Thornton Gala 2014 Part 1

Where do i start, I still feel a little bit overwhelmed by the gala and how it went.

It all started for me when i was about 6 years old and the sunday school i attended picked me to be in the retinue for there rose queen. Months of float decorating followed and finally the day arrived and i can remember being sat on the float in my frilly dress, white gloves and a parasol in hand completely giddy and in awe of all the crowds of people stood on the streets waving and cheering as we passed. I was part of the parade that i had watched every year and it was so exciting. The route was about 7 miles long i believe and it was a highly anticipated event. Hundreds of people took part in either groups walking, on floats or just a couple of friends dressing up. I was in it several times over the next few years and was very lucky that each time it was a glorious sunny day.

Fast forward to June last year, due to a lack of volunteers the parade was cancelled. Over the years due to council red tape and health and safety, less people helping and a lack of interest from parents the parade route had been made much smaller and the parade its self had shrunk. Due to an outcry from the community a meeting was organised by the Gala committee to discuss the reasons the parade had been cancelled and to hopefully recruit new members. That is when i heard about the Gala committee and decided to go along to the meeting.
Lots of people turned up to that meeting, some were really angry and blamed the committee for not doing enough, suggestions were given but ultimately lots of them had already been tried and due to there only being several members it was difficult. The only solution was more people to help. After that meeting 13 new people including me came to the next meeting. We have meetings once a month then twice a month for the 2 months before gala day. But the numbers dwindled each time and only a few of us stayed on and became committee members. We all agreed that we would like to make the parade bigger and better this year and to take the route back to the area it had began nearly 115 years ago. The chairman Debbie and her husband worked tirelessly to make this happen and it paid off as the council approved the new route.

Whilst all this was going on Molly and Ewan were chosen to be in the retinue for the Gala Queen for 2014 so all the parents have to get together and design and make the float. For me this was bliss sticking and gluing whilst having a little drink. we met every Tuesday evening from April till Gala day in June. we had to pick a theme and we chose The Secret Garden.

In the last few weeks there was so much going on i think Paul wondered what was going on as i seemed to be out a few nights a week. We did leaflet drops for the new route, putting up posters on the lamppost. Getting the stage ready, rehearsals for the day organizing the stalls. I never realised how much work goes into these events but the team is really great and to be honest it was fun.

We really made a huge effort to try and get all the local schools involved, i had kept up the pressure at our kids school to get involved and others did the same. It did feel like people wanted it more this year because it had been cancelled the year before.

In the week before it was manic i had loads to do and was so excited, its like being a kid again.
Then finally the day dawned and we were ready to go, we all met on the field at 8am

I was doing the catering for the vips and committee members so had been up late the night before and super early making food.

Our float arrived and it was the first time that most of the committe had seen it.

The theme we had chosen was The secret garden. The new Queen and the retinue was also all dress up for the first time.

Finally the field was all set up and we just had to wait and hope that people would come and join in the parade.

The sun was out and it was so warm at at 10 am people started to arrive for judging.. and they kept on coming! we were so pleased we had more people than we had expected there were 100 people from my kids school alone and another three local schools were also in the parade. There were kids in fancy dress trailers and prams that had been decorated the turn out was fantastic and the committee had to work twice as hard to get everyone ready to set off.

 My job was to Marshall one of the roads so i was lucky enough ti be able to watch the parade so i was stood waiting for the parade and we could here the pipeband in the distance before we could see it

Finally the parade passed and i recorded it. It took a full 10 minutes to pass it was the longest and best parade we had in years and i have to admit i felt a little teary and very proud that i have been part of it.

After the parade the new Queen was crowned and we all headed to the fair.

I wish i had taken more photos of the day but i was so busy and wrapped up in the moment and enjoying a fantastic family and community day.

bye for now x