Breaston May Day Gala

A hot sunny day brought out the crowds on - for once! - a warm Bank Holiday Weekend.

The main attraction this year was the Dako Flying Angels: their spectacular acrobatic displays had the crowds gasping in amazement!

There was plenty to do and see, as usual - lots of stalls, plenty of food outlets and entertainments for the children including a huge inflatable obstacle course. This occupied the spot usually reserved for the model railway, which was unable to attend this year. (We hope to have a model railway next year, though!).

This was Jean and Jonathan Lupton's final year in charge of the Gala, and what a wonderful day it was. They will be on hand to guide the new leadership as they take over in the coming months If you would like to help, please get in touch!

Once again the elements were against as we were setting up - rain this year, and fortunately little wind. But the rain stopped well before the crowds began to arrive, and the day improved all the way to the end (barring a couple of brief showers). The marching bands and Breaston Park Football Club, together with Rammie, started the arena displays. The very popular dog show was a huge success with many entries for all the classes; Pete Lewing and his Newfoundland dogs attracted much attention too. It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and everything passing off without an incident or injury.

The Paws for Though Dog Display Team did a couple of displays for us. Many of their dogs are rescue dogs, and give an amazing display of agility, obedience and even bravery as they jump thorugh blazing hoops. Firfield Primary School maypole dancers did so well with the help of their fabulous teachers. Stepping Stones dance group entertained us royally and deserved the applause they received.

I would say a special thanks to the local business who gave generously to the prize draw and advertised in the programme which helped pay for the day to be staged. The Gala is a non-profit making event and any surplus goes towards next year’s Gala and other community events in the village such as the Summer Band Concert and the Mince Pies & Mulled Wine Carol Concert on Duffield Close.

Finally, I would like to say thanks to everyone involved and those who turned up on the day and took part in creating a great Community Spirit. (Have a look at the website to view the photos).

Jean Lupton – Chairman, Breaston Gala Committee

Warm and sunny - a wonderful window in the weather! Sandwiched in between a miserable Sunday morning and a damp and windy Tuesday, Breaston Gala was blessed with a lovely window in the weather. We had sunshine, a light breeze, and it wasn't too hot!

Proceedings started at 11am with the Mayor of Erewash, councillor Kewel Athwal, formally declaring the Gala open., followed by a display from the Breaston Highlanders marching band. At the end of their display there was a surprise presentation to Band Secretary Bert Cook for his 65 years' membeship of the band.

A demonstration by Breaston Park Football Club swiftly followed, after which the Nottingham Boys' and Girls' Brigade Band gave us their marching display.

The highlight of the day was the performances by the Dako Flying Angels. Their acrobatics were astonishing to behold, and their prowess was warmly applauded by the huge crowd watching them. This was their first display of the year, with some of the younger lads performing for the first time - not that you would have known!

The staff and children from Firfield School delighted us all with an excellent display of maypole dancing. The youngsters were very well-drilled, and executed the complicated patterns almost flawlessly.

Sandwiched between repeat performances from the two bands, Stepping Stones Dance Group entertained us with a variety of age groups performing their dances. With the VE Day celebrations nearly upon us, they took a 1940s theme, with the children dressed and coiffed appropriately - truly charming.

Vibez Danceworks are celebrating a big year this year - it is their 10th anniversary, and the three crews that danced for us have all qualified for the World Street Dance Championships (they will be competing in Glasgow this Auagust, hoping to bring back a world title!).

The afternoon drew to a close with the programme draw and the children's races organised by Chris and Fiona Smedley.

Throughout the day there were several entertainments continuously available: Bugs 'n' Bones, had some seriously creepy crawlies (including a 9-foot albino python that the brave and bold were able to handle). The Erewash Climbing Wall had a continual succession of budding mountaineers. Electric Rainbow had a variety of bouncy castles, slides and even a boating lake and zorbing pool (children clim inside a giant waterproof bubble and walk on water!). The train ride from the Erewash Valley Model Engineers was very popular.

The Dog Show under the management of Nancy Plummer and Catherine Barber and team proved as popular as ever.

The food stalls all sold out of most of their wares - the Churches Together Tea Tent, the Scouts BBQ, Hoggs Bistor, James' Jacket Potatoes and DInky Donuts, and most of the stalls had a successful day, especially our local ice skater, Abby Green, raising funds for her competitions.

Warm and sunny - again! Once again the sun shone on Breaston for the May Daya Gala!!

Proceedings started at 11am with the Mayor of Erewash, councillor Val Claire, formally declaring the Gala open.

A demonstration by Breaston Park Football Club swiftly followed, after which the Nottingham Boys' and Girls' Brigade Band gave us their marching display.

The highlight of the day was two performances by the Paws for Thought Dog Display Team. The team had come up from the West Midlands to entertain us with a wonderful display of dog agility, bravery (well, would you jump through a burning hoop?) and obedience - all the more impressive as most of the dogs are rescue animals. The team involved the children in holding up jumps for the dogs to leap over (or, in some cases, under!), and adults were involved in creating a tunnel for the dogs to run through - and then over the their bent backs.

The Breaston Highlanders Band and The Boys' and Girl's Brigade Band demonstrated (separately!) their musical and marching prowess. The staff and children from Firfield School delighted us all with an excellent display of maypole dancing. The youngsters were very well-drilled, and executed the complicated patterns almost flawlessly.

Stepping Stones Dance Group entertained us with a variety of age groups performing their dances.

The afternoon drew to a close with the programme draw and the children's races.

Throughout the day there were several entertainments continuously available: Tropical Inc, always popular, had some seriously creepy crawlies (including a scorpion that the brave and bold were able to handle), and a snake (which our compere Owen Bradley definitely did not like!). The Erewash Climbing Wall had a continual succession of budding mountaineers (some as young as 3 we are lead to believe!). Electric Rainbow had a variety of bouncy castles, slides and even a zorbing pool (children clim inside a giant waterproof bubble and walk on water!). The train ride from the Erewash Valley Model Engineers was very popular.

The Dog Show back under the management of Nancy Plummer and Catherine Barber and team and proved as popular as ever.

Warm and sunny - in an otherwise cold May! How amazing to have warm, dry, sunny weather in what promises to be the coldest Spring since 1939!

Proceedings started at 11am with the Mayor of Erewash, councillor Jennifer Hulls, formally declaring the Gala open. She then judged the Fancy Dress competition, awarding victory to Grace Collishaw, dressed as the May Queen.

A demonstration by Breaston Park Football Club swiftly followed, after which the Nottingham Boys' and Girls' Brigade Band gave us their marching display.

After this the team from Bonsall Red Barrows put on their spectacular (and hilarious) display, attempting to mimic the nearly-synonymous Red Arrows, dressed in red flying suits, with red wheel barrows! Fly pasts, aerobatics (or should that be ground-obatics?) with orange smoke, leaping through the Ring of Fire (although the joke was that the real fire was a tiny ring about one foot across rather than the man-sized circle that they leapt through!). There was even a segment of the most elegant ballet to Ravel's "Bolero".

The Breaston Highlanders then demonstrated their musical and marching prowess. They were followed by staff and children from Firfield School who delighted us all with an excellent display of maypole dancing. The youngsters were very well-drilled, and executed the complicated patterns almost flawlessly.

The Boys' and Girl's Brigade Band then made a second appearance, followed by Stepping Stones Dance Group who entertained us with a variety of age groups performing their dances.

After a second stint by the Breaston Highlanders, the afternoon drew to a close with the prize draw and the children's races.

Throughout the day there were several entertainments continuously available: Tropical Inc, always popular, had some seriously creepy crawlies (including a scorpion that the brave and bold were able to handle), and a snake (which our compere Owen Bradley definitely did not like!). The Erewash Climbing Wall had a continual succession of budding mountaineers. Electric Rainbow had a variety of bouncy castles, slides and even a zorbing pool (children clim inside a giant waterproof bubble and walk on water!). The train ride from the Erewash Valley Model Engineers was very popular.

The Dog Show was once again under the management by Clever Paws and proved as popular as ever.

A great time was had by all. The day started fine and dry, though a bit cold - but htat helped the great team of volunteers who helped to set up the field, erecting tents and so on (thank you to you all!).

Proceedings started at 11am with ITV presenter Lucy Kite - a Breastonian - formally declaring the Gala open after the National Anthem was played. The newly appointed mayor of Erewash, Councillor Jennifer Hulls, then crowned Amy Huntley as the Gala Princess. Amy then processed around the arena.

A demonstration by Breaston Park Football Club swiftly followed, after which the Nottingham Boys' and Girls' Brigade Band gave us their marching display.

After this the team from Bonsall mounted their trusty steeds for the Royal Horse Trials. Firstly, the ringmaster invited 8 youngsters from the crowd to act as "trainers", Then, must to the amusement of the crowd, the horses came on. No ordinary horses, these - see the photos! After being paraded round the ring by their trainers, the horses then attempted various dressage techniques, followed by some show jumping, and finishing up with a race, which was won by "Dick Turpin" riding "Black Bess" trained by Daniel.

The Breaston Highlanders then demonstrated their musical and marching prowess. They were followed by staff and children from Firfield School who delighted us all with an excellent display of maypole dancing. The youngsters were very well-drilled, and executed the complicated patterns flawlessly - and they were really enjoying it, despite the cold wind.

Stepping Stones Dance Group then entertained us with a variety of age groups performing their dances.

The Boys' and Girl's Brigade Band then made a second appearance, this time with the unwelcome accompaniment of rain.

The afternoon drew to a close with the children's races, with medals being awarded to the first three in each race, after which the prize draw was made.

Throughout the day there were several entertainments continuously available: Tropical Inc, always popular, had some colourful parrots, a snake (which our compere Owen Bradley definitely did not like!), a baby porcupine (cute, but not so cuddly!) and a snake. The Erewash Climbing Wall had a continual succession of budding mountaineers. Electric Rainbow had a variety of bouncy castles, slides and even a zorbing pool (children clim inside a giant waterproof bubble and walk on water!). Unfortunately the train ride from the Erewash Valley Model Engineers could not come, as the ground was judged to be too soft to safely get their vehicles on and off the field.

The Dog Show was under new management by Clever Paws and proved as popular as ever.

The Gala began at 11am with the formal opening by the Mayor of Erewash (Cllr Robert Parkinson) followed by the crowning of the Gala Princessm Lydia Taylor, and her two attendants Charlotte Ansell and Grace Mendes. Many thanks to Sumpters of Long Eaton who have sponsored the Gala Princess with vouchers for photo shoots for her and her attendants.

• the ever-popular Dog Show
• Demonstration by Breaston Park Football Club
• Boys' and Girls' Brigade marching band
• Medieval re-enactment by The Kedleston Re-enactment Group
• Stepping Stones Dance Group
• Children's Races
• Tug of War competition
• Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
• Tropical animals - including meerkats - from Tropical Inc

For once, there was no rain while the stalls were being set up. And the sun shone for most of the time; the one or two heavy squalls (some with hail!) failed to dampen the spirits of the large crowd.