1973
With regal pomp and splendour the Newtongrange Children's Gala Day celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on Saturday when the crowning ceremony took place, followed by the Gala festivities.
The Court
King - Finlay Duncan
Queen - Lorraine Nicolson
Chief Maid of Honour - Rhona Grieve;
First Lord - Thomas Campbell;
Maids of Honour - Eileen Robertson, Ruth Kirkwood;
Lords in Waiting - James Darling, Garry Black;
Herald - Laurence McIntosh;
Crown Bearers - Gino Milne, Mark Brownlie;
Halberdiers - George Hurst, Colin Harkness, Douglas Baxter,
Malcolm Holgate;
Ladies of the Court - Frances Doyle, Helen Brownlee, Elaine
Dubickas Fiona Campbell, Diana Dickson,
Jeanette McDonald, Maureen Wilson, Linda Taylor;
Bower Girls - Katrina McGlashan, Mary Gilchrist, Jacqueline
Jinks, Jacqueline McLaren;
Yeoman - Stephen Ramsay;
Flower Girls - Ann Green, Kathleen Keogh, Carol Cummings,
Jillian Grieve, Lynn Potter, Yvonne Meek, Rosemary Paxton, Elizabeth Reid;
Pages - Martin McGrath, Billy Lindsay, George Prentice, Stephen
Collins.
Riding in cars and headed by the local silver and pipe bands they drove slowly through the principal streets, followed by their loyal subjects in processional order, to the local public park.
This year's Royal Couple, Finlay Duncan and Lorraine Nicolson, were crowned by Alan Fernie and Jennifer Smith, last year's King and Queen.
After the ceremony the King and Queen were presented with watches from the Gala Day Committee to mark the occasion.
On her impending retiral Mrs Sawicki of Newtongrange Primary School was presented with a floral bouquet by Elizabeth Reid on behalf of the Gala Day Committee for her many services to the Committee.
Presentations of bracelets were made to the girls in the Court and the boy's received Parker pens.
Each child received a box of sweets and soft drinks and a Diamond Jubilee Badge.
Mr. John McGuff. Chairman of the committee. who presided over several thousand spectators, thanked the public, shopkeepers and businessmen for their generous financial support in their diamond jubilee year.
He stressed that the continuance of the annual gala day depended on the people of the village and not on the members of the committee. It was essential that more people should join the committee to ensure the future of the Gala Day.
He thanked the headmaster and teaching staff for their continued support, without which it would be difficult to hold the Gala.
He also voiced the committee's appreciation to the silver and pipe bands who had left the Miners' Gala in Holyrood Park to lead the procession and provide music at the crowning ceremony.
They were indebted to St Anthony's Tynesiders who had stepped into the breach following the disbandment of Ashington Telstars and also to the Dunfermline Accordion Band and the Bonnyrigg Scouts for their display of Indian Dancers at short notice .
A feature of the festivities was the display by the Golden Lions Free Fallers in which five members dropped into the sports arena and also the police dog display by members of the Lothians and Peebles Constabulary. Dancing exhibitions were provided by the Brownlee School of Dancing while members of the local BB gave gymnastic displays on the box, parallel bars and trampoline.
Owing to the unfavourable weather the Bonny Babies, Shapely Ankle, Glamorous Grannies and Trifle Eating competitions had to be abandoned.
A varied programme of children's sports was carried out under the supervision of the teaching staff.
Twenty-eight former kings and queens attended the festivities. An interesting feature was the diamond jubilee flower display provided by Mr Alex Ross, Superintendent of Parks and his staff.
On Friday evening a capacity audience attended the dress rehearsal of the crowning ceremony in the local community hall.
On Sunday afternoon the King, Queen and court attended a service in Newtongrange Parish Church. The King and Queen who read the scripture lesson, were presented with Bibles by the Congregational Board. The Rev R S Macnicol, Minister of the church preached an appropriate sermon .