Although my wife and I love to have our grandchildren, sometimes they don't realise a state pension struggles to entertain them at the cinema, crazy golf and bowling complex etc. Last year my wife came up with the idea of buying tickets for the Benarty Gala, costing a mere £2 each. I had thought, at that price, it would be over in half an hour but I was wrong. My grandchildren wer fully entertained for the day as well as fed and watered. I thought it was a one-off and this year my grandchildren were on the phone pleading for us to get them tickets again. So we did, they were still only £2. They were up bright and early for the street parade and as it went by my wife's eyes filled with tears at the joy the grand bairns were having. 'Mickey and Minnie are waving at us granny!' and 'Hiya princess' they shouted. Absolutely brilliant. We followed the parade to the Meedies and as we arrived I swear my eyes about popped out of my head. There were fairground rides and bouncy castles everywhere and all included in the ticket price, along with a gala box and drink. I said 'This can't be right, who's paying for all of this?' and asked a steward. He said fundraising starts right after the gala finishes and continues throughout the year with the community lottery and charity shows. I got a bit embarrassed as I didn't know about a community lottery, far less the charity shows, but I promise to buy one every week if I can. What this group does for our area is as near a miracle as you will get. The people round about me said the same, how great a day it was and that it was one of the best parades the Benarty area had ever witnessed. I wish to thank them for what can only be described as a fantastic day and not only for the bairns, us pensioners loved it too! See you next year.

Name and address supplied.