•  The Edinburgh and Lothian Souters Society

    If you were born in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, you are a Souter.

  • If you were born in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, you are a Souter.

    In the late 1800’s early 1900’s, Souters started to move away from Selkirk, to live and work in Glasgow, Galashiels, London or Edinburgh and Lothians.

    The Souters who moved to live and work in Edinburgh and Lothians were amongst the earliest to form a Souters Society, called the Edinburgh and Lothians Souters Society (ELSS).

    The members were keen to keep in touch with fellow Souters who had also moved away from Selkirk and one of the prime purposes of the society was to have regular social events and to keep up their links with the town of Selkirk and the Common Riding.

    Souters grow up with the Common Riding in their blood and it is fair to say that????

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    The Sash

    In 1900 the ELSS members decided that the Royal Burgh Standard Bearer (RBSB) should have something to distinguish him from the other Riders on the Common Riding Day. And so, the tradition of presenting a Scarlet Sash with the Royal Arms in blue, to the town, began.

    Every year the RBSB’s name is embroider on to the Sash. New sashes have been presented over the years when there is no space left for the Standard Bearers names.

    Standard Bearers to this day wear the ELSS Sash on the Common Riding Day

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    A Gold Medallion

    In 1912 the ELSS members expresses a feeling that the RBSB should have a permanent memento of his year in office. It was decided that the memento should take the form of a medallion in gold, with the Selkirk seal on the face and suitably inscribed on the back.

    Society members have ensured these traditions continue, by working tirelessly to raise funds through membership subscriptions and by holding events.

    Read more about the Sash and the Annual Medallion Presentation in our History section.

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