Lanark Lanimer Marches 2015 Slideshow

On the march...youngster with his well-earned birches on the 2015 Perambulation of the Marches (Pic Sarah Peters)

They followed him through the lands of Glenburnie, Jerviswood and Oakwood, checking the Burgh’s boundaries on that side of town were still intact.

As Lanimer chairperson Loraine Swan told the crowds thronging the Cross later: “The ancient tradition of inspecting the boundaries has been unbroken since the 12th century. This was a condition of Lanark being granted the status of Royal Burgh by King David in 1140.”

Modern Lord Cornets also represent Lanark at common ridings and civic events and, returning the Burgh Standard “unsullied and unstained”, David Murdoch reported on his year, taking part in numerous events from Biggar to Sanquhar – where he qualified as a Moss Trooper – and even New York with the Pipe Band for Tartan Day.

“I have had a year like no other,” he said. “It has exceeded all my expectations.”

His successor, Gordon Gray (36) was a man “steeped in Lanimer history and tradition”,

Introducing him, Loraine pointed out that Gordon was following in a family tradition, with his father Leonard and his grandfather Robert Barr both Cornets, and his mother Anne a crowning lady.

“It is a family steeped in the tradition of Lanimers,” she said.

Gordon, who made his first appearance on a Lanimer lorry at the age of three – and whose team had finished this year’s St Mary’s lorry by Monday night, an announcement that brought a round of applause – spoke of the spirit of the town and the crowd,

“Our Royal Burgh puts on a show we can all be proud of,” he said.

Lanark had a rich history and inspection of the boundaries even pre-dated the time of William Wallace.

On the Perambulation he saw youngsters taking part in the scramble and the “mudfest” at the Mouse and was pleased to note that the Lanimer spirit lived on, year after year.

Gordon was sashed by Eleanor McLean, a “passionate citizen” of the Royal Burgh and received his Cornets Club badge from Hazel Lean.

And there was a presentation of a quaich to Robert Kirkhope, who was sashed as Lord Cornet exactly 50 years earlier.

Freelance photographer Sarah Peters was on hand to capture the action for the Gazette and her picutres are featured in our slideshow, created for you by Johnston Press communities hub deputy editor Julie Currie. Enjoy!