Isle of Whithorn Gala - Saturday 14th. August 2010 to Sunday 15th. August 2010

As summer is edging ever closer, the preparations for the Isle of Whithorn Gala are gathering momentum.

This is the second year of the new Gala Committee taking over the helm of running the Gala, and with continued enthusiasm we are hoping to make this years Gala as good as in years gone by if not better!

In 1987, Dr.Norman Robertson approached Marion Sunderland,at the time treasurer of the Community Council, stating that the W.B.S.C. was no longer able to run the Isle Regatta which included rowing ,swimming, and the famous Greasy Pole. He persuaded Marion, as a past winner of all 3 events, to take on the Regatta, which became the Gala Day.
Marion started from scratch, with no grants or sponsorship.
She personally went around local businesses including from memory, McWilliam Bros., Steam Packet, Queen's Arms, Martin Jolly Transport, and Ian Drape's who also gave the washing up liquid for the greasy pole for some years. Each of those businesses gave ,as asked ,£5, and there were probably one or two others.
The long defunct Garlieston Pipe Band entertained, as did a group of young Scottish Country Dancers from the Isle, including Anys Scoular, Hayley Gamble, Elizabeth and Margaret Flannigan and Claire Vance.
Marion was assisted by many Isle people, including her mother, Mrs. Marion Johnston, the retired Head Teacher of the Isle school, who rattled a collection can up and down the harbour to raise funds.
There were Gala dances on the Saturday night, but after several years at the helm Marion handed over the reins to others .The Gala has gone a long way!

On Saturday 14th. August we have our main gala day. Kicking things off with our fancy dress and float parade from the harbour to the playing fields, followed by various events that are held through out the day such as the judging of the fancy dress and the floats, bonnie baby competition, pet show, tug-o-war, it’s a knock out competition and many, many other exciting events.

On Sunday 15th. August we move down to the harbour and have our water sports day. We start things a gentle pace with our family sandcastle building competition. As we wait for the tide to come in we have a kipper floundering competition shortly followed by the raft race where all teams have to make their own rafts using any materials they can get their hands on and then complete a course, first team in is the winner winning a cash prize and a trophy. Once the tide is fully in we move on to our locally famous Greasy Pole where we attach an old telegraph pole to the side of the harbour, grease it up and see who can walk the furthest along it to take away the cash prize and trophy if you think it sounds easy why don’t you come down and have a go!!

There are many more events that we are planning on holding not just over the Gala weekend but through out the year in order to raise money for the Gala, watch this space for further details!

If you have any ideas we would love to hear from you or if you have any queries or would like to take part in the gala’s festivities please contact us.

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