Burgess Ticket Awards

Celebrating Lanark locals going the 'extra mile'

The title of ‘Burgess’ was created in in Lanark in 1140, at the time of Lanark being created a Royal Burgh by King William. These “Burgess” (mostly merchants and traders) were charged with attending to the interests of the community, much like a town council.

The tradition of appointing ‘Burgess’ continued for hundreds of years, eventually falling away with local government reform of Lanark Town Council being ultimately replaced by South Lanarkshire Council. Upon the creation of ‘Community Councils’ in 1977, the Royal Burgh of Lanark Community Council (RBLCC) "picked up" many annual town traditions previously managed by the old town council, such as the Het Pint; Whuppity Scoorie etc. But, unfortunately and singularly, the single longest-lasting tradition was never mentioned or passed over, the annual disbursement of Burgess Awards made to deserving members of the community.

Frank Gunning was elected Chair of the RBLCC in 2008 and pursued the restoration of the Burgess Awards with South Lanarkshire Council. The awards were successfully relaunched in 2013 with sixteen candidates being submitted to fill the twelve awards places RBLCC had agreed to create that first major year. Since that year, annual numbers have varied year on year, but there are now a standardised number of six per annum.

The RBLCC has since created a total of 55 Burgess with the 2019 awards having been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.