Page 16 - Issue 69 Online

BRIEF HISTORY OF

MANEA GALA

1956 - 2021

or years, the Parish Council discussed
buying a piece of land for a playing field for
FManea. In 1952, the year of the Queen’s
Coronation, the Parish Council secured a bank the Parish Council, with various groups and
loan and purchased a six-acre grass field from clubs in the village volunteering to run a stall,
Mr Sidney Matthew Guy for £800. The field raising money for the upkeep of the playing
was cultivated, levelled and re-seeded and was field. The dates of the Gala have changed over
called ‘The S M Guy Memorial Playing Field’. the years, and ranged from May, June, July and
The first time the word “Gala” was mentioned August to September.
in the Parish Council minutes, was in 1954, The first “Gala” was
when plans for a yearly fundraising event
were discussed, with the aim of raising some on Saturday 18th
money to help to pay for the field. The very August 1956
first fundraiser was in 1953, when a dance
was arranged by Mrs H Brown and raised 10 In those years the residents of Manea were
shillings. nearly all employed in agriculture, so the Gala
The first “Gala” had to be arranged around the farming calendar.
was on Saturday During the early 80s, the costs for the upkeep
18th August 1956. of the field were added on to the household
Manea Silver Band rates and the committee organising the Gala
headed up the became independent. A standalone Manea Gala
parade and a street
collection raised
£11 and 8 shillings.
Unf ortunately ,
it rained and the
day was curtailed
until the following
weekend.
For years the Gala
was organised by

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