Gala day 1935, the first procession
Whit or Pentecost Monday was the day that Westerham celebrated its Gala Day, the first being held in 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.
The day would typically start with a fancy dress parade around the town composed of anything from costumed pram-pushers through to complete themed floats built onto farm wagons pulled by heavy horses or farm tractors. One elderly resident remembers building a float to fit exactly the dimensions of a certain farm trailer the farmer had said they could use, only to find that on the day, the trailer that turned up was of a completely different size!
The parade would be followed by a lunch-time picnic, and in the afternoon sports events on the towns market field. The evening would continue with a torchlit procession, once again walking round the town, returning to the market field for fireworks and a big bonfire.
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