Sean Kennedy, Newtongrange Primary School
The Gala Day is the best part of Newtongrange. It only comes once a year with a King and Queen. There are shops all around the park. You can be in the gala day if you are in the Primary 3's or 7's. I'm in the 7's and I'm in the gala. If you are not, you can march and get goodies. There are the helicopter rides and the Army. My dad was in the gala when he was my age.
Kerry Martin, Newtonloan St Andrew's Primary School
I can remember when I was chosen to be on the Gala Day. I rushed home out of school that day, as I felt really special. We went to rehearsals every week and at first I felt a bit strange because I did not know everyone but the committee soon made us feel at ease and it was good fun after that. As the days passed I got more excited and nervous.
When the big day finally arrived I was collected from my home in a lovely-decorated car and became part of the procession heading towards the park. There were people lined on both sides of the road waving and cheering. We travelled slowly round the park waving to everyone until we went on to the stage. The walk to the stage seemed to go on forever because I was so nervous.
When the crowning ceremony was over there was a parachute display. It was lovely. The planes gave out all different colours of smoke. One of the parachutists landed in the middle of the circle where everyone was watching. I think he was a bit off course.
All the court members were then taken for a meal, which I thoroughly enjoyed, as I had been too excited to eat properly beforehand. Then finally being presented with a plaque with my name, date and Newtongrange Gala written, that was a day I shall never forget.
Colin Dalgleish, Newtongrange Primary School
I can always remember the time when I was on stage. I was a pageboy. I was a bit nervous at first but then I felt nothing. When it was the last rehearsal I felt shy but when it was over I felt great. When it was time for the real thing I was nervous because I had to face most of the school. My partner was Alan McGowan. Alan and I were walking down the grass holding the King's cloak. The best bit I liked was when I was in the car waving to people. When I was in the 'fours' I wished everybody was on stage.
Ashleigh Watson, Newtongrange Primary School
Saturday 16 June 1991. I got up and dressed for our gala. I put on my new dress, bag, hat and my new shiny shoes and went to the Square to meet Kathleen and some of my friends. We got Mr Drysdale to march us down at 1 o clock. You walked down and everyone is staring at you and you see them saying she or he is beautiful, lovely or fantastic. And you smell clean air, candyfloss, hamburgers and you feel shaky, excited and you see all the people who are going on stage. They all look beautiful. Then you get to the motor bikes. They smell horrid when the petrol leaks from the tank and they zipped and zoomed past each other. Then you go on to the death slide. It makes a “ZZZZZZZZZZ” noise and it feels like your stomach is in your throat and your eyes go funny because it is so fast. It smells of rope and it is just beautiful. You can get anything you want from our gala.
Janek Smolaga, Newtongrange Primary School
At first it was all new to me but now I understand. I come out
from my house to the Square and see everyone with flags, new clothes and smiles
on their faces. Then the Court arrives in the big limousines. We march down
to the Park with the bands and majorettes in front of us. Then we arrive at
the Park where the aisle and the stage are ready for the joyous ceremony of
the court. There is the 'pungent' smell of the motor bike fumes and the sweet
smell of the candy floss that melts in your mouth, the sound of the motor
bikes, the shouts and screams from the simulator and the odd shout of “AAHHGG"
coming from the death slide. Then there are the stalls, which are further
out than the rest, that sell or raffle all sorts of things like chocolates,
toys, bottles of things and cakes. Then the announcement that the ceremony
is about to start and there is a rush to the aisle to be first. It starts
- the King, Queen, Herald, Bower Girls, PageBoys, Flower Girls etc. and before
you know it, its over.
The crowd slowly dies away until it is over for another year.
Pamela Dow, Newtonloan St Andrew's Primary School
The Gala Day I remember best was the one I was in when I was in Primary 3. I remember being on the stage and going to get a dress made. I helped make flowers for the arch and I was picked up for the dress rehearsal. It was a very hot day on the day of the gala. I got oil on my dress but we managed to get it off. I was very hot in my dress. After the gala all the people who were on the stage went for a meal. The Gala Court were invited to Dalhousie Castle and my Gran from Selkirk came down to go with us. My dad had to get up very early to get the arch up and get things ready. Mrs Harte, my teacher, came to the door with a card for me.
David Logan, Newtongrange Primary School
My experience at Gala days have all been fun, happy and good. There's lots to do. Sometimes the Army comes to show you how to work guns. I had a shot of a gun but kept missing the target I had to hit. There is a giant death slide and I can see why they call it a death slide! My dad and I both went to look at engines for a helicopter. There were ice cream vans everywhere (I was amazed). Then there is the schools Gala Court. I would have liked to have been King but David Chalmers was. The sweets are even better. I like decorating houses with streamers. Newtongrange has the best Gala Day.
Alan McGowan, Newtongrange Primary School
My experience of the Gala was an exciting escapade. First we were picked up and taken to the church in elaborate cars. We were driven to the park in the same cars and were ready to start .I had a partner called Colin Dalgleish; we held the King's robe. We were last to march down. On the day of the gala everyone was nervous. There are four pageboys. I was a pageboy. When we started to walk down a big cheer went up for the King.
I managed to get third prize in the best-dressed gate competition, which is held for the gala court members. My gate had four soldiers, three bowers. My mum made flowers with my aunties.
After the court, we went to the church and had lunch. Then we got changed and went to join in the fun. In the park they had motorbikes, tanks, army vehicles, bouncy castles and loads of stalls .On the build up to the gala we had a talent show, football five a sides, fancy dress and dances.
On the Sunday we had our Kirking Service and then we went to Dalhousie Castle and had a banquet and loads of games.
Ashleigh Gray, Newtongrange Primary School
The Gala Day is an annual summer event. The galas started in 1913 and have now been going on for 80 years. When this year's gala has passed, the school will be getting ready for their eighty-first anniversary. In 1989, (the seventy-sixth year) I was selected from primary three to be a flower girl. It was a very exciting experience. My partner was Stephanie Greenhill. The Queen that year was Angela Dalgleish and the King was Scott Dyett. My other gala experiences include talent contests, fancy dress parades and others. I have been entering the talent contests for the past two years. The first year I sang "I'd do anything" from the musical 'Oliver' and came second. My prize was an invitation to ride in a horse and trap in the gala parade, which had been donated by the Scottish Mining Museum, along with Euan Munro who came first for dancing. The second year I came third for singing "The Windy City" from the musical 'Calamity Jane' and I won a goody bag. You can be in the gala day in the primary threes and sevens. My Grandad and my dad went to Newtongrange Primary School but they were not in the gala day. This year I am in primary seven and I am hoping to be on the gala.