Coming from as far afield as Ireland and Humberside, 116 entries made the third Great Tweed Raft Race a huge crowd puller with 15,000 people lining the river bank. There were two categories: fancy dress rafts and speedsters, all of which had to complete a seven-mile course from Kelso to Carham. The winner of the fancy dress section was a remarkable one-tenth scale model of HMS Cossack, a 1936 destroyer (above). The famous Hercules the bear was a special guest on the day and Liberal Party leader David Steel started the race.

The whole massive occasion was organised by Round Tables in the Borders and was sponsored by Matthew Gloag and Son Ltd, makers of Famous Grouse whisky. A staggering £4,250 was eventually handed to the RNL1 as a result. photograph by courtesy of Tweeddale Press Group.