Princess helps mark milestone anniversary at Lanark market

Livestock auctioneer Lawrie and Symington welcomed the Princess Royal through its doors in Lanark on Friday as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations.
Enjoying her visit, HRH The Princess Royal

at Lanark Market    (Photo Chris Watt)Enjoying her visit, HRH The Princess Royal

at Lanark Market    (Photo Chris Watt)
Enjoying her visit, HRH The Princess Royal at Lanark Market (Photo Chris Watt)

Princess Anne, a farmer herself and patron of nearly 50 countryside organisations, was welcomed to Lanark mart by chairman Brian Dickie and managing director Hamish McCall, along with deputy lord-lieutenant of Lanarkshire Gavin Whitefield.

She toured the mart and met several auctioneers and staff, before unveiling a 150-year anniversary plaque.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr McCall thanked her for “helping us to mark this huge milestone”.

Auctioneer Brian Ross shows the princess around.Auctioneer Brian Ross shows the princess around.
Auctioneer Brian Ross shows the princess around.

“We enormously appreciate her support for both livestock auctioneering and agriculture more widely,” he said.

“Farming and livestock sales are a crucial part of so many people’s lives.

“From family heritage through to skills and the local economy, the sector represents a major part of both our history and our future.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We are very proud of what has been achieved over the last 150 years and look forward to many more years ahead.”

Left to right: Hamish McCall, managing director of Lawrie & Symington, the Princess Royal, Brian Dickie, Lawrie & Symington chairperson, and  Willie McCulloch of Lawrie & Symington.


 (Photo Chris Watt)Left to right: Hamish McCall, managing director of Lawrie & Symington, the Princess Royal, Brian Dickie, Lawrie & Symington chairperson, and  Willie McCulloch of Lawrie & Symington.


 (Photo Chris Watt)
Left to right: Hamish McCall, managing director of Lawrie & Symington, the Princess Royal, Brian Dickie, Lawrie & Symington chairperson, and Willie McCulloch of Lawrie & Symington. (Photo Chris Watt)

Lawrie and Symington has been trading since 1867 and draws farmers from across the UK and Europe to its sales.

Annually, around 20,000 cattle and 200,000 sheep are sold at Lanark, and a further 7,000 head of cattle and 55,000 sheep in the Forfar mart outside Dundee.

Among those meeting the Princess Royal was Peter Campbell, a 26-year-old trainee auctioneer at Lawrie & Symington.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Looking back on the day he said: “Auctioneering has been at the centre of Scottish farming for years.

“Although a lot is changing in farming and agriculture at the moment there is a lot to be positive about.

“Auctioneering is a great industry to work in with no two days being the same.”

Related topics: