117 years ago, on Saturday 9th June 1905, the Blantyre Co-Operative held their annual gala day. The weather was beautiful, but without a public park in Blantyre, the gala had to be held on private ground. The donated venue for that day was the farm field in front of Croftfoot (my own home) in High […]
Annual Co-Operative Gala Days started in Blantyre in 1900. It’s worth a quick description of a special one held, 10 years later in 1910, if only because how exceptionally well it was attended and families of course had no idea of the horrors of war that would in a few short years after, descend in […]
It’s Gala Day in Blantyre so we need a fitting post today. The annual children’s gala day hosted by Blantyre Co-operative Society (Ltd.) was held on Saturday 31st July 1917. The weather was ideal for such event and war in Europe did not hamper attendance to any great extent. Close on 7000 people most of […]
A last look at Blantyre Gala of 1978. The women of Elizabeth Scott Centre made sure they were enjoying themselves “country style” by dressing up on 1st July 2017, on the final day of the week long civic celebrations. The kids got in on the act too, dressing up being the order of the […]
The children of Elizabeth Scott Playgroup knew how to enjoy themselves in the Summer of 1978. Dressed up as “little sailors and pirates” for the Gala float, they were transported down to Stonefield Public Park on Saturday 1st July that year. Do you recognise anybody? These Blantyre kids were probably born between 1974 – 1976.
This photo was kindly shared by Peter Leggate and is from 1981. Pictured is Glasgow Road, as police stop traffic to allow the Gala Day floats to go by. The photo looks eastwards towards Grants and Gilmour’s Buildings at the back, (near the junction of Forrest Street). Those buildings were amongst the last of […]
The location is Glasgow Road, the year is 1981 and it’s Gala Day. Pictured here, courtesy of my good friend, Peter Leggate are various residents from Springwells. They’re standing on board a decorated “Robertsons of Springwells” flatbed delivery lorry. Heading along Glasgow Road, the weather doesn’t look the best but hasn’t stopped crowds of people […]