Jedburgh celebrates historic day with Jethart Callant’s Festival

The annual festival commemorates the day in July 1575 when the people of Jedburgh answered the call of the Scots troops fighting the English at Redeswire.

Each year as part of the traditions, a speaker is brought in to make a speech to honour the heroes of that day. This year BBC sports presenter Jill Douglas made the speech.

Jill grew who grew up in the borders, said: “I can’t imagine what it must have been like to live here in these hills when this area was known as the debateable lands, when conflict was commonplace. Day-to-day living, with the real threat of thieves and invaders taking all that you held precious.

“But I do believe that the spirit of the Borders folk stems from those days. We are a hardy lot, tenacious, unlikely to back down and in my mind, regularly and over the ages, punching above our weight.

“We come here together every year, as our forefathers did all those years ago, because it is a recognised meeting place. It was here that the feuding and neighbouring families, gathered to discuss grievances, horse trade, debate and, at times, disagree on what was known as a Day of Truce.”