Services
Whitburn and Blackburn - news
St Kentigern's Academy invited to celebrate Mass with the Pope
Staff and pupils from St Kentigern's Academy, Blackburn, have been invited to join thousands of other young Catholics from across the country at a Celebration of Mass with Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the UK.
The Mass will be celebrated on Thursday 16 September in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, after the Pope has been received by the Queen at the Palace of Holyrood House.
140 pupils from across all year groups will be selected to attend the Mass, and will be accompanied by 15 staff from across the school. In addition, 15 S6 pupils have been invited to assist the congregation receive Holy Communion and two pupils will travel to St Mary's University College in Twickenham to listen to the address that the Pope will deliver to young people.
The pupils will see another familiar Blackburn face on the day. For singer Susan Boyle has been invited to sing at the Mass.
Town centre improvements
Civic Space work started on 16 August and is expected to take a period of eight weeks. Signage strategy and furniture strategy will be implemented in late summer.
The shop front grant scheme is progressing in partnership with Whitburn Traders.
The refurbishment of the wall at the Cross and repairs to the Market Place Planter has now been tendered with an expected return date of late August.
Pupils get ready for their annual show
Preparations for St Kentigern's Academy annual show are now underway.
This year, pupils are very excited by the prospect of the chance to perform in the wonderful musical play ?Oliver.
The show will be staged in the school assembly hall on 9, 10 and 11 November.
Area winners announced in gardening competition
Judging of West Lothian Council's annual Gardens' Competition has been completed for this year and the area winners selected.
The winners for the Whitburn area are: 1 - Mr and Mrs Robertson, 45 Northfield Crescent, Longridge. 2 - Mr R Young, 10 Gateside Road, Whitburn. 3 - Mr B Beveridge, 99 Loch Maree Way, Whitburn.
The winners of the best flower garden, best vegetable garden, best Livingston garden, Oatridge College Award and the West Lothian Gardener of the Year title will be announced at the prize giving ceremony on Friday 5 November at the Low Port Centre in Linlithgow.
Youth festival at community centre
The event included an information village in followed by a barbeque.
A foam party for young people aged 12 and over was held in the evening.
A variety of agencies and organisations who have an interest in young people regarding, employment, substance use and voluntary work attended throughout the afternoon with various stalls and activities on offer.
Eyes of the world wide web on Whitburn group
Whitburn Older People's Group promotes the health and well-being of older people in the local area.
And details of all its activities, as well as information on how to get involved with the group, can be obtained from its website: http://www.whitburnopp.co.uk/ (new window)
"Please have a look and let us know if we can be of any help," says project co-ordinator Dawn Colquhoun.
Piping hot reception for Bob
For Bob Mclelland was born in Blackburn, before his family emigrated to Australia 50 years ago when he was just 10-years-old.
As a surprise for the pipe major, Blackburn Community Council organised some refreshments and invited along people who knew Bob and his family.
Bob and his band were piped in to Blackburn community centre by some members of Seafield Junior Pipe Band.
And Deputy Provost Jim Dickson presented Bob with a miner's davey lamp on behalf of West Lothian Council.
Cooking by numbers
Whitburn Community Centre, Tuesday 10am to 12pm. The pre-course meeting is on 31 August with the course starting on 7 September.
For more information call Adult Basic Education on 0800 7311 831 or email jenny.reekie@westlothian.gov.uk
Couple's recipe for happy marriage
That's the advice from Peter and Sadie Wardle.
And they should know.
For Peter and Sadie, from Blackburn, have just celebrated their diamond wedding.
In recognition of their 60 years together, the couple were presented with a bouquet of flowers by Deputy Provost Jim Dickson.
Peter and Sadie met in Yorkshire. Peter comes from Yorkshire and Sadie was working in the area at the time. They first met at a cricket match. But Sadie admitted: "I had my eye on him from a distance for a while," said Sadie. "She was always winking at me," laughed Peter.
The couple finally met up at a dance in Yorkshire and moved up to West Lothian, before marrying at the English Church in Bathgate.
Both worked on the buses for a while, Peter as a driver and Sadie as a conductress. Peter then joined the council, where he worked as a supervisor in environmental health.
Peter and Sadie have four children, 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
They celebrated their diamond wedding with a big family party in Penicuik.
Pictures wanted of old gala days
With their centenary in 2011, Blackburn Children's Gala Day are looking for pictures of previous events to put on their website www.blackburnchildrensgaladay.co.uk/ (new window)
An earlier appeal for pictures of former gala queens brought a good response and these have now been added to the gala website.
So far, they have managed to acquire some pictures going as far back as 1953, when Mima Todd was crowned gala queen. Mima still lives in the village and takes an active role in the church.
Anyone who has pictures from previous gala days can email them to: davierichardson@aol.com or contact Davie on 07709 316 283.
