Latest news with #AnnanAcademy
Daily Record
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Tradition and ceremony packed into Dumfriesshire ROM
Annan's annual celebrations have kicked off with a bumper day ahead Halle Goodwin was crowned as Annan 's 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 – dating back almost 700 years – 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: 'It will be a privilege to represent my home town and follow in my mum's footsteps. I am also proud to be sharing this year with my little sister, Indie, who is a train bearer in the retinue. 'I am really looking forward to everything.' 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's 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's civic dignitaries and representatives from various uniformed and youth organisations also pledged allegiance, including Cornet Hayden Hodgson, Cornet's Lass Kayleigh Murray and Standard Bearer Tracy Ireland – 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's 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's 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 – the same time as judging for the children's fancy dress entries at St Andrew's 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 – via Newington Road, Butts Street, Johnstone Street, Thomas Street, George Street – 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 – entry free with parents asked to donate £1 – which includes the Annan ROM mini Highland Games, which Newington Primary School's Lucy Mace will officially open after being chosen as the town's 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.
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
More than 60 Dumfries and Galloway teaching jobs re-advertised in just two years
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed more than 1,350 teaching posts across Scotland had to be readvertised across Scotland between 2022 and 2024. More than 60 teaching posts had to be re-advertised in Dumfries and Galloway in the space of two years. Figures released by the Scottish Liberal Democrats show more than 1,350 teaching posts across Scotland had to be readvertised across Scotland between 2022 and 2024. In Dumfries and Galloway, 29 were readvertised in 2022/23 and a further 31 in 2023/24. The total of 61, puts it sixth in the rankings of councils who have had to readvertise the most posts. The data, obtained through a series of information requests, reveal there are currently three posts which are being readvertised. Annan Academy is looking for a maths teacher, Stranraer Academy is advertising for a physics teacher and a teacher is also sought for Kelloholm Primary. Scottish Lib Dems education spokesman, Willie Rennie, said: 'Qualified teachers are enduring years of short term, zero hours contracts yet some schools are advertising roles over and over again without success. 'We must make teaching an attractive role if we are to tackle these shortfalls. 'This data suggests that there are acute shortages in rural areas and in key subjects like maths. 'Terrible workforce planning has resulted in missed opportunities for so many young people and so many teacherstoo. 'If we want every young person to reach their potential they need teachers who can inform and inspire 'Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see new three-year packages for probationers who are willing to take on hard-to-fill roles, as well as offering 'teacher premiums' to reward the best teachers in schools with the greatest need. 'No one believes education is high up the SNP's agenda. 'That's why we need a change of government to get Scottish education back to its best.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The number of teachers in Scotland's classrooms has increased by more than 2,500 over the past decade as a result of direct funding from the Scottish Government, with the number in permanent posts remaining stable at more than 80 per cent over this period. 'However, we are working hard to ensure that teaching remains an attractive profession, with Scotland's teachers continuing to be the best paid in the UK, and our teaching bursary scheme provides funding to career-changers wishing to undertake a teaching degree in the hardest to fill subjects. 'Ministers have been clear they are laser-focused on improving education and supporting Scotland's teachers. 'That is why we are providing councils with £186.5 million this year to increase teacher numbers, and why ministers continue to engage regularly with local government and teaching unions.' A spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) added: 'Local authorities work hard to fill vacancies to meet the needs of learners in all areas of Scotland, but there are challenges. 'For example, we know that newly qualified teachers tend to seek posts within the central belt of Scotland. 'Many of the areas which struggle to recruit teachers are beautiful and exciting areas of the country to work in, with unique opportunities for learning and development. 'Cosla and Scottish Government have committed to working together on medium and long-term joint workforce planning, taking into account the importance of responding to issues in a way which addresses differing local needs.'
