Father John Robinson was last week appointed as Warden of the Cross Kirk. In that role he will hold an outdoor service in the ancient ruins of the Cross Kirk at the start of the Peebles celebrations – the Sunday of Common Riding weekend.

Father Robinson was the priest at the Church of Our Lady and St Joseph in Selkirk between 1987 and 1991. He also had spells in Melrose and Galashiels. And during his time as parish priest in Peebles he was twice the Warden of the Cross Kirk.

Father John, 66, is now on the retired list and lives at the St Salvador Rectory at Drumbrae in Edinburgh.

He’s a former gas fitter who changed direction and trained for priesthood at Drygrange College near Earlston.

During his time in the Borders he was dubbed by the Reverend Alistair Bennet in Melrose as the “roaming priest” because of his habit of making frequent visits to churches of all denominations in the area.

Despite being retired he’s still roaming. From Edinburgh he told The Wee Paper: “Over the past 15 months I’ve travelled around 15,000 miles covering for hoIidays and sickness. This weekend I’m off to Bannockburn and Pittenweem.

“I loved my time in Selkirk because it was such a community. And the same is true of Peebles – the Beltane celebrations, like the Common Riding, allows people to celebrate as a community.”

Father John revealed he keeps fit by swimming and regular sessions at the gym.