Baines Masons gallop to the aide of Thornton-Cleveleys Gala
Gala season is a local tradition among Fylde Coast Villages dating back to the 19 th century in which community groups such as churches, schools, scout and guide groups, sports clubs and bands come together to parade through their village. The events were and continue to be an opportunity to showcase the very best of community spirit and togetherness, with crowds of locals lining the streets to watch on as traffic is brought to a standstill to allow the parade to walk though the village unhindered by motor vehicles. Typically these local events have grown over the years to become weekend long festivals beyond the parade, to include fun fairs, live music. Like all activities, local Galas succumbed to the restrictions of the pandemic, but 2022 has seen them start to re-emerge in their traditional early summer time slots in villages up and down the Fylde coast.
The amount of work that goes into organising these events, like so many, is considerable, unseen and takes the full 12 months in-between galas to achieve. That the previous 12 months began with the remnants of the huge cloud of uncertainty that has overshadowed our lives since March 2020 kudos is further merited to the unheralded small bands of volunteers that form organising committees for these historic and inclusive community show pieces.
Thornton-Cleveleys Gala is no exception to any of the above and the local committee chair person, Helen Moorhouse had to summon all her powers of persuasion to reignite the spark in the very small committee that had organised previous Galas, to ensure Thornton Cleveleys had it’s Gala after a three year hiatus. Having gone through the considerable bureaucracy required to legally close the roads of the route, reached out to community groups to form the procession, engaged organisers of the funfair and countless other administrative and practical necessities everything was in place. Everything, that is, except a sufficient number of volunteers to safely ensure the permitted road closures were applied and lifted in accordance with the processional route and issued licenses. With time running out to reach the required 54 volunteers a plea was issued on social media and thankfully, the community rallied around. Included in that rally were members and their partners of Baines Lodge who, having seen the appeal go out and read about the threat to this century old local tradition contacted the committee to offer their services and help ensure the Gala could take place.
On the day, nine members and partners met at the marshall’s station to receive their instructions, information packs and details of their assignment. Bedecked in bespoke Baines Masons hi-vis vests that the lodge had acquired for occasions such as this, the Baines contingent set forth to fulfil their duties, giving their time to this worthy community event; just what Baines Lodge, and indeed Freemasonry is about. Given the time pressures on the small committee a very successful return to hosting Galas was accomplished. Contacts have been strongly forged so that next year it is hoped Baines Masons, and indeed other local Freemasons, can come together much earlier to ensure 11 th hour pleas for assistance are not necessary and the 2023 Gala can be assured of a strong and healthy contingent of volunteers well in advance of the second Sunday in June.
