1966
At Newtongrange the King and Queen have been selected. The King, is young Graham Burnside and the Queen is Miss Eliza Paxton.
The Newtongrange Gala, formerly united with Easthouses, has been held annually for over 40 years. Originally, it was a day holiday for miners children who otherwise had no holiday.
The Crowning Ceremony took place with regal pomp and pageantry on Saturday in fine weather.
Over 1,200 children assembled in the Square Park and headed by the King and Queen elect and their Court, walked in procession through the village.
The Court
King - Graham Burnside
Queen - Eliza Paxton
First Lord - George Purves;
Chief Maid of Honour - Margaret Pearson;
Lords in Waiting - A. Archibald, Bernard Mason;
Maids of Honour - Linda Stewart, Marian Campbell;
Herald - Murray T Dunarchie;
Halberdiers - Keith Hewat, Henry Boswell, John Wellem and
Michael Statylowicz;
Ladies of the Court - Andrea McBride , Mary Melrose, Janet
Liddle, Rose Gillies, Muriel Anderson, Violet Kinnear, Dorothy Anderson, Sandra
Burnett;
Bower Girls - Linda Morgan, Deborah Wilson, Elizabeth McLean,
Joyce Pearson;
Yeoman - Keith Anderson;
Crown Bearers - Kenneth Black, John B Ross;
Pages - Keith Cornwall, George King, David Klan, Tom Connelly;
Flower Girls - Lynn Saddler, Eileen Shearin, Irene Horsburgh,
Jacqueline McAlpine, Pamela Wilson,
Joan McIlreavy, Mary Milne, Rosemary Clark.
In their bright dresses the girls, and the boys in grey flannels and white shirts, presented a colourful picture as Councillor John McGuff, Chairman ,of the Gala Day Committee thanked all who assisted in any way in the success of the annual event.
Members of the court were presented with gifts from the Committee and the King and Queen received watches to commemorate the auspicious day. After the crowning the children were provided with a carton of eatables, milk and a sixpence (2½p).
During the afternoon judo and Highland dancing displays were given by local organisations. A full sports programme was carried through under the supervision of Mr C. Barrington, Headmaster of Newtongrange Primary School.