A GROUP of stalwart committee members determined to bring some post-lockdown joy to Ingleton has staged a successful gala bringing families and friends together.

The gala committee made up of Pippa Scott, Liz Holman, Sarah Procter, Helen Wilson, Beryl Morphet and Kelly Robinson said coronavirus would not stop Ingleton Gala going ahead this year and all the stops were pulled out for a memorable event on July 17, aided by glorious sunshine.

The team put its socially distanced heads together and the Ingleton Gala was planned and organised while following all the guidelines in place.

Sarah Procter explained: “As sun shone, the vehicle parade started at 10am from Meadow Falls campsite led by the Gala Queen Annabel Holman who was attended by, Nellie Beresford, Dorothy Johnson, Dana Dutton, Anastasia Luz Ilagan, Ferne Emsley, Lola Sherwin and Page boy, Leo Taylor.

“The parade then joined the walking fancy dress parade led by Drum Nation as it made its way to the sports field.

On the field the 2019 gala queen Caitlin Ellershaw crowned her successor, Annabel.” The new gala queen now begins her year-long reign.”

In the arena the visitors were treated to demonstrations by Drum Nation and the Ingleton Scout group. Later there were children’s races and the ever-popular egg throwing competition.

Around the field there was a host of local stalls including Ingleton in Bloom, the WI, Jess from Everyday Essentials with her “Hook a Duck”, and Burton Young Farmers’ Club’s popular “dunk tank”.

Alice Todd’s Daisy Chain Cakery stall had cupcakes and cookies to enjoy while Anna Jackson was selling churros in aid of St Johns hospice while ices and lollies were provided by Yorkshire Dales Ice-Cream.

Food and refreshment stalls had a roaring trade

Guests in attendance included the Clapham-cased Cave Rescue Organisation with its information stand. Their day at the gala ended abruptly as the team was finishing up members were asked to respond to a report of a walker suffering severe muscle cramps and heat exhaustion whilst taking part in a Three Peaks charity event.

However, this was before the team managed to win itself second prize in the parade. A team member thanked the organisers for a great day and said it was good to see everyone out enjoying themselves in the sunshine.

The day ended down at the river, with a duck race, proceeds of which were split between Ingleton Rural Community Association and Anna Jackson for St John’s Hospice.