Best Wishes for the Festive Season!
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas. It has been a year like no other, but 2021 looks full of hope for a return to some sort of normality as the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out. Best wishes to you all for a happy and healthy 2021!
2021 will be another exciting year for LCDT, with lots going on in our key projects.
We’re hopeful that we will have the first spade in the ground for work beginning on the West Lothian Cycle Circuit. Watch this space for more information coming soon.
Linlith-Go-Solar is pressing ahead with plans for Phase 3, to create a place that is sustainable in energy, creating local jobs, business opportunities, community benefits, and young people’s opportunities.
My Linlithgow goes from strength to strength, with many new additions to the site each week, and a strong presence on social media. We are also working closely with One Linlithgow BID to bring you more opportunities to shop locally on the site.
Transition Linlithgow will be continuing its work on digital technology donations, plastic-free Linlithgow, encouraging active travel and more!
We will also be running our first annual ‘Have Your Say’ members survey in early 2021, to give you the opportunity to shape LCDT priorities for the year ahead. It will only be open for members though so make sure you renew your membership!
Membership Reminder
Thank you to everyone who has already renewed their membership with us and another big welcome to new members and those who have joined from Transition Linlithgow.
Please be aware we will stop using our old mailing list at the end of the year. Anyone who has not renewed their membership or joined via the link will cease to receive member benefits, including this Community News email, from that time.
A reminder that our member benefits include:
- Opportunity to take part in our annual members ‘Have Your Say’ consultation to influence LCDT priorities.
- Be part of a community-led organisation.
- Develop new skills and experiences by accessing our volunteering opportunities.
- Access to learning and training events.
- Receive our Community News e-newsletter.
Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Festive Message
On behalf of the community council, I would like to take this opportunity as we come to the end of a very difficult year to thank all the citizens of Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge for their forbearance, resilience, and cooperation during this time of pandemic. Now the vaccine is being rolled out it is important to keep up the good work.
Thanks also to West Lothian Council staff and the Police for their support and cooperation during the year plus to all those who have gone the extra mile to reach out to the vulnerable.
We wish everyone a Happy Christmas and hope 2021 brings better times for all.
Gordon Smith – Chair of Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council.
Business Spotlight – AJM Hairdressing
There’s a new salon on the High Street and it’s back open now we are in Tier 3 again! AJM Hairdressing replaces what was previously “The Retreat/LifeHeal”. Jack Morrill has recently opened the doors of his spacious new salon after almost five years at a leading Edinburgh salon.
Jack began training from the age of 16 at Rainbow Room International in Glasgow “It made me understand that all clients deserve 6-star treatment, something that I endeavour to deliver for every client every time they are in the chair. But it was at Dickson Reid that I truly mastered my craft, and learned various new techniques. I was working in a busy environment, but at the same time delivering what I know were regarded as exceptional standards of work.”
Jack’s former clients at Dickson Reid in Edinburgh have promised to visit his new establishment because they love the way he has styled their hair. “I am truly blessed that all my clients from Edinburgh are joining me on this adventure of mine – their support has been priceless and so encouraging during this time. I am looking forward to welcoming new clients from Linlithgow and the area, and I hope they will be encouraged by the value my Edinburgh clients have placed on my service and standards.”
Jack is looking to take on hair stylists to rent a chair and has two rooms available to rent for beauty treatments. Appointments can be booked by telephone 01506 371143, through the Facebook page, website, or our booking app. While booking is preferable, AJM Hair will also take walk-in appointments.
During Advent, we are featuring the town’s churches in our Community Spotlight. This week it’s St Peter’s Episcopal Church and St John’s Church.
Community Spotlight – St Peter’s Episcopal Church
All churches this Christmas time face huge challenges, but the red doors of St Peter’s have been open twice a week since the middle of July and will be open for the extra services we always hold during Advent and Christmas itself. Though our numbers have to be kept to a maximum of 15, with the amazing technology of zoom, all our congregation can take part in each service whether in church or at home.
The planning of our Christingle service is well underway with the children making their own Christingles this year and this moving service will be zoomed into the homes of the congregation. The excitement of the planned Nativity is as great as ever also to be zoomed live to the congregation, eagerly anticipating this Christmas magic which only the young can bring to us. Nine lessons and carols will come from church and zoomed into the homes of our congregation, with our Rector, organist and a cantor singing from behind the safety of a screen in church.
St Peter’s enjoys a lovely relationship with the other churches in Linlithgow under the banner of Linlithgow Churches Together. During Advent, each of our churches has, or will, be posting a Reflection for Advent each Sunday and one for Christmas on our shared Facebook page and website. And in the coming days please do watch out for little symbols of Christmas that may turn up in unexpected places around our Royal Burgh, gifts for those who find them!
Then it is on to Christmas Eve with only one candle waiting to be lit on our beautiful Advent Wreath at our Christmas day service. Though it will be a very different Christmas for so many of us, our hopes and prayers are that we are all able to feel the true meaning and spirit of Christmas this year as again we prepare to welcome that tiny baby lying in his manger. It is a story which lives again each Christmas time and which allows old and young to smile with the memories of Christmases past and the hopes of the many still to come.
While we are unable to open our red doors as much as we would wish we do hold our community in our prayers and look forward to a more hopeful 2021 when we can find ways of re-engaging with everyone.
Wishing Linlithgow much joy and peace this Christmastide.
Community Spotlight – St John’s Church
Like everyone else, St John’s Church is preparing for a very different Christmas this year. We have been ‘meeting’ online since March and this week are filming our Christmas service with a socially distanced Nativity Play.
It will be available online this Sunday from 10.45am and everyone is welcome. If you haven’t yet checked out our online Sunday services you can watch them on YouTube and Facebook.
Our community café has found creative ways to continue to serve coffees on Friday mornings by delivering to some of the local shops and also organising a Pay it forward scheme with some of the High Street cafes. We look forward to being able to open the café again as soon as we can.
Meanwhile our window at 183 High Street has become an Advent calendar. In partnership with The New Well and 1st Step, we are also collecting nappies and sweet treats which can be dropped off this Friday between 9 and 9.30am.
We were delighted to be able to support the Foodbank’s Reverse Advent Calendar and took three car loads of Christmas food and gifts to the West Lothian depot to be distributed before Christmas.
Have you spotted our Christmas star on its journey from the East (well, Bailielands!) this Advent? We hope it has helped to bring some light and hope.
If like us you are missing singing Christmas carols, you may also like to join in with the national ‘Carols on the doorstep this Sunday evening at 5.30pm.
We pray you will enjoy peace and joy this Christmas, despite the restrictions. If there’s anything we can pray specifically for you or support you with, please get in touch at www.stjohnslinlithgow.org or www.facebook.com/stjohnslinlithgow.
Membership Renewal
Latest Covid-19 Guidance
West Lothian is in Level 3 of Scotland’s Strategic Framework. More details can be found on level 3 restrictions here.
The current advice to stay safe, protect others and save lives is available on the Scottish Government.
Many thanks to everyone who has been so vigilant in following these procedures already. This will help to keep our community safe.
