Sponsored by
An ode to auld Hawick and the Common-Riding
Everybody’s different, on that we’ll all agree
Some folk live on pies and bread, while others are ‘wheat free’
Some folk like a drink or two, some folk just like juice
Rum and coke’s preferable if your name is Moose.
Especially at this time of year when Hawick folks a’ unite
Oo suddenly become a’ the same, nae mare say than tonight
Oo’ve a’ been brought together, oo’ve got a special bond
It’s a thing that yearly brings exiles hame frae yonder ‘ower the pond’
But maist o’ us have spent oor lives living in this toon
Oo’ve seen it when it’s on the up, oo’ve seen it when it’s doon
Jobs were aye available, on knitwear oo’d depend
Ee’d never turn a corner, but ee aye would see a friend.
Ee could walk along the High Street on a Seturday afternin
Even up O’Connell Street, ee could shop wi’ Fasil Dinn
There were jewels at Jimmy Ingles, claethes fri Skirt and Slacks
Coloured tights at Timpsons, Paige’s for coats and macs.
Oo’d buy loads and loads o’ sweeties frae a shop called Lamb and Blake
And Taddei’s was the place ti gan for ice cream and a flake
Ee’d buy ‘tat’ fri Perky A’things, food fri Liptons and fri Lows
And ee’d gan ti Lamb’s, the seedsman, ti buy a garden rose.
Ee got lovely shoes at Mosgroves, where hilarity and mirth
Was brought to light by mirrors and the late great Harry Worth
Rennies ower in Bourtree Place had other lovely shoes, and
Guttie Turnbull’s shop was guid for coffee and for booze.
And if ee fancied foreign stuff frae places such as Rome
Ee purchased lovely delicacies from Armstrong and Combe
Travelling up the Howegate was Nardini’s for a coffee
Then into Hills for Hawick Balls and bags o’ lovely toffee.
But the best place where oo’d spend time, yince oor through the door
Was the grand department shopping place oo a’ kent as ‘The Store’
There was stockings, tights and a’ the like sold by Pearl Fox
And ee travelled in the gated lift ti where they selt the frocks.
There was furniture and household goods, pyrex bowls and such
Never has a shop in Hawick ever selt si much
There was Neil Mackay’s in Croft Road, Arthur Armstrong an’ a’
And when ee reached a certain age there was Galls ti get yer bra.
Miss Lynch’s for a special treat if ee’d been behaving
And A mind A bought a ball dress, efter I’d been saving
Frae a shop called Wullie Robertson’s, another lovely store
But just like the rest a’ve mentioned, alas, they are no more
Like maist things in this day and age, things come and then they go
So in a life full of uncertainties it’s really good to know
That every year in May and June when toonsfolk come together
They’re celebrating something that will be here forever.
So,while shut doon shops are in the past, oo’ve yin thing that is bidin’
And for years ti come oo’ll a’ take pride in oor brilliant Common-Riding.
– By Cornet Ross Nichol’s mum, Lesley, for
recital at a post-ride-out function last month
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hawick
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
