The Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend

Saturday 2nd June 2012


A wedding "hoy oot"

 With the minister of the Methodist United Reformed Church and the priest of the Roman Catholic Church, I took part in a joint opening of the Bellingham Street Party.  [For pictures, see Events page.] 
     After a welcome, a verse of the National Anthem, the Jubliee prayer, a joke, grace and some home-cooked food, I made my way to Thorneyburn for the wedding.  Afterwards the churchyard gates were tied shut in accordance with local custom, preventing the couple from leaving without a "hoy oot" (a throwing out) of coins for the children who would then undo the gates. [More pictures on Events page]