News 2023

November 2023

Carstairs & District Gala shall be holding the election of the 2024 Gala Court very soon. This shall be held in Carstairs Village Primary School. All children of Primary 7 age who attend Carstairs Village Primary School shall be eligible for the election. Any children of Primary 7 age who live in Carstairs Village and within the Carstairs & District Gala boundaries but do not attend the school then please contact Gala Secretary Jillian MacConnell should you wish to take part in the 2024 Gala Court. Any queries please do not hesitate to contact the Gala Secretary. Please contact us at [email protected]

Our Gala Annual General Meeting will take place on 8th November at 7:30 pm in Carstairs Community Centre. All welcome to come along and support your local Gala Day and we especially welcome any new members.

June 2023

A great week of weather saw the children of the Village enjoy a fabulous Gala week of events starting last Sunday with Its a Knock Out and Sports programme, on Monday night the children enjoyed the Gala Disco , Tuesday night we held the wellie throwing and pillow fight, Wednesday night had the 5 a side football competition and Thursday night was the busiest of them all with our fun night where the children enjoyed the kids rides , bouncy castles and magician Leigh Milne.

Carstairs & District Gala Day was held on the Village Green on Saturday 24th June:

With the sun shining the procession and fancy dress parade left the community centre and was led around the Village by Honorary President Keith Whitton. At 2 pm a large crowd cheered the Carstairs & District Gala Court for 2023 as they made their way to the stage. The Gala proceedings commenced with Guard of Honour Darren Alexander escorting 1st Maid Ruby Finlay to the stage, Guard of Honour Aaron Carway led 2nd Maid Ellie McCulloch, Guard of Honour Alexander Earl then escorted Lady in Waiting Danielle Corrigan followed with Guard of Honour Josh Notman escorting Lady in Waiting Gemma Forrest to the stage. Next were Guard of Honours Lucas Cunningham, Alfie Kelly and Niall MacCall to the stage. Next with the crowd still cheering 1st Champion Cain Straub escorted Queen Emily Taylor followed by her Ladies in Waiting Lexi Bissett and Ava Stewart. Finally a huge cheer from the crowd saw 2nd Champion Justin Brownlie lead Crowning Lady Mary Stokes to the stage. Following a fanfare of trumpets Crowning Lady Mary Stokes proceeded to crown Emily Taylor as Gala Queen for 2023. Honorary President Keith Whitton congratulated the committee on continuing the hard work and dedication needed to run such an event, President John Forrest then proceeded to thank retirals Sandy and Arlene Callan for their service to the committee and also welcomed new members Susan Notman and Steven Hurst to the committee. Following the ceremony the court proceeded to the War Memorial to lay the wreath. The sun continued to shine as the teas were served and the childrens and adult races were undertaken. Once again Dougie Stokes provided the entertainment on stage. The day ended with the Gala Presentation and Gala Day Raffle draw.

A huge vote of thanks to the Gala Day Committee – Secretary Lynsey Bissett, Treasurer Louise Forrest, Sports Covener Stuart Fraser, Procession Coordinator Melanie Donnelly and Gala members Christine Hendry, Lynne Lindsay, Rachael Chambers, Susan Notman, Rebecca Stewart, Jillian MacConnell and Steven Hurst. A huge thanks to our Gala Day helpers who really ensured we had a fantastic Gala week and Gala Day with special mention to George Shields as exceptional helper. A big thanks to Gordon Fraser and Ian Brown for the PA System and Gala music. Our Gala Day drivers had once again provided a great show of beautiful cars to escort our Gala Court – they were Ian Brown celebrating his 70th year as driver, William Jamieson, William Forrest, Brian Davidson, Derek Wilson, Mitchell Reid and Ryan Gardiner. A big thanks to the SLC council for the superb stage this year and to the Police who kept everything moving despite the huge challenge of the traffic calming measures on Lanark Road.
Finally a big thanks to our judges Beth Brown and Danielle Waugh.

The Gala Collections are currently underway so everyone should now have their free Gala Brochure with full details of the Gala Day and the Gala Week of Events. The Gala Collections are a very important and integral part of the Gala which enable us to provide free Teas, Catering and Childrens food bags on Gala Day. Please remember the chidren will require a Childrens Food Ticket to be eligible for the free goodie bag which are distributed after the Crowning Ceremony on Gala Day. The Childrens food tickets are distributed by the Committee whilst they are collecting donations and handing Gala Brochures, should you require any Childrens Food tickets please contact any Gala Committee member. Our fundraising has gone well this year but we continue to need your support. The Gala Day Raffle tickets are on sale now where they can be purchased from any of the Gala Court or Gala Committee members. We trust everyone shall get their bunting out this year and make this a colourful spectacle that our children will enjoy and remember for years to come. We look forward to seeing everyone over Gala week and we start with ‘Its a knock out’ and the Gala sports programme on Sunday 18th June. Happy Gala Day everyone.

May 2023

Gala dance: – Tickets are now on sale for the Carstairs & District Annual Gala Dance which will be held on 20th May 2023 with Doors Open at 7 pm till late, Entertainment will be provided by the excellent David Donnelly Kay who has been on the music scene for over 30 years. A light buffet will be provided with Raffle and football board prizes to be won. Tickets are priced at £10 and are available from any committee member or contact Gala Secretary Lynsey Bissett on 07801961048. Adult only event, bar available. Please come along and support your local Gala, all welcome.
Gala Funding:- Carstairs Gala Committee wish to thank all those who have kindly donated and supported this years Gala so far, in particular we would like to thank Lodge Mauldslie members Nelson Stokes, Tom Wilson, Angus MacIntosh and Willie Jamieson for a donation of £500, Jennifer Hardie for the Christmas quiz, a great turn out for the Gala bingo night. Also a superb effort on 16th April by all the Gala Court children and Committee members for undertaking a sponsored ‘Static Cycle Event’ by cycling to the equivalent of distance in km between Carstairs and John O’Groats, in a 4 hour tandem they achieved a total of 540 km. A huge thanks to Village Inn on the 1st April in the Community Centre where Wendy & Shannon donated the sum of £200 to the Gala funds, this was truly special and hugely appreciated given the predicament of the currently flood damaged Village Inn. Finally a huge congratulations to the committee for being successfully awarded £7150 from the National Lottery Grant funding, this was needed for the renewal of a significant amount of equipment that was worn out and damaged during the covid years.

January 2023

The first Gala fundraiser of the year will be a Prize Bingo Night in Carstairs Community centre on Friday the 3rd February 2023, doors open at 6:30 pm, eyes down at 7.00 pm. Bingo books priced 1 book £1, 3 books £2.50, 6 books £5.00. Tea,coffee,juice and biscuits are included.Entry fee adults £1, kids 50p. There will also be a raffle for which all donations will be gratefully received. All welcome.

The Committee would like to congratulate the 2023 Gala Court Elect, these are as follows:

Crowning Lady – Mrs Mary Stokes

Queen– Emily Taylor

1st Maid– Ruby Finlay, 2nd Maid– Ellie McCulloch

Ladies in Waiting– Lexi Bissett, Danielle Corrigan, Gemma Forrest, Ava Stewart, Rosemarie Stewart, Eva Turner 

1st Champion – Cain Straub, 2nd Champion– Justin Brownlee

Guards of Honour– Darren Alexander, Casper Calvin, Aaron Carway, Lucas Cunningham, Alexander Earl, Alfie Kelly, Niall MacCall, Josh Notman