With the 75th anniversary of the Newtongrange Children's Gala, Mrs Nan Scrambler of Easthouses was prompted to write the following poem about her past gala experiences.
MEMORIES O' NITTEN GALA DAYS
I canna mind seventy-five years back
for ma age is just seventy-three,
But aye it's been a weel-kent fact
that Nitten Gala was tap o' the tree!
Odd things keep crowdin' into ma heid
like picturs in the auld Square Park,
The horse o' the ice-cream cairt haen a feed
Laddies pullin' lassies' hair for a lark!
Mr Forrest aye did a clog dance act
For me he was a star!
Am shair its true -it was a fact -
he was kent baith near an' far!
There was aye the smert Silver Band -
A mind fine Bandmaister Broon ,
An' the braw kiltie Pipers looked richt grand
as they gaed mairchin' up an' doon.
A mind Arnott Simpson an' Alice Law,
dancin' wi' their Highland troupes .
Us bairns watched wi' wonder an' awe
at the clever flings, reels an' loops .
A mind the very first Gala Queen -
Emma Quinto wis her name .
Her faither bocht robes o' rich blue sateen
but they were never yased again!
We a' got pies as weel as buns in a poke
forbye each a hale new penny -
there wis nae sich thing as tins o' coke -
we a' got milk in oor tinny!
Parkers Stores an' Reid's Beehive
did a roarin' trade in claes
for every bairn frae the age o' five
was rigged oot frae tap tae taes!
A could gaun oan for 'oors and 'oors
recallin' things doon through the years.
Ma mind often wanders on happy Memory Tours
tho' for folks long gone a still greet tears !
Tae. feenish up a want tae say
Nitten folk are richt prood the day
Tae hae a lassie like. you Janette*
They'll be forever in your debt!
Here's hopin' when ye celebrate your HUNDER !
(Long afore then A'll be doon under!)
You'll still be enjoyin' the hard work ye dae.
Thank you lass! Hae a nice day!
Nan Scrambler 1988
*This last chapter refers to Janette Stewart who was the guiding force on The
Gala Committee for many years until ill health forced her to retire. She died
less than two weeks after watching the 2002 Gala. She never made the 100th anniversary
but she did see the 89th.