‘We are just trying to spread the generosity’: Wick groups get £5000 in gala funding
Community groups in Wick have been praised by the chairperson of the town’s gala committee for the “phenomenal” work they do.
Donna Plowman was speaking after the committee donated a total of £5000 to 10 local voluntary organisations.
Cheques for £500 each were handed over by last year’s gala queen, Abby Dunbar, at a presentation in Wick High School.
The groups benefiting are Wick Paths Group, Friends of East Caithness Cemeteries, Wick Flower Baskets, Wick Heritage Museum, Friends of Newtonhill Woodland, the Trinkie Heritage Preservation Group, Friends of Wick North Baths, Wick Christmas Lights, Caithness Heart Support Group and the Wick Society’s boat section which looks after the historic fishing boat Isabella Fortuna.
The gala committee received grant aid to replace the roof on the riverside boating shed, which is used to store equipment.
“We had been saving for a new roof for the boating shed but then we got a grant,” Mrs Plowman said. “We thought it was time, because we had some money saved, to give back to the community and some of the voluntary groups that are trying to improve the town.
“During gala week everybody is so generous to us that we are just trying to spread the generosity and carry it on to other groups.
“We are so lucky with the amount of voluntary groups in the town that do so much for it. If you added up the amount of man-hours that the voluntary groups do, it would be just phenomenal.”
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The committee is planning improvements at the river island where the gala bonfire takes place each year. The work will involve cleaning it out and reinstating stones.
This year’s Wick Gala Week takes place from July 27 to August 3. The gala queen is Anna Durrand and her attendants are Lena Forbes and Mia Gunn.
Prize money for floats on procession night is being increased this year. There will be £300 for the supreme award.
