A final farewell to Wick Gala Week with a colourful display by the river
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Wick Gala Week came to its usual fiery and colourful conclusion with the bonfire and fireworks at the town's riverside on Saturday evening.
This year the event was relayed live across the globe via Facebook and committee chairman Alex McDonald said that everything went according to plan.
"It all went smoothly and the fireworks display even seemed to last a bit longer this year," Mr McDonald said.
"Les Grant, our 'firestarter' as we call him, lit the bonfire as he has done for a number of years. The whole gala week was a success and events were well attended. Mother Nature and the weather gods were also very kind to us and that made a big, big difference."
In recent years, it has been noted by many gala regulars that the number of floats has been down and Mr McDonald provided an explanation.
"It's to do with the cost and getting the lorries – a lot of them are refrigerated now and aren't available," he said. "The walking groups and individuals made up for the lack of floats, though."
He paid tribute to the family of a former gala committee stalwart, the late Alex Henderson, who won an award with a walking fancy-dress display based on the Seafarers Memorial at the Braehead. Alex's son Andrew dressed as Willie Watt and had on his dad’s tartan trousers which Alex had worn for many years when he escorted the gala queen to the stage.
"It was like having him still involved with gala and looking down on us to make sure we were doing it right," a family member said.
Mr McDonald explained that the committee does not have a total of how much was made over the week as outgoings have to take into consideration. "The money goes towards next year's gala and for community groups. We had a Family Fortunes event that Wick Heritage Centre won and all the teams received cheques from us regardless who won."
He sent out a vote of thanks to Wick Gala Week's four main sponsors – Simpson Oils; Clair Harper; D Steven & Son; and GMR Henderson.
"And, of course, the Gala Committee give up their valuable time over the month and get involved in meeting after meeting after meeting. Without them there would be no Gala Week."
Mr McDonald wonders if the day will come when environmental concerns means the bonfire and fireworks will be banned. "Perhaps we'll have no bonfire and silent fireworks but until then we'll just continue as normal."
