A “Royal” day is in store at the annual Whitecraig Gala on Saturday, June 22.

This year’s queen, Grace Pattie, and king, Josh Irvine, will be crowned at a ceremony on Whitecraig playing field, near the local primary school, at 11am.

They will be supported by the royal court of 37 children – those pictured and also train bearers Blake Maxwell-Burton and Imogen Cook, flower girl Lara O’Neill and maid Alice Jaskolski – and accompanied by piper Matt Sinclair.

Queen Grace and King Josh will be crowned by Ann Dixon, this year’s Gracious Lady, who has lived in the village since 1955. She started at Whitecraig Primary School in 1960, returning to work there in 1983. She retired, aged 68, on November 3 last year – two years after retirement age. Her youngest daughter, Leanne, who was 10 months old when Ann started working at the school, is now 40.

Becka Melrose, speaking on behalf of the gala team, said: “She’s been in the school longer than anyone, between schooldays and her work days. What a great achievement and pillar of the community. We are honoured to have Ann take on this role this year.”

Gala tickets, priced £7, will be on sale at Deantown Bowling Club today (Thursday) at 6-8pm and Sunday at 2-4pm. They can be purchased from Lorraine at Day-Today Express (Whitecraig Post Office) until tomorrow (Friday), from 9am to noon.

A lunch bag, ice cream and 10 attraction tickets are included. Individual attraction tickets can be purchased on the day for £1. Gala lunch bags need to be ordered, so tickets should be bought in advance.

Gala attractions will include food vendors, a climbing wall, ponies, inflatables, bungee trampolines, face painting, a gaming van, dancers, live music and a fire engine.

Becka said: “The team have been busy organising the annual event, thinking of new ideas for the day to run smoothly and what to have as entertainment. We’re sure there’ll be things for all ages to enjoy.

“Thank you to everyone involved for their continued support. We are only a small team at the moment and not easy organising things but with more volunteers and the village growing, I’m sure we can get even better.”