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Two years ago Maybole celebrated the 250th anniversary of the wedding of William Burnes and local girl Agnes Broun in the town. After the marriage on December 15, 1757, the couple went to live in Alloway where their son Robert was born on January 25, 1759. This year is the 250^th anniversary of that momentous birth and 2009 has been designated the Year of Homecoming to mark the event.

So this year Maybole re-enacted Agnes’ “coming home” to Maybole with husband William and their baby to join in the fun of a Homecoming Day and Market Fair funded by EventScotland and South Ayrshire Council. The couple had first met at a market fair in Maybole in 1756. On the day they were played by Donald Kay and Arlene McCreadie.

Niall Murphy and Sam Currie, pupils at St Cuthbert’s Primary, were officially crowned as Gala King and Queen of Carrick on Sunday, June 21 at the Greenside. Accompanied by attendants Erin Coyne and  Ryan Wilson, Cairn Primary; and Julie Dalton and  Corey Best, Gardenrose Primary, the royal couple had paraded from Carrick Academy through the town to the Greenside via Kirkoswald Road, Whitehall, High Street and Culzean Road.

Maybole Pipe Band had led the parade which included local groups dressed in period costume or in topical themes. Irvine and District Pipe Band joined the parade at the junction with Ladyland Road and at the Town Hall there was a special addition with William, Agnes and their firstborn joined the parade. The Isle of Cumbrae Pipe Band joined the parade at Maybole Castle.

Earlier in the day the three pipe bands had played in six local villages - Straiton, Minishant, Maidens, Crosshill, Kirkmichael and Kirkoswald. The Market Fair opened at noon with over 40 stalls open for business. After the parade arrived at the Greenside Depute Provost of South Ayrshire Council Mary Kilpatrick welcomed everyone to this special Homecoming event and invited Sandra Osborne MP to officially open the fair.

Adam Ingram MSP then crowned Niall as king and Cathy Jamieson crowned Sam as queen, before the winners of the various competitions were announced. Best walking group were the 1^st Maybole Brownies and St Cuthbert’s Primary School was runner up.

This year the special event was spread across three different venues; the Greenside, the Town Hall and Maybole Castle which was especially busy for guided tours, a wild bird display, a petting zoo, pony rides, a bouncy castle, children's stall and games, Uncle Billy and Sky High Falconry flying display. Organisers Maybole Community Association would like to thank EventScotland and South Ayrshire Council for funding the day; everyone who put so much effort into making the day such a success, and a special thanks to local police.