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View Full Version : Find out what's in store for this year's Wick gala



Nwicker60
21-Apr-11, 09:54
Full speed ahead for a glorious gala

THE new Wick gala committee is not letting the grass grow under its feet.
It was right down to business at its first meeting since the crisis sitting, recently, when volunteers rallied to save the endangered festival when the office bearers, heading the small, loyal band of committee members announced they were standing down.
The new committee of 21 including some of the veteran hands, tackled the top priority, this year’s gala programme, when they met at Wick Assembly Rooms, earlier this week, and considered a raft of proposals designed to freshen up the popular event.
Among them, were an It’s a Knockout event, a fishing competition, a clay pigeon shoot, pony rides and a local bands session, and a Caithness Scottish concert. Old favourites such as the children’s fancy dress, the baby show, the cycling races and the gymkhana will remain, along with, of course, the floats procession and the fireworks display and final night barbeque. The concert party visit to local residential homes. an innovation, last year, will also continue.
A gala website is also being considered. A draft programme will be considered at the next meeting on May 17. The new members were grateful for the guidance of previous, long-serving volunteers and will be drawing on the experience they accumulated, over a long number of years.
The committee, ably chaired by the new vice-chairwoman, Kerry Gunn, in the absence of chairwoman Donna Plowman, due to urgent family business, was conscious of one school of thought, that would like the crowning ceremony revert to its traditional venue at the Riverside, but were unanimous that the coronation should remain at Market Square, on the basis that it was more central and offered a little shelter to Wickers if the weathers was inclement.
Surprisingly, only one application for the role of gala queen has been received, the problem being that eligible girls are reluctant to put themselves forward on the ground they may be regarded as ‘pushy’ and vain. So, committee officials are to arrange a slot at Wick High School, on a Friday, to meet potential candidates.