Yahoo News Lockerbie set to celebrate Riding of the Marches and Gala Day
Lockerbie will celebrate its Riding of the Marches and Gala day tomorrow with a horse cavalcade, lunchtime parade and an afternoon of family fun.
Cornet Kieran Patterson, Cornet’s Lass Anna Kennedy and Standard Bearer Lori Mossop will lead the celebrations with Gala Queen Lacey Thom and her royal retinue of two senior attendants Keilly-Shae Cloy Gray and Sarah McKie as well as page girl Amelia Chambers, flower girl Lottie Ramsay and junior attendants Katie Boyd, Mairi Bodell, Ashley Dobson and Devahn MacDonald, along with Miss Valentine 2024 Scarlett Notman.
Kieran, who manages the day-to-day operations at his family’s business, Paterson’s Fruit and Veg, has been taking horse-riding lessons to make sure he is in the saddle for tomorrow’s ROM.
Describing himself as “always up for a challenge,” he said: “Although I don’t have a horse riding background myself, my mum and sister have ridden their whole lives. I’ve always supported my sister, Nicole, whether it be with ride-outs or competing in show jumping.
“I have always wanted to try my hand at horse riding after spending a good amount of time around horses, so what better way than to be Cornet for Lockerbie? I’m very honoured to be elected and I hope I can do this wee town proud.
“I’m really looking forward to leading the way with Anna and Lori, and wish Lacey and her retinue a glorious day. It’s going to be a great year.”
The crying of the fair proclamation will be read at the war memorial at 8.15am to kick-start the day, which ends with massed bands at 5.45pm and the beating of the retreat.
The cavalcade of horses will ride the ancient loanings and the marches and meiths of the old Lamb Fairground, while floats and walkers for the gala parade are to gather at Sydney Place and Alexandra Drive at 10.15am for judging at 10.45am.
The Best in Parade will receive a trophy and £100 cash prize. The categories are Best Vintage Vehicle; Best Animal; Best Walkers; Best decorative vehicle and Under 16s, with cash prizes of £50 for first place; £25 runner-up and £15 third place.
The under 16s winner also receives the Masonic Cup, with other main trophies to be won including The De Luca Cup for most entertaining; The Dod Gass Trophy for most entertaining individual and The Tally Johnstone Cup for most creative individual.
The parade leaves Sydney Place at 11.45am to meet the Cornet and cavalcade on the High Street outside the town hall for 12.30pm.
The free family turn up in McJerrow Park starts at 1.30pm until 5.30pm with outdoor games, soft play and inflatables, giant ladder golf, laser battle zone, messy play, facepainting, pirate ship, disco and more, with free crisps and juice for children kindly donated by Tucker and Dot McGuiness. No glass is permitted in the park.
ROM chairman, Ian McLatchie said: “Massive congratulations to Kieran, Anna, Lori, Lacey and the retinue for 2024.
“May I thank my awesome committee for making it all happen.
• Please note that road closures will be in place in Lockerbie tomorrow. They include: Sydney Place from 10am to 12.30pm; parade route from noon to 2.30pm and Bridge Street/High Street from 5.30pm to 7pm.
