Civic Week History
Researched by Liz Rae
March 2024
Source: Central Libraries Service, Dunfermline Library
GALA IMPRESSION AT COWDENBEATH – FRI 9TH JUN 1933
MORE PEOPLE TRAVEL
Not for many years has the annual miner’s Gala holidays been favoured with such brilliant weather conditions as was the case this week and despite all the depression and unemployment in our midst it must be said that the miners, their wives and children were able to spend a short time at the seaside or at least away from the environment in which they are living nearly all year.
The number of people who managed to travel to the coast was indeed amazing and especially on Monday, Cowdenbeath was a deserted town. From the early morning there was a general exodus. By rail, bus and tram, hundreds made their way to the spots they had selected to pass the day.
The skirl of Pipe Bands and music by the Brass Band emphasised the holiday spirit.
The day was also one of joy and happiness to hundreds of children attached to certain local Sunday Schools, while there was a large number of excursions organised on a smaller scale. Family outings were very popular. The kiddies, brightly attired to suit the weather, presented an inspiring sight as they marched through the High Street in processional order enroute to the station. They could not hide their happiness, which was given vent ti in lusty singing and cheering.
Both rail and bus travelling was exceedingly popular and everything passed off without mishap. At certain times of the day a policeman had to control the crowds waiting for buses at the Fountain stance, while the railway station presented an augmented spectacle all afternoon.
Over the full week-end there was a big increase in the number travelling by rail as compared with last year. Edinburgh, as in former years, was a popular destination. On Monday and Tuesday, 500 made the journey to Auld Reekie, while 200 week-end tickets were also issued to the Capital.
The general tendency was to favour the sea-side however, and on Monday the rail returns showed that 500 had visited Aberdour, Burntisland and Kirkcaldy, while of 250 afternoon trippers, 150 chose Leven and 100 made Glasgow the focus for their holiday.
Large contingents also journeyed by rail to Stirling, Cupar, Dundee, St.Andrews, Largo and Falkirk.
In addition to these figures there travelled from Cowdenbeath for organised outings to various centres, nearly 1000 adults and children. No figures are available for the traffic by bus or tram, but the popular routes were, it is estimated, much heavier than usual
Burntislan and Aberdour were especially popular and thousands of people must have visited these resorts from the district. Summing up, one would say that the miner and his family have had on this occasion a most enjoyable Gala vacation which ust have proved very invigorating,
That the number who travelled must have been a big increase on previous years may be attributed to the fact that the employment at the mines has been very steady during the year while the tropical like weather conditions was another factor. Another impression that one formed was that the average miner was more settled than has been the case for many years and this was borne out by the fact that the joint attendances of the two rival Galas did not reach great dimensions. The miner seemed to prefer the cool air of the sea-side but who could blame him with such a heatwave prevailing.
Cowdenbeath Advertiser – 7th July 1933
CHILDREN’S GALA AT COWDENBEATH
The annual children’s Gala, organised by Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society, Ltd., took place on Saturday. The weather conditions were all that could be desired, brilliant sunshine prevailing, 6000 kiddies taking part. Assembling in Broad Street school playground they marched in processional order through the crowded High Street to the Public Park accompanied by the following bands – Cowdenbeath Public Brass and Pipe Bands, Cowdenbeath British Legion Pipe Bank and Tullis Russell Silver Band.
The threat by the Kirkford parents not to allow their children to take part in the procession as a protest to the sports being deleted from the programme was carried into effect by a large number, but later in the afternoon they marched as a body to the park and after obtaining their eatables returned home, otherwise the event passed off without a hitch. The diversion from the sports to other forms of entertainment proved very popular with the children who gained much enjoyment from the Merrymakers Pierrot Troupe, the Punch and Judy Show and the dancing classes run by the Educational Committee. The four bands also gave selections during the afternoon.
In addition to the usual bag of cakes and refreshments each child was presented with a new penny.
At an interval in the afternoon, Miss.M.Price, of the staff of the Co=operative College, Manchester gave a short address to the kiddie’s stressing the need for organising a Co-operative Youth Movement.
Cowdenbeath Gala Events 