WILTON Lodge Park’s new bandstand has been officially opened, and named after Hawick’s former Honorary Provost Zandra Elliot.

Current Provost Stuart Marshall dedicated the new facility to his predecessor, who served three terms as Provost and was a serving Councillor for Hawick and Denholm when she passed away last year.

The opening ceremony on Sunday, April 26, saw the cutting of the ribbon carried out by Drumlanrig Primary School pupils Hanna Al Khoury, Grace Gibb and Evan Tice, who all contributed to the bandstand’s winning weathervane design, while local bands also played to mark the occasion.

Provost Marshall, who put forward Mrs Elliot’s name for the new bandstand, said: “The opening of the new bandstand is a great occasion for the town.

“I think dedicating this beautiful work of art in the memory of the late Honorary Provost Zandra Elliot is a fitting tribute to someone who worked very hard for our town over many years.

“Ex-Provost Elliot was also a lady who lived and breathed the regeneration project of Wilton Lodge Park.” The bandstand is part of the £3.64million Wilton Lodge Park regeneration project, which is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

Keith Johnson of Friends of Wilton Lodge Park, who were involved in the project proposals which earned the HLF funding in December 2012, said: “The bandstand was always the jewel in the crown of the project.

“The reinstating of the bandstand in the park was the foundation upon which we built the Heritage Lottery Fund grant application for funding to regenerate the whole park.

“It is exciting to see this first phase complete and we look forward to the continued works in the park.” Work on the new bandstand began last year, with members of Friends of Wilton Lodge Park and the project team visiting contractors Lost Art in October.

Lost Art, one of the last remaining companies to carry out bandstand restoration of this quality, then began work on-site prior to Christmas.

The bandstand will become a key feature in the Wilton Lodge Park events programme this summer. A rolling programme of music every Sunday afternoon from late May through to August is planned.

The Park’s Events Manager Gordon Webber added: “We would like to use the bandstand as much as possible. We are looking at involving local bands, fiddle groups, Heart of Hawick’s String Theory and a few other surprises throughout the summer.

“We just want to encourage people to join us in the park every Sunday afternoon, rain or shine.” The Wilton Lodge Park regeneration project continues with the new museum gallery due to open in May, the new-look walled garden set to be unveiled in late June and the new café and bridge due to open next year.