Selkirk OnLine
First Standard Bearer of 2008 Appointed
FORMER newspaper editor John Smail has been named as this year’s Merchant Company Standard Bearer.
During his spell at the then family-owned Southern Reporter, the paper won three Scottish and one UK Newspaper of the Year Awards.
He’s played both rugby and cricket for the town, and is a former president and secretary of the rugby club. John lives at Lindean with his wife, Mary – and it’s Mary who will buss the Company flag.
While a student at Stirling, he acted as double to John Cleese in the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
After his appointment at the Merchants’ annual meeting and dinner on Friday, he told members and guests: “I am excited and elated and will do everything in my power to uphold the good name of Selkirk Merchant Company and to carry out my duties to the same high standards set by my predecessors.”
George Thomson, who proposed a toast to John at the dinner, declared: “He commands my utmost respect – a true gentleman in every sense of the word and a born leader in everything he does.”
Six new members have been admitted to the Company – Jean Grieve, Jean Proudfoot, Judith Thomson, Gerald Beggs, Ian Main and Mark Nichol.
Selkirk Online is very grateful to Susan Windram and her team at the Selkirk Weekend Advertiser for supporting the site by providing this news item.
SoL 2007