Wickers bask in the sunshine at gala week parade
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THE annual parade of floats and costumed participants marking the start of Wick Gala Week drew huge crowds in the evening sunshine on Saturday.
The crowning of the gala queen took place at the riverside with Kerry Plowman, the 2018 queen, relinquishing her crown for new queen Maja Pearson.
The gala committee chairwoman, Anderina Cass, gave a vote of thanks to all who had helped with event before introducing guest speaker Lord Thurso, Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness.
"In all of Caithness, where could anybody want to be other than here tonight?" he asked the crowd. He talked of his fond memories of the town from childhood days when Wick had TV broadcasting before Thurso. "I used to come over and watch the Lone Ranger and I still associate Wick with that pleasure and enjoyment I recall as a child," he said.
The procession of floats, along with the usual throng of costumed walking participants, then got under way headed by members of Wick RBLS Pipe Band.
Ms Cass said she was delighted with how the procession went and looked forward to the rest of the week's busy gala programme of events. "It was a really spectacular event in every way," she said.
Gala week parade winners – Adult Group: Old Pulteney. Family group: Friendly Gritters. Junior group: Alice in Wonderland. Mixed group: Harry Potter. Adult pairs: Apollo 11.
Junior pairs: Mario Kart. Adult: No Parking. Junior: Panama. Most memorable character on a float: Mr Potato Head. Most memorable character walking: No Parking. Wooden spoon for best slogan: Hastars in their Eyes. Small float: Flintstones. Most topical: Toy Story. Most original float: Nile. Best decorated: Nautical Naughties. Maximum effort: Nautical Naughties. Supreme award: Toy Story.
