Housebuilder Dandara makes a donation to the Kirkliston Children’s Gala

Kirkliston Children’s Gala has welcomed a donation over the next two years from local housebuilder Dandara.
By Kevin Quinn
Published 1st Jun 2021, 05:00 BST
Gala Queen and Herald, Sofia and Oliver, alongside Iain Innes, the Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland and Stephanie Wilson, the President of Kirkliston Gala. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson.Gala Queen and Herald, Sofia and Oliver, alongside Iain Innes, the Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland and Stephanie Wilson, the President of Kirkliston Gala. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson.
Gala Queen and Herald, Sofia and Oliver, alongside Iain Innes, the Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland and Stephanie Wilson, the President of Kirkliston Gala. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson.

The donation will be used to help ensure that this year’s Gala goes ahead following a post-pandemic financial struggle, which has afflicted many community events.

Due to Dandara’s new development, Foxhall Gait, launching in Kirkliston this summer, the developer was pleased to be able to support the community event.

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Kirkliston first hosted its Gala Day in 1928 and the hard-working team of volunteers were keen to ensure that the pandemic would not halt this year’s plans. It has traditionally been a week of different fun events and activities known as ‘Civic Week’ before a large concluding Gala day at the end of the week which involves a crowning ceremony with local school pupils being given various ‘court’ roles including Gala Queen and Herald.

Gala Queen and Herald, Sofia and Oliver, alongside Iain Innes, the Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland and Stephanie Wilson, the President of Kirkliston Gala. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson.Gala Queen and Herald, Sofia and Oliver, alongside Iain Innes, the Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland and Stephanie Wilson, the President of Kirkliston Gala. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson.
Gala Queen and Herald, Sofia and Oliver, alongside Iain Innes, the Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland and Stephanie Wilson, the President of Kirkliston Gala. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson.

Although last year’s Gala was scaled back due to pandemic restrictions, a fuller rehearsal list and preparations are in place for its return this year on Saturday, June 26.

Stephanie Wilson, president of Kirkliston Gala, said: “We are thrilled and very grateful for this donation from Dandara which means that we can provide some great entertainment on the day for the children involved.

"It has been a challenging time for us all and we’ve been unable to hold our normal fundraiser events so this really helps us with our costs.

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"We are really looking forward to providing a special Gala Day family celebration event at Conifox.”

Housebuilder Dandara East Scotland, was pleased to provide some much-needed support to help ensure that Kirkliston Gala continues as an integral community event despite post pandemic rules.

Iain Innes, managing director at Dandara East Scotland, commented: “Community events such as the Kirkliston Children’s Gala are the beating heart of any community and traditional family focussed events like this bring so much joy to all ages.

“As we are starting to build new family homes at Foxhall Gait later this summer, we decided that a contribution over two years to the Kirkliston Gala would go some way to ensure that this community spirit continues to thrive – and that local families don’t have to miss out after the challenges faced following a lockdown year.”