East Whitburn gala needs fresh blood to survive

Nov 12 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

Gala needs fresh blood to survive

COMMUNITY figures in East Whitburn fear the village’s annual gala day will be scrapped next year.

The gala day committee were forced to disband at the end of last month and if nobody shows any interest, there will be no gala or sports day in June.

Treasurer Christine Brown said many people had said they would come forward to join the committee at this year’s sports day – but when it came to the crunch, nobody showed up.

And she said it would be a crying shame if the tradition was abandoned.

Caretaker Christine (39) said: “We just can’t fill the places on the committee after we’ve had people leave and so took the decision to disband it.

“One of the positions that we really needed to fill was chairperson because they are responsible for filling in forms, booking bands and speaking to the police, so we really needed that position filled.

“When we had the annual general meeting it was the second time we’d tried to hold it and nobody came even though lots of people told us at this year’s sports day that they were interested in helping.

“At this stage the gala day won’t go ahead and that’s a real shame, it’s not like there aren’t any children in East Whitburn, there are lots of new homes, we just need people to get involved.”

Fellow committee member Marion Ritchie agreed, saying the village needed a community event like the gala day.

Marion (36), also a caretaker, told the Courier this week: “I help to organise the pageants and tell the children what to do for the crowning and things.

“If the gala day doesn’t go ahead I think it would be a real shame and we want to continue it.

“Everybody wonders why I get so involved when I don’t have children of my own, but I enjoy it and I think it’s important.”

Anyone who wants to join the committee and help save East Whitburn Gala Day can contact Christine on 07917125192 or Marion on 07947186288.