources to provide jobs for Scots and earn taxable profits…” Jul 7, 08:36
    • twathater on Search And Replace: “Dan as soon as I read that post on yesthink.scot I thought I was reading something from Chas, Aydan, or…” Jul 7, 03:09
    • robertkknight on Search And Replace: “You’ve not been paying attention. I do vote. I go into a booth and if no candidate takes my fancy…” Jul 6, 22:32
    • Hatey McHateface on Search And Replace: ““humans haven’t suddenly evolved to be twice the size we were a few decades ago” False memories there? Try looking…” Jul 6, 22:29
    • Dan on Search And Replace: “@ Confused at 1:23 pm On form today C! As the mentalists continue to wage war, and Musk and others…” Jul 6, 21:47
    • Dunx on Search And Replace: “With the Catholics you also got the inquisition. Their main weapon was fear.” Jul 6, 21:12
    • Southernbystander on Search And Replace: “Up to a point, I don’t disagree Alf, but all racism is bad, no matter its origin, and nationalists also…” Jul 6, 20:15
    • Mark Beggan on Search And Replace: “You are all singing from the same BBC hymn sheet. Nothing will distract from the disaster that is now Scotland.…” Jul 6, 19:56
    • Mark Beggan on Search And Replace: “You don’t vote but you could go on and on about Reform. You are suddenly an expert on Reform corruption.…” Jul 6, 19:38
    • Alf Baird on Search And Replace: ““committed racists” Colonialism is described as ‘hateful racism’ (Cesaire); thus, colonialists must be ‘committed racists’. Scots ‘unionists’ evidently still need…” Jul 6, 19:13
    • Hatey McHateface on Search And Replace: ““The oppressive jackboot of the coloniser will never be lifted from the throats of the wretched, nor the alien, colonising…” Jul 6, 19:02
    • Hatey McHateface on Search And Replace: “The Central and Southern American peoples who practiced centralised government, settled agriculture, irrigation and monumental building in stone were not…” Jul 6, 18:53
    • James on Search And Replace: “Is it no past your bed time wee man? “…..I don’t know whether you’re doing your regular piss take or…” Jul 6, 18:39
    • robertkknight on Search And Replace: “Sure, and the only way to beat a cocaine addiction is to use heroine and vote Reform. Any other random…” Jul 6, 18:33
    • TURABDIN on Search And Replace: “on the subject of «areswipes», this ought to win a prize for the AI generated variety. https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/eustons-transformation-success-depends-on-taking-a-people-and-place-based-approach-03-07-2026/ London the Great…” Jul 6, 16:40
    • Mark Beggan on Search And Replace: “The only way Scotland can even begin to start a fresh independence movement is to learn from the past and…” Jul 6, 16:26

  • A tall tale



↑ Top