A piece of Angus agricultural history has been unearthed after an 80-year-old trophy with Royal connections was rescued from a local skip.
And the detective work of Kirriemuir Show officials has helped complete a special story for the event in its 140th anniversary year.
Kirrie Ploughing Association was handed the cup after it was unearthed at the town’s recycling centre some time ago.
The cup bears the inscription “Coronation of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Wednesday 12th May 1937. Presented by James Norrie Ltd for Decorated Horse & Harness Competition at Kirriemuir”, but ploughing officials could find no record of it in their annals.
It was then passed to Kirrie Show committee in the belief that it would be their horse and harness competition, but the plot thickened when a search of the minutes revealed that there was no local show that year, as the Angus Show was held in the town as part of its regular travels around the County.
Dave Orr of the Kirrie show committee said: “From the records it was discovered the directors of the show were asked by the coronation committee for assistance with the celebrations proposed, and to help organise a special harness competition on coronation day.”
Show minutes reveal a sub-committee of James Fearn, Robert Fearn, Norman Baxter and Ed Weighton was set up to arrange the competition and a donation of two guineas made towards the prize fund.
Mr Orr added: “The judges were Alex. Lawson of Hillockhead, Airlie and Robert Turnbull, Bankhead of Kinloch and judging took place in Glebe Park, which is now the site of Glebe Court.
“The winner of the trophy was A Bremner, from Ballinshoe and it seems that the silver trophy was presented by Provost Joiner.
“Now, after 80 years, the trophy has been returned to the community who presented it in honour of the lass who had just become Queen.”
The cup’s future is yet to be decided, but it may yet go on local display.
