Photos we think from 1950 or earlier showing how popular the town’s Gala Day has been throughout the decades, with people lining the streets for the bands, floats and schoolkids in their finest!
Civic Week History
Researched by Liz Rae
March 2024
Source: Central Libraries Service, Dunfermline Library
Cowdenbeath Advertiser – 1st July 1950
CHILDREN’S GALA
1ST JULY, 1950
TICKETS WILL BE ISSUES IN THE NEW CO-OPERATIVE HALL ON MONDAY 26TH JUNE, Nos 1-3500; TUESDAY 27TH JUNE, Nos 3501 UPWARDS. FROM 9.30 am till 12.30pm and 2.30pm till 5.00 pm
Perfect weather conditions favoured the annual Children’s Gala, organised by Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society and held in the Public Park on Saturday. 5000 children took part and they formed a colourful procession as they marched through the High Street accompanied by the following bands; Cowdenbeath Brass and Pipe Bands, Dundonald Juvenile Pipe Band, Dunfermline Town Band and Inverkeithing Pipe Band.
CROWNING OF QUEEN CEREMONY
An outstanding feature of the Gala was the resuscitation of the ceremony of crowning the Co-op Queen, Miss.Lorna.Duncan carried through the role of the Queen with regal dignity and grace, and the crowning ceremony was performed by Mrs.P.Drylie, wife of the President of the Society. The other boys and girls who formed the Queen’s retinue were; Maids of Honour – Helen Young, Betty Adamson, Janet Brown, and Grace Kirk; Heralds – Robert Wilson and Angus Baxter; Page Boys – James Reekie and David Baxter; Bower Girls – Helen Drylie, Fay Sharp, Marion Sharp; Flower Girls – Elizabeth and Nan Turnbull; Pearl Divers Barbara Cook Janus Skinner and Joyce Murray; Bouguet girl – Jean Cuthbert; Representatives of Scotland – Jane Innes, Patsy Taylor, Isobel Johnson, and Myrna Balfour; England – Ella Divers, May Taylor, Mary Stenhouse and Mima Archibald; Ireland – Eliza Martin, Mary Abbot, Agnes Honeymoon and Beth Meldrum; Wales – Jean Drysdale, Marge Fyfe, Beryl Gardiner and Arlene Beveridge.
There were many other attractions for the kiddies, including exhibitions of country dancing by the Co-operative Education teams under Miss.Russell, to the music provided by Mrs.Paterson and Johnny Martin’s concert party, which embraced two local dancers, Christine Mill and Betty Ramsay, with Mrs. McNab as accompanist. The bands rendered selections. Each child was served with a bag of buns and milk and in addition, every kiddie was the recipient of a 6d.
The sports programme aroused considerable interest and keen competition. The boys Championship was won by W.Livingstone, with A.Easton runner up, and G.Gardiner gaining third place. H.Neilson was the winner of the Girl’s Championships, N.Sturrock being placed second, and A.Main third. The principal winners in the section races were as follows:- Central Boys – Gerry Paxton, Michael Payne, B. Waterson, D.Goodwin. R.Hogg, G.Gibson, A.Gronbach, B. Neill, A. Brannan, G.Hogg, B.Sharkey, A.Marshall, R.Canavan, P.McDonald.
Girls:- D.Parker, M.McQueen, D.Windell, J.Shields, M.Sheilds M.McLaren, H.Drylie, C.Drummond, E.McNicol, A.Wilson, and M.Blamey.
Lumphinnans – Boys – T.Brown, B.Wilson, W.Stewart, G.Park, J.Brown, D.Quinn, J.McCormack, J.Moffat, J.Lynch, J.Gardiner, J.Philbin, P.Breen, K.Wilkinson, W.Srark, W.Kennedy, P.Park.
Girls – F.Sinclair, N.Moffat, E.Brown, B.Drylie, M.Pryde, S.Ludwick, M.Graham, A.Brady. A.Main, H.Neilson, M.Easton. E.Fleming. R.Paris, J.Walker.
Foulford Boys – B.Ferris, G.Ferris, S.Sneddon, E.Proudfoot, J.Latimer, W.Ross. D.Jamieson, J.Miller, J.Kellichan, A. Easson.
Girls – J.Dunlop, I.Seath, J.Boyle, R.Boyle, M.Kinnell, V.Campbell, M.Proudffot, C McQuillen, M.Richardson, N.Sturrock.
Fordell – Boys – John Proudfoot, T.Henderson, and W.Waterson.
Girls – E.Russell, H.Proudfoot, S.Henderson, B.Henderson, J.Young and M.McLean.
Civic Week History
Researched by Liz Rae
March 2024
Source: Central Libraries Service, Dunfermline Library
Cowdenbeath Advertiser – 14th July 1950
JULY 14TH 1950 LUMPHINNANS VILLAGE QUEEN
The heavy rain which prevailed on Saturday caused a curtailment of the Lumphinnans School Children’s Gala, but it did not reduce the pageantry of the crowning of the village Queen, which has become the main feature of these annual events.
The decision of the Committee to postpone the ceremony till the afternoon proved a very wise and happy one, for the weather cleared nicely and indeed the sun broke through, as Betty Falconer, the Queen-elect, succeeded Isabella McKinley on the royal blue throne. With the sun overhead, the setting in the lower playground of the school, where it took place, was well nigh perfect. The throne, erected on a raised platform, was set under a canopy supported by pillars with trees forming a picturesque background.
The crowning ceremony, which was performed by Mrs.C.Morrison, wife of the village headmaster, was witnessed by a huge gallery of villagers, who had a grandstand view of the proceedings from the slopes of the upper playground. The young kiddies of the village quite rightly were acco,pamied in seats which gave them a privileged vantage point. The new and retiring Queens enacted their part with dignity and the other principals who shared in the detailed ceremonial carried through their roles with that homage and respect which was so beautifully illustrated by the simple little curtsies, which brought forth cheers from the crowd. Though obviously rehearsed, there was something very batural about it all, and when one little attendant got her foot entangled in her long white dress she immediately commanded the complete sympathy of the entire assembly.
Lumphinnans parents had reasons to be proud of the happy scene which their children presented. The girls were most becoming in their snow white dresses, and the boys were distinguished in their appropriate attire. The detail of the dress was only emulated by the ceremonial features it introduced, and the whole proceedings were a credit to the capacity of the children and those who were responsible for training them to such a degree of efficiency.
Trumpeteers – Alex Penman and John Allan.
Coachman – Charles Scott.
Arms Bearers – Daniel McKenzie, James Stark.
Crown Bearer – John.W.Allan.
Guard of Honour – W.Brown, G.Herkes, D.Ketchen, A.Prosser, G.Fleming, D.Miller, W.Main. H.Nicholson, G.Baillie, and J.Thayne.
The ceremony was conducted by a display of country dancing in front of the Queen and her retinue. Music was provided by Cowdenbeath Pipe Band.
The Gala procession unfortunately had to be curtailed but it was a fine spirit of cooperation that eventually triumphed completely over the adverse conditions set by the weather.
The sports programme was held over but the 500 children who took part duly received the buns and refreshments arranged for them and all went home happy in the knowledge that the most important thing of the day had been realised – the crowning of the 1950 village Queen, Betty Falconer.
Cowdenbeath Gala Events 