Gala Days and Pageants were special events organised by community minded adults. There were two Gala Days annually: the May Day Gala was a celebration of the coal miners’ one day holiday in May; the June Gala was an event organised and probably sponsored by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale society (S.C.W.S.).

At both events children were dressed up: a new "tinny" (shiny tin mug) was bought for each child; white tape was threaded through the handle so that the tinny could be carried slung over one shoulder and the "tinny" rested on the opposite hip.

On the Saturday mornings in question, children assembled in their respective school playgrounds. There were several bands in the village: the Pipe Band, which later won the World Pipe Band Championship; R.C. Silver Band; Shotts Foundry Band and the Flute Band. If possible all the bands turned out to provide marching music for the procession which started at one end of the town, and the children joined in en route as it passed each school. Unfortunately, the turning point was in Stane farmyard, where nice shoes or canvas gutties (white gym shoes) could become stained. The procession culminated in the Public park where a bag of buns was provided with milk from a large churn poured into each tinny to wash them down. Sports events took place.

Gala Days and Pageants were special events organised by community minded adults. There were two Gala Days annually: the May Day Gala was a celebration of the coal miners’ one day holiday in May; the June Gala was an event organised and probably sponsored by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale society (S.C.W.S.).

At both events children were dressed up: a new "tinny" (shiny tin mug) was bought for each child; white tape was threaded through the handle so that the tinny could be carried slung over one shoulder and the "tinny" rested on the opposite hip.

On the Saturday mornings in question, children assembled in their respective school playgrounds. There were several bands in the village: the Pipe Band, which later won the World Pipe Band Championship; R.C. Silver Band; Shotts Foundry Band and the Flute Band. If possible all the bands turned out to provide marching music for the procession which started at one end of the town, and the children joined in en route as it passed each school. Unfortunately, the turning point was in Stane farmyard, where nice shoes or canvas gutties (white gym shoes) could become stained. The procession culminated in the Public park where a bag of buns was provided with milk from a large churn poured into each tinny to wash them down. Sports events took place.

The procession was always accompanied by stewards to keep the procession orderly; policemen controlled traffic and volunteers, trained in First Aid, were on hand to cope with potential mishaps. e.g. sprains. strains or grazed knees.

Pageants were an added attraction to the Gala Days: lorries were decked out and dressed up to depict a particular scene. The one that I remember best was probably 1938. My uncle had a coal business and his lorry portrayal a hospital scene: my grown up cousin was a nurse as she was in real life, and my cousin and I were the bed "patients." As it was a cold day I could snuggle down in the bed to keep warm.

A Union Jack flag was always flown from the chimney prior to a wedding taking place. The man who put it up also removed it several weeks after the nuptial celebrations. Traditionally the parents of the bride awarded the flag man a half bottle of whisky for his efforts. If they failed to reward the man the flag remained in situ on the chimney so that the community knew that they had failed to honour a commitment. No money changed hands in this instance.

COAL ROSES

"Growing" a coal rose garden *as a traditional activity in mining communities. Recipe:- A Small shiny piece of coal

2 tablespoons of ammonia (use carefully)

2 tablespoons of table salt

2 tablespoon’. of red ink

2 packets Prussian Blue (pigment used by artist’.: cf dolly blue used

in whitewash or to~ whitcn clothes).

WARNING Do not give this recipe to a young child, unless supervised by an adult.

Put the table salt in a bowl, (not your favourite cut glass one) and place the coal on top. Carefully mix together the amonnia, the Prussian blue and red ink- This mixture should be poured round the coal NOT over it. Every other day pour one tablespoon of salt mixed with a tablespoon of water around the coal. Within a month the coal should become a mass of roses.