Campaign to make Dumfries a city officially launched

25/11/21. The bid to make Dumfries a city is launched. Pictured are – left to right – Mark Jardine, of the People’s Project; Tom Harper, head boy from Dumfries Academy; Craig Adams, school captain at Dumfries High School; Provost Tracey Little; Abi Kelly, school captain at Dumfries High School; Sophie Ritchie, school captain at St Joseph’s College and Kirsten Scott, engagement lead for Dumfries foundation restoration project. Picture from Queen of the South campaign.
The campaign to make Dumfries a city has been officially launched today. Credit: Queen of the South campaign

A bid to make Dumfries Scotland's most southerly city has been officially launched.

Entitled 'Queen of the South' the aim is to have the town's status changed as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Civic Awards next year.

The Provost of Dumfries, Cllr Tracey Little, along with the committee she is leading, will submit the completed bid by December 8. Other Scottish towns expected to submit a bid include Dunfermline, Greenock, Oban and Irvine.

She also said that city status would bring jobs, investment and opportunities for young people to Dumfries.

In 2012, in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, Perth, Chelmsford and St Asaph became cities.  

At present, there are seven cities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.

Could Dumfries become a city?

Mark Jardine, of the People’s Project, one of the organisations supporting the bid, said the town becoming a city would be the fulfillment of a long-term dream for him.

Several young people from the four high schools in Dumfries – Dumfries High School, Dumfries Academy, North-West Campus and St Joseph’s College - are involved in the bid.

 Craig Adams, 16, a sixth-year student from Dumfries High School, is one. He said: “It would be amazing if we won this competition and get this incredible honour from the Queen.”

Abi Kelly, 17, also a sixth-year student from Dumfries High, added: “It would be great for the area and would create new jobs and training opportunities for young people as more companies would want to move to Dumfries.”

The campaign is also hoping to receive backing from celebrities with a connection to Dumfries and Galloway.