Published: Thursday, 11th June, 2009 6:00am

Village celebrates

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RAINY spells and cold temperatures failed to take away the warm feeling felt by everyone at Saturday"s Cockenzie and Port Seton gala day.

Queen Roseanna Gaffney was piped in to the Port Seton Centre by Michael Simpson, 16, and was met by her gala court, who all looked wonderful in their traditional outfits and colourful dresses.

A parade of decorated floats toured the village, stopping at the war memorial where Blair Wallace, the queen"s champion, laid a wreath.

Queen Roseanna and her court then boarded the queen"s barge, Suranne, at Cockenzie Harbour. A traditional "sea battle" between the gala sailors and the gala pirates took place on a rather choppy Firth of Forth.

All the boats looked splendid with their brighly coloured flags - with organisers hugely thankful to all the local fishermen who took part.

Queen Roseanna was transported safely to Port Seton Harbour, and then the procession made its way to King George V Park for the crowning ceremony.

Local resident, Mrs Annette Sheldrick, was this year"s gracious lady and had the honour of crowing Roseanna; last year"s queen Caitlin McMillan handed over the sceptre.

Heralds Sam Reynolds and Liam Fleming read the royal proclamations, and the court was then presented to the queen on the decorated stage, set in a marquee in the park.

Queen Roseanna also made presentations to the "top boat of gala week", a highly competitive award coveted by all the local skippers. It was won by Robert Johnston (Sea Spray). A presentation was also made to the skipper of the queen"s barge, the Suranne, Andrew Mack, 21.

Benjamin Fyffe then read out the prizewinners for the decorated shops: 1 Blooms by the Sea; 2 Ramages The Bakers.

Award for best decorated house: 1 Miss Winter, 20 Rowanhill Drive; 2 Flowergirl, 1 Castle Avenue; 3 Attendant to Flowergirl, 10 Rowanhill Park; Highly commended: Fishergirl, 1 Thomson Crescent; Flowergirl, 3 Castle Road, and Pageboy, 46 Inglis Avenue.

Paula McLay, vice-chair of Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council, then presented the 2009 Achievement Award to John Marshall for services outwith and within the community. John, who works at the Port Seton Centre, is one of the best-known faces in the community, and has been carrying out great work taking aid to Belarus to help the country"s kids.

The Young Person Award went to sisters Hayley and Stacey McDonald for their work with the local young folk in East Lothian Gymnastic Club.

The ceremony - watched by county MP Anne Moffat and MSP Iain Gray, as well as local councillors Margaret Libberton and Stuart and Ruth Currie - was concluded by committee member Shelly Horne, who gave the vote of thanks.

She praised the hard work of the gala committee and numerous volunteers who had worked very hard to put on this event. She also paid tribute to the children of the court, and their families, for their assitance and performance on the day.

The park was full of entertainers with displays from Drumatik Drumming Group, East Lothian Gymnastic Club, Stephanie May School of Dance and Dunbar Primary Cheerleaders. There was also a whole afternoon of music from young local bands Oddity, Re-insurers, Neon, Nuckie and Unplugged.

'The quadbikes, funfair and stalls all added to a wonderful day of festivities that even the rain could not spoil,' said gala committee member Lyn Marshall.

'This is such a traditional event in the Cockenzie and Port Seton calendar, with Roseanna now the 61st Seton Queen, and thanks are given to everyone who helped make this day possible.'

Gala events end with a gala ball tomorrow (Saturday). Tickets £8/£4 are still available, with a buffet, and entertainment from "The Last Resort".