Former Scotland scrum half and captain Gary Armstrong will fill the coveted role for the next three years, succeeding Graham Slorance.

An avid follower of the festival from his early years and a keen horseman, Gary gained his Redeswire badge in 1988 following that year's callant, Mark Spence, and Herald, Michael McGovern.

As well as his hometown festival, Gary has ridden at many other Borders festivals and common ridings over the years.

But he says this year, his first as Herald, will be something special and despite being used to playing rugby for teams such as Scotland and the British Lions in front of tens of thousands of spectators, admits to being a little trepidatious.

"Of course I'm a wee bit nervous. You learned to keep your feet on the ground when you played your rugby for Jed, otherwise you'd get slated by the rest of the boys and a few other folk as well.

"So I'll be determined to do the best job I can. I'm over the moon to be picked. It's a great chance to put something back into the town," the 44-year-old haulage contractor told The Southern this week.

"I followed the Callant a lot with my mum and dad when I was a wee lad and then rode on horseback when I was a bit older."

Gary explained that he had been asked on two previous occasions to put his name forward for the position of Herald, but that neither occasion was possible.

"I got asked a couple of times in the past, but the first was when I had just turned professional with Newcastle and then, the second time, was when I had just started my new business.

"So I thought I'd better accept this time or I might not get another chance!

"It's always something I have been keen to do and was absolutely delighted to be chosen this time.

"I'm really looking forward to the summer.

"It's a great honour to be part of a festival so well run and organised – great to be part of such a good team again."

Potential new Heralds are encouraged or asked to put their names forward by the ex-callants and heralds association, which then works its way through a shortlist with a secret ballot to decide the successful candidate.

Jethart Callant's Festival secretary Lindsay Wilson says the organising committee is delighted Gary has been selected.

"Gary's a very well-known face in Jedburgh and has been a long-time supporter of the festival, so we're all very pleased," he told us.