21/06/2026
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended Grenoside Gala yesterday. From the crowds lining the village streets to watch the procession at the start of the day, right through to the grand finale of the wrestlers’ knockout tournament - proudly won by the Spider Queen herself, The Black Widow - it was a fantastic event that exceeded all our expectations.
There are so many people who contributed to making the gala such a success that it’s impossible to thank everyone individually, but please know how incredibly grateful we are to each and every one of you.
In particular, we’d like to thank:
* Our gala stallholders, who generously gave up their time to help raise money for the Community Centre.
* Our dedicated volunteers, who staffed the gates, served in the kitchens, assisted with disabled parking, picked litter, set up and packed away the site, counted the takings, marshalled the procession and quietly made sure everything ran smoothly throughout the day.
* The Community Centre staff and management team - including the electricians, gardeners, office staff and cleaners - who work tirelessly to keep the building and gardens in great shape, not just for the gala but for the many groups and events that use the centre throughout the year.
* The members of St Mark’s Church, who maintain the church and its beautiful grounds and once again made them available as an integral part of the gala site.
* South Yorkshire Police, whose good humour and professionalism helped keep the procession and event running safely. We were also looking forward to welcoming the Fire Service, but unfortunately they were called away to more urgent duties.
* Our food and drink concessions, who kept everyone well fed and refreshed throughout a glorious afternoon in the sunshine.
* Our first aid team, who thankfully had a quiet day but provided invaluable reassurance and support should it have been needed.
* Members of the local community, who donated prizes for the raffles and cakes for the cafes.
* Local business, who sponsored the gala trail and donated prizes for the raffle.
* The commercial traders and charity stallholders, whose fantastic range of products, activities and displays added so much to the atmosphere and appeal of the event.
* Our entertainers, dancers, singers and wrestlers, who amazed, amused and delighted the crowds all afternoon. This year’s programme was one of the most ambitious we’ve ever attempted, and we think it was one of our best.
* And finally, the unsung heroes: the parents, carers and families who dedicate countless hours taking children to practices, rehearsals and events, giving them the opportunity to develop their talents and perform at occasions like ours.
Organising an event like this takes many months of planning and a great deal of hard work behind the scenes. If you enjoyed the day and would like to help make next year’s gala even bigger and better, we’re always looking for new members to join the team. If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch with us through our social media channels - we’d love to hear from you.
