News

THE PRESTIGIOUS roles have been announced for what will be a very special Riding of the Marches in the Royal Burgh of Sanquhar this year.

The diary date for the event is Saturday, August 21, which will also mark the 100th anniversary of the reinstatement of the Riding of the Marches.

The Sanquhar Riding of the Marches Association are delighted to announce the elections of the 2010 principals this year are: Cornet-elect Craig Turnbull; Cornet’s Lass-elect Lynsey Ralston; and Ensign-elect Allason Gibson.

As part of a programme of events still be finalised, a memorial cairn will be built at Matthew’s Folly and on the pathway up to the Folly 100 trees will be planted, courtesy of the Duke of Buccleuch.

A unique statue of a horse and rider made from specially-treated metal horse shoes will be erected in the Lorimer Park.

The Duchess of Buccleuch has accepted the invitation to perform the crowning of the Marches Queen.

The Principals

Cornet-elect: Craig Turnbull, aged 24, of Church Road, Sanquhar, was born in Sanquhar and educated at both the local primary school and the academy. He served with the Royal Navy for four-and-a-half-years as an operator mechanic (gunner) and on the frigate HMS Cumberland in the Gulf and on counter drug operations in the Caribbean. Craig is now a police constable with the Strathclyde Constabulary.

Since leaving school he has played with Nithsdale Wanderers, is a keen golfer and regularly works out in the FUN swimming pool gym.

He has ridden the Marches for seven years and has strong Marches’ family connections.

Cornet’s Lass-elect: Lynsey Ralston, aged 28, of Deer Park, Sanquhar, is also a Sanquhar lass and attended both the primary school and the academy before working at Brown Brothers in labelling and packing. She enjoys walking her dogs with son Dylan, aged nine. Lynsey has ridden the Marches several times, as well as last year, and has participated on the decorated lorries.

Ensign-elect: Allason Gibson, aged 50, of Castleview Court, Sanquhar, was born and educated in Sanquhar and has now been working with his wife Karen as full-time foster parents for the past two years.

Before that he had worked for nine years with a logistical company. Karen was also educated at Sanquhar and afterwards moved down to England.

He is currently the master of Sanquhar’s Masonic Lodge.