1959
One of the oldest and most colourful children's gala coronation
ceremonies in Midlothian took place at Newtongrange on Saturday in glorious
weather. It was a fitting climax to a gala week of open air sporting events,
variety concerts, open air dancing, and a pre-gala night dance. It was, however,
a big disappointment to the hard working Gala Committee when several of the
functions failed to receive the wholehearted support of the community.
The bowling tournament on the Newbattle green, through the co-operation of the local bowling club, attracted an entry of 56 pairs. Winners were 1. John Smith and James Wilson, Newbattle; 2.Daniel Slater, Easthouses and Tom Smith, Newbattle. In the drawing competition Lewis Morrison, Newbattle was first and Thomas Carson, Newbattle, runner-up. Novelty competition, nearest to jack, was won by Henry Weston, Newbattle.
In the five-a-side tournament F. Watson's, Bonnyrigg side won the Open competition and in the junior "fives" the local Star were winners.
The coveted positions at the coronation ceremony are decided on the educational merits of the pupils in the local schools and the Gala Day Committee are indebted to the continued willing co-operation of Mr Charles D. Walinck, Mr Charles J. Barrington and Mr J. Hanlon respective headmasters of Newbattle Junior Secondary School, Newtongrange Primary School and Newtonloan St Andrew's RC School and their teaching staffs who annually supervise the schoolchildren at the Gala Day and run the children's sports programme.
The Court
King - Jan Bielski
Queen - Sandra Robertson
Dux of Newbattle Junior Secondary School - Janette Stewart;
Herald - Kenneth Walkingshaw;
Chief Maid of Honour - Rosina Linton;
First Lord - David Symington;
Maids of Honour - Mary O'Meara, Elizabeth Melrose;
Lords in Waiting - Robert Samuel, John Jenks;
Crown Bearers - James Rutherford, William A. Fraser;
Pages - James Pryde, Ian Ford, Robert Clark, Kenneth Campbell;
Yeoman, Robert P. Lothian;
Ladies of the Court - Helen Campbell, Catherine Naysmith,
Sheena Goodlet, Elizabeth Bell , Elizabeth McWhinnie,
Patricia Inverarity, Catherine Clark, Mary Dayle;
Bower Girls - Carol Watkin, Lorraine Cameron, Isobel T. Pirrie,
Rosemary H. Reid;
Halberdiers - Charles Lunn, Alex Walkingshaw, Brian Dubickas,
David O'Connor;
Flower Girls - Barbara Moffat, Sheila House, Margaret Bowman,
Edna Davidson, Ellen Russell, Cynthia Ross,
Patricia McCluskey, Susan Faulkner.
Assembling at the Square Park the King and Queen in landau's and their Court
in gaily bedecked motor cars, followed by 1800 'loyal subjects' in processional
order and headed by the Newtongrange Lothian Silver Prize Band and Newtongrange
Pipe Band, proceeded via Third Street, Lingerwood Road and Main Street to
the Public Park where several thousand interested onlookers w1tnessed the
Royal Party thousand interested onlookers w1tnessed the Royal Party mount
the beautiful decorated platform for the crowning ceremony.
Councillor John Slater, Chairman of the Gala Day Committee,
presided at the coronation ceremony. In a short address he referred to the
current rumours that this year's function would be the last Gala Day in the
village. He wished to dispel this rumour, but made it perfectly clear that
unless more young and active members joined. the Committee it would possibly
endanger the continuation of the Gala .
Finances were at present in a healthy state but it was necessary to augment
the handsome donations from the three local branches of the National Union
of Mineworkers and the Central Workshops and Enginemen and Boiler Firemen
and Tradesmen's Association. The Dean Tavern, to mark their jubilee year,
had generously doubled their annual donation of 50 guineas. The Co-operative
Societies and local shopkeepers had also helped.
During the winter the Committee had organised several schemes to raise money but these had failed to gain the expected support of the community and they were losing money.
Dux of Newbattle Junior Secondary School, Janette Stewart, gracefully performed the crowning ceremony amid great enthusiasm.
On behalf of the Gala Day Committee, Mr Archibald Dougal, for over a quarter of a century secretary of the Committee until leaving the district last year, presented watches to the King, Queen and Janette Stewart to mark the auspicious occasion.
Janette also received the Gala Day Dux Championship Shield. Congratulatory telegrams from the ex- King, Queen and Dux pupil were read.
The children received a bag of eatables, sweets, milk and a sixpence and after the crowning ceremony the royal party re-entered their carriages and visited the boundaries of their Kingdom, a gesture which was greatly appreciated by many old and infirm folk, unable to attend the ceremony.
Councillor John Slater, Chairman of the Gala Day Committee, presided at the coronation ceremony. In a short address he referred to the current rumours that this year's function would be the last Gala Day in the village. He w1shed to dispel this rumour, but made it perfectly clear that unless more young and active members joined. the Committee it would possibly endanger the continuation of the Gala .
Finances were at present in a healthy state but it was necessary to augment the handsome donations from the three local branches of the National Union of Mineworkers and the Central Workshops and Enginemen and Boiler Firemen and Tradesmen's Association. The Dean Tavern, to mark their jubilee year, had generously doubled their annual donation of 50 guineas. The Co-operative Societies and local shopkeepers had also helped.
During the winter the Committee had organised several schemes to raise money but these had failed to gain the expected support of the community and they were losing money.
On behalf of the Gala Day Committee, Mr Archibald Dougal, for
over a quarter of a century secretary of the Committee until leaving the district
last year, presented watches to the King, Queen and Janette Stewart to mark
the auspicious occasion.
Janette also received the Gala Day Dux Championship Shield.
Congratulatory telegrams from the ex-King, Queen and Dux Pupil were read.
The children received a bag of eatables, sweets, milk and a sixpence and after the crowning ceremony the royal party re-entered their carriages and visited the boundaries of their Kingdom, a gesture which was greatly appreciated by many old and infirm folk, unable to attend the ceremony.