Nothing immerses one more into the spirit of the place like public celebrations. Universal good mood, loud cheers, big smiles, flag waiving, public performances, kids’ antics and, of course, quaint local traditional touches – all  were present at the Queen’s Baton Relay for Commonwealth games arrival in Dumfries. I couldn’t resist bringing out my camera to photograph this photogenic hustle-and-bustle event, perfect my my Dumfries Diaries project! I wanted to capture the town alive and in its ‘Sunday best’.

Thousands of locals and visitors turned up on the street to cheer  the baton on its 200,000km journey towards the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In my way to the ceremony near the Midsteeple in the town centre I wavered to the Whitesands to see the river and met a flock of Excelsior cheerleaders hurrying to the performance stand. Eager spectators were already waiting for them there and thoroughly enjoyed dancing and acrobatics.

To my uneducated eye the whole welcoming procession had a distinctly Scottish flavour. Local council members and distinguished guests were led by a piper, followed by the Commonwealth flag bearers, not particularly sporty but well-humoured and enthusiastic. NHS advisers were amidst the crowd handing out leaflets and inviting the onlookers to take up sport and lead more healthy lifestyles. I took one!

Cornet Chris Beattie, his Lass and Pursuivant were arriving on horseback, later joined by the Queen of the South and her attendants.The horses were so well-behaved despite the heat the loud noises around them.

Kids, lining the streets and furnished with Scottish flags, were waving Queen’s Baton Relay in. One of the runners carried the Glasgow Commonwealth Games mascot Clyde, much liked by the young spectators. Charlotte Smith, one for the Silver participants from the Dumfries Open DofE Centre, proudly brought the baton to pass it to Cornet. So much excitement in the air – hope I managed to convey it in my photographs.

Cheer girls on their way to Midsteeple to greet Queen's Baton Relay
Cheer girls on their way to Midsteeple to greet Queen’s Baton Relay arrival in Dumfries
Cheerleaders on their way to Queen's Baton Relay in Dumfries
All in good spirits
Dumfries public waiting for the Queen's baton Relay ceremony
The public waiting for the ceremony
Excelsior Cheer presents a performance to honor Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Excelsior Cheer presents a performance to honor Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Queen's baton Relay in Dumfries: part of the pre-ceremony performance
Queen’s Baton Relay in Dumfries: part of the pre-ceremony cheerleader performance
The QBR greeting team announced by a paper
The QBR greeting team announced by a paper
Commonwealth flags
Commonwealth flag bearers
Hooray!
Hooray!
A girl carrying the Scottish flag for Queen's Baton Relay in Dumfries
… and, of course, the Scottish flag
Guid Nychburris' 1014 Cornet Chris Beattie and his lass waiting for QBR
Guid Nychburris’ 1014 Cornet Chris Beattie and his lass waiting for QBR
The horses were so well behaved standing still in the heat
The horses were so well behaved standing still in the heat
The greeting crowd joined by the elected Queen of the South and her attendants
The greeting crowd joined by the elected Queen of the South and her attendants
The QBR escort
The QBR escort accompanied by the Police motorcycle unit
Flags waived
Flags waived
Commonwealth Mascot Clyde
Commonwealth Mascot Clyde
Queen's Baton Relay in Dumfries
Charlotte Smith enters Plainestanes with the baton

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