Edinburgh’s Lord Provost will join other hearty revellers tomorrow in the New Year's day Loony Dook tomorrow.
The Lord Provost, Councillor Donald Wilson, will plunge into the icy waters of the Firth of Forth, along with 1,000 other Dookers, to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which provides a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service across the UK.
The event, part of the three day festival for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, is expected to attract around 4,000 spectators to the South Queensferry location beside the Forth Bridges.
“The event is great fun and will be raising money for a fantastic charity," said the Lord Provost. "The South Queensferrry branch of the RNLI will receive a 10 per cent donation from each registration fee for the event this year. I’m either brave or barmy to sign up, but I’m very glad to lend my support. I wish everyone taking part the best of luck and a happy - albeit chilly – start to the New Year!”
The Loony Dook is organised by Unique Events, who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Earlier this month, organisers confirmed that M&D’s, who operate Scotland’s Theme Park in Strathclyde Country Park and also run the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay carnival, will be supporting the event. It is also funded by EventScotland and Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
This year’s Loony Dook has been a sell out and no more spaces are available. It will start with a Dookers’ Parade, led by the Beastie Drummers, at 1.20pm followed by the Dook itself at 1.30pm on Thursday 1st January. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the Dookers from various vantage points along the route.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay opened last night with the Torchlight Procession, continues with the Street Party tonight, and wraps up tomorrow with a scottish cultural crawl Scot:Lands.