I have a feeling he will be with us in spirit – and we hope that others will be there in person – a great Borders gathering and definitely a date for the diary.”

The whole thing kicks off on Wednesday September 23 with a welcome supper for Scotts and other overseas visitors at the County Hotel in Selkirk.

The following day sees a bus tour of the Borders, visiting sights long associated with the Scott family with local historians accompanying the tour to add extra flavour. Locals and visitors will all be welcome.

That evening there will be a performance of The Ragged Lion, a drama celebrating the life of Sir Walter Scott, by the Rowan Tree Theatre Company at Bowhill Theatre.

Written by Allan Massie, this will be the world premiere of a play which will later tour as part of the wider Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations.

Bowhill House throws its doors open on the Friday to allow locals and visitors alike to appreciate the historic collections, along with tours of the estate.

On the Friday evening there will be a celebratory dinner at Abbotsford and a ceilidh in the Victoria Halls in Selkirk.

However, the main event of the weekend will undoubtedly be The Muster, to which all Scotts and other Borders families and visitors are invited.

Operating along the lines of a traditional country fair, the day will be full of music, dancing, drama, competitions, stalls, exhibitions and ceremonial parades.

To finish the weekend’s proceedings, an ecumenical service will take place on Sunday September 27 in the atmospheric setting above St Mary’s Loch, followed by a barbecue in Bowhill courtyard.

There has already been considerable interest in the event from America, Australia and The Netherlands in particular.

The duke and the team working on the events have, as a core aim, the benefits which such an event can bring to the local community, as well as to their guests from overseas.

Therefore, there is to be concentration on using local services and produce, and promoting local goods and talents.

To this end, all local businesses and societies are invited to Bowhill on Wednesday to a cheese and wine evening to find out more about what is happening and how they can work with organisers to their mutual benefit.

Anyone who would like to attend this business/society event, which runs from 6.45pm until 8.30pm, should telephone 01750 22204.