Is Berwick safe from the Scots?

Release date: 22.04.08
Ref: BBC/PR/R&D/07/08

On Thursday, 1 May 2008 intrepid riders will scour the boundaries of Berwick-upon-Tweed to keep the Scots out.

The hunt is part of the annual Riding of the Bounds event, now in its 399th year, when riders check that the Scottish have not encroached onto English soil and report back that the boundaries are secure for another year.

Chief Marshal on the day will be Stephanie Felton, who, at 20 years old, is believed to be the youngest marshal to take lead of the riders.

The riders will congregate in the historic Barracks Square from around 9am and will parade to the Guild Hall on Marygate, Berwick at about 10.30am where they will be given permission by the Mayor to check the boundaries.

The riders then take the traditional 15 mile route around the boundaries before returning to the town at about 3pm to report back to the Mayor on whether the boundaries are secure and give back the Berwick flag.

Liz Hope, who co-ordinates the Riding of the Bounds event on behalf of the Council said:
“There has been lots of speculation in the national and international press about whether Berwick should be in Scotland or England but actually over the centuries local people, during the Riding of the Bounds, have been fighting hard to ensure that the Scottish don’t take an inch of English soil.

“This year’s event carries all that tradition, come along and witness the event on Thursday, 1 May,” she said.