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 Procession Judges

The Lanimer Procession is the oldest, the largest and we believe the best procession of its kind (held annually in Scotland). As such the Lanimer Committee invites prominent people from all parts of Scotland and sometimes further afield, to judge the entries in the Procession.

Over the years we have welcomed Civic and Local Leaders, Clergy, Police, Landowners, Media Personalities as well as numerous individuals who have had, and in some cases still have, strong links with this Royal Burgh. This year is no exception and we feel extremely honoured that they give their time to spend a day with us so that they can experience the enjoyment of being part of our historic celebrations.

This year we welcome the following as our Procession Judges:-

Sir Robin & Lady Biggam

Lanimer judges are given the invitation to judge at two consecutive Lanimer Days but due to business commitments Sir Robin and his wife Betty have not been with us since our 2000 Celebrations. Sir Robin was extremely keen that he be involved this year, as our 2003 Celebrations will be his 'Golden Jubilee'.

As a pupil at Lanark Grammar School, Robin was an Elizabethan Gentleman in the School's entry of 1953 'Royal Heritage'. This entry won the Sir William Wallace Challenge Shield for the most outstanding tableau. Sir Robin is currently Chairman of Independent Television and is also Chancellor of Luton University.

Mr & Mrs Duncan Cameron

Duncan and Margaret Cameron are welcomed once again to participate as Procession Judges. Duncan was raised in Lanark and for many years was a stalwart of both St. Mary's Operatic Society as well as Lanark Panto Club. Duncan currently works for American Airlines and both he and Margaret, a retired primary school head teacher, live in Hamilton. This year Duncan is Hon. President of Hamilton Burns Club.

Mr & Mrs Euan Davidson

Euan Davidson is the Director - Scotland for The Prince's Trust, a trust set up by the HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976 to assist young people between the ages of 14 and 30 to succeed, by providing opportunities they would not otherwise have made available to them. Both Euan and his wife Dawn, who is a solicitor in Glasgow, live in the Upperward. Euan's local involvement includes being Session Clerk at Cairngryffe Parish Church, Carmichael since 1995.

Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith

Sir James is as mentioned in our brochure last year, Chairman of The Scottish Civic Trust, a position he has held since 1995. An architect by profession, Sir James has served on a number of official bodies connected with old buildings and the environment, including the Historic Buildings Council, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee.

Sir James is Professor Emeritus of Heriot-Watt University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Scotland.

Earl & Countess of Haddington

The 13th Earl & Countess of Haddington are from Mellerstain, Gordon, Berwickshire. Lord Haddington's family connections with this Royal Burgh stretch back to the 17th century and the acquisition of the Jerviswood Estate in 1636 by a direct forebear George Baillie, a merchant from Edinburgh who also had an Estate at St. John's Kirk, Lanarkshire. It was his son Robert who in 1684, was tried in Edinburgh for his involvement in the Rye House Plot, and subsequently executed on 24th December at the Mercat Cross. It has been reported the shocking treatment of Robert Baillie was long remembered as one of the worst crimes committed by the Stuart administration in Scotland.

In A D Robertson's book on Lanark, reference is also made to one of Lord Haddington's forebears who at times was not 'a good friend' to the Lanimer celebrations during the annual Perambulation of the Marches when the Council crossed his lands at Jerviswood.

Mr & Mrs Mark Hollinshead

Once again we are pleased to welcome back Mark and Jill Hollinshead from the Clyde Valley. Mark is Chief Executive of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail Limited, part of Trinity Mirror Group.

Mr & Mrs Bruce Jamieson

We extend a warm welcome to Bruce and Dorothy Jamieson from Linlithgow to this their first visit to our celebrations. Bruce is the new Provost of the Court of Deacons of the Ancient and Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, having been elected to the post in February for a three year term of office. As mentioned in the brochure last year, Lanark and Linlithgow together with Stirling and Edinburgh, all share a long and distinguished history stretching in history to when all four Royal Burghs formed the 'Curia Quatuor Burgorum' or Court of Four Burghs.

Bruce, by profession, is Principal Teacher of History at Linlithgow Academy. As a sideline, Bruce presents 'ghost walks' in the royal burgh.

The Very Rev Dr & Mrs John McIndoe

Old friends are always welcome back to our historic celebrations and we are very pleased John and Eve are able to be with us once again this year. As Minister at St. Nicholas Parish Church during his period in Lanark, John was Club Chaplain to the Lord Cornets' Club and responsible for a number of the traditional 'Kirkins' of the Lord Cornet Elects at the commencement of each Lanimer Week's celebrations. Eve also has had the honour to be a Sashing Lady.

John and Eve now live in Glasgow, since John's retiral from his last charge at St. Columba's, Pont Street, London.

Leslie Reid, Hon Secretary