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.
 

"I'm Only Asking ... !"

It was 1985 and Karen, my middle daughter had just announced "Mum I'm going to put out a Lanimer lorry!" It brought back memories of myself at that age (13 years old), announcing to my mother the same thing, like mother like daughter - knowing this I knew there was no point wasting time arguing.

"I'll build beside you at Stewart Toy's" she planned, "and Uncle Tarn will drive it". 'Uncle Tarn' being this years Lord Cornet. And there started our Lanimer lorry building friendship with Tam.

'A Pearl is Born' was the theme and Tam was Karen's Pearl. "How am I going to get in there" Tam asked, as it started to take shape. "We'll put you in the night before!" we responded, "I was only asking ...!" he replied. And so became Tarns catchphrase "I was only asking ...!" - which drove us all mad.

Over the years this has been his response to many a question: "The colour of the tree, is that right?", "No Tam we thought we'd make it wrong!" I'd reply. "I'm only asking...!" Tam would scream as I chased him round the shed with a hammer! "What are you going to do with that Beth?" he'd scream, "you just keep on asking!" I'd shout back.

We have many memories of building with Tam - one year that we all remember was "Smartie Pants" - thankfully he decided to ignore us all and continue driving - had he not the lorry would have toppled over! Tam was unaware of what we were shouting - and for once he ignored us - saving the lorry and correcting the balance of the log cabin!

Every year after the procession. Tam's highlight would be to race Duncan (my driver) back to Nemphlar, destroying the lorry on the way! there, they would say goodbye to our lorries and hurry back to our house for the BBQ. Tam by the way is a great barman. On one occasion he served me straight diet coke for a whole night, undetected, and I couldn't understand why I had no hangover the next morning.

Ten years or so on and Tam was elected Procession Convenor, after the meeting we were sitting in the Cave and Tam asked "what does this job involve", we all fell about laughing "I was only asking ...!" he replied. Tam put his heart and soul into the job and I'm sure along the way his catchphrase would come in handy on more than one occasion.

Tam continued to be involved with both myself and Karen's lorries. Last year my friends and I joined forces with the my daughter Karen and St Nicholas Church to become the 'Kranal Lanimer Club'. Tam led our Most Outstanding Entry - 'Moulin Rouge' - down the street, surrounded by the beautiful 'can can girls' - he loved every minute of it! This year will be slightly different for Tam; no good looking girls throwing their skirts in the air, but instead dignified Lord Cornets, waving their Birks (no contest really!).

The Kranal Club are very proud that our very own 'Wee Tam' was asked to be Lord Cornet 2005. It's a long time since Karen asked him to drive (or did she just tell him?), none of us could have known back then that one day we'd be cheering him on some 20 years later on the Monday night, as he is sashed 'Lord Cornet 2005'!. We'll miss you with our float Tam and you just remember if you're not sure about anything 'just ask'!

It's February as I am writing this and already our house is full of costumes being made - aren't we lucky to have Our Lanimers.

Happy Lanirners Everyone and best wishes to Tam.