Musselburgh and Wallyford Galas return for first time in three years

In Musselburgh, community councillors are “delighted” that the town’s annual children’s gala is going ahead on the jubilee weekend, having brought the event forward to mark the monarch’s 70-year milestone.

From noon until 4pm on Saturday, Fisherrow Links will come alive with a variety of entertainment for all generations.

Organised by Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council, the attractions include fairground rides, magic and acrobatics from entertainer Alexander the Great, and face painting. Tea and sandwiches will be served by The Brunton Bistro and burgers by Sizzlers can be enjoyed. Goodie bags with juice, crisps and sweets will be handed out by the community council.

Irene Tait, chairperson of the community council, said everyone was “upbeat” about the children’s gala being held this year, as it last took place in 2019 before being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are delighted the gala is going ahead on the jubilee weekend. Hopefully, it should be a good day,” she added.

Tickets for the gala are available from The Brunton box office at a cost of £1.50.

Fun in Wallyford

Meanwhile, organisers are hoping everyone has a “great day together” at Wallyford Children’s Gala this Saturday after it was also cancelled for the past two years due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The fun starts tomorrow evening (Friday), with the judging of the best decorated houses.

On gala day itself, a parade, led by the Coldstream Pipe Band, will leave Wallyford Miners Club at 11.15am. Featuring the gala court and fancy dress participants, it will make its way along Salters Road.

A stop will be made at the Mining Memorial Stone in the St Clements housing estate, where herald Jacob Wilkie will address the crowd. Wreath bearers Lily Gibson and Rhea-Leigh Hardie will lay wreaths at the memorial stone.

The procession will move on to Drummohr Care Home, where the gala court will meet residents outside and, along with pipe band members, enjoy a drink and snack. The rest of the parade will make its way to the park.

Pastor Andrew Agnew, of the Wallyford Livingroom Church, will lead the crowning ceremony in the park and the gala court will be invited onto the stage. Jacqueline Lawson, a gala team stalwart, has the honour of crowning the 2022 Gala Queen Summer O’Neill and Gala King Darren Crawford at noon.

After the formalities are concluded, spectators can enjoy fairground rides, inflatables and pony rides.

The winners of the fancy dress parade and best decorated houses will be announced at about 1.30pm, with the event closing at 4.30pm.

'Very excited'

Suzanne Laidlaw, of the gala team, said: “The gala team are very excited about the return of the gala. We have all worked extremely hard behind the scenes over the past year or so to fundraise and make the gala day possible for our village.

“We are a small team of 10 and, as the village increases in size, so does the workload. We would like to thank everyone who supports us in making the gala day happen.

“We hope everyone enjoys the gala day and that a lot of families come out and have a great day together.

“We hope everyone respects each other and everything we have put on, and encourages community spirit and looks out for each other so everyone has a great day. We just hope the weather is on our side.”

The jubilee will be marked by the lighting of beacons at Fisherrow Links in Musselburgh and St Clements Gardens North, Wallyford, to tie in with the national tribute at 9.45pm this evening (Thursday).

A street party will be held at Newhailes Avenue in Musselburgh tomorrow (Friday) and, on Sunday Musselburgh Sea Cadets are hosting a now-fully-booked Big Community Jubilee Lunch in the car park at the Fisherrow Centre.

A family festival is being held at Newhailes House & Gardens tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.

'Communities coming together'

Councillor Fiona Dugdale, ward member for Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, said: “It is so wonderful to know that after all this time, galas are returning.

“It will be fabulous to see our communities coming together to celebrate and reconnect, something I am sure we are all looking forward to. I certainly am.

“Huge thanks to all the local volunteers, whose hard work means we can enjoy galas and local jubilee celebrations this year.”

Fellow ward councillor Lee-Anne Menzies said: “The communities across East Lothian and Scotland have had the ordeal of Covid blighting every aspect of their lives for the past two years – very necessary to protect lives and our NHS. But we cannot understate the impact that this had on us all.

“It’s wonderful to see us return to activities that remind us how important it is to be connected with others and to be part of our communities.

“The galas are a chance to celebrate the resilience we’ve shown and the good deeds that came from the nightmare of Covid.

“The galas and community events coming over the summer now hold more importance for us all and I’m sure everyone will join me in applauding the hard work and tireless efforts of the many volunteers involved. Those volunteers show us all what community spirit is and we’re all the richer for it.”

'Full of admiration'

Ward councillor Colin McGinn added: “I am delighted to see children’s galas once again taking place throughout the county. After the past few years, I feel it is crucial that our communities can come together safely to support our children and also the committees who are working hard to keep these traditions alive.

“I know from experience the time, commitment and passion it takes from families and organisers to pull together these events and I am full of admiration for them that they have done so whilst we recover from the effects of the pandemic.”

Councillor Cher Cassini, ward member for Musselburgh, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see the gala events returning to Musselburgh and Wallyford. After such a long period of missing these events, it will be wonderful to see them back and from what I’ve heard about the plans it will be a weekend to remember.

“I would like to congratulate Amy Rooke, Musselburgh Honest Lass, and Jack McFarlane, Musselburgh Honest Lad, on their election to the roles. I would also like to congratulate Summer O’Neill, the Wallyford Gala Queen, and Darren Crawford, Wallyford Gala King, and wish them well for their time ahead.”

Fellow ward councillor Andy Forrest said: “I am very happy the gala days have come back. I would like to thank all the people in Musselburgh, Whitecraig and Wallyford for the work they have put in, not just for this year’s events, but also during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, said: “It’s fantastic that Wallyford Children’s Gala and Musselburgh Children’s Gala are returning full swing this year alongside the Queen’s jubilee celebrations. The Covid-19 pandemic restricted community celebrations such as galas and I am sure everyone is excited to be able to come together to celebrate in this year’s events.

“This would, of course, not be possible without the hard work the local community councils and gala teams. I would like to extend a huge thank you to them for making these events possible and I hope everyone has a great weekend celebrating.”