What a fantastic turnout at this year’s Dunlop Gala Day after an absence of 10 years! Yes, organisers back in 1999 decided to wind up the gala day for various reasons but this year Isabel and Clare, two members of the Dunlop Events Committee realised there were a lot more reasons to resurrect the event. The good residents of Dunlop and the surrounding areas all agreed because they turned up in droves!

The whole village of Dunlop participated in the grand event by decorating their homes with balloons and bunting. There were an unusually large number of scarecrows strategically placed in various gardens which gave the scarecrow competition judges a tough time deciding the winner.

The first ever Dunlop Gala Queen was Jeanette Picken who was crowned way back in 1977 by Johnny Beattie and the Dunlop Events Committee were delighted to receive the original robes, tiara and sceptre from the last Gala Queen, Laura Beaton, who was crowned in 1999.

Isabel Kerr, one of the organisers, said: “Thanks to the generosity of Laura, who took great care of the robes, tiara and sceptre for 10 years, and has now very kindly gifted them back to the village, Hannah Johnston our elected Queen of 2009 will be wearing the very same beautiful robes on Saturday, June 6, just as Jeanette Picken did in 1977.”

Dunlop Gala Day of 2009 was a resounding success and URsTV looks forward to taking videos and pictures of all the gala days in the future!

If you have any pictures, past or present, please send us copies into the site so we can commence a new gallery!