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.
 

Looking Back

Although now past the allotted span of three score years and ten my ambitions include seeing many more Lanimer Days and making a few more grand slams before I go to the great bridge table in the sky. I can recall only one Lanimer morning when I was not in Lanark. I was sitting an exam. On another occasion, when I was involved in running a Parliamentary by-election, I was at my desk in Glasgow at 6.15a.m. to see the poll off without mishap - left for Lanark at 8 a.m. - toured the lorries at the top of the town - enjoyed meeting a number of old friends - saw the procession move off at 10 a.m. - back to Glasgow via Airdrie and Coatbridge where the election was taking place - and back to Airdrie for the count that evening. It was a long day without any Lanimer "spirit".

George, right, in the river at Leechford in 1946. The other person is Matt Dickie.

So what are my memories of these years? My pre-war memories are few and vague. I remember my brother being on the cubs' lorry, I remember Sylvia Downie (she lived in St. Leonard Street as I did) being Lanimer Queen. My strongest memory was of Tom Gibson portraying Adolf Hitler from an open-topped car. This memory was revived about twenty-five years ago when in a holiday hotel in Austria we found ourselves at the next table to Tom, his wife Mamie and their younger son. They had been living in Solihull for the previous twenty years.

In the war years, with no Queen's procession, I remember Lord Cornets John Whyte and Jimmy Barrie riding by. There were also the fetes at Braxfield, On one occasion Sir Harry Lauder opened the fete.

So to 1946 and the excitement with the procession being restarted. My classmate, Mary Young (Mrs. Drew Ferguson) was chosen to be Queen and Dan Ross was Cornet. Around this time my father was one of the joint secretaries of the Lanimer Committee. I had a job which involved taking the name of the winner of the Special Prize (now the Silver Bell Trophy) to Willie Campbell at Ladyacre Road where he was issuing the award placards.

The fifties brought considerable honour to my family. In 1951 my father, an incomer albeit of 30 years, was chosen to be Lord Cornet and eight years later in 1959 my brother was given the same honour.

George, right with his friend Bill Charteris at their "stance" at the Cross in 2003. (photo courtesy of the Lanark Gazette)

In these days it was nice to be able, on the Lanimer eve, to tour the garages and sheds where the lorries were being prepared. I remember one year visiting Ross's garage where the Primary School Infant Department entry was in production. Grace McKeane and Aileen Collins with the assistance of Matt Anderson were struggling to put it together. I think it was called "Birthday Party" and the structure resembled a cake. Late in the evening Grace decided that the pink paint was not a "sweetie pink". From somewhere a can of the appropriate colour was obtained and the whole structure was repainted. Grace then handed me an attendant's badge and asked me to assist on the day. The experience of walking twice round the town with little or no sleep puts me in awe of those people who turn out Lanimer lorries year after year. Since 1964, when I emigrated to Hamilton (since returned to Crossford), the pattern of my Lanimer Day has largely remained the same. Arrival in Lanark via Braidwood and Cartland - park at Kildare - a tour of the lorries - a coffee and scone at Grace MacDonald's - watch the Lord Cornet's procession go "up" - take off down to the Cross to my stance near John Rogers former shop. There I usually meet up with my lifelong friend Bill Charteris. We catch up with our year's news, discuss the procession and exchange details of the people we have met up the town. These include regulars like Eric and Maisie Paterson and Jim Mitchell and his sister Margaret. One year recently a former classmate, Don Douglas from Douglas, stopped and recognition was instant. It was remarkable as we had not seen one another for over fifty years. Again recently I met a travelling companion I had not seen for forty years. He was acting as procession judge. In the meantime he has become a captain of industry and a Knight of the Realm. It was Sir Robin Biggam.

As the procession passes we wave to people the Town has honoured, such as Robert Kirkhope (an old friend], Lex Gibson (he and Byrnece were classmates), Johnny Barrie (classmate and tennis partner) and Sandy Wilson (travelling companion and chum).

After the crowning it's off to the Clydesdale where we meet up with Jimmy Reid and others. After the reminiscences and a little Lanimer "spirit" it's goodbye to Bill Charteris. Usually we don't have any contact from one Lanimer Day to the next except that our wives exchange Christmas cards on our behalf.

While I am always full of admiration for the people who enter lorries for their ingenuity and hard work, the real joy of a Lanimer Day is in seeing a full quota of regular attenders as well as those occasions you meet someone you have not seen for 30, 40 or even 50 years.

by George Bryson