1972
With menacing black clouds and threatening rain, the officials of Newtongrange Children's Gala Day Committee were placed in an unenviable position whether to go ahead as planned with the procession and the crowning or to put the alternative arrangements in case of inclement weather into operation with the crowning ceremony in the local Community Hall and the feeding of the children in the school, plus abandoning the Gala festivities. At the last moment they decided to risk the outdoors programme and headed by Newtongrange Lothian Silver Band wearing their new uniforms for the first time, and Newtongrange Pipe Band, the King and Queen elect Alan Fernie and Jennifer Smith in a specially decorated vehicle and their Court proceeded to the Public Park for the Crowning Ceremony.
The Court
King - Alan Fernie
Queen - Jennifer Smith
Chief Maid of Honour - Kathleen Lindsay;
First Lord - Alan Melrose;
Maids of Honour - Karen Richardson, Marian Booth;
Lords in Waiting - James Melrose, Ian Hay;
Herald - John Duncan;
Crown Bearers - Anthony Campbell, John Pearson;
Halberdiers - Robert Albertson, James Duncan, Gordon Herriot,
Dallas Wilson;
Ladies of the Court - Hazel Hamilton, Helen Walton, Anne
Moffat, Jacqueline Jenkins, Janet Dickson, Sandra lnglis,
Patricia Halley, Jean McWilliams;
Flower Girls - Marion Cooper, Maria McClymont, Carol Burrell,
Margaret Pow, Lorraine Stewart, Anne Marshall,
Diane Meek, Lynn Wyllie, Gail Lawton, Carol Reid, Trudi Logan;
Yeoman - John Burrell;
Pages - Andrew Darling, Billy Lindsay, Gordon Stanners and
Derek Collins.
Councillor John McGuff in a brief speech proposed a vote of thanks to all who had contributed to the success of the Gala. He referred to next year's Gala, which would be their Diamond Jubilee and hoped to raise £500 to finance celebrations. The Committee hoped to organise a penny a week scheme, which he hoped the village would support. It was the intention of the Committee, said Mr McGuff, to approach the local shopkeepers to place a collection box on their counters and a notice placed beside it reminding the public of the penny a week desired for the Diamond Jubilee fund.
Gala Titbits: Attendance at the crowning ceremony: around 9,000. Park Gate collection raised £54. Door-to-Door £69; The Dress Rehearsal in the Community Hall raised £23 with a record attendance.
Entertainment: Consisted of Pumpherston Majorettes, Punch and Judy, Highland Dancing and a full sports programme.