Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 8:38am

Scotland theme proves a winner at Dunfermline Children's Gala

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REVELLERS celebrated everything Scottish at the Dunfermline Children"s Gala on Saturday – right down to the typically grey and dreich weather.

West Fifers and visitors crowded the city centre for the area"s biggest such event, now in its 106th year.

New gala patron Lady Elgin and Wellwood Primary pupil Sean Nicol, who designed the winning picture for this year"s gala brochure, led the 3000-strong parade in a vintage car.

They were followed by Robert the Bruce, in full Lion Rampant regalia, and his friend Sid, a black inflatable 50ft spider, who proved a huge hit with the crowd.

Also keeping with the Scottish theme were comedy acts the Daft Scotsman, the Laird and Shuggie, while the Scottish Folklore Stiltwalkers and the Spartans gymnastic team dazzled with their dexterity.

The parade was extra special this year as Wellwood Primary, which was unable to attend the gala for the last four years, returned to make it a full complement of 20 schools taking part.

There was also plenty of music from the numerous pipe and brass bands, which included Dunfermline Town Band and Dunfermline Pipe Band. The Les Wood Dixielanders and traditional Scottish outfit Lions Rampant also kept feet tapping.

Down at the Glen, Inver–keithing High School Pipe Band kicked off the afternoon entertainment with their rousing skirls. They were followed by a stirring battle from re-enactment group Clanranald, who also let kids try out their outfits, and Sambayabamba, who drummed up plenty of interest with their brand of samba music with a Scottish twist.

Also in the line-up were the Scottish Rockettes basketball cheerleaders, Fiona Ferguson Highland Dancers and fire performers, who kept the audience stoked with their thrilling display.

In addition, three young bands from the Tower House – Lewis, Skylight Falls and Fire in Effect – put on performances at the Glen Pavilion bandstand.

Gala chair Liane Horder said, 'It went really, really well. We are really pleased and we had a good turnout despite the weather.

'The streets were absolutely chock-a-block and everyone had a great time – I hope everyone had a great time!

'The talk in the Glen all afternoon was the spider. The spider was just spectacular – I don"t know how we are going to top that next year.

'Sambayabamba were the most popular act. They were just incredible. You just wanted them to go on and on. They were just phenomenal.'

She added, 'I just want to say thank you to everybody involved and to the people of Dunfermline for supporting it.

'A special thank you to FMC Technologies for sponsoring the gala again this year and to Lady Elgin for agreeing to be our patron.

'Everybody really pulled together to make it a marvellous day for Dunfermline.'

Liane also presented a cheque for £100 to East Port cafe Carla"s Kitchen, which won the Best Dressed Shop competition held in conjunction with the gala, on Monday.