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.
 

"There's no such thing as a free lunch ... or is there?"

"Look on it as another opportunity to serve the community....."

"You are noted for your good taste - in cars, in clothes...."

"Who better to judge the Decorated Shop Windows during Lanimer Week?"

Margaret:- Sadly, flattery has always worked on us. Lynn "caved in" first, but then she was always community spirited and was not only a teacher at Lanark Grammar but also, she'd have us believe, one of its greatest products. She had also taken part in Lanimers as a child, on a lorry called "Pride Of India". She saw it as a duty thing!

Lynn:- Believe that if you will, but it was Margaret who encouraged me to agree to the request. A Bellshill 'girl', she saw it as a great honour to be asked to do the window judging. She also had been involved in Lanimers for many years having helped mastermind quite a few Lanark Grammar entries in the procession, namely, Burgh Charter, Chicago, Gone With The Wind, and the award winning, Dracula Spectacula.

Suffice to say it took only a few minutes of heated intense debate before we decided in the affirmative and informed a relieved Malcolm Ellis, then Depute Head Teacher at Lanark Grammar, we would be delighted to be judges. All that was way back in 1997 and we have been invited to do it ever since - we remain flattered.

That first year the public reaction was mixed.

"Away - ye must be blin' as well as daft"

"So, bribery is still alive and well in Lanark!"

"A per o' chancers!"

They were only joking we reassured one another. Smile...that might convince some people that we are indeed daft, if no blind. The strange thing was that we were not greeted with the shouts of "Congratulations!" and "Well done!" we expected.

Instead our colleagues and friends assured us they agreed with our choices. (Although we now suspect they hadn't a clue what we had chosen as 'worthy winners').

In those early years our 'judgly huddle' always took place in a local hostelry. Our chaperone from the Lanimer Committee always offered us a wee refreshment while we deliberated but such was the serious nature of our task - not withstanding the fact we were heading back to school - orange juice only was consumed, hence, we were cut to the bone when accused by some of making our decisions "as drunk as a skunk!"

Having judged for several years, we had more or less decided to hand the chalice to new blood in 2000. We had enjoyed the experience and had truly had some difficult choices to make. We had seen many, many artistic and highly original shop windows, on both historical and modern themes, we had always been impressed by the effort put into these displays and how they served to make the town even more colourful during Lanimer Week.

Just as we were considering our 'retirement' being no longer susceptible to flattery - we succumbed to bribery! The judges that year were invited to the Civic Lunch in the Memorial Hall. It took us only minutes to decide that we were really needed by the Community! Lanark had come to expect a high standard of judging and we would be the people to do just that.

So spare a thought for the judges of the window displays. Our decisions have always been based on total agreement and have never yet resorted to fisticuffs. This year again, we will be seen on the Wednesday of Lanimer week, clip boards in hand, judging the windows. To the competitors, we wish you good luck, and to you all, we wish you a Happy Lanimers.

Lynn Robison and Margaret Laughland