Wow! It's Over!
Wow! It's over and a huge success: Juniper Green300 Gala week that is! It started with a brilliant school concert "The River Flows On "in which every child in the school sang acted and danced the history of our community. Saturday saw the opening of the professionally mounted exhibition in St Margaret's Court, the launching of the fourteen - month calendar and the booklet "Juniper Green 1707-2007 History in the Making". Over 600 people (and six classes from the school) went round the exhibition, enjoying the chance to meet old friends too.
On Sunday there was a little bit more history when the Gala Queen and her court (Zoe Allan, Katy Hill, Gregor Lockhart and Mark Hemmings) were crowned at "Art in the Park" on the tennis courts. This big, happy event brought local artists and schoolchildren together to exhibit their work and to enjoy a clay workshop, weaving, card-making, face and nail-painting and a fancy dress parade. Children and adults alike had a chance to be photographed as Sir John and Lady Foulis and enjoy strawberries and cream in our Village Hall!
During the week Charlotte Neary of the Water of Leith Conservation Trust and local ornithologist Richard Watt took 20 people along the river showing us the birds (including heron, wagtails and a kingfisher) and the plants of our area. Liz Beevers led a slightly longer walk exploring the early history (pre 1850) of Juniper Green. Many of the walkers contributed their memories to the discussion to make a most enjoyable afternoon.
On Thursday a packed Church Hall applauded the Queen and her court as they explained how and why they were chosen, then settled to the eighth of our history talks. It was a tour de force by Alastair Davidson on the village in the nineteenth century based on Colinton Local History Society's original research.
The climax of the event was on Saturday when the Colinton and Currie Pipe Band led us round the village and down to the School Fair. Behind them in the parade were the royal party in a horse-drawn carriage.
Tommy Notman's well-kent coal lorry, two Scout troups, Rainbows, a Drama group and perhaps more than two hundred young people and their parents followed on.
When the parade arrived at the school former pupil and world champion snooker player Stephen Hendry opened the gala fair.
Fun-runs, a talent contest, tours of the Old School and displays and stalls at the new one entertained us and lightened our purses in a very good cause! And those who had any energy left by the evening piled into the Village Hall for a family disco.
The Gala week is over but Juniper Green 300 continues! There will be a Gardens Open Day on August 12th from 12.30 to 4.30. See you there!