25/06/09 THE BIG PARADE

Well done to all the participants, including The Three Wheeled Scotland Charity Run, Charlie Lauder Family and Friends, Neil McGarva and his Arrol Johnston, The Jolly Harvester, Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association, The Chinese Lion, William Farries, Dumfries Round Table, Tesco, Gee Gees of Dumfries, Dumfries Baton Twirlers, The Fugitives, Dumfries Sea Cadets, South of Scotland Car Club, James Gordon Engineers, `Junior Section 2nd Dumfries Boys Brigade`, NHS Occupational Health, The Townhouse Hotel, Queen of the South Supporters, Dumfries Lions Club, The Collin Mundells, Calside Kids, 4th Dumfries Brownies, Dumfries Musical Theatre Company, Alive Radio, the Friends of the Paterson Family at the Racks, Summerhill Community Centre Junior Group, The `Base` Youth Group, Summerhill, A/A Fitness Studio Dance Academy & Matt Fiddes Martial Arts, Meningitis Research, Dumfries Childminding Group, Indispense Bar Systems, Dumfries & Cumbria Greyhound Rescue, Locharbriggs Juniors, Mabie Farm Park, Lochside Baton Twirlers, Dumfries & Galloway Vintage Machinery Club and W & J Dunlops plus the Six Bands, namely: Dumfries & Galloway Police Pipe Band, The Corberry Pipers, Lockerbie Pipe Band, Dumfries Town Band, Buccleuch & Queensberry Pipe Band and Lochmaben Pipe Band.

It was a big parade but more importantly, it was brilliant !!!! Well done to all who participated.                                                                                            Roland Proudlock.

25/06/09 THE QUEEN SAILED  INTO TOWN !. A long forgotten tradition of Guid Nychburris was ressurected on Monday, June 15th, when the Queen of the South Elect, Beth Mercer, arrived in town with her attendants aboard a boat.

This was last done several years ago, (20 or more ?) but no one seems to know why it stopped. Anyway, Roy Kerr of Ladypark Farm, decided to offer his services as a boating/yachting enthusiast and his boat, for the purpose and for a trial run in 2009. As it was a success, this could now become a permanent feature of Guid Nychburris.

Beth set off from the Rowing Club at 6.45pm and arrived downstream at the Devorgilla Bridge at 7.00pm. She then alighted on the South side of the river, near the Burns Centre and walked over the Bridge accompanied by Baillie Micky Collins, where she was met by a pipe band, which escorted her to the Municipal Chambers on Buccleuch Street. There she joined the entire company of dignitaries and officials, who paraded to the Midsteeple for the traditional Installation Ceremony which took place at 7.30pm.      

08/06/09. Schools Hand Writing Competition. The results for this year`s competition are in today and can be found on the Schools Hand Writing Competition`s own page.

05/06/09 `Homecoming Idol` Singing Competition 

Three more singers join the list of semi-finalists after Thursday June 4th`s heat. They are:- Emma Gillespie, Lauren Jack and Martin Duckworth, who join Stewart Tait, Jade Hunter, double act Raegan Edwards & Jeph Delima, Colin Williamson, Dave Patterson and Emma Kennedy. Judges are:- Haig McCulloch Jnr of Dasumfries, Lesley Spitt(`Power Cuts`) from Dalbeattie, John Whalen from Dalbeattie and Gavin Wallace the Drive Time presenter from South West Sound Radio.

Latest news is that one of the judges for the semi final and final on Guid Nychburris Day, will be none other than the voice coach for `Britian`s Got Talent` runner-up, Susan Boyle !!

Compere is Craig Bowron from Charitycase.org.uk and DJ is Pedro from `Shazam Entertainments`. Staff and customers again voted the competition a hit and we cant wait for the final heat next Thursday at the Granary. Lets have your entries in writing or on the night!. 

Steven Connelly (organiser).

29/05/09 Todays latest news is that the Kids Fancy Dress Competition in the Vennel is definitely going ahead again in 2009. See the page for Saturday 20th June for all the details.  

20/05/09 The appeal for local business support in bringing the Queen of the South`s Float up to date has been very successful. Several local businesses have come forward and pledged their support to renew the float and we are pleased to announce that Dumfries Timber Company will provide the raw materials needed while DW Construction will provide the craftsmen to build it all. In addition, Loreburn Housing will provide the funds to purchase the paint and graphics needed to decorate the float. Thank you all and to Kellwood Engineering and Good Man Home Improvements who also offered their services and may yet be called upon !. Now, are there any volunteers to paint the float? Contact Roland Proudlock on roland.proudlock@btconnect.com to volunteer. 

14/05/09 Shop Window Dressing Competition organiser Donna Gibson says entries are now starting to flow in. Remember, entries close Friday June 5th. See the Shop Window Competition page.

Events` page to read about some of our traditional favourite Guid Nychburris events and some brand new events for 2009. For example if you`re a good `chanter` why dont you enter the `Homecoming Idol` Singing Competition, enthusiastically sponsored by The Granary Pub and WKD. There are some attractive cash prizes and bottles of champagne up for grabs!.    

06/04/09 After one of the four original Lynors broke his leg badly on the day of the 2009 Guid Nychburris launch, the Cornets Club were forced to go back on the hunt to find a replacement. Scott Cowan has now been announced as the fourth Lynor and we wish him all the best in his duties.   

13/03/09 The 2009 Guid Nychburris `Launch Night` took place last evening, with around 50 attendees filling the Main Chamber of the Municipal Chambers in Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. All the principals for 2009 were introduced and everyone present was asked to provide a little background information about themselves, so that we could all get to know each other. All in all the launch went very well and it has to be said that the very friendly atmosphere, mixed with a feeling of great optimism for this year`s festivities, bodes well for Guid Nychburris 2009.

All of the principals now enter the rehearsal period while preparations for the big week have already well and truly commenced. Look out for some new exciting additions to the week`s events.

Meantime, the dates for all the Rideouts, which will take place on the lead up to Guid Nychburris week, are now published on the `Rideouts` page within the section entitled `This Year`s Events`.  

All the latest news on Guid Nychburris 2009 will appear here as it happens. 

If you have images or `snaps` of any Guid Nychburris events or Cornets, Cornets Lasses or Queens of the South from previous years, send them in to roland.proudlock@btconnect.com and subject to suitability and quality, they may appear on this website.