Thousands Rock town
Thousands gather on the Common for free fun
More than 3000 people descended on Coupar Angus at the weekend for the town’s revamped gala day Gala Rocks.
Organisers of the new-look event, which took place on the common on Sunday, described it as a great success . The afternoon featured a host of fun, free entertainment, including a number of new additions to the traditional gala day programme.
Organisers behind the new look Coupar Angus Gala Day, Gala Rocks, say that the event was a great success with an estimated 3000 people taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of fun and free entertainment in the east Perthshire town.
The popular gala day, which took place on Sunday on the common on Forfar Road in the town, was officially opened by the provost of Perth and Kinross, Liz Grant.
There was a parade led by the pipe band and the Gala King and Queen – Jayden Kippen and Eilidh Scougall, both pupils at the town’s primary school – followed by a performance from the winner of Coupar Angus’ Got Talent, Millie McIntyre who went down a storm with those gathered at the main stage.
Following an appearance by the popular Paw Patrol, there were performances from a number of bands and talented musicians throughout the afternoon, as well as gala day traditional favourites such as a fun fair, inflatables, pony rides, dancers, sumo suits, a reptile tent, face painters, balloon modellers, beat the goalie, children’s races, a car show and stalls.
Organiser Jim Harris, a taxi driver who moved to Coupar Angus five years ago, took up the reins when the previous Gala Day committee retired last year and has been working with his friend Dougie Black, a Dundee-based music promoter, on this year’s event.
Both were delighted with the success of the day.
Jim said: “We think an estimated 3000 people were there throughout the course of the day, and the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic. “Everyone was relaxed and had a great time, it was brilliant. And everything went pretty smoothly as well, which was good! “The weather held out for us as well, we had blue skies all day which was great. “One of the highlights of the day was definitely Millie McIntyre, the winner of the Coupar Angus’ Got Talent competition, who did brilliantly and really impressed everyone, loads of people have been commenting on what a great wee singer she is.” Jim went on: “We would like to thank Provost Grant for accepting our invitation to open the gala and being there on the day, we really appreciate her support.
“We would also like to thank all the sponsors without whom the event wouldn’t have happened.
“Big thanks also to the 22 volunteers from SCYD in Blairgowrie who were a great help. Their events team, led by Aaron Cannon, helped to keep the field clean and tidy and helped with managing traffic as well, and I would recommend them to anyone else organising events like this.
“The Guardian Angels and security from Dundee were a big help too, both with setting things up and clearing up before
and after, and during the gala itself.
“And last but not least, a massive thanks must go to the Gala Rocks team, and in particular Ann Campbell, who helped get the gala back up and running again this year.”
Feedback on the new look style for the event has been positive, and Jim says that it was worth all the hard work.
He said: “We have had about an hour and a half’s sleep in two days but it was worth it though.
“People’s response to the event has been overwhelming, we received so many positive comments, with lots of people asking for the same again next year only bigger and even better!”