Peebles shines bright at Hogmanay thanks to record turnout at torchlight procession

For while they saw out the old year and looked forward to the new, by forming a torch lit procession through the town, they also raised valuable funds for the town’s fire-hit secondary school.

A river of flames followed the banks of the Tweed through the centre of Peebles as a record-breaking crowd supported the fourth event of this kind held since 2014.

Torchbearers were led by pipers and traditional highland dancers from Fiona Henderson’s School of Dance.

More photos in our gallery here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/pictures-peebles-procession-makes-dazzling-hogmanay-1356032

Event director Neil Dalgleish said: “It was absolutely fantastic to bring together the community and visitors from near and far to welcome the new decade in our own Tweed Valley style.

“We wouldn’t want to spend Hogmanay any other way.” 

The event, organised by Peebles events firm Hillside Outside, is now held every two years with support this year from event partners Life Heal Peebles, Blackwood &Smith, Renwick and Weir and Evolution Bottling and Packaging Solutions.

Proceeds from the procession will go to the Peeblesshire Youth Trust and in turn help with efforts to repair Peebles High School after a fire there last month.

Latest on that fire here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/education/students-return-fire-hit-peebles-high-start-february-1351912

More about the procession here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/lights-go-out-peebles-torchlight-hogmanay-parade-182297

And here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/whats-on/peebles-procession-shines-bright-thanks-pledges-support-717151