Thursday 21st January 2021

LANARK LANIMER CELEBRATIONS 2021

In November the Lanimer Committee committed to working hard to plan for a Lanimer celebration in 2021 within the conditions permitted around the COVID 19 virus restrictions and update the community in the New Year as to these plans.

The Lanimer General Committee met via Zoom on Wednesday 20^th of January to discuss the planning for Lanimers 2021, where everyone present recognised the difficult period everyone in the community and ever business is going through in 2020 and 2021 and that people’s health and wellbeing are paramount at this time.

The Committee recognises that although progress with the vaccine is hopeful, conditions are very unlikely to have sufficiently improved and restrictions are unlikely to have been sufficiently lifted for a full public event and mass gathering such as Lanimer week and the procession to take place in June 2021.

Therefore it has been agreed to postpone the Lanimer procession and crowning until later in the year on Saturday 4^th of September whereby a Crowning and if conditions allow a procession will take place.

The change of date allows three additional months for conditions to improve and it is hoped this will give the town a focus to celebrate coming out of COVID restrictions. Planning and  considerations to all factors will continue and the scale and type of event will be dictated by the conditions and what is appropriate closer to the time.

Lanimer week in June will still be celebrated with the Shifting of the Standard and installation of the Lord Cornet and this and any other events will comply with the permissions allowed at that time.

Further detailed events and activity will be considered in the coming months guided by our statutory partners and Government guidelines.        

The Lanimer Committee will be working hard over the next months to bring the community together to deliver a Lanimers and community celebration. This is our purpose on behalf of you all. A small army of volunteers works tirelessly to make this happen. As Lanimer Committee Chairman I am grateful to everyone for their efforts over many years, but particularly for their anticipated assistance and support for the Lanimers in 2021.

If your family, friends or you would like to volunteer their help, skills and/or time please:                        

email: lanimer.secretary@gmail.com 

or text/phone: 07772 352846  

and let us know how you would like to participate.

You can also support Lanimers 2021 fundraising by purchasing Silver Club tickets through www.lanimersilverclub.co.uk or by contacting maggie05clark@icloud.com to become a Lanimer Patron.

The Lanimer Committee and Lord Cornets’ Club hopes you continue to stay safe.

Ex-Lord Cornet Kenny Lean, Chairman

Over the weekend of the 29th to 30th August, Lord Cornet Ian Douglas, accompanied by his front party and Lord Cornet Elect Derek McGuinness undertook the formal inspection of the boundary stones of our Royal Burgh.

This inspection of our March Stones was carried out in accordance with all current social distancing and mass public gathering regulations and with the full permission of land owners to inspect March Stones located on private property.

A video of this historic declaration, which continues an unbroken condition of our Royal Charter which has been carried out every year since 1140, is found found below.

We look forward to next years Lanimer Celebrations where we can hopefully return as a community to participate in our perambulation of the Marches.

“Chairperson of Lanark Lanimer Committee and the townspeople of Lanark,

As Standard Bearer for this Royal and Ancient Burgh of Lanark, duly appointed in 2019, invested with the sash of office, and recognised as ongoing Custodian of the Burgh Standard during 2020, when all official Lanimer Week events were cancelled  due  to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, I have the honour to report to you that I have duly inspected the March Stones of the Royal Burgh in the company of four witnesses who are members of both Lanark Lanimer Committee and The Lord Cornets’ Club. (This was carried out over two days, during the summer months, without breaking any current legal restrictions on group gathering).

Accompanied by these witnesses I inspected March Stones in these places – the March Stone at Mousemill Brig, the March Stone in the River Mouse at Glenburnie, the March Stone in the lands of Glenburnie, the three March Stones in the lands of Jerviswood, the March Stone at Oakwood, the March Stone at Leechford, the March Stones upriver from Leechford, the March Stones in the lands of Bonnington. Further, the witnesses and I inspected the limits of the Marches along the highway, formerly the old Roman road from Lanark, to the boundary through Huntlyhill Mains Farm, from thence along the highway past the Turning of the Staff to Lanark Racecourse, and from the Racecourse to the Cross at Lanark. I have the honour to report that none of these stones has been molested and that there has been no interference with the ancient boundaries of the Royal Burgh, and that I have duly discharged my duties once again, in this respect.

Ian W Douglas, Lord Cornet of the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Lanark for 2019 and as said Custodian during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. ”  

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Lanimers!

Tonight’s Fifth Illuminated Lanimer Winter Parade will see over 20 individual groups / band / performers take part in our biggest Winter Parade yet!

6 of our fantastic Lanimer Lorries from our fabulous 2019 Lanimer Day Procession will return, with a bit of added sparkle from some illuminations.

Please try to arrive early so you can explore the many shops and local business open as part of ‘Late Night Lanark’ with many offering special festive offers and treats.

Full details of the parade running order are available in the Lanimer Review Brochure – on sale at the kiosk in Tesco and Morrisons, as well as at the Tollbooth. All funds from the £3 cover price goes directly into next years Lanimer events.

Some important safety information as follows;

*******
Spectators should note that the High Street will only be closed to traffic for the duration of the Parade (from 6.45pm till route is clear).

Roads will be OPEN AS NORMAL outwith the parade duration, and spectators should take appropriate care selecting a vantage point in advance of the parade.
*******

*******
Can we remind everybody to please NOT PARK in Alston’s Yard, opposite the Esso petrol Station in Ladyacre road.

Access will be required to the Lanimer Shed for the movement of Lanimer Lorries before and after the parade, it it is VERY important that this access is available from after 5pm this evening

Suggested Car Parking locations are as follows;

Braidfute Retail Park,
Wellgatehead,
South Vennel (both in Bernards Wynd at at the South Lanarkshire Council Offices),
Castlegate,
North Vennel,
Tesco (Gallowhill Road),
Morrisons (St Vincent Place),
South Lanarkshire Leisure (Thomas Taylor Ave.)

Please ensure you allow plenty time if traveling by car as we anticipate high traffic volumes as there is also an event taking place in the Lanark Memorial Hall this evening.
*****

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable evening and a very #merrylanimers !

The Lanimer Committee is delighted to announce that the Sashing Lady for 2019 will be Mrs Vicki Gault.

Vicki has assisted in many organisations over the years some of them being;

– St Nicholas Sunday School
– The Kilninie Club
– Dancerite
– Greyfriars Holiday Club 
– Numerous Coffee Mornings and Burns Suppers
– Both Senior and junior sections of Lanark Panto Club
– Lanark Panto Club was involved in both Junior and Senior Panto
– Captain of 1st Lanark Boys Brigade

Vicki is also a STEM ambaassador for Wishaw Battalion (promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

First involved in Lanimers in 1972 in Nursery entry. A parent of Court member 3 years in a row, Vicki joined the Lanimer Committee in 2012 and has assisted with Court, Procession, Marches, Illuminated Winter Parade and is now involved in the Judges.

Vicki was part of a team with her good friend the late Anne Thomson who through catering events raised thousands of pounds for local groups and charities some of these being The Cornets Club, Lanark and District Pipe Band, Greyfriars Church, Capability Scotland and Paradventures

The Lanimer Committee are delighted to announce that following a meeting of the selection committee that this years Crowning Lady will be Mrs Fiona Cross.

Fiona moved to Lanark in 1986 when she married  Graham. She worked as an Occupational Therapist at Monteith House, Lanark social work department, before moving to work at Law Hospital in 1992. She transferred to Wishaw General in 2001 and has been Head of Occupational Therapy there since 2008.

Fiona became involved in Lanimers, when she was working with Senna Hamilton and her son Iain (aged 2) participated in Senega’s lorry. After that Fiona (along with Graham, Iain and Eilidh) joined Senga and Jennifer Johnstone and their families with their yearly entries. Fiona met Gordon and Susan Jess and the Cross family became part of the G team as well.

Fiona returned to has been involved with  2nd Lanark Scout Group, leading one of the Beavers Sections for approximately 7 years.

Fiona has also been a great charity fund raiser over the years.

Fiona joined the Lanimer Committee in January 2004 when she joined the Silver Club Committee. She has held every position in the Silver from Convener to ‘mopper-upper’ and is still involved as Vice Convener. Fiona joined the Procession Committee to support Gordon Jess and was Vice Convener and Secretary.

She is still with the Procession Committee and as secretary is responsible for the admin associated  with each Procession entry.

Fiona is thrilled to be chosen to crown Lanimer Queen elect Olivia Bell on the 6th of June.

We wish Fiona,  Graham, Iain and  Elidh a happy year ahead and a very Happy Lanimers!

The Lanimer Committee is pleased to announce the full line up of the 2019 Lanimer Court as follows;

St Mary’s Primary School

The Lanimer Committee are delighted to announce that the 2019 Lanimer Queen Elect will be Olivia Bell of St Mary’s Primary School.

Olivia has be on many of St Mary’s Primary School Lanimer entries through the years. She has a brother Aaron, a sister Kim and dog called Daisy.

Olivia enjoys dancing and gymnastics with Cherry Dance.

Lanimer Queen elect 2019 – Olivia Bell of St Mary’s Primary School