AS WINTRY conditions still affect the region, one town is already looking forward to this summer’s common riding season.

Biggar Gala Committee has announced its Fleming Queen, along with Crowning Lady and Principals for 2018. Crowds eagerly gathered in the Masonic Lodge in the town’s High Street to find out who would be leading in the annual event.

Bestowed with the honour of Fleming Queen will be Florrie Galbraith, aged 11, and in P7 at Biggar Primary School. Florrie’s family are well connected in the history of the town’s Gala Week.

Her grandfather Robin Galbraith was elected as the first-ever Cornet for Biggar.

Jennifer Walker (nee Tawse) will take up the duty as this year’s Crowning Lady and also has historical links with the festival.

As a young girl she was given the role as maid, before being crowned Fleming Queen in 1990.

Since then, she has continued to play an active role in the Gala Week.

The town’s Gala Court has been revealed as Gemma Aitken, Jessica Prentice, Charlotte Ward and Mia Barrington – ladies in waiting – while Kallie Thomson and Eva Morton are the maids of honour.

Archie Boyd and Adam Scott take on the role as page. The rest of the court is: Ben Allan, Ben Brown, Zack Bullock, Fraser Campbell, Josh Gooch, Mitchell Hamilton, Ander Harrison, Matthew Kerr, Ross MacIntyre, James McLarty and Josh Service.

Meanwhile, Biggar Cornets Club has selected Alan Bartholomew to be the next in a long line of Cornets.

Alan has lived in Biggar most of his life and attended both Biggar Primary School and High school.

Well known in the community, he has worked as a painter, a fireman and a football coach.

Alan will take over as Cornet Elect when the 2018 Cornet, John Scott (who was announced as Cornet Elect last year) is installed in June. Simon Kane, the 2017 Cornet will then move to the position of the Right Hand Supporter.

This year’s Biggar Gala Week will take place from Sunday, June 10 until Sunday, June 17.