The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Procession to be a real costume drama
CHARACTERS FROM St Andrews’ ancient past will be dressed in fabulous new costumes for Saturday’s Kate Kennedy procession.
The colourful studentrun event, which attracts thousands of spectators, will start on North Street at St Salvator’s Chapel at 2pm.
It will then proceed to Holy Trinity Church where Depute Provost Councillor Kay Morrison will present Kate with a quaich on behalf of Fife Council.
Kate, who is traditionally played by a male student, will then move on to St Salvator’s College.
Kate Kennedy Club spokesman Adam Shaw said: “The procession this year features many new costumes and added extras to make the spectacular more colourful and entertaining.
“A cappa magna, stretching a total length of five metres, now drapes from the holy shoulders of Cardinal David Beaton.
“Pope Benedict XIII of Spain (Pedro da Luna) has a completely new costume.”
Kate’s carriage, Victoria, will be drawn by one horse while Archbishop Sharp’s coach will be drawn by four horses and there will be seven characters on horses.
The club’s annual College Echoes magazine will again be sold on the day, with all proceeds going to charity.
The club was formed to revive the procession in its contemporary format in 1926 and the historic student- run group has safeguarded and ensured the continuation of the tradition ever since.
For the 89th procession, the club has chosen Home Start and Unite Against Cancer as its charities.
Last week members of the club welcomed families from across Fife involved with Home Start to a walking historical tour of the town and had several procession characters dressed up in their costumes at significant sites.
The characters then recited a short story for the children in the group who were then invited to try on some of the costumes.
The group enjoyed a picnic lunch at the town’s bandstand before finishing off the tour at the coach house, where members showed the children the coaches for Kate and Archbishop Sharp.