Three young men have put their names forward in the election for Langholm Cornet this year. It is the first time standing for all three candidates, whose combined passion for and knowledge of the Common Riding is truly staggering.
Stuart James Albert Tedham is 32 and works as a Customer Team Member in Langholm Co-Op. His parents are Colin and Amy Tedham.
Stuart first rode the Common Riding in 2013 before joining the Castle Craigs in 2014. He has also diligently served on the Common Riding Committee since 2012.
Stuart has a keen interest in local history and has written numerous historical articles for the Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser, as well as being an administrator on the Langholm Nostalgia Facebook group.
Ewan Alexander Patterson is 22 and works in forestry. He parents are David and Fiona Patterson, and his uncle David McVittie was cornet in 1996. He has also helped with the greybeards on the hill on Common Riding day for a number of years.
He joined the Castle Craigs in 2017, before going on to ride the Benty and Castle Craigs in 2018, and riding the Benty, Craigs and the Common Riding in 2019.
Ewan plays rugby for LRFC, and enjoys the social side of Langholm, including the myriad of walks in our area.
Ruairi Callum Hotson is 21 and works as a builder. His parents are Kevan and Wendy Hotson, and his father was cornet in 1990.
Ruairi is a keen horseman, who joined the Castle Craigs in 2009 at the age of eight, before going on to ride the Common Riding in 2013 at twelve, and has been a familiar face in the parades and rideouts ever since.
He plays football for Langholm Legion FC, and has recently become a retained firefighter at Langholm fire station.
Voting will be held at the Buccleuch Centre from 6pm until 8pm on Friday the 13th of May. Good luck to all three candidates.