By Sharon Liptrott
Halle Goodwin was crowned as Annan 鈥檚 76th Queen of the Border … by her mum. Jade (nee: Macdonald) wore the iconic crown herself in 2003 and was thrilled to play a key role in the ceremony on the outdoor stage on the Dumfriesshire town’s High Street on Friday. It was a key moment in the final countdown to Annan Riding of the Marches and Gala Day which takes place today, with thousands expected to flood into the town for the big day. Annan Riding of the Marches is hailed as one of the largest and oldest historic traditional ceremonies in South West Scotland 鈥 dating back almost 700 years 鈥 and the crowning of the Queen of the Border dates back to 1949 when Anne Weightman was the first. Halle, aged 14 and a pupil at Annan Academy said: 鈥淚t will be a privilege to represent my home town and follow in my mum鈥檚 footsteps. I am also proud to be sharing this year with my little sister, Indie, who is a train bearer in the retinue. 鈥淚 am really looking forward to everything.鈥 A member of the Annan Athletic U14 girls team and the Annandale and Eskdale U15 netball team, Halle is a long-time supporter of the ROM with her family and was the gift bearer in the royal retinue when she was a pupil at Newington Primary in 2017. It was an important evening too for her Champion, Dylan Ringland, who promised to defend her, and her retinue of lady in waiting Lily Kennedy; queen鈥檚 attendants Joely Aitchison, Cassie Madden, Maddie Anderson; heralds, Merida Downie and Cadha Cole; crown bearer, Isla Nelson; gift bearer, Livvy Hawrylkiw; train bearers Shia-Rayne MacDonald and Indie Goodwin; and sceptre bearer, Jorgie Watret. Annan鈥檚 civic dignitaries and representatives from various uniformed and youth organisations also pledged allegiance, including Cornet Hayden Hodgson, Cornet鈥檚 Lass Kayleigh Murray and Standard Bearer Tracy Ireland 鈥 who lead today’s Annan Riding of the Marches and Gala Day. There will be a gala parade, mini Highland Games, fun afternoon on Annan Academy playing field, and the evening Massed Pipe Bands. It will also be a day packed with traditions and ceremony with the checking of the royal burgh鈥檚 boundaries on horseback, and a cavalcade of more than 100 horses and riders of all ages. There will also be chases at the Everholm. The ROM began at 5.30am this morning with Jamie Bryden performing the bugle call reveille ahead of the 7.45am handing over of the burgh standard and the start of the morning鈥檚 boundary checking tradition. Brydekirk youngster, Brennan Sheridan, will be tasked with checking the boundary at Landhead in the historic Hole in the Hedge Ceremony. Meanwhile, judging for most humorous, most original, most artistic and most topical of the floats, small vehicles and walkers starts at Silverlaw at 11.30am 鈥 the same time as judging for the children鈥檚 fancy dress entries at St Andrew鈥檚 Social Club at Standalane. The big parade of public entries will leave at 12.30pm and the leading float will contain the newly-crowned Queen of the Border, and her royal retinue. With plenty of music, dancing and entertainment along the route 鈥 via Newington Road, Butts Street, Johnstone Street, Thomas Street, George Street 鈥 the parade will head to the Fish Cross to meet up with the returning Cornet and cavalcade of horses and then down the High Street for 1pm. It will be followed by an afternoon of entertainment at Annan Academy playing fields from 2pm 鈥 entry free with parents asked to donate 拢1 鈥 which includes the Annan ROM mini Highland Games, which Newington Primary School鈥檚 Lucy Mace will officially open after being chosen as the town鈥檚 Mini Chieftain for the day. Each child will be given a free goody bag donated by Tesco Annan and Aldi. There will be the chance to forge a piece of history to go on the new Annan public art sculpture; demonstrations by the Firebird Flyball Club, Double Trouble and Fuzzy Seymour circus skills; Owl Magic, various stalls and amusements, plus music from bands Bjamba and Drum Nation. Tinkerbell and Princess will be there with Sandy and Amy from the Unicorn Experience. It will also host the biggest pipe band competition in south west Scotland with three grades, best juvenile band and drum major contests, as well as the Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway Branch Championships. A number of the bands from both sides of the border and beyond will take part in the massed pipe band presentation and closing ceremony on the High Street from 5.45pm.