Isleham Gala - 1st Saturday in July

The In the Village, for the Village

The traditional village feast was still held in Isleham in the early 20th century, celebrated on Wednesday to Friday in Whitsun week on the Priory green and other open spaces, with showmen’s stalls and a cricket match. 

The feast continued as a three- or four-day event on the recreation ground until the early 1980s, when it was succeeded by an annual village gala held in July. 

Whitsun week on the Priory green and other open spaces, with showmen’s stalls and a cricket match. The feast continued as a three- or four-day event on the recreation ground until the early 1980s, when it was succeeded by an annual village gala held in July.

For over 40 years Gala Day has been a highlight of the village calendar and a popular and fun-filled community get-together.

Lots of adults in Isleham today have fond recollections of Gala Days when they were children, from the parade of floats that started the day off to the stalls, competitions, entertainment and food, or the fun run around the village which brought the day to a close. 

The competition tent, the heart of British summer fetes around the country, displayed the talents of local bakers, jam makers, gardeners, flower arrangers and artists. 

Many will remember photographer Vernon Place, who captured all the key moments on camera and displayed them in the old Post Office windows.

Every year holds its own unique memories. Such as the first time a seniors’ race, involving mobility scooters, was introduced. Or the year the WI entered their Calendar Girls float! More recently, the first Gala Day following lockdown is memorable for the sheer joy of people having been able to take part again and for the amazing numbers of floats and walking floats that entered the Parade.

Over the years there have been changes to the format of the day. It is always evolving and adapting and incorporating the ideas of new committee members. Some traditional items have disappeared, while new ones are often tried. We have health and safety rules to follow these days, which wasn’t such an issue back in the 1980s!

Many elements of Gala Days from the past remain today: the Parade; the Competition Tent; the Grand Draw; the Beer Tent; the children’s running races, Fancy Dress competition and adult tug of war. Local groups still provide entertainment in the main ring, while Isleham Primary School Band have often entertained people in The Beeches as they enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake. In 2024, we launched a new photography competition in memory of our beloved Vernon and we expect the Vernon Place Photography Trophy to become a much-valued prize over the years. 

Celebrated on the first Saturday in July, Gala Day is a much anticipated and enjoyable event for the whole village.

The Gala Committee are a small bunch of dedicated volunteers. We all love Gala Day and want to keep it going for as long as possible. We really do value new members with new skills and ideas. We meet at The Beeches monthly from January until July and hold our AGM in October. Please contact us if you would like to come along to a meeting and find out what we are all about.

Please email us at: islehamgala@gmail.com