Urgent rallying call to not let Skipton Gala 'die away'

THIS year's Skipton Gala could be the last - unless the town council steps in and saves it.

Geoff Dunn, gala chairman, told the annual meeting of the town council last week that next month's gala would be the last, unless the council took it on.

Mr Dunn, 79, who last year was made an honorary freeman of Skipton for his 30 years as gala chairman, said there were just a handful of people on the gala committee, and it was not enough.

He said if the town council took the event on, he would continue to organise the wagons for the procession, but was no longer prepared to organise the event itself.

If it was to end, he added he would like to give the gala queen crown, which is also more than 100 years old, to Craven Museum.

Mr Dunn's appeal was met with a pledge from Cllr Peter Madeley, chair of the council's markets and events committee, that the gala would be saved.

Last year's event attracted huge crowds both lining the town centre streets for the procession of decorated wagons and walking groups and at the gala field itself at Aireville Park.

This year's gala will take place on Saturday, June 8 and at least ten wagons will be taking part in the parade.

The gala committee includes Michelle Marren, Nicola Spurgeon, Vera Longthorne, gala president, and Marshall Waddington, of Waddington Fairgrounds.

Mrs Longthorne said she remembered dressing up to go to the gala when she was a child and that the event was part of the town's history.

"It would be such a shame if Skipton Gala went down, people do enjoy it and it part of the town; I do hope it can be saved," she said.

Councillor Robert Heseltine, who sits on North Yorkshire Council and is also a town councillor, called on his fellow town councillors to rally round in support of the gala, which raises funds for organisations and charities in and around Skipton.

"The last thing we want to for the gala not to take place next year, or even for an interregnum; surely we, as members of the town council can get off our backsides and save the gala.

"It is part of our cultural heritage, and it is particularly important to a market town like Skipton. All we need is half a dozen strong men or women to step forward."

Cllr Peter Madeley said the council would not let the event ‘die away’ and added as chair of the events committee he would be looking for people to come to the council with ideas to take the event forward.

He added the gala could also be made a charity, which could help with funding.

“We will be looking at the best way to take the gala forward, and looking to bringing in different partners and people with experience of putting on events.

“We shall also be wanting to involve people from all sections of the community. A lot of people have put a lot of work into this over the years, and we shall not let it die away.”

This year’s event on Saturday, June 8 will start with the procession which will set off from Westmoreland Street at 1pm.

The crowning of this year’s gala queen Lily Parkinson will take place on the gala field at 1.45pm. There will also be performances from various groups, stalls, games, refreshments and the fair.

Volunteers are still needed to ensure the smooth running of this year’s event. For more information, find Skipton Gala on Facebook or at: http://www.skiptongala.org.uk/