Behind every smooth-running event is a team of people who make it happen.

Faces of Galloway shines a light on those individuals. The ones who welcome, organise, support and bring The Gralloch to life. Their stories are woven into the roads, trails and community that define this place.

Few embody that spirit more than David McNicol. A familiar face in Gatehouse and a driving force behind the volunteers and marshals who keep the event moving.

‍

David McNicol

My wife’s family lived in and around here, and her grandfather served in Gatehouse as part of the Home Guard during the war. That is where our roots begin.

We ended up here in 1989 when I took over the Ship Inn, or the Anworth Hotel as it was called then. I had not got a clue and had to learn very quickly.

It was a traditional Scottish hotel with nine bedrooms and a public bar. I came here after 17 years working on farms, but it was behind that bar where I really learned about life. The university of life, you could say. You meet every type of person.

I am at my best when I am with people, talking and helping. I remember one guest staying with us who went out in the morning to buy a paper. When he came back, he was flustered.

“What did I say or do last night? Everyone said hello or good morning to me.”

He had not experienced Gatehouse friendliness before.

We know people who have only been here three months and say they have more friends than in the previous 45 years of their lives. That is what this place is like.

I have always felt my strength is getting on with people, so I moved into sales. It did not matter what I was selling. I just loved the interaction.

That has carried through into everything I do here. I get involved in as much as I can. I am part of the Gala Committee, which runs the torchlight parade. That alone brings around 3,000 people into the town for one night. For a place this size, that is something special.

For 25 years I was part of Galloway Mountain Rescue, finishing as chairman in my final year. That experience is what led to the call about a gravel race needing a safety team that knew the forest.

I was able to bring together a team people could trust, with real local knowledge. The cycling events have grown every year since, and I love being part of it. They make us feel valued, like part of the production team.

Thousands of riders come to The Gralloch, and sometimes I am out driving a recovery vehicle. You spend time with riders who have had a tough day, but they are still buzzing.

I do not always know who they are or how well known they might be. Sometimes I only realise later when I spot them on YouTube after the race.

One of the most memorable moments goes back to the first Raiders Gravel. The gate at the top of Raiders Road had been locked. The padlock sits in a metal box, and overnight wasps had built a nest inside it.

We had tried to smoke them out, which had mostly worked. Then the lead car stopped suddenly. Warren realised we had less than 30 seconds to get that gate open.

He sprayed water at the nest, reached in with the key and somehow managed to open the padlock. The wasps were not happy, but they did not sting. The gate swung open just in time for the lead rider, Mikey Mottram, to come through.

It could have gone very wrong. It also gave me an insight into just how fast these riders are.

The people who come to The Gralloch are special. They travel from all over the world, and that has a real impact here, especially for younger people growing up in the area.

It is a great place to live. You have the forest, the coast and even the golf course. I volunteer there as well. In a small town like Gatehouse, you get stuck in and get things done.

‍

Getting stuck in

David’s story is about more than one role or one event. It is about showing up, getting involved and helping make something bigger than yourself.

From mountain rescue to marshal teams, from torchlit parades to race day recovery vans, people like David are what make The Gralloch what it is.

A world-class event, built on local knowledge, generosity and community spirit.

This is Galloway. These are its faces.

More stories coming soon.