Historical characters set for annual Kate Kennedy Procession

More than 140 historic characters will again take to the streets of St Andrews next month for the annual Kate Kennedy Procession.
The event will take place on April 11.The event will take place on April 11.
The event will take place on April 11.

Led by a barefoot St Andrew and the City of St Andrews Pipe Band, characters ranging from cardinals, queens and kings to golfers will enchant the crowd on April 11.

Expect to see the jester running around, while the bishop blesses in Latin and Kate’s entourage hand out daffodils.

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However, nothing outshines the most anticipated character: Lady Katherine Kennedy, the adored niece of St Salvator’s College founder Bishop Kennedy.

The celebration, in current form, was conceived by Donald Kennedy and James Doak in 1926.

Every procession day, St Salvator’s church bells ring to mark her arrival. As tradition dictates, the Lady Kate is played by the most promising first-year member of the club.

This year she will be radiant in a new costume that was added last year.

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As the Kate Kennedy Club looks to reinvigorate the procession each year, this year’s procession will also count with the addition of one new character, Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam.

Sir Francis was an alumni of the University of St Andrews and was the First Republic governor of the Eastern Region, Nigeria.

The Kate Kennedy Procession, in all its 94 years of glory, will be leaving the gates of St Salvator’s Quad at 2pm on Saturday, April 11.

Programmes helping identify the characters will be on sale on the day – just look out for students with charity collection buckets.

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Sam Saunders, marshall of the procession, said: “Every year the procession amazes the crowds who come to view it, and this year the club is as excited as ever to don our amour and dresses and do our best to entertain all those who can make the event.”

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