Hot stuff in Comrie
Revellers gather for ancient fire festival
Comrie residents ushered in the New Year in its usual big way.
The village’s annual Flambeaux Parade is one of Scotland’s oldest fire ceremonies.
As the bells rang out 2017,12 eight-foot torches were lit at the top of Melville Square, which was packed with Hogmanay revellers.
The crowds then parted to let the Flambeaux take to the streets for the annual purification ritual, which sees them borne aloft to the four corners of the village.
This year, three of the village’s younger generation were carrying a flambeau for the first time.
Carrying one of the torches is a significant test of fitness for the bearers as they proceed to the boundaries of the community, which takes around an hour, but Andrew Stewart, Shaun Laycock and Bryn Warburton were up to the task.
The Flambeaux Parade was led by Comrie Pipe Band and this year
Zuzia and Kazia Dick were overall winners of the Junior Flambeaux claiming the Vic McEwan Shield there was a good turnout of guisers and small floats.
Once back in the square, the torches were laid in a pile while the winning fancy dress entries were awarded prizes, before the remnants of the Flambeaux were thrown off the bridge into the river.
Well known local couple Jimmy and Barbara Stewart had the difficult task of judging the fancy dress competition.
Jimmy has been compere of the Hogmanay celebrations for over 20 years but this year the Flambeaux stalwart handed over the reins to son James.
Results Singles - 1 Lollipop Lady (Diane Kaye); 2 Kermit the Frog (Amy Fenwick). Groups - 1 Rocket Man Blows Fuse; 2 Trump Wall; 3 RBS; 4 Has Beens. Special prizes went to Kardashians Come to Comrie and The Saloon Bar.
Overall winner and recipient of the Vic McEwan Quaich - Rocket Man Blows Fuse.
Meanwhile, children in Comrie enjoyed a fancy dress parade at Hogmanay. The White Church was packed for the Junior Flambeaux, which saw a performance by members of Comrie Pipe Band while judges Christine Young, Ailsa Mckee and Margaret Robertson picked the winners.
Following the competition everyone made their way to Dalginross Bridge to see the fireworks display on the Boulevard.
Results: Individuals - 1 Rainbow girl, Ayla Ball; 2 Lego man Eliot Things Catriona and Evie Temple
Harry Gottschalk and Ari Diamond
Denny; 3 Fab ice lolly, Erin Payne. Pairs - 1 Beavers, Zuzia and Kazia Dick (overall winners); 2 Comrie Bikers Club, Bowen and Ronin Walker; 3 Things 1 & 2, Catriona and Evie Temple. Groups - 1 Comrie Lights, Smarts/Peakes/Gairns/ Kings; 2 Dinosaur Hunter, Sam Bennie/Eva and Izzy Fenwick; 3 Trumpettes, the Grays.
• See overleaf for pictures of the main parade. Dinosaur Eva Fenwick