Torphicen Gala Day

The 2009 Torphichen Gala Day was a marvellous success , as was the Torphichen Civic Week running up to the Gala Day itself, and local MP Michael Connarty hopes local people continue to support the events as it is a superb example of a small community sustaining a tradition that now stretches back more than 100 years in Torphichen.

Michael Connarty MP and Mary Mulligan MSP joined in the parade - and stopped to admire the McKenzie family’s Queen’s house frontage.

Michael was also pleased to see Gala Day recognise the great contribution to the village and Civic Pride of Jim Clarke, a local man who had taken it upon himself to personally rescue the village telephone kiosk from dereliction and to renew the paint work on the village war memorial.

Michael said:“At a time when many smaller communities are losing their Gala day celebrations, Torphichen is a tremendous example and inspiration to us all. This is the 101st year of the gala in Torphichen, and it was a real pleasure to see Mr and Mrs McKenzie’s daughter Briagha chosen as the 2009 Gala Queen as the McKenzie family do so much work for the Gala Day Committee. It was all the more amazing as the name of the Torphichen Gala Queen is chosen by drawing names out of a hat in a purely chance process.

Well deserved praise too for Jim Clarke, a Torphichen man with a real active pride in his village!“