Lanark’s new Lord Cornet Wlect says it is “the ultimate honour” to have been chosen to take on the historic role for this year’s Lanimer celebrations.
Edward Pringle, who has been the Castlebank convener leading the group responsible for the Thursday and Friday fun activities and children’s treats for the past six years, was announced this week as the 2025 Lord Cornet by the organising committee.
He has been inundated with hundreds of messages of congratulations – and among those giving him a gold star and plenty of advice for his special duties in the year ahead have been delighted pupils at St Mary’s Primary in Lanark, where he works as a pupil support assistant.
The 32-year-old told of the “lovely surprise” of having been asked to take on the historic role by the selection committee, and said: “I’ve had so many lovely messages of warmth from well wishes and I’m very honoured and excited for all that’s ahead this year – it all begins now!
“I’m looking forward to meeting up with my predecessors as the right- and left-hand men and I’m so lucky to have that great support. My family and friends are all really proud and so many people have been in touch offering congratulations, help and support.
“Lanimers is a wonderful tradition and so many people work hard all year round to bring it together, there’s a wonderful support network and it’s going to be an exciting year ahead.”
Sharing his own Lanimer memories, the new Lord Cornet Elect said: “I always remember loving all the colours and the noises like the hooves, music and cheering when I was a child – what an exciting day for a little person!
“Volunteering with 2nd Lanark Beavers on the Lowland Games was one of my first introductions to what takes to get Lanimers on the road, and then I’ve been Castlebank convener since 2019 and have a fantastic team to put everything together and make sure we keep this wonderful tradition going and that children and families can relax and have a great time.
“The community really comes together so that we have that family-friendly environment. We’ve had all the excitement of Lanimer morning, the procession and crowning a new Queen, and we know we’ve done a good job when the children are all having fun and their parents are relaxed and enjoying the day – the community spirit is fantastic.”
Former Lanark Grammar pupil Edward has contributed to the Kilninie Club’s various processions over the years, and first became involved behind the scenes of organising Lanimer Week as a volunteer Beaver leader at 2nd Lanark Scouts, when the group took on the responsibility of arranging the Lowland Games.
He has been involved with the busy Thursday and Friday activity programme ever since, becoming Castlebank convener in 2019 and leading the team organising the much-enjoyed range of activities taking place in the park – as well as helping to arrange the Lanimer trail challenge around the town when Covid restrictions prevented the usual celebrations.
Now he is preparing to take centre stage with a packed diary as Lord Cornet during 2025, including representing Lanark at neighbouring areas’ civic events and culminating in the events of Lanimer week including the Shifting of the Standard and leading the procession on Lanimer Day.
Edward said: “I’m so looking forward to the Shifting of the Standard – Marches night has always been a huge love of mine and always been one of my favourite events, and I’m really looking to the honour of visiting all the local schools with the mounted police as Lord Cornet the day before Lanimer Day.
“It’s always great to see all the excitement in school so it will be a really lovely experience to see that from a different point of view. It’s been lovely sharing the news with the children at St Mary’s and seeing how excited they are, and I’m getting lots of questions and good advice from them already!
“We’ll have the announcement of the Lanimer Queen and the crowning and sashing ladies to come and it’s fantastic to be part of that. I can’t wait to perform the duties of the Lord Cornet and it’s quite momentous to get to be part of the long chain of wonderful individuals who have done this role throughout history. It’s a real privilege and the ultimate honour, and I’m proud to get to be part of that.”
Edward has also previously ridden throughout the Borders as part of the Lanark Riding Association, and says he will be busy ensuring he is on “top form” for the events of Lanimer Week in June.
He was officially welcomed to the Lord Cornet role by predecessors Gordon Gray, chair of the Lanimer committee, and Lord Cornets’ Club representative Stephen Pillans, as well as Mhairi Jamieson, Dean of the Guildry of Lanark, and Royal Burgh of Lanark Community Council chair Andy Morrison.
The Lanimer committee congratulated Edward on his historic appointment for 2025 and said: “We would like to wish Edward and his family a very happy Lanimers.”
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