The Weather and Collecting Your Child.
If the weather is fine:
Pupils from Grange, Blackness, St Mary’s and Deanburn can be collected at the fenced area of Douglas Park, towards the St Catharine’s gate. Each school has a separate area with a marked exit. Parents must wait at this exit and should not enter the fenced area. Parents should only access Douglas Park via Dean Road or Linlithgow Road. Please do not try to gain access via Cadzow Avenue – this is for children, school staff and stewards only. Pupils from Kinneil and Public can be collected from their respective schools. Presentees can be collected in Douglas Park after they have danced at the Royal Command Performance. This is typically between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm. The Retinue can be collected at the end of the Royal Command Performance at 4:15 pm.
If the weather breaks down during the Coronation of Queen Elect
The Fair Committee will provide ponchos, however you will not receive one until you get to the school on the Fair morning. It is helpful to have your own as you will have to walk up to the school in the morning. You can purchase one very reasonably from shops in the town.
The pupils of Deanburn School will go to Bo’ness Town Hall to see the Crowning of their Queen and can be collected from there at 12 noon.
The pupils of the Grange, Blackness, Public, St Mary’s and Kinneil schools will return to their schools where they can be collected. Blackness pupils will be returned to Grange School.
Fairies and Flower Girls will return to the Public School whilst the Coronation is taking place. They will then join the Retinue and Presentees for the Procession. After the Procession, they will be dismissed from Kinneil School.
The Retinue and Presentees will go to Bo’ness Town Hall for the Coronation and will take part in the procession using the trailers provided by the Fair Committee.
The Retinue will have lunch in St Mary’s Church Hall. If the weather improves the Royal Command Performance will go ahead at Douglas Park and the Retinue can be collected afterwards at approximately 4:15 pm
The Presentees will have their lunch as usual in Kinneil School and can be collected after they have danced at the Royal Command Performance.
If the weather is very poor the Royal Command Performance will be cancelled, in which circumstance the Retinue can be collected at approximately 2:30 pm from St Mary’s Church Hall and presentees can be collected at approximately 2:30 pm from Kinneil School.
If the Crowning is in the Town Hall, only the Retinue, Presentees and the pupils of Deanburn school are admitted. The only adults allowed are the Fair Guests and the Retinue parents who will be issued with special tickets. If the weather has been bad in the morning, it is unlikely that the Royal Command Performance will take place in Douglas Park and instead will not go ahead.
School Headteachers will be kept informed and consulted, but the final say on pupil arrangements in light of changing weather conditions will be the responsibility of the Fair Chairman.
No matter what the weather brings, events will be broadcast live on the big screen situated at the south side of the Town Hall.
IF THERE IS A DEFINITE CHANCE OF THE WEATHER IMPROVING:
The crowning will be delayed until 11.30 am. The Grand Parade/Procession will still take place as near 12 noon as possible with the presentees being presented to the Queen but not performing.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD PARENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS REMOVE THEIR CHILDREN FROM EITHER THE PROCESSION OR THE STAGE IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER. CHILDREN MUST BE DISMISSED BY SCHOOL STAFF.
