Antoni Janus 25th Dux Boy to raise Innerleithen flag

Following the annual Kirkin' Service on Sunday (July 14) Innerleithen community council chair George Brown invited Antoni to raise the town flag at the Memorial Hall.

The flag will now fly outside the hall for the whole of St Ronan's Border Games week, with the exception of Friday evening when the flag will be raised instead on the flagpole at St Ronan's Wells, as the Union Flag will fly at the Memorial Hall as part of the service 'For the Fallen'.

On Sunday, following the flag raising ceremony, those in the Kirkin' Parade disbanded at Hall Street before this year's principals paid a visit to St Ronan's House.

At the care home, which has been decorated for Games Week, the principals received a warm welcome from residents and staff alike.

It was in 1995 that the Innerleithen, Traquair and Glen Community Council was offered the opportunity to have the Innerleithen coat of arms put on a new flag.

A Games Week spokesperson said: "The flag design, lifted from the Community Coat of Arms granted by the Lord Lyon, and commissioned by the Community Council depicts St Ronan in his boat with his crozier in his hand.

"The sojourn through life is depicted by the boat and the crozier represents the support and protection of faith.

"The words ‘Watch and Pray’ heralded below tell something of the life of St Ronan in those early days when Christianity first developed in this area of the Borders.

"Also represented in the flag are the inverted black crescent and the silver star of local baronies who in earlier days provided much employment and provision for many families in the area."

The new flag was the idea of former police officer, the late Alex Collins.

Mr Collins had an interest in flags and heraldry, and the idea was keenly accepted.

The flag was first raised in 1996 by Mr Collins.

Gregor Caine was the first Dux Boy to have the honour of raising the flag in 1997.

Ever since, the flag has flown at the Memorial Hall during Games Week.