HISTORY OF NEWTONGRANGE GALA 1993 Questionnaire - Committee
DIANE GRAHAM
1. Can you remember your first Gala Day?
1972 as a child. 1992 as a committee member.
2. What, for you, was the 'Best' Gala you ever helped to organise and why?
1992 Gala because its the only one so far I've wholly been involved in. 1993 will be better though!
3. Have you any funny stories to tell about your time on the 'Gala Committee' i.e. fund-raising etc?
Yes, when Jimmy Whyte landed in a tree during the sponsored parachute jump event. I nearly landed in a dung heap. Our first 'plane crash landed and the one I had to do my jump from involved stepping out on to the wing and pushing myself backwards -very scary but fun.
During the parachute jump event, at the Border Parachute Centre, Janette fell out of her bunk bed the night before the jump. Fortunately she was on the bottom bunk but I think she was trying to decide if a solo jump would have been better than a tandem one! !
On another event - abseiling down Borthwick Castle -a girl got her hair caught in the rope. A soldier had to do an emergency drop and climb down to chop off some of her long hair - unfortunate for the girl but the birds were happy with the hair!
4. Have there been any times when you have wanted to relinquish your position on the Gala Committee?
Not so far.
5 .Who, would you say, has done more to keep the Galas going and why?
Janette because she has been the Chairman since I joined the Committee
6. What makes a good Committee Member?
Someone who has spare time, is committed, good fun, likes to be part of a team which achieves a good end result and has good ideas.
7. When did you join the Gala Day Committee?
Some time in 1991. (It was after the 1991 gala day).