Vandalised seat throne free lifeline

A VILLAGE'S prized gala day centrepiece that was vandalised by children as young as ten has been saved by staff at a West Lothian school.

Roger McCluskey, a technician in the craft, design and technology department at Inveralmond Community High in Livingston, has offered to repair the throne - traditionally used to crown every gala queen in Blackburn - free of charge.

It had been unclear if the chair could be repaired following last month's bizarre act of vandalism, which caused the armrest and back support to split. Members of the Blackburn Children's Gala Day Committee were devastated.

A young girl had asked to use the toilet at Blackburn Community Centre and, once inside, she opened the rear fire exit and allowed three boys access. The youths removed the throne from the store room where it was kept and vandalised it, before dumping it in the car park of the centre.

Mr McCluskey, 56, said: "I read about the vandalism in the paper. The committee had said it was going to be expensive to repair and that they didn't have the money to repair it.

"I think the gala days are a good thing and I always feel sorry for the gala day committees because they put in a lot of selfless work over the year and nobody really helps them.

"I thought, 'wouldn't it be great if we could get the chair back to what it was and keep them happy?'."

The chair has been used for crowning since the first gala day almost 60 years ago.

Eddie Fowler, 60, president and treasurer of the Blackburn Children's Gala Day committee, said: "It's great news that it can be repaired because we did actually trace the chair back to 1953, so it's a lot older than we originally thought.

"This saves us trying to get another chair made. It is a big relief and is another thing that we don't need to worry about."

The grandfather-of-three said he was meeting police officers investigating the vandalism to get an update on the case on Monday afternoon.

A police spokesman said no arrests or charges had been made in connection with the vandalism, but added that police were still investigating.

Mr McCluskey and technical teacher Danny Cuthbert started the work on Wednesday and hope to have the chair fully repaired, using as much of its original features as possible, in around a week.

The mahogany throne, which is decorated with blue velvet and gold trimming, has a value of between 150 and 200, but its sentimental value to the community is far greater.

Murrayfield Primary pupil Nicole Hannah will be crowned queen on the throne on June 11.