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High jinks at Kate Kennedy procession
THOUSANDS of daffodils and bright sunshine combined to illuminate St Andrews on Saturday as the annual Kate Kennedy procession took place.
After a delayed start, the welcome and familiar voice of David Joy came over the PA system to announce the parade was due to get underway following some problems with "students and frisky horses".
This prompted some hilarity from the several hundred spectators gathered who had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the procession.
When it did begin, the hundred or so historical characters including the founders of the university, rectors and scholars as well as political and religious figures eg. John Knox and Archbishop James Sharp. were welcomed into the street by onlookers.
Spirits were certainly high amongst the students from the exclusive club who were taking part; particularly the 'band of covenanters' whose task it was to stage the re-enact the murder of Archbishop Sharp as his carriage made its way across Magus Muir.
Whether there had been an altercation is St Salvator's Quad prior to the event beginning which led to tensions being high I'm not sure, but the driver of the early 18th century driving coach made no bones about the fact that unless the students stopped running, screaming and shouting directly in front of his horses, he would not continue.
Not a good start perhaps, but this was soon forgotten as others including former rector John Cleese as the man from the ministry of silly walks, made their way into North Street, many of them on horseback and under the tight rein of members of by St Andrews Polo Club.
In South Street each character took their turn to be introduced to dignitaries including the Provost of Fife, St Andrews councillor Frances Melville.
But before he could make it that far, the student playing Robert Fergusson made it apparent that he had spent much of the procession getting properly into the character of the Edinburgh-born scholar with a reputation for 'riotous behaviour'.
Perhaps swigging red wine in a public place, even if it was a prop, and then being sick, wasn't a good idea in front of the local constabulary?
Other high jinks, perhaps this time to be expected, came from the jester who was spotted standing on the top of a telephone box.
For more photo's see this week's St Andrews Citizen.
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
