1981
Newtongrange folk refused to let rain dampen their spirits
at the Gala Day on Saturday and although the Crowning Ceremony had to be cut
short, organisers pronounced the day a success. Chairman of the gala day committee,
Miss Jeanette Stewart, said: "There was a motorcade tour of the village
in the morning and guest judges from Livingston and Edinburgh judged the best
decorated gate and car. The first three best-decorated gates belonged to children
from the Gala Court. The parade started at 1.15pm and fortunately the rain
showers cleared to allow a curtailed crowning ceremony to take place on the
stage in the park.
King Derek Horsburgh and Queen Shona Ormiston were crowned by Gail Weston and John Kirkwood. Many events took
place during the afternoon.
A novelty flan-flinging event took place and two volunteers bravely took the
barrage of flans flung by delighted children.
King - Derek Horsburgh
Queen - Shona Ormiston
Chief Maid Of Honour - Isabel Freeland
First Lord - Alan Urquhart
Maids Of Honour - Heather Watson, Audrey Young
Lord In Waiting - Ray Halliday, Stewart Wilson
Herald - Neil Bennett
Crown Bearers - Paul O'Brien, Kenneth Reid
Halberdiers - Clark Duncan, George Easton, Jim Waterston, Robert Young
Ladies Of The Court - Pauline Beveridge, Rachelle McIntosh, Nicola Ross, Shona Smith, Margaret Sygierycz, Sally Ann Watson, Nicola Weighhand,
Jacqueline Young
Bower Girls - Elaine Hughes, Dorothy Martin, Jacqueline Syme, Michelle Telford,
Yeoman - Douglas Wilson
Flower Girls - Moira Gordon, Jennifer McDougal, Tracey Moffatt, Angela McGuiness, Gail Marshall, Melanie Reid, Tracey Smith, Joan Wilkie
Page Boys -
Jason Austin, Paul Burnett, Andrew Charlton, Brian Pryde
A motor cycle display team from the Blue Arrows, Royal Corps
of Transport, put on a spectacular show. Despite the rain, many people stayed
to watch the men put their bikes over ramps and through a flaming archway.
A kirking service was held in Newtongrange Parish Church on Sunday and £34 was collected. This will be presented to the Phoenix Club at Newbattle Community Centre.
Other highlights of the gala week included a senior citizens' social when more than 300 people attended.
Newtongrange Morris Club won the pubs and clubs section of the Tug o' War competition and the Deanbank Hotel won the visitors section.