Turn the clock back, way back to 1979. There is my rosette and me wearing it. I found my old rosette hanging in the back of the airing cupboard just the other day. Why it was there I have no idea but it reminded me that the Musselburgh Festival must be coming up. It came up on Saturday.
When I was in the Official Party (I was an attendant) my school friend Liz Brodie was The Honest Lass . I snapped this pic of this year’s Lass’s sash on Saturday, so many names and dates above and below our year. So much gold embroidery, so many stitches in life.
Idgy and I made it to the old home town in good time to see the parade of horses as they returned from their final ride to Fa’Side Castle.
The band swelters in the hot sun, their rousing music mixes with the shounds of the hoofbeats and the “Hurrahs” of the riders and cheers of the watching crowds.
The Honest Lad and Lass on their traditional grey horses. Musselburgh is named The Honest Toun. When I was a child the sign for the town was always defaced with the graffiti saying “beware of pickpockets”. No matter how often the council had it removed, some wag always added it as a codicil of The Honest Toun.
There are about a hundred horses and riders this time. So many different colours, types and sizes, both people and horses!
My friend Maggie from years gone by, she has done this ride every year since goodness knows when, just look at all her ribbons.
Idgy is loving every minute of this. “How often did you do this?” she asks me, right through my teenage years I guess. This was my summer, this was growing up.
We follow the procession to Muselburgh Race Course where there is a Fun Day going on. Lunch in the sunshine with Colin and a catch up on news.
Funfair rides and we have to have a go. Guess who is whooping and waving while the brave 13 year old is clinging on for dear life! Yes gals, you’d’ve been proud of me!
This is Scotland so there has to be kilts and of course I have to give you the obligatory man in kilt photo.
Crowds and sunshine. They couldn’t have got a better day weather wise.
Bright colours everywhere. Everything is screaming in colour. Nothing is calm, nothing is quiet. It is all an assualt on the senses, but a happy, bright and carefree abundance of fun.
Yes, the Musselburgh Festival. Wow this brought back memories. I wonder what has happened to so many of my old friends from 1979? So long ago, so far away…….
Karon x
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What fun to go back down memory lane. What is the purpose of the fair and parade. Was there a horse race? How does everyone win their ribbons?
My niece is the Cornets Lass for Peebles this year and we have a wonderful photo of her, with her aunt who was Cornets Lass in 1997 and my lovely Mum in Law who was Cornets Lass in 1957, three generations of the same family, they all took part in the Beltane Week celebrations the other week.
She is taking part in all the Rides this Summer and having a wonderful time (although she has only been riding for a matter of weeks).
Lovely memories.
Sue xx
So nice to go back and remember our memories of other years. My word! 1979 is the year I graduated from high school! So very long ago, but it really seems like it was just yesterday. I do not know where all the time goes. It sounds like you spent many a happy summer. Memories are grat aren’t they? Thanks for sharing.
Patti xxoo
Such nice comments. In answer to the question about ribbons, each rider is given a ‘flash’ which in Musselburgh is a blue ribbon and a white ribbon printed with the town festival and date and pinned together, they pin this to their jackets. For members of the official party a rosette is worn and all the flashes from the different border town rides they attend are pinned to the rosette.
Many of the towns in the Scottish borner region have these ‘Common Riding’ festivals. Riders would traditionally ride the bounderies of their towns and thhis is what these rides commemorate.
Glad you liked the post
Karon x