the Linlithgow’s news by Linlithgow’s people BLACK bitch LINLITHGOW COMMUNITY MAGAZINE ISSUE 79 JANUARY 2021 >>>>>>>>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SUBSCRIBE AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUPPORT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE ST MICHAEL WHAT’S THE STORY? PAGE 4 Subscribe to the Black Bitch Magazine. READER SUBSCRIPTION GARY CLINTON SHALE TRAIL PAYMENT OPTIONS 3 MUSIC TUTOR 14 ‘HISTORIC’ FOOTPATH 23 Linlithgow Distillery Competition, Police Scotland, Burgh Beautiful, Planning Updates, PLUS Local Arts Review & Competition Winner, Book Review, Bruce Jamieson – Fighting Fire See our website to download a pdf of this magazine :www.linlithgowcommunitymagazine.co.uk contents Magazine Subscription Linlithgow Police News Paul Rolfe January cghcreative.co.uk Why subscribe? Online Scams and Property Commentary 3 15 Frauds, Winter Car 24 A muted property market St Michael Statue Safety, Neighbourhood The historical significance Watch Skinhappy 4 of this new Civic Insignia Introduces new services, explained New Hopetoun Gardens 25 products and online 16 What’s happening in your consultations One Linlithgow garden this winter 6 Interviews with members Fighting Fire of the business community, Kirk Gates in Linlithgow Digital Market, Updates 17 Bog Poetry - the joys 26 A history by and the dreams Bruce Jamieson Linlithgow’s Orchards Bio diversity and The Arts 8 nutrition in our Orchards, Thank you to our Linlithgow Street Trees Burgh Beautiful 18 Frontline workers - Art 28 High Street / Public Initiative and profile on Consultation Linlithgow Burns Club the Line Gallery Black Bitch magazine design & production: www. & production: design Bitch magazine Black As it happened The Sarispa Thirteen 10 at the Supper of 1905 Fairtrade by CR Coen. Science The real story behind 29 Fiction first by local 20 that morning cup author. Reviewed by Linlithgow Rose of coffee Lisa Nettleton Family Wall a hit with 11 supporters and the local community Big thank you - Meet Oscar 22 Toy Appeal sponsored MacMeechan, by River Kids Supported 31 the 8 year old Maltese LUCS explored in Linlithgow by Playbugs Westport Veterinary A look back at the history Clinic 12 of the Linlithgow Union Canal Society (Part 1) Greatheart Alasdair J Gray - 22 a reflection by Laurie Zooming with Alexander 14 Gary Clinton Local music tutor Shale Trail Winchburgh continues to engage with / West Calder 16 mile - his fabulous students 23 historic waymarked trail open to the public I moved back to Linlithgow 16 years groups such as Transition, Walking PROFILEs OF ago after a brief stay in Inverness. Football and Cycling for myself. OUR TEAM We had lived in Linlithgow before and After a short illness I heard The Black thoroughly enjoyed the community spirit Bitch magazine were looking for people to GLENN MILLER and it was an easy choice to come back. deliver it around Linlithgow and I thought this would suit me just fine. I mainly got involved in the local community through my family activities. I believe I have the largest run but I have to say it doesn’t seem that way as I meet so We were involved in many local groups many characters around Avontoun Park including LAMP, Pipe Bands, Linlithgow and everyone looks out for the BB mag. Primary School PSA and Academy Hockey and music. I am very proud to be part of the magazine team and I think people genuinely enjoy As the children got older it gave me the reading about their community in this opportunity to get involved in other format. NEXT ISSUE COPY DEADLINE CONTACT THE EDITOR 24 FEBRUARY 2021 [email protected] 2 BLACK BITCH ISSUE 79 JANUARY 2021 COMMUNITY DAVID TAIT, EDITOR 4 EASY SUBSCRIPTION Subscribe to PAYMENT OPTIONS the Black Bitch SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS Magazine Here we are at the start of 2021, We are very pleased to say that developments all around the /// not long past the end of the year the response to our subscription town threaten to overwhelm that will be remembered as the appeal has been very encouraging infrastructure and neglect one to forget, and the Black to date and we thank everyone who is evident in the town centre Bitch magazine finds itself just has contributed for their generous Conservation Area we plan to say a couple of issues short of its support. more about how local community interests can co-operate to bring The magazine is a not-for-profit 10th birthday. influence to bear in developing a voluntary organisation raising vision for Linlithgow’s future. Usually this would be a time for funds from within the community celebration and reflection – what to meet the basic operating costs of did we get right and what could preparing and printing each issue. We are therefore asking those we do better? The importance of local news who appreciate their great good generated locally by trustworthy fortune in being able call this However, for everyone from place their home to consider – if individuals to community sources has been recognised increasingly both nationally and they have a little cash to spare and organisations to businesses the haven’t done so already – making times are far from usual. internationally. It is widely accepted that the connection and mutual a subscription to help us achieve Our principal source of financial understanding between community our aims. support continues to derive from and government at local level has You can do so by one of two advertising spend by the business been lost. The past 10 or 20 years methods online by using the links community and various events has seen the decimation of local in the magazine or by completing organisers. As we know only too newspapers which social media, and returning the application form well, public events have ceased despite some useful qualities, has to be found inside this issue. altogether and businesses are not replaced. Meantime, stay safe having a torrid stop-start time and well. struggling to stay afloat until As we complete our 10th year the pandemic subsides to in print we are looking forward manageable levels. to the next ten. As new housing THERE WERE SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS FOR LINLITHGOW SCENES TO PAINT IN THE ENTRIES FOR OUR PRIZE DRAW. MEG WALLACE PICKED LORRAINE WADE AS THE WINNER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT SHE PAINT THE DUDLEY THE CAT STATUE. HERE IS MEG WITH THE GENEROUS PRIZE WHICH WAS DELIVERED IN A SOCIALLY DISTANCED MANNER BEFORE CHRISTMAS. ARTIST, MEG WALLACE LIN GIN ‘NOVEMBER WITH PRIZES FOR WINNER, COMPETITION’ WINNER Pat Swan’s Local Arts feature is on page 18. LORRAINE WADE AMY CORNOCK SEE P 21 Images taken with social distancing applied. FOR JAN COMPETITION PRIZE WINNER >>> For details and events visit what’s on www.mylinlithgow.com <<< VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SUBSCRIBE AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUPPORT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 3 COMMUNITY response. Delivery of the Black Bitch had been fairly straightforward, but the St Michael sculpture proved to be a ST MICHAEL SCULPTURE little more complex. The initial public Myra Smith, Linlithgow Burgh Trust consultation had revealed a preference for a very striking proposal submitted by Alan Herriot, but some unease was later expressed by commentators that Alan’s depiction of St Michael slaying the dragon to express good triumphing over evil was perhaps a little too aggressive for its position outside Low Port Primary School. Concern was also expressed that this site was, in itself, /// inappropriate for such a sculpture. These concerns were not, however, shared by the project’s main funders, who voiced a strong preference for the Low Port site, feeling that what promised to be a prestigious sculpture deserved a prominent position in the town. Alan Herriot agreed to produce a second design to take into account the concerns expressed. After a second public consultation, the general view The Black Bitch and St Michael throughout several centuries on the was that Alan’s original proposal should – each synonymous with town’s burgh seal and coats of arms. form the basis of the final sculpture, Linlithgow’s heritage, and much In the wake of the installation of the with some changes being made in loved by its inhabitants, but how Dudley sculpture at the canal basin in order to soften slightly the overall many in the town are familiar with July 2018, interest had already been impression while maintaining the the historical background to these shown by several commentators in veracity of the symbolism depicted a Black Bitch sculpture, and so efforts in the original civic insignia. Alan two symbolic representations of began later that year to seek the produced a third size maquette (model) the town’s civic status? necessary funding that could deliver of his proposed sculpture, which was a sculpture of this well-known emblem viewed and approved by the clients, and A desire to educate and inform of Linlithgow, and it was decided that by representatives of the project’s two Linlithgow residents about the town’s perhaps sufficient funding could also main funders – Linlithgow & Linlithgow history was, in part, the impetus behind be secured for a sculpture of St Michael. Bridge Town Management Group and Linlithgow Burgh Trust’s Public Art Linlithgow Town Centre BID (Business The Black Bitch was the first of the Improvement District). Project, which aimed to deliver two sculptures to be delivered. Sculpted by sculptures - of the Black Bitch and David Annand, the town’s famous black Work on the sculpture (and associated St Michael - in celebration of these hunting dog was officially unveiled in works) began, once funding had been two traditional civic insignias, visible January 2020 and received a very warm secured, in February 2020. Such 4 BLACK BITCH ISSUE 79 JANUARY 2021 take longer to complete. The other truism, as expressed by Alan Herriot, is, of course, that public art is always subjective – one design can never hope to meet with universal approval! Our book, ‘The Civic Insignia of Linlithgow’ is available, at £12 per copy, from Far from the Madding Crowd, Lilypond Crafts and Gifts and can also be ordered by contacting [email protected] anintricate and highly detailed sculpture Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Town required more than six months in total Management Group, has had to be for Alan to complete his work and for postponed until later this year.