East Lothian Courier | News

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 29th May, 2008 08:05

Festival of Fun

A DOZEN community organisations paraded through the town centre on Sunday afternoon, as the 40th Haddington Festival kicked off in glorious sunshine.

Although the crowds lining the route along Court Street, High Street and Sidegate to St Mary’s Parish Church were down on previous years, there was no lack of enthusiasm from the hundreds who packed the pews to hear the traditional festival service.

Major George McFarlane, commander of the Knox Academy Combined Cadet Force – this year celebrating its centenary – performed the official opening of the cultural and artistic extravaganza.

But pride of place among the host of community figureheads undoubtedly went to 11-year-old kidney patient Maren Kelly, the winner of the 2008 John Lockhart Young Achievers Award.

The award, which is administered by the town’s community council, recognises local children, aged 5-18 years, who have made a positive impact on their families, or the community, in adversity.

Maren, of Caponflat Crescent, had only one kidney from the age of three, which also began to fail.

Her citation reads: “She ate and drank everything that was asked of her in a strictly regulated diet without complaint and was on dialysis at home for six months. Her family were screened for a replacement kidney and her father was found to be the nearest match. Both have come through their operations and Maren is now leading a much better quality of life.”

The runners-up were Samatha McClymont, 12, of Riverside Drive, and five-year-old Ami Dixon, of Amisfield Mains. Samantha won the Shrinking Plastic Competition for Haddington Girls Brigade, her design beating off entries from seven other brigade units.

Little Ami has inspired friends and family by taking an active part in all the Haddington Girls’ Brigade activities despite having poor eyesight and walking difficulties.

John Golightly, community council vice-chair, laid a wreath outside the church on behalf of the festival organisers. Mr Golightly was standing in for long-serving chair, Jan Wilson. The festival co-ordinator missed the opening ceremony for the first time ever to cheer on daughter Gayle in the Hairy Haggis Charity Relay Marathon from Edinburgh to Longniddry.

Mrs Wilson did, however, make it back for what she described as “an electrifying” performance by the folk group Blazin’ Fiddles in the Corn Exchange that night. More than 200 traditional music lovers enjoyed a foot-stompin’ two hours of entertainment.

The bumper crowd figure made up for the poor attendance at the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s revival night with cover band Kavrin at the same venue 24 hours previously.

Overall, though, the festival committee is “delighted” with the high level of advance ticket sales for the various events.

“Haddington people have in the past tended to buy their tickets at the door, so this shows there is still considerable interest in the Haddington Festival,” Mrs Wilson added.

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