The association held eight committee meetings last year and Jake put forward plans for the anniversary.

The final goal is to erect a plaque dedicated to the women and children left behind after the loss of Selkirk’s 79 men who fell that fateful day. It is hoped the plaque will form the entrance to a peace garden in the grounds of the Victoria Halls. The estimated cost is £40,000 to £50,000. The committee hopes it can raise more funds and donate cash to the play park project currently being organised, as well as to the Friends of Flodden.

The timetable of events for the commemoration would be:

Monday September 9, 2013, (the actual anniversary date) will start with a fancy dress parade for the children ending with a service of remembrance.

On Saturday September 14 there will be a Return from Flodden relay walk finishing at the Argus Centre. It is hoped that both the Selkirk Silver and Pipe Bands will lead the walkers to the Victoria Halls where the plaque will be unveiled and the peace garden officially opened. The day will end with a party and family day in the Victoria Halls.

Treasurer Lina Purves told the members that there is now more than £13,000 in the bank and that in the present economic climate they are just about on course to raise the £80,000 target. Lina voiced a note of concern at the lack of new members and hoped that more could be attracted.

There was a prolonged debate on how Flodden 500 could promote this special event. One idea was to send out letters to all the schools but it was pointed out that efforts so far had met with little response. An initial aims had been to take local schools on a field trip to the battlefield and Grant Kinghorn indicated that the Selkirk Ex-Standard Bearers Association had spoken about this and may be keen to support such a venture.

It was suggested that the association approach the new head teachers of the local schools to promote the history of Flodden, but as the school curriculum is so full that it might be better to speak to the pupils at assemblies.

It was also suggested that leaflets could be distributed to local organisations such as the Scouts, Guides and the Dry Bar, and to speak again to all the Common Riding associations.

In summing up, the chairman reiterated that now is the time to remind the public that the association has a solid plan of action and hopes they will get behind the project.

All the office bearers were re-elected – chairman Jake Wheelans; vice-chairman Gordon Edgar; treasurer Lina Purves; secretary Sheila Heatlie, and a committee of Judy Steel, Andrew Heatlie, Kenneth Gunn, Moira Davidson, Falconer Grieve, Jean Grieve, Janette Stott, Dilys Wheelans and John Purves

z For further information contact Andrew Heatlie on 01750 21054 (home) 01750 23789 (work) or email andrew@ heatlie3224.freeserve.co.uk or engineer@rpadam.co.uk