St Andrews Day 2013

ST ANDREWS DAY 2013

I had the best ever West Lothian St Andrew's Day Rally of all time yesterday, 30th November 2013. Led by Torphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band and accompanied for the first time and not the last I hope West Lothian Accordian Band we gathered in Whitburn for our 3rd parade.

This was our biggest and best yet and I would like to thank each and everyone who attended our parade and evening celebrations. I would also like to thank the residents of Whitburn who were so welcoming and showing their support for us by waving from their houses and coming out and applauding. We even had a house with Oor Wullie and Desperate Dan promoting oor event and a house decked out in saltires and lions rampant. What a brilliant surprise while we were passing the route. Thank you Whitburn .

The evening entertainment was awesome and I would like to thank Ted Christopher, Fiery Jack, Boorach, Uncle Red, Lynzie Dray and The Cauld Bumz for an excellent evening of song and dance.

The speakers were Grant Williamson "a Falkirk bairn, it's no his fault" who put a lot of time and effort into his speech and had the hall mesmerised with his well thought out speech of St Andrew.

Then came John Eadie better known as Bead from the Armadale Sons of Wallace Tartan Army who had the blood stirring with his rousing speech of St Andrew/ Lord Nelson's Column, Wembley and supporting England. You had to be there....

Last but not least was a good friend from the Paisley Tartan Army and The Society Of William Wallace, George Boyle who was only given 20 minutes notice but gave another rip roaring speech on why he is proud to be Scottish. Brilliant Guys.

The parade is into its third year and costs in the region of £2000 to make the whole day a success.

Without fundraisers and sponsors like Boghall Butchers and The Kilt Studio Bathgate and The Highlander Hotel, Armadale we would not be able to pull it off.

So i would like to personally thank Donald, Neill Scott,Sibbald, Vicky Shaw, Tricia-ann Taylor and her man Jim, Carol Newton, John Newton, John Mckenzie, Laird Frank, Paul Midgley, Arran Forbes Buchanan Mcmillan and not forgetting Carey Sinclair Vss and Sandra Montgomery and many many more for making this year's event such a great success. How do we top it ? Just wait and see! 2014 is gonna be a cracker!

Merry Xmas and a happy Hogmanay when it comes

George Thom