Alan Brydon was born and raised in Hawick. He is the author of numerous technical publications in international journals, as well as a book on card clothing, published by the Textile Institute in 1988, which is still considered the standard work in its field. He is a key contributing author of "A Handbook of Nonwovens" published in 2005 by Woodhouse Publishing Ltd. and a novel, "The Keeper of the Teviotdale." He is regularly called upon to speak at international conferences and has delivered training lectures and workshops internationally, notably in Australia and New Zealand as well as consulting for a distance learning initiative of the Norwegian spinning industry in association with Leeds University. He is also well known as an entertaining after dinner speaker and MC and has spoken at prestigious events alongside such personalities as Lord Hanson. A former member of the well known Borders folk band Scocha, he is the writer and composer of a growing list of music and songs including the popular pipe tune Battle Dawn, the new common riding song Bonnie Banner Blue, the light-hearted song Granny's Soup, and the evocative "Calling doon the line", including having a hand in a new wave of Scocha songs, whilst audiences at recent Hawick functions have delighted in the song "Auld Jock" which is about the late Jock Veitch. Alan attended Wilton School followed by Hawick High School and the Scottish College of Textiles. He was later awarded the Fellowship of the Textile Institute. Alan is the chief executive of the Garnett Group and travels extensively on business assignments. Following an exile from Hawick of just over 20 years during which time Alan travelled the globe extensively, Alan returned with his family to settle in Hawick. He is on record expressing his love for Hawick and the borders and how he sees the beauty of the borderland with renewed appreciation.