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2003 TOM
MULHOLLAND - " It's The Fair
Day "
My first recollection of the
"Fair" goes back to the year
that Queen Helen ( Nellie )
Young was crowned in 1934.
My involvement as a wee boy
was memorable because I was
allowed to accompany John
Angus, who was the carter
for the colliery, with horse
and cart and collect boxwood
from the nearby woods to
decorate the arch. I also
assisted Uncle Jimmy with
the cables and lights. I
then rode on the horses bare
back to the "Lairds" Stables
along the Dean, ( was I Tom
Mix or was I Tom Mix!!)
Next I was at Primary School
and in 1937 all the pupils
were squeezed into Miss
Shine's classroom to cast
your vote when Annie Spence
was elected Queen! My big
cousin Neil was Champion. I
learned later that he and
another cousin Ritchie were
page boys in 1931, talk
about the start of family
connections.
Then in 1939 tall red-haired
Jean Paterson, of Deanfield
was elected Queen from
Kinneil Primary School, for
the first time. I could
feel the excitement in the
air that is the " Fair "
Little did we realise that
War was looming in the near
future and it would be 1946
before normal service was
resumed. Men left as
teenagers with the bloom of
youth, and returned with
'experience' written all
over their faces. Some
didn't come back!
By this time I was a
teenager and working, so the
interest in the Fair day was
that it was the start of the
Glasgow Fair holidays.
Castleloan had it's share of
Queen's, Especially of
course from Kinneil
Primary. Dorothy Angus in
1950, Margaret Grant in 1955
and the June Grant in 1960.
By this time I was married
and in business for myself,
having taken over from my
mother ( Minnies ). We
enlarged her wee shop in the
rows as the area grew around
us. Our Staff were
enthusiastic workers in
raising money for charity,
especially the Fair, for the
next few years.
Then came our first Family
representative. Our Oldest
daughter, Carol-Anne was
elected to be a presentee,
Penelope of the "Magic
Roundabout". I enlisted the
help of the grand master of
building arches, Mr Bobby
Heath and between us we
designed a Carousel with the
then "Town Clock" on top and
won First Prize! Get the
feeling CHUFFED!! Next came
two fairies ( In the shape
of Wilma and Helen ) and was
it cold on that day! Next
Carol-Anne was a flower girl
and then the last member of
the family, Richard, another
presentee.
Time passes all too quickly.
When we moved to Stewart
Avenue, the year was 1981
and it was then I came into
contact with the children,
teachers/stewards from
Blackness primary. Their
bus stopped at our door on
the Fair morning, to take up
their place for the walk to
the park in the Public
School's playground.
Helping them from their bus
and across the road for
their safety just seemed
natural. The reception I
got from these kids going
from school and in
procession was terrific!
Thanks kids ( and Katie ) I
miss you all.
So on to the year 1993, when
a visit from chairman, David
Brown and vice chairman,
Andrew McFarlane, inviting
my wife Margaret to crown
Queen elect Maria McIntosh.
What a compliment, here's my
girl born a " Black Bitch,"
though she's stayed and
worked longer in Bo'ness,
given this honour - words
are inadequate to describe
the feeling. What a day it
was, a whole 4 months of
preparation for the big
day. Never to be
forgotten. Everybody who
has had the opportunity will
know what I mean. IT WAS
OUR SPECIAL FAIR DAY -
THANKS!
Skipping to 1998, our oldest
Grandson, Bobby, was elected
to be Champion to Queen
Hannah. Once again joy was
shared among us. Three
years later Michael was a
presentee. Another 'day' of
excitement, every bit as
special to him. What will
the future hold we will wait
and see.
Let me conclude. On this
day, Friday 27th June in the
year of our Lord 2003, may
the sun shine, may a smile
be on your lips and laughter
in your heart and when you
meet your neighbour, pass
the time of day and say "
It's the Fair Day."
Always remember, it's nice
to be important but it's
more important to be nice!
TOM MULHOLLAND
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