WITH all of its "traditional" charm, the Steelend gala is set to return to the village on Saturday. 

Complete with inflatables, a tombola, a pipe band, highland dancing, races, pony rides and of course the crowning of the gala queen, her princess and the page boy, it promises to be the perfect way to spend an afternoon. 

It kicks off with the parade at 11.30am with the fun and games taking place in the park next to Steelend Miners Welfare Club.

Helen Law, the chair of the committee, told the Press: "Our gala, notwithstanding world wars and lockdown, has been going on for a very long time, I don’t think we’ve missed a year in, I don’t know how long. Nobody has got the record, unfortunately.  

"It must have been going for about 80 - 90 years  

"It’s still a very traditional gala, we have Bowmar Pipe Band, a gala queen, a princess and a page boy, the kids get a gala bag, and we’ve got inflatables too."

A fixture in the community calendar, she said it's one day when residents, those in the surrounding villages and people who used to live in Steelend always turn out to support the event.

Tickets are available from Steelend Miners Welfare Club and are priced at £4 per child, which includes a gala box and access to the inflatables, and £3 for an adult, which includes tea and a pie. 

Helen added: "It’s a great day in Steelend and it doesn't just attract people from the village and surrounding area but often, people who lived in the village come back on gala day.

"Weather permitting, we’ll have a great day."