Guy Hepburn Armstrong (1901-1976) was born at Ardenlea, West Stewart Place, educated at George Watson’s college then Edinburgh University where he studied law. He returned to Hawick in 1927 as a solicitor, joining Geo & Jas Oliver WS where his father was a partner. He subsequently became a partner of the firm and was appointed as Honorary Sheriff for Jedburgh. Guy was Acting Father to Cornet George Wilson in 1932. In 1934 he became president of the Ancient Order of Mosstroopers.
He was Common Riding Secretary for many years and was also president of the Callants Club. Among other things, he was in the Observer (later Royal Observer) Corps and during WWII was base basted at Teviothead “Spotting planes with a bunch of Hawick chaps”.
Guy’s daughter, Mrs Shirley Laing, was clearing out her parents’ home in 2002 when she came across her father’s Mosstroopers car badge. This reminded her of what he used to say, “The Common Riding would not function without all the unsung heroes who worked tirelessly behind the scenes without any credit”. Hatching a plan to help address this with the help of local jeweller Hamish Smith, Shirley had the badge mounted onto a plaque and gave it to the Mosstroopers to be presented to a recipient deemed worthy of holding the title “Mosstrooper of the Year”.
The award is not necessarily to be given out every year but, not surprisingly, since its inception every president has given the award. The club presents each winner with a commemorative lapel badge in the form of a miniaturised Mosstroopers Badge in silver.
2002 – Brian Knox
2003 – Jimmy Pow
2004 – Rob Hume
2005 – Ian Fraser
2006 – Charlie McCrerie
2007 – Harry Graham
2008 – Ian Seeley
2009 – Alan Graham
2010 – Bill Huggan
2011 – Bob Muir
2012 – Jim Paxton
2013 – Ross Gordon
2014 – Frank Scott
2015 – Gordon Jackson
2016 – Henry Douglas
2017 – Alan McVittie
2018 – Doug Telfer
2019 – Richard Walker
2021 – Bernie Armstrong
2022 – Keith ‘Chugger’ Brown
2023 – Hamish Smith