The Burbage Gala was first held in 1948 by the newly re-formed Burbage and Easton Royal Branch of the British Legion. It was held annually until at least 1954 but in 1956 the Women's Institute had the following to say about it -
'For a few years after the Legion was re-opened a carnival week was held at the beginning of August [? - the programmes in my posession (1951, 53 & 54) state it was held in mid-July], with a climax of a procession on the Saturday round the village with decorated vehicles. A Carnival Queen was crowned - she was the girl who has sold the most tickets for the carnival, a pram race caused great excitement - down to the station and back with dad pushing mum in a pram. Although the Legion flourishes, Burbage does not now have the fun and games of their Carnival Week'.
I am lucky enough to have been loaned these photographs of the 1948 gala.
When I came to the village in 1984 the Gala week was back and continued until the mid 1980s, by which time it was being organised (I think) by the Village Hall Committee.
This copy of the 1951 programme shows the main events being held in the White Hart Field which is now covered by the upper houses of Ailesbury Way. The 'New Novelty Competition' was to guess the height at which an aeroplane flew over the Field at 4:30 - does anyone know who won and what the prize was?
By 1953, and in 1954, the events were being staged in the 'Village Hall and the Grounds adjoining' - by kind permission of Mr. D Blanchard [of manor Farm]
The Programme Of Events for these years was:-
| July 14-21 1951 | July 11-18 1953 | July 10-17 1954 | |
| Sat | 3pm Opening
of Gala-Week and crowning of the Carnival Queen 8.30pm Grand dance in Village Hall |
8.30pm Opening of Gala-Week and crowning of the Carnival Queen at a Grand dance in Vill age Hall | 8.30pm Opening of Gala-Week and crowning of the Carnival Queen at a Grand dance in Village Hall |
| Sun | 3pm Drumhead Service in Carnival Field (in church if wet) | 3pm Church Service | 3pm Drumhead Service in Carnival Field |
| Mon | 7.30pm Jumble Sale in Village Hall | - | - |
| Tue | Grand Social Evening & Dance in Village Hall | - | - |
| Wed | 7.30pm Super Whist Drive in Village Hall | 7.30pm Grand Whist Drive in Village Hall | 7.30pm Grand Whist Drive in Village Hall |
| Thu | 7pm Bob Bell's Concert Party from Andover - in Village Hall | - | - |
| Fri | Children's Party Night | - | - |
| Sat | 2.30 Flower
Show and Baby Show and lots of side shows etc 8.30pm Grand (fancy Dress) Dance in Village Hall |
2.30 Grand
Flower Show and Fete inc a baby show and lots of side shows etc 8.30pm Grand (fancy Dress) Dance in Village Hall |
2.30 Grand
Flower Show and Fete inc a baby show and lots of side shows etc 8.30pm Grand (fancy Dress) Dance in Village Hall |
I would like to thank Alex McGahey for the Gala Programmes and Sue Winder for use of the photographs. If anyone has photographs, memories or recollections of any Gala event, I'd be most grateful to receive them.
Text © Colin Younger 2001