Blairgowrie Advertiser

Lawrie in the driving seat at gala day

- CLARE DAMODARAN • Photograph­s by Clare Damodaran

Organisers were delighted with the success of a gala day held in Meigle at the weekend.

The event, which took place on the former bowling club green in the east Perthshire village, was pulled together by volunteers from Meigle and Ardler Community Council.

Hundreds of people enjoyed an afternoon of entertainm­ent, stalls and activities at the community celebratio­n.

Pictured on a vintage tractor at the event is two-year old Lawrie Amos from London who was visiting his grandparen­ts who live in the village.

Organisers were delighted with the success of a gala day held in Meigle at the weekend.

The event, which took place on the former bowling club green in the east Perthshire village, was pulled together by volunteers from Meigle and Ardler Community Council.

Amongst the entertainm­ent and attraction­s was a climbing wall, archery with Outdoor Explore, a vintage tractor and a range of craft and fundraisin­g stalls.

There were also performanc­es from Alyth and District Pipe Band, Blair Ukes and Highland dancers from the Linda Grant School of Dance.

A spokespers­on for the gala day organising committee, which was made up of community councillor­s

and some members of the public, told the Blairie: “It was lovely to see so many people coming along and enjoying the day, particular­ly since it has been delayed for two years due to Covid.

“Everyone seemed to have a great time.

“We would like to thank the Perth and Kinross Community Investment Fund for their support, and we are also grateful for the support of our local councillor­s.

“Thanks also to Alyth and District Pipe Band, Blair Ukes, the Linda Grant School of Dance, Moira Fletcher the magician, all the other local musicians who played on the day, all the stallholde­rs and all the volunteers who helped out on the day and in the run-up to the event.

“Because of Covid, this event has taken three years to come together and this is the first opportunit­y we had to host it.

“It’s taken several months of planning and a lot of organising.

“It started as a small idea but grew and grew, and has all been worth it.”

Local councillor for the Strathmore ward, Colin Stewart, was at the gala day.

Speaking to the Blairie he said: “It was a real pleasure to come along and see the community coming together, especially as this was first planned more than two years ago and had to be postponed due to the coronaviru­s pandemic.

“There’s great community spirit in all our Perthshire towns and villages and it is important to have days like this where people can get together and celebrate as a community.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Karen Barton and her team of volunteers for bringing it all together on the day.”

Kevin Stirling is chair of Meigle and Ardler Developmen­t Trust which was at the event with a sandbag challenge.

He said: “This was a really good opportunit­y for the developmen­t trust to showcase some of the resilience equipment that we have purchased for the area and to have some conversati­ons with other local groups about how we can work together in the future.

“The sandbag challenge was all about showing the work that goes into filling the bags in emergency situations such as we had at Flour in the village just last week.”

 ?? And more photograph­s by Clare Damodaran ??
And more photograph­s by Clare Damodaran
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? On target Sasha Protsenko (7) with James Barrett from Outdoor Explore
Challenge Oscar (4) and Sam (7) Woods try to lift a sandbag
On target Sasha Protsenko (7) with James Barrett from Outdoor Explore Challenge Oscar (4) and Sam (7) Woods try to lift a sandbag
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? All smiles Nicola Elertowicz and Scarlett and Lyndsey Peacock from the Meigle Stay and Play group
All smiles Nicola Elertowicz and Scarlett and Lyndsey Peacock from the Meigle Stay and Play group
 ?? ?? Sandbag challenge Derek MacKenzie and Kevin Stirling from the local Resilience Group
Sandbag challenge Derek MacKenzie and Kevin Stirling from the local Resilience Group
 ?? ?? Summit to smile about Lily Drummond on the climbing wall
Summit to smile about Lily Drummond on the climbing wall
 ?? ?? Superstar Kaius Vengalis (9) filled 18kg of sand in just 30 seconds
Superstar Kaius Vengalis (9) filled 18kg of sand in just 30 seconds
 ?? ?? Musical entertainm­ent Blair Ukes
Musical entertainm­ent Blair Ukes
 ?? ?? Support Councillor Colin Stewart
Support Councillor Colin Stewart
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? Performanc­e and District Pipe
Height of success Charlotte Watson on the climbing wall
Performanc­e and District Pipe Height of success Charlotte Watson on the climbing wall
 ?? ?? Fundraisin­g From left, Cara Dingwall, Ava Barton and Ailsa Kerr from Blairgowri­e High School who are raising money for a school trip to Cambodia in 2024
Fundraisin­g From left, Cara Dingwall, Ava Barton and Ailsa Kerr from Blairgowri­e High School who are raising money for a school trip to Cambodia in 2024
 ?? ?? Volunteers Some of the organising committee, from left, Corrine Napier, Peter Menzies and Karen Barton
Volunteers Some of the organising committee, from left, Corrine Napier, Peter Menzies and Karen Barton
 ?? ?? Enjoying the entertainm­ent Olive and Kenny Lamond
Enjoying the entertainm­ent Olive and Kenny Lamond
 ?? ?? Stepping out Roxy Milne, Chloe Scott and Jenna Don
Stepping out Roxy Milne, Chloe Scott and Jenna Don

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