Nostalgia: The changing face of gala fun

THE annual season of local Gala Days has once again seen areas festooned with flags and flowers for the traditional community celebrations.

The tradition of the gala day may be one steeped in local history, but while plenty of things may not have changed about the event in recent decades, it’s hardly likely that the Balerno Gala Day would again feature youngsters dressed as black and white minstrels.

Back in 1968, however, the fancy dress was considered one of the talking points of the annual procession of floats – for very different reasons than if a similar float were to appear today.