This evening March the 16th 2016 saw the Launch night of Guid Nychburris 2015.
The full team of Principles for the 2016 Celebrations were introduced to Past principals , the press and other people involved with the event at the Municipal Chambers in Dumfries ! The Historical event is one of Dumfries towns biggest summer attractions , and has been celebrated by generation after generation. Riding the Marches maintains the tradition of an occasion that was, in it’s day, of great importance back when some Scottish communities were granted Royal Burgh status by the monarch . Dumfries has been a Royal Burgh since 1186 its charter being granted by King Robert III a move that insured the loyalty of its citizens to the Monarch.The ceremony on Guid Nychburris Day, which falls on June the 18th this year follows a route and sequence of events laid down in the mists of time. Formal proceedings start at 7.30am with the gathering of upto 250 horses waiting for the courier to arrive and anounce that the Pursuivant is on his way, and at 8.00am leave the Midsteeple and ride out to meet the Pursuivant. They then proceed to Ride the Marches and Stob and Nog (mark the boundary with posts and flags) before returning to the Midsteeple at 12.15pm to meet the Provost and then the Charter is proclaimed to the towns people of Dumfries. This is then followed by the crowning of the Queen of the South.
There are many other principles involved with the event including :- Courior- Gregor Irving, Singer Rebecca Bell, Douglas Meechan – Town Drummer, Emma Irving – Bugler Nicola Reynolds and Liz Davidson n – Chaperone – Jack Morrison – Halbardier ,Ted Thompson – Provost, Kenny McCall – Town Clerk, John Martin – Baillie,Colin Smythe – Baillie, John Caskie – Baillie, Margaret Miller – Baillie Rev. Maurice Boyd – Burgh Chaplain
