May Dickman has been selected as this year’s crowning lady for Lanark’s Lanimer celebrations.
She says she has been “overwhelmed” by congratulations from across the community since her principal role was announced – and is now looking forward to the special moment when she crowns Lanimer Queen-Elect Maisey Talbot on the town’s big day on Thursday, June 12.
She has been heavily involved with Lanimer events for decades, both through the Kilninie Club and serving as a committee member, and will be swapping her usual busy role of seating the hundreds of parade participants on the stands at St Nicholas’ Church for taking centre stage this year.
May told Lanarkshire Live how she has been inundated with messages of congratulations since being awarded the honour by Lanimer committee members and was surprised to answer the door of her Lanark home on Sunday expecting to see a neighbour only to find committee officials waiting to deliver the exciting news.
She said: “I went to the door and saw it was the Lanimer committee chair and vice-chair with their chains of office on! I’m delighted and a bit overwhelmed in a nice way; people started to arrive when the news went out and I’ve had lots of messages, cards and beautiful flowers.
“It really means a lot to me to be chosen – I love Lanimers and have been heavily involved for years since I first came to Lanark. It’s a lovely honour and I’m really looking forward to the day.”
Now she is getting busy with some of her first tasks in the role, including taking advice from predecessor crowning ladies, making plans for a reception and finding her special outfit for the day – in a change from her usual Lanimer attire of a hi-vis jacket as she marshals the procession participants.
May was a primary school teacher for 40 years, at schools in Carstairs and Wishaw and spent more than half of her career at Kirkton Primary in Carluke. She first became involved with the Kilninie Club’s procession entries through meeting well-known Lanimer figure Loraine Swan at Greyfriars Church.
She said: “I got involved through that with all the children at Sunday school always being involved, and then have had a variety of roles doing different things over the years, like the reception and making things for the lorry.
“I’ve had various roles on the Lanimer committee role and I do the seating at the stand for the procession entrants, getting them to their allocated seats. I’m always there on the benches in that role with my hi-vis jacket so it will be nice to be part of the ceremony this year.
“The crowning ceremony will be a nice moment and I’m really looking forward to that; and I have the previous crowning ladies to advise and keep me right.”
May, who is also a volunteer and trustee at Lanark museum, has lived in the town for 30 years and describes her family as “steeped in Lanimers” – as her husband John was lord cornet in 2008 and is a former chair of the Lanimer committee, and son Gavin was the Lanimer champion back in 2004.
Daughter Alison will be May’s companion for her role as crowning lady, and both will be cheered on by Alison’s son Lawson, nine. May said: “He’s Lanimer daft and takes part on the lorry as well, so it’s lovely for the family to be a part of it all.”
This year’s Lanimer celebrations will see Edward Pringle serve as Lord Cornet, while Maisey Talbot is the queen elect and fellow Lanark Grammar pupil Ajay Shearer is this year’s Lanimer champion.
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