RoM song finally set for release

Back in early 2020, Kelso singer-songwriter Gary Cleghorn put pen-to-paper and created a ditty, following a request from his friend and former Lockerbie Gala and Riding of the Marches Cornet, Taylor Edwards.
The song was ready for the 2020 gala and ROM, but since the covid pandemic put the brakes on the event Gary has sat on the music until now.
He explained: “Taylor invited me to do an after dinner speech at the Lockerbie supper in 2019 and I was asked then by Ian McLatchie if I could write a song for Lockerbie, having written a couple of songs for Kelso Civic Week in the past.
“The title came easily as the town crest contains ‘Forward Lockerbie’, this appeared a very poignant title for the song.”
Gary got some information about the main ride out for the Riding of the Marches, and looked at how he could include part of it in a song.
He added: “I wanted it to tell part of the story of the ride, but having never ridden Lockerbie, I needed to source information from my contacts like Taylor, Ian and, of course, the internet.
“I completed a rough draft and sent it to them back in March 2020 and would have had it ready to go by that year’s gala, but obviously that was not to be, so I’ve had to sit on this until now.
“Taylor wanted a tune that the pipe band could play, so I managed to include my pipes on the end of the song to play the melody.”
The song will be released for streaming and downloads on all music platforms from Saturday, with all profits being donated to Lockerbie Riding of the Marches.
Gary said: “Initial feedback has been great but hopefully people like it and it would obviously be nice to hear it catch on.”