TONIGHT Friday April 29 is the Introduction for the Peebles Beltane Festival 2022. The entertainment starts at 7pm so make sure you get down early to get a seat.

Or if you are unable to make it, you can hopefully (wifi pemitting) watch the announcement live on the Peeblesshire News facebook page.

There will be music, from Peebles Burgh Silver Band, refreshments, tea, coffee, and a raffle prior to the Principal Introductions at around 8pm.

Chairman Paul Spence assisted by Vice-Chairman Ex-Cornet Angus Tait will unveil to the public Peebles best known secret.

The introduction of the Cornet Elect for 2022 and of course his Lass. This will be followed by the introduction of the Warden of the Cross Kirk, the Reader of the Boundaries and the Crowning Lady. Finally, the Warden on Neidpath for 2022 will be revealed.

A large crowd is expected so it is advised you arrive early to secure a seat.

As in previous years the new principals will come off the stage and meet the public who wish to offer their congratulations.

Then it will be on the recently serviced Cornets Chariot, where the Cornet Elect will be paraded up and down the High Street accompanied by the Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band, before retiring to the Rugby club for a reception.

There will of course be the singing of the First and third versus Beltane Song after all the principals have been announced.

The Beltane Queen and Court will be announced on Thursday May 12 in the Drill Hall Community Centre.

Beltane Week runs from Sunday 19th June until Sunday 26th June.

The Beltane Song

At Beltane in the aulden time, it was the custom gay,

To gather on the village green and hail the festal day,

Huntsman gallant and sheperds grey, dought and blythsome men,

And Lassies blooming fresh and fair cam liltin’ doon the glen,

Through the greenwood haste away,... Sing aloud the festal lay,

Busk the the Beltane banner gay, to Peblis and the play.

Auld Neidpath, grim and grey wi’ years, looks doon wi war-scarred

face, And sentinels our royal toun wi’ majesty and grace,

Loyal sons of a fearless race, gather we here today,

And sing the auld-warld round-e-lay of ‘Peblis to the Play’,

Wave the Beltane banner high, Ring the anthem to the sky,

While our silver stream rolls by, The Tweeddale glen for aye.

Across the wild foam-crested wave, in distant lands of fame,

The exile oft wi’ pride recalls the dear auld Border hame,

And while we crown out virgin queen, ‘mid flaming skies of June,

We pledge the leal hearts far a-wa and lilt our festal tune,

Honour is our watchword clear, Truth our dauntless halberdier,

Liberty’s our heralds cheer, Long live our Beltane Queen.