And Dame Joanna Lumley has said the town is in need of new ‘ennoblement’ and in a nod to her BBC sitcom of the same name, she said getting the honour of being crowned UK’s newest city would be ‘absolutely fabulous’.
The double Bafta-winning actress, who has a home in the area, is supporting the formal ‘Queen of the South’ bid.
Dame Joanna said: “Dumfries stole my heart from the first time I wandered in its once-grand, proud streets, and leaned on the bridge and watched the Nith shimmer by. Queen of the South in every way, but maybe now in need of a new ennoblement.
“If she became a city, it would be like crowning her again. She deserves a new burst of pride and energy, and public recognition of all she has survived and achieved.
“Making her the City of Dumfries would be like toasting her and the beautiful countryside surrounding her in champagne. She deserves a curtain call and a bouquet, because she is modest and brave and entirely worthy of such an honour. It would be absolutely fabulous.”
Dumfries Provost Tracey Little submitted the town’s formal bid for city status in December as part of the Queen’s 2022 Civic Honours competition.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Civic Awards will announce the successful cities in the spring.
Eight different parts of Scotland – Dumfries, Dunfermline, Elgin, Greenock, Livingston, Oban, St Andrews and South Ayrshire – are in the running to be granted city status.
