How a town’s efforts could go straight on to the record books Kirriemuir: Peter Pans do author’s birthplace and cancer charity proud

Just give me a second while I open the office door to hear those howls of laughter from across our county.

Blessed as we are in Angus with natural beauty in abundance, even my biggest (only?) fan – morning Mother Brown – would struggle to argue that what’s before you is a bonny sight.

However, there’s very good reason for the gingham pink shirt being back in the wardrobe this week, even if it means subjecting those of a sensitive disposition to a vision much more frightening than fairytale.

You see, with my green tights, little wooden sword and pointy hat, I’m a record-breaker – along with the 533 other Peter Pans who did town playwright JM Barrie proud at Kirriemuir’s magnificent 10th anniversary Relay for Life in support of Cancer Research.

From the seed of a party night idea — where else? — the plan of stealing back the record for the greatest ever number of Peter Pans in one place took flight and the wee red toon came up trumps on Saturday afternoon, almost doubling the number those pesky Americans managed a couple of years ago.

I’m pretty sure none of the author’s excellent works feature a Mexican wave but it worked a treat as Peters of every age kept their hats on and swords aloft for the five-minute duration of the record bid.

And Barrie himself couldn’t have scripted the sunshine which bathed the arena for that vital few minutes, just a tick-tock fraction of the 24-hour effort that will once again raise a phenomenal sum for the fight against cancer.

Every Relay for Life is a wonderful event, filled with tears, laughter, joy and sadness as each participant reflects on their own personal experience, whether it be within the raucous army of green tunics or the solitude of an early morning Angus dawn on another lap of the relay track.

However, Kirrie’s success doesn’t come about by a sprinkling of fairy dust.

It is down to dedication, determination and damned hard work — and those behind the relay are the real darlings of this magical story.

arbroath office chief reporter (and world record holder) twitter: @c-gbrown1

Two of the youngest record-breaking Peter Pans who did Kirriemuir proud.