THE theme for Saturday’s 2019 Addingham Gala was ‘A Musical Extravaganza’ and a lively parade, led by the Leeds School of Samba.

The parade was made up of a School of Rock,the Spice Girls, a school of Baby Sharks, Nursery Rhymes nursery and after-school as Nursery Rhymes, the von Trapps and nuns of the Sound of Music and Addingham Scout group as Mary Poppins.

Chairman of Addingham Civic Society Jim Robinson awarded first place in the parade to Addingham Primary School’s School of Rock, Addingham Guides took second place as The Sound of Music. Third place went to Addingham Pre-School’s Baby Sharks.

The crowds followed the parade where they were welcomed and entertained by compere and scoutmaster Paul ‘Skip’ Jennings.

The outgoing 2018 Gala Queen, Charlotte Turner, crowned the 2019 Gala Queen, Orla Rose McShane who thanked the organisers and judges, and officially opened the Gala for the gathered crowds. Her first role of the coming year was to judge the fancy dress competition.

More Samba on the field made things go with a swing, before the Silsden Town Band took over and mellowed the mood nicely. Returning for a second year Addingham Beer Festival organisers provided a pop-up pub and beer garden. Villagers and visitors supported the stalls and activities on the field and in the marquee, polished off homemade buns and cakes and watched the dog show where Best in Show went to Violet the Rottweiler, with her owner Frankie Croft. Three year old Arthur Selbie won Best in Show in the Handicrafts competition with a fabulous recycled robot, whilst Best in Show for Pets went to Cookie the rabbit, owned by Abigail Jennings. The Swan Pub won Best Main Street Business Frontage with a monochrome, piano-inspired ‘Swan Songs’ theme, with regular Jane Aldridge and staff dressed to match.

Chair of the Parish Council, Catherine Coates, set off a strong field of fell-runners on the annual five mile return dash to the top of Beamsley Beacon. The children’s races saw a record number of children competing in the events to win a medal.

This year the second annual ‘Paul Gaunt’ memorial Tug of War saw the boys (and men) versus girls (and women) in a battle of strength. For a fourth consecutive year, the girls and women took a victory.

The Gala Team would like to thank the many helpers, particularly the stalwart bunting and set-up crew, the Beer Festival team and parish councillors for help with road closures, Ben Whitehead for gate-building, and Mick Greenwood for driving, providing cones and road closure support, local people for decorating their houses and businesses, the Ilkley Harriers for organising the fell race, and the Parish Council, local businesses and other sponsors for their generous financial support again this year.

Competition Results

Main Street - Best Business Frontage

1st - The Swan Pub - Swan Songs, 2nd - Addingham Ducklings - 5 Little Ducks, 3rd - Plantation - Singing in the Rain

Main Street - Residential Frontage 1st - 29 Stone Garth - The Lion King, 2nd - 121 Tailor’s Cottage - Country Music

Fancy Dress

Under 10s - 1st Robert Dean, Pirate, 2nd Rosa Crolla, Saxophone player, 3rd Sienna Griffin, Rock Star

10 and over - 1st Dingham dashers, Spice Girls, 2nd Mrs Lynne Boreham, Rock Star, 3rd Anya Keeble and Mackenzie Golding, Votes for Women

Pet Show

Under 10s - 1st Joe the guinea pig for George Littlejohn

10 and over - 1st, 2nd , 3rd respectively Cookie, Toffee and Moo Moo the rabbits for Abigail Jennings

Dog Show

Large breed - 1st Violet the Rottweiler for Frankie and Jo Croft, 2nd Alfie the German Shepherd, 3rd Freddy, breed not noted

Small Breed - 1st Effie, 2nd Brandy, 3rd Ruby

Waggiest Tail - Wren

Best in Show - Violet the Rottweiler for Frankie and Jo Croft

Parade winners

1st Addingham Primary School with School of Rock, 2nd 1stAddingham Guides with The Sound of Music, 3rd Addingham Pre-School Playgroup with Baby Sharks