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Siler Jubilee Cornet: J C McNeil
25 years on and my memories of my year as Cornet in 1984 are still as vivid now as then despite the passing years and I can still remember standing at the back of Arch Andersons front door with nerves jangling and my heart pounding with anticipation at the prospect of the events to come.
And what a year I had, helped every step of the way by the right and left hand men, Stuart Thompson and Roy Kerr, and supported throughout by my lass Janice.
All ex-Cornets have their own special memories, from the hairs standing up on the back of necks in their first Hawick Hut, the
gallop into the Toll at Selkirk with the multitudes of people standing cheering on the banking, which sadly is no more, to the relief, but sadness, of pulling up at the bottom of the Stirk Hill knowing I had got round safely but it was all nearly over. On the lighter side, mine also included sleeping the night in Tompy's tour bus (a blue viva van) after the colour bussing at Hawick and getting changed in the street in the morning for the rideout to the great amusement of passing onlookers. Also on the weekend of Selkirk Common Riding sleeping in Sid Threadgall's caravan outside his house as he knew is was safer to keep us outside, where Tompy
somehow came home with 3 ex-Cornets ties that he said were all his!
Common Riding day, as all before have said, passed in a flash once I got over my horse Jason's temporary dislike to receiving the flag, which resulted in me receiving some choice words from the then chief marshal Malcolm Johnston, which cannot be published in this family magazine! My excuse to him that he was only 4, to which Malcolm replied 'Oh aye all Graham Rennie's horses are only 4 according to him and they have been doing rideouts for the past 5 years'.
Since 1984 I have maintained great friendships with the Hawick Cornet Ian 'Moose' Nichol and that great character the Langholm Cornet Billy Young and look forward to spending more time with them and our other principals from 84 throughout the summer. It is true that friends you make the year you are the Cornet remain friends for your lifetime.
To our Cornet Marc and his lass Vivienne and their families, I know you will all over a wonderful Common Riding week and will have your own very special memories that will never leave you-most of all Marc enjoy your week and I know you will do us all proud.
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