Review of the year 2020 Part one
| Date | 01 January 2021 |
| Published date | 01 January 2021 |
| Publication title | Dumfries & Galloway Standard |
There were 59 weddings in total being held in venues across the Gretna and Gretna Green area.
And that was the most on record since the registration office first opened in Central Avenue in September, 1991.
****************** A Dumfries-based foodbank was on the hunt for a temporary storage base after being inundated with donations from generous locals.
The floors at Dumfriesshire Foodbank at Friars Vennel in the town was taken over by stacks of food and other items handed over in an effort to support those in need over the festive period.
****************** A row erupted after pranksters scaled a prized statue of Scotland's Bard and subjected him to the cone treatment.
In a move reminiscent of the famed Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, Dumfries' iconic Rabbie Burns statue was decked out with the traffic appendage.
But the move, filmed and shared on social media, sparked outrage and claims that it was disrespected the area's historic association with Burns.
****************** Forty-four jobs were axed when Dumfries firm Penman Engineering went into administration for the second time in three years.
Workers were sent home after being told the shock news.
****************** One of the world's oldest clubs celebrating Robert Burns reached its 200th anniversary milestone.
Dumfries Burns Club members and guests marked the occasion at the Easterbrook Hall with an anniversary dinner and musical entertainment.
And among them were five people who have a direct line of descent from Robert Burns or his wife Jean Armour.
A past president of the club, Jean Macmillan Forster, who is a descendant of Jean Armour, led the line-up of ancestors as Burns is her 5x great uncle.
FEBRUARY A Dumfries and Galloway College student won a silver medal as part of Team GB at the 2020 Ice Hockey U20 World Championships played in Lithuania.
Eighteen-year-old Liam Stenton was a student on the performance athlete education programme which fitted perfectly with his journey to becoming a professional athlete.
Liam, who trains at Synergy Performance in Dumfries, was part of the British team which came a close second in the round-robin tournament.
****************** Happy youngsters had a splashing time when they joined in the fun of the Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships at WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre.
Families and friends competed against each other to produce the biggest splash from their puddle and jump and were judged on their enthusiasm and jumping style, with daily winners and lucky...
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