As we are approaching our 2025 Fair Day, I think it is only right that I highlight the incredible and
outstanding work of all our schools Parent Councils and PTA’s in the town.

Since 2022, they have worked alongside our Fair Liaison Officers to pull together all necessary
arrangements for the children in each school to take part, taking over the previous role of the
schools, in recognition that they could no longer sustain the significant workload that is involved.

They coordinate and support the selection of all characters, secure the services of dressmakers and
Presentee choreographers, communicate and share all necessary information with parents and fund
raise to support costs as well as making key decisions purchases that need to be made. They also
manage any financial arrangements regarding outfit payments for some characters.

When the school has the Queen’s Retinue, currently Kinneil Primary School, they also fund raise
tirelessly to reduce Retinue costs to families, and to provide a frontage for the school. They liaise
with the Retinue dressmakers and local florists. They support and attend Retinue and Presentee
practices, and make and provide necessary accessories for the school’s theme.

All this work starts in August each year, and is carried out in parallel with the other meetings and
events they lead and organise for their own school funds. Their involvement leads right up to the
Fair Day itself where these parents are often present as Stewards.

All of the parents have school age children and other home and work commitments. They often
have their own Fair character(s) to plan for and an arch/frontage to build.

They are a group volunteers who give up their time and efforts to ensure that all our children, your
children, have ‘The Best Day of the Year’ and we simply could not put on the amazing spectacle we
all love and cherish each year without them.

A big ‘Hip Hip’ to a group of amazing unsung heroes in our community!

Frank McGarry
Chairman