It is a double celebration as the event marks its 180th anniversary.

Link housing officers Linda Gibson and Pam Menzies also serve on the Bathgate Procession Committee. Last year, it was decided to bring back the arch to the community event.

It was a team effort, with C~urb trade supervisor Mark Higgins managing the project. Thanks to community benefit funding Jewson’s provided the arch materials, and Saltire Scaffolding put them up. Arthur Davren, Alan Walker, and Scott Forrest, all from C~urb, lent a hand with the construction.

As a special thank you for his contribution, Mark cut the ceremonial ribbon of the George Street Arch, marking the start of the procession.

Special thanks were expressed by Andrew Reid, Bathgate Procession committee chair, to Linda Gibson who, alongside Mark Higgins, ensured the project was delivered on time by drafting in her colleagues from the housing team.

Andrew Reid said: “Not only is it an anniversary year, but we are delighted to have brought back the iconic Procession Arch! This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Linda Gibson, Mrs Arch, as we like to call her, with C~urb and Link, who have all been key to the phoenix-like resurrection of the Arch.”

Link housing officer, Linda Gibson, said: “I have been actively involved with the Bathgate Procession for many years by dressing up and decorating prams and trolleys with my four children for their nursery and primary schools. I have also won two first prizes for decorating my house when the boys have been Royal Captain of the Guard. This led me to join the Procession Committee a good few years ago now.

“The Procession Arch has always been important to me and something I wanted to see back in the precinct as did our previous Secretary the Late Jim Walker MBE. This was the reason I contacted my employer, Link, to ask for their help and support to make this happen. I would like to thank Link, C~urb, their contractors Jewson’s and Saltire Roofing for all the materials and manpower they have provided, my colleagues for scrubbing rust off and painting the Bows, our Team of Sprucers for turning up in all the rain and The

“Dottle Team for making the designs to decorate the Arch. This was a huge challenge and a very rewarding one to see the Arch in all its glory to remind our Community of our Town’s history.”

Jon Turner, chief executive of Link, said: “I am delighted Link and C~urb played such a prominent role in this year’s Bathgate Procession. Our business is about building communities, and events such as this bring people together. The fact that the Bathgate Procession is celebrating its 180th anniversary shows how alive community spirit is in this West Lothian town.”

Link sponsored this year’s Children’s Sports Programme 2024. At a community sports day event at Meadow Park on Tuesday, May 28, children competed in flat, wheelbarrow, boot and shoe, and three-legged races. The winners, runners-up, and third-place finishers received monetary prizes. Link also sponsored the Link Challenge Cup, a five-a-side intraschool football tournament.