LANARK LANIMER DAY
An ancient celebration held within the Royal Burgh of Lanark on the Thursday between the Sixth and Twelfth days of June annually since the year 1140.
 

The Lanimer Crown

by Senga Hamilton-Guy

Extracted from the Hamilton Advertiser, May 20, 1893.

"This ancient festival which has been annually observed by the inhabitants of Lanark for several hundred years fall to take place on Thursday 8th June. June next and the committee are making special efforts to make it more attractive than ever. It would appear that it was formerly the practice to have ladies wearing crowns in the procession as in 1507 a charge was made in an account for 'ladies crowns fourpence each'. This year we are to have an official Lanimer Queen with a miniature state procession of courtiers, guards of honour etc. A throne is to be erected at the cross and here the Lanimer Queen will be crowned in the presence of the assembled multitude."

And so the story of the Lanimer crown began on June 8th, 1893, amid some controversy, as there were some who questioned what a queen and state procession had to do with Lanimers. Fortunately their opinions were put aside and the first Lanimer Queen was crowned at Lanark Cross by Mrs Logan, wife of the Rev. W. Logan of Bloomgate U.P. Church. Mrs Logan in doing so said:- "Called by the choice of you companions to occupy the throne on this auspicious occasion, I now have the pleasure and honour to crown you our first Lanimer Queen. May you reign be a bright and happy one and may all the proceedings of you court, and all the merry making of today, be distinguished by the presence of those pleasures that make, and by the absence of anything that can mar a well spent holiday. And may every blessing and happiness attend you now and always." Good save the Queen.

So the tradition of the Lanimer Queen came into being. The first crown was donated by a Mrs Jemima Henderson, wife of Hugh Henderson, Rector of Lanark Grammar, in 1893.

With the exception of the two World War years, the Lanimer Queens have continued to be crowned annually. In this year as we see the crowning of the 100th Queen and look back at those who went before, let us also look forward to the continuance of this marvellous occasion.

Acknowledgments:- Bryden Yuill, Archivist to Lanimer Committee.

1895	1907	1990	1995
Cissy Stewart	Maria Rosa Minchella	Kym McIvor	Jaclyn Laverty