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.