Annandale Young Farmers Club will actually be celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019, having formed in 1939, and has already held an 80th Ball at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries last autumn, where 230 past and present members, ranging in age from 14 to 80-plus attended.

There was a note raffle that evening, with £1565 raised, which has been split between the club, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance and RSABI. Prize winners were Alisdair Davidson, Nicola Dalgleish and Susan Hinton-Smith.

Anniversary committee chairman, George Mair welcomed everyone and introduced the speakers, including guest Sandy Wilkie MBE, Robert Jardine who toasted the club, Lindsay-Anne Graham who said Grace, John Beck and Willa Wilson who cut the cake and Fraser Kennedy who delivered the Vote of Thanks.

Mr Wilkie said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my evening with you and the team who organised such a classy event in Dumfries – great company, fine food and great entertainment. Well done!”

Annandale is now preparing an 80th Anniversary Concert – “Annandale’s Greatest Show….Yet!” – to be held Friday 8 and Saturday 9 February 2019 at Lockerbie Town Hall at 7.30pm, with a cast consisting of past and present members of the club.

Tickets must be bought in advance for £10 and concession £5. For more information or to purchase tickets contact Carol Mair on 07922085942, carolmair92@hotmail.com or Willa Wilson, 07717216646, willawil@hotmail.co.uk