June 1951
One of the oldest and most picturesque gala ceremonies throughout the country - the annual Newtongrange and District Children's Gala Day was held on Saturday in good weather. For the occasion, the village was en fete, with many houses gaily decorated with bunting and flags. Nearly 2000 schoolchildren assembled in the local Square Park, where tumultuous reception was given to the King and Queen with their court. This year's King was Marshall Greig and the Queen was Margaret Law, Dux Boy and Girl respectively in the qualifying classes of Newbattle and Newtongrange Schools.
Newtongrange Lothian Silver Band, under Bandmaster James Farrow, and Newtongrange Lothian and Juvenile Pipe Bands, under Pipe Major William Peacock, and followed by their 2000 loyal subjects in procession order, headed the King, Queen and Court, which comprised of:
King - Marshall B. Greig
Queen - Margaret Law
Chief Maid - Molly Dalgleish;
First Lord - James R Brown;
Maids of Honour - Margaret Weston, Christina McDonald, Mary
Cruickshanks;
Lords in Waiting - Sinclair Greenhill, David Robertson, George
Burlerick;
Crown Bearers - Robert Black and David Meikle;
Pages - John Campbell, Jack Carson, Paul Brownlee, David
McIntyre;
Yeoman - Alex McIntosh;
Ladies of the Court - Georgina Jack, Mary Blair, Mary Sinclair,
Patricia Smith, Margaret Gillies, Joyce Foster,
Isabella Morton, Fay Carson, Jessie Fraser, Helen Henderson, Clara Buchanan;
Bower Girls - Elizabeth McLaughland, Queenie Moffat, Alice
Moffat and Jeanette Aitken;
Halberdiers - D Smart, Jas Garvie, Thomas Todd and William
Braid; Flower Girls - Jane Clark, Jean Scambler,
Muriel Thomson, Isabel McGechie, Maureen McFarlane, Rosemary King, John Gillies,
Isabella Lockhart, Annie Hamilton, Roseanne Dubickas, Janette Morris, Margaret
Livingstone;
Herald - Peter O'Meara.
The entourage drove slowly in gaily decorated motor cars through the principal streets lined with interested onlookers to the beautiful local Welfare Park, where several thousands of adults had congregated for the crowning ceremony. After seating the children, the royal couple and their retinue, preceded by two pipers, moved slowly to the attractive and colourful dais for the crowning ceremony. After a fanfare of trumpets, John R. Finlay, Dux pupil of Newbattle Junior Secondary School, performed the crowning ceremony, amid great enthusiasm.
Mr John Rutherford, Vice Chairman of the Gala Day Committee, who presided in the unavoidable absence of Councillor Andrew Ross, welcomed the large company, and warmly thanked parents for their loyal support and sacrifices to ensure the success of this red-Ietter day in the lives of the children. On behalf of the Children's Gala Day Committee, the Chairman handed over wristlet watches to the King, Queen and Dux pupils to commemorate the occasion. He also presented the Gala Day Dux Championship Shield to John R Finlay. Each member of the court received a presentation gift. After the Royal Proclamation by Herald, Peter O'Meara, the school choir rendered 'Scots Wha Hae'.
An innovation was created when trophies won throughout the year by village organisations and clubs were presented by the King. These included the World's Juvenile Piping Championship Shield trophy gained by Newtongrange Lothian Pipe Band, the Miners' Gala Day Cup won by Newtongrange Lothian Silver Band for deportment and dress, awards gained by the local Co-operative Junior Choir, prizes given at individual solo competitions by Thomas Brown, Neil Dougal, and James Green to youthful members of Newtongrange Lothian Silver Band and the Thornton Shield, won the previous evening by Newtongrange Star Football Club. A memorable ceremony terminated with the playing of the National Anthem.
The King, Queen and court headed by pipers, proceeded by the
Main Street to Newtongrange Parish Church Hall, where they were entertained
to tea. After the children had received a bag of eatables, milk, and a sixpence,
a lengthy sports programme, under the direction of the teaching staffs of
the schools, was carried through. During the afternoon, musical selections
were rendered by the three local bands and the Easthouses Boys Harmonica Band,
under Mr Dan Docherty, dancing exhibitions by the Etta Mclntosh and Brownlee
Schools of Dancing and a spectacular gymnastic display by pupils of Newbattle
Junior Secondary School under Mr Norman, Easthouses. Tea and refreshment marquees
were provided for the adults, while pony and cart rides provided considerable
enjoyment among the children. The heightening of the crowning platform and
the loudspeaker apparatus added greatly to the enjoyment of the function.