Govan Fair Queen crowned by River City star

Photographs by Eddie Aitken

Govan Fair held its 256^th event on Friday 1 June 2012 with glorious sunshine beaming down on everyone.

River City actor Johnny Beattie crowned Dani Kilbride of Pirrie Park Primary School, this year’s Govan Fair Queen. For the next twelve months, she and her courtiers

will enhance celebrations and events in the Burgh with their presence.

Leading the procession which followed the Queen through the streets, was re-elected councillor Stephen Dornan who is the sole representative of the Glasgow First party. He has carried the ‘Sheep’s Heid’

for the past 20 years. The tale is told that a young weaver who was rejected by the father of the girl he fancied, beheaded one of the father’s prize sheep and paraded round the man’s house saying he’d do that with every one of the flock until he was allowed to marry the girl. Since it was the Govan Weavers’ Society which started the parade at the Fair in 1756, no-one can be sure of the truth of the matter. But it’s been woven into the fabric of the Fair and is as good a reason as any, for the Sheep’s Heid – all 20lbs of it – to proudly lead the way.

Govan Fair another success

Despite very changeable weather, the sun shone at the Govan Fair’s 255 year’s event. Thanks to the lovely pictures by Eddie Aitken, the crowning and the procession have been captured for everyone to enjoy.

Govan Fire Station Officer,  Steve Scott, crowned Shannon O’Donnell of St Constantine’s Primary School the new Govan Queen for 2011.  She was attended by school mates Erin Boyle, Carson Ross, Lewis Mitchell and Mico Arriola.

As Fair Association Convener Dorothy Courtney said in the annual programme: ‘Govan is going to be the place to be living in once again, thanks to all the things happening to make it look good. This is creating a new community for the future of Govan with new families moving in. The future looks bright and we still have the community spirit which held people together in the past.  I’m very proud of Govan and of what we can achieve.’

Govan Fair records 254th successful event

Govan Fair was a three day celebration this year – the 254th year of the event.
The Govan Fair Queen, Shannon Louise Dixon from Copland Primary School, was crowned by Heather McMillan, founder and managing director of Sunny Govan Radio which broadcasts 24 hours a day across the entire city of Glasgow. The crowning and large procession took place, as always, on the first Friday of June. The following day there was free children’s entertainment in Elder Park and on Sunday the local churches joined together for a Songs of Praise. For more pictures of the Govan Fair, taken by Eddie Aitken, check the LOCAL NEWS GLASGOW website: www.localnewsglasgow.co.uk