At any Burns Supper held to commemerate the great Scottish bard, all readings are written by the man himself. There is one exception - The Star of Robbie Burns - written by James Thompson.
James Thompson was born in 1827 in the village of Bowden near Melrose in the Scottish Borders. He died in Hawick in 1888 but not before he had penned two of the most popular songs sung each year at Hawick Common Riding, namely 'Up Wi the Banner' and 'Border Queen'.
A bridge spanning the river at the junction of the Rivers Slitrig and Teviot was opened in 2005 and now a monument to the great man has been unveiled adjacent to the bridge with Thompson over looking 'Where Slitrig Dances Doon The Glen Tae Join The Teviot Water' the first line of his Border Queen song.
The monument was unveiled by his great great grandson on Sunday October 1st, 2006