Kalends Of September Walk
On Saturday 1st September 07 sixty people took a guided walk round the huge Trimontium complex at Newstead, including the 'high spot' of the Walk on the Leaderfoot Viaduct.
Despite the illness and absence of one of the guides the Trimontium Trust/Central Borders YAC event for Scottish Archaeology Month did take place.
Dr John Reid, Chairman of the Trimontium Trust, which is celebrating the centenary of Dr James Curle’s excavation here from 1905 to 1910, addressed the troops at 1.30pm at Newstead Millennium Milestone (NT 565 342).
Mr Ian Brown, who had been taking most of the weekly Trimontium Walks on Thursdays from April to October (and Tuesdays also in July and August), guided the Walk, with interludes on the way.
Two Roman senators and a Roman lady, suitably garbed (Jessica, Kyle and Liam), headed the party, and Mr Grant Lees, he of the silver tongue - and Melrose Opera - mounted the rostrum and addressed the plebs from the Leaderfoot Embankment Tower with a reading from Kipling's 'Legate, I heard the news last night'.
The Walk took in the Leaderfoot Viaduct and Val Gillies' 'Ballad of Leaderfoot' before circling the site and arriving at Newstead Village Hall at 3.30pm, where the reward was tea and biscuits. The hard work of Ian Brown over the season was recognised by a special presentation.