Kirriemuir looks set to have soared into the record books with a fairytale flourish for this year’s town Relay for Life.
In a world record bid which captured the imagination of all ages, more than 500 Peter Pans poured in to the centre of the relay arena on Saturday afternoon, smashing the previous US-set tally for the biggest gathering of people dressed as the storybook favourite.
The sea of green tunics and toy swords was just one of many highlights in the 10th anniversary Relay, which is held every two years in Kirriemuir and has raised staggering sums for Cancer Research UK, with dedicated organisers now keeping their fingers crossed that Guinness world records will ratify the record and bring it home to the birthplace of Peter Pan creator Sir J M Barrie.
Almost 700 people participating in 46 teams took part in the Relay at Kirriemuir showfield, an event packed with poignancy as families remember loved ones they have lost to cancer, celebrate those who have overcome the disease, and support others battling through their journey against it.
Kirrie Relay chair Keith Hopkins took on the role of Captain Hook to keep the plethora of Pans in line and ensure every record bid participant met the strict costume criteria including green tights, a sword and a peaked cap which had to stay on for the five-minute duration of the bid.
The event’s army of volunteers was assisted by Angus Provost and Kirriemuir Councillor Ronnie Proctor, as well as Angus South MSP Graeme Dey, who acted as independent adjudicators, and after eight disqualifications for dress code infringements a total of 534 Peter Pans will be sent as the record bid tally – almost double the Florida figure set in 2015.
Rhona Guild of the Relay for Life committee said the idea which had started as a party conversation had generated a huge local response, both in the weeks leading up to Relay and throughout the weekend’s 24-hour fundraiser.
“It was a really spectacular thing to see when there were more than 500 Peter Pans all packed in together, all doing a Mexican wave,” said Rhona.
“It’s been really wonderful, every one of our Relays has been fantastic but we wanted to make sure the tenth anniversary one was special and to have hopefully brought the record home to Kirriemuir where it belongs is just amazing.”
Relay chair Keith Hopkins said: “A fantastic amount of money has been raised since we started the and we are sure we will have an amazing figure again this year, but for us what is most important is that people come to have fun.
“There have been a lot of tears, but so much laughter as well and the sight of all those Peter Pans was just wonderful. This has been our best yet.”
