It is surely fitting that these two important happenings should be the subjects to close this final chapter in the Village History.   They are both occasions of great happiness and are a living reminder of our history.  They are both the first and the last.   They are for the children at the beginning of their lives now, and as in the past, who have been and will be the old folks of the future.   Over the years a great many people have been deeply involved with both of these functions, but it would be almost impossible to name them all.   They must all be thanked for their great work to make the village a happy place, even if just on two dates each year.   For those who are not named, the thanks are just a deserved as for those who are.

In the years before the First World War the miners had always held an annual games and sports day, but this had ceased during the war years.   When the war ended the custom was revived, but it was decided to make the day an event especially for the children.   Thus was born the Children's Gala Day, which has survived to the present day, albeit with one or two breaks, and which has brought a richness to the traditions of our Mining Village.

The first Gala Day was held in July 1919 but was marred by heavy rain in the forenoon.   The children were marshalled in the school playground by the Headmaster, Mr Weir, assisted by the teachers, and they set off in parade, marching behind the Stoneyburn Pipe Band, up to Bents and back to the football field.   On their arrival the children were all given a bag of buns and they had their tin mugs filled with milk.   The sports started at 4:00pm.   The Girl's Championship race, for a silver fruit basket and a gold brooch, was won by Lizzie Warrington.   The Boy's Championship, for a gold badge and a silver cup, was won by Maxwell Dougan.  These prizes were donated by the Paton family.

The Gala Day of 1921 was rather restrained because of the hardships during the Miners Strike, nevertheless enough money was raised to stage the event and the surplus was given towards the 'soup kitchen'.   One great fund-raiser was a fancy dress parade that went from Stoneyburn to Addiewell, then to Loganlea and Bents and back to the start at the school.

The sum raised for the Gala was £70.00.   Throughout the 1920's the Gala was run by a volunteer committee who did the fundraising and organising but the children themselves were under the control of Mr Weir and his staff.   Various fields, other than the football field, were used and the local farmers supplied the milk.   In 1928 however, the Gala was held under the auspices of West Calder Co-op.

By the start of the 1930's the event had become a very large affair.   In 1931 over 1,000 children marched in the parade, which by now needed two bands.   That year saw the introduction of the fancy dress competition.   The 1935 Gala had a procession of 1,500 children, probably the biggest of all time.   The Stoneyburn Pipe Band was in the lead and also playing were the Bathgate Public Band and the West Calder Pipe Band.   At the sports field a gymnastic display was given by 200 pupils under the instruction of Miss Higgins, the drill mistress at the school.   Nancy Allan was the Girl's Champion and Willie Dawson was the Boy's Champion.   Mr Tully had taken over from Mr Weir as Headmaster and must have had his hands full.   The war years brought some restrictions, but it seems that a Gala was held in most of them.   The Co-op again ran the Gala in 1940, but for less than 800 children.   In 1941, with the opening of the new Catholic school, the two Head teachers, Mr Tully and Mr McKeon, combined their efforts for the first time.   The Committee was led by Mrs Scoular and had such stalwarts as Sick Moore, Mrs T. Paton, Mrs P. Taylor, Mrs E. Irvine, Mrs W. Higgins, Miss Jean Strickland, Mr Peter McMahon and Mr Thomas Tierney.   By 1949 there were 1,300 taking part and there was a record number of 387 events on the sports field.   Apart from the traditional 'bag' and milk, each child was given a sixpence (2.5p).

The first major change in the Gala proceedings was in 1952 when, for the first time, Stoneyburn had a Gala Queen and a Crowning Ceremony.   The Queen was Helen Aitken and she was crowned by the very popular teacher, Mrs Mary Murdoch.   This innovation was to set the pattern for all subsequent Gala Days.   It also became the custom, until very recently, that the queen was chosen alternately from the Public school and the Catholic school.   The number of children taking part in the actual Pageant gradually increased to include:  A Champion, Heralds, Ladies-in-Waiting, Fairies, National Figures, Bodyguards, etc.

It became customary for a notable local person, i.e., the doctor, a councillor, or a 'pillar of society' to be invited to crown the Queen.   This custom has continued to the present day.   There have been one or two years that a Gala has been missed, but thanks to the efforts of a dedicated few, it is still a much looked forward to occasion.   From the first Queen's 'reign', the simple, but traditional decorated 'arch' at her home has become virtually a 'fancy dressed house'.   This custom has evolved to become a fierce competition between many of the parents of the children of the pageant, all hoping to produce the winning house.   This involves many hours of secret work, the making of (sometimes) hundreds of artificial flowers, and a very early start on Gala morning to get everything into place before the judging.

It is a great pity that the schools are no longer the great driving force that they used to be on Gala Day, and that less children take part in the parade, or at least march in it.   It is a sign of the times and this village is not along in trying to find people willing to form the much needed and hard working committees.   In recent years most of this work has been achieved by a mere handful of people, supported by the staff of the Community Centre, John McGhee and Joe Smith in particular.   Other hard working helpers over the years have been Helen Smith, Eddie and Julie Russell, Elizabeth McKenzie, Agnes Strickland, Maureen and James Aitken, Gordon Galbraith, Agnes Steedman, George Watt, Joe Murray, Billy Turner, Willie Hendrie, Elizabeth McCafferty, Mary McMillan, Robert McMillan and the combined efforts of the Gallagher family, along with many others.   It is hoped that the pageant and sports day will continue to be a part of Village Life for many years to come.

The 2006/2007 Gala Committee are: Barry Gilmour, Allistar Strickland, Alison & Peter Reid, Allan McKay, Libby Low, Cheryl Woodcock, Marion Reynolds, Agnes Abbott, Leanne Hunter and Sandy Edgar.

When I was on the Gala Committee between 1998 and 2001 the Committee members were:
Alison Reid, Craig Fleming Robert Leckie, Joyce Davidson, Eileen Lochrie and myself, John Dickson.

The first Old Folks' Treat was held in the Welfare Hall in January 1932 under the auspices of the Stoneyburn C0-operative Woman's Guild, whose first President was Mrs Scoular.   At the fifth event, the Guild President, Mrs Frame, accompanied by the Vice-President, Mrs Duggan, and the rest of the Committee welcomed everyone to the beautifully decorated premises.   After a knife and fork tea, the company was treated to a varied programme of song, recitation, a sketch and a demonstration of Highland Dancing by the pupils of Mrs Barr.   All the old folk then received a gift of money.   After the votes of thanks, the floor was cleared to make way for dancing to Black's Band, which played till midnight when the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought the evening to a close.   From the first 'Treat' there has been one every year without a break.

Since the demise of the Co-op Guild in 1981 the running of the event was taken over by several ladies in the village, notably Jean Pratt, Nan McMillan, Jean Leckie, Jean Wright, Ina Black and Nora Baxter.   The funds for this annual event are generously donated by the villagers and by shopkeepers and businesses, backed up with a grant from the District Council.   The excellent meals are served to approximately 160 Senior Citizens and 'Santa Claus' now takes some time off from his other commitments to come along to the Community Centre and give everyone a small gift.   Similar gifts are later distributed to over 100 more who are unable to get to the Treat.

The following poem, written several years ago by Tom Tweedie, a more recent local 'bard', is well titled to be included at this point, ending what is hoped to have made interesting reading about the Village of Stoneyburn and Bents.

  
We've heard of Gallant Fighting men,
On Land and Sea and Air,
But I would dedicate my pen,
To a Band beyond compare.

'Tis the Old Folks I would write about,
And the Battle they have made,
Their courage steady, their hearts were stout,
May their Glory never fade.

Hardships and pain their daily lot,
To the younger generation,
They often have to scrimp and save,
To keep us from starvation.

False Charity they will not take,
They demand appreciation,
So let us for the Old Folks' sake,
Display our admiration.

Stoneyburn and Bents must hear the call,
Their Honour's debt to meet,
And give, tonight in the Welfare Hall,
For the Old Folks' Annual Treat.