News

Where are all the Gala Queens?

IT was heralded as a return to tradition but five months after organisers of this year's Halifax Gala announced they would be reintroducing a procession Queen, only one girl has come forward.

Tuesday, 19 May, 2009, 9:56PM

Now, with just weeks to go before the post must be filled, gala chiefs are desperate for more girls to apply.

Terence Sutcliffe, procession marshal, said: "There's been a virtually non-existant uptake but we're sure there must be more people out there who would like to lead the parade on the day - this is a historic position, after all.

"We're certainly not saying the girl who has applied isn't up to the job but we were hoping for a little competition to help us get the very best person."

He said he feared people had not come forward because the position was not seen as "cool".

A queen led the gala procession from the first event in 1956 to 2002 when the role was abandoned in favour of a more politically correct "ambassador", a title dropped only a year later due to lack of uptake.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "The gala is all about tradition and glamour and it loses something without the queen - that's why we are trying to bring her back.

"We would be unhappy if a lack of interest meant we had to drop the position."

The queen should be aged between 15 and 18. She would ride in a special car before meeting a number of dignitaries, including the Mayor of Calderdale.

Halifax Gala will be held on Saturday, June 13. Over the years it has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for a variety of charities.

The full article contains 279 words and appeared in Evening Courier newspaper around 21 February 2009