Come to the Parade

The end of Comrie Fortnight float parade was held yesterday afternoon. Here are some photos to give you a taste. Remember that all floats are made by people in back gardens and garages all over Comrie. Trucks and tractors are provided by local farmers. The first two photos show the very start of the parade. This gives you an idea of how extensive it is.

Just before the parade kicked off, Mickey and Minnie Mouse came down the road collecting donations for the Comrie Fortnight Committee. In the second photo you can see Don making our contribution. You also can see the folks (with lap rugs) from Dalginross Gardens, one of the facilities for sheltered housing in the village (an independent living arrangement designed to allow Comrie's elderly to stay in the village). Included among those whom you see on the sidewalk are our friends Norma and David Nairne with David's hundred-year-old Mum.

Among the floats was one on the 40th anniversary of the release of the Sgt. Pepper album by The Beatles. . The Willy Wonka float was one of my favourites because it features our postman, Richard, and his family.

One of the best aspects of the parade is that it involves as many of the village children as possible. Here are two of the floats that used lots of the very young children. (You can see enlarged photos by clicking on any of the images in the blogs.)

The young adults, of course, are always represented in force and usually depicting a party of some sort, as is the case with Party at the Pantheon. Not to be outdone, there is always a wonderful float with a particular group of "mature" women. This year they were The Can't Can-Can Girls.

Among the topical floats this year were a couple noting the fact that the now-closed army base on the outskirts of Comrie is for sale. (The community has formed a Trust and are in the process of raising funds to buy the property from the Ministry of Defense.) Another couple depicted the fact that the only remaining garage and service station in town has not only closed but has been torn down. Luxury flats are being erected in its place. (We will miss having the convenience to fill up our tanks in Comrie but must admit that any new building will be an improvement over the old grey garage that sat right in the heart of our High Street.)

There always is a float--at least one--with men dressed up as women. This year it was a topical float as well, having to do with the Spice Girls' attempt to make a comeback. They called these "women" the Old Spice Girls. Very clever.