News • September 14, 2020 • by Awesome Aberlady

Gala Queen 2020 is crowned

Angus, Elodie, the new Gala Queen, and Martha who performed the crowning ceremony.

ABERLADY’S GALA QUEEN for 2020–21, Elodie Kauffmann, was crowned by her predecessor, Martha Blacklock, at a unique ceremony in the village’s secluded Memorial Garden on Sunday August 30, 2020. Elodie was attended by her consort, Angus Lothian, and watched by a small group of relatives including her parents and grandparents.

Elodie should have been crowned, following village tradition, in front of the Gala Court – the P1 and P7 year groups from Aberlady Primary School – and an eager crowd of well-wishers on the village’s playing field on Gala Day, which was planned for June 6, 2020. Inevitably it had to be cancelled because of the global pandemic.

The 2019–20 P1s, now in P2, are Archie McIntyre, Arin McIntosh, Ayla Merrie, Benjamin Bristow, Charlie Maule, Charlotte Downes, Duncan Robertson, Fraser Odds, Frederick Henderson, Hamish Fairclough, Hannah Hardie, Helena Holland, Julia Moodley, Katie Smith, Lewis Galloway, Max Wallace, Molly Davidson and Rosa Canelli.

Elodie is crowned by Martha; and with her crown, sceptre, cloak and sash.

The P7 leavers, now mostly in S1 at North Berwick High School, are Alasdair Fairclough, Angus Lothian, Ava Guild, Ben Holland, Camie Usher, Edward Lees, Ella Noonan, Elodie Kauffmann, Euan McKenna, Finlay Perry, Gemma Dalrymple, Kirsty Roden, Leah Fraser, Loulou MacPherson, Lucy Dalrymple and Sam Ratcliffe.

Elodie is now hoping that she will be able to perform her duties as Gala Queen in the coming year, including lighting the lights on the Christmas tree at the kirk in December, before handing on the crown in 2021.

Angus and Sandra; Elodie with Joy and Fredo, and with her grandparents.

The chair of Gala 2020, Jen MacPherson, and her deputy, Kirsty Usher, would like to thank everyone who put so much work into planning and preparing for this year’s event.

We would also like to thank Clare Little, ace photographer of this parish, for her pictures of the ceremony.

The Gala Queen and Consort lay flowers on the steps of the war memorial.

Image credits

Photography by Clare Little, www.instagram.com/ clarelittlephotography/