Dear Friends of Bo'ness,

As this year's Fair Queen, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I am now halfway through my reign, and thus far, 2009 has been a fantastic year for me and it still remains a tremendous honour to have been chosen as this marvellous town's Queen during Scotland's Homecoming year.

There are obviously a great many people I owe a huge debt of appreciation to, particularly my parents, family and close friends. 

I would also like to thank Mr. Jeff Stewart, who demonstrated once again this year why he will be sadly missed by all the townsfolk, as he has decided to step down from his post as Chairman after this year's Fair. Thank you also to Mr. Jim Stewart and the Fair Committee for all their help leading up to the Fair day and on the wonderful day itself. Good luck to our new Chairman in 2010, but I am sure he will be a very popular replacement for his successful namesake.

A special big thank you to everyone at Deanburn School, not forgetting all the other primary schools who participated in my special day; to all the teachers, helpers, and proud parents, who year after year work so hard behind the scenes. To family and friends for their incredible effort involved in producing the many wonderful arches and house frontages, without them our Fair wouldn't be the unique and innovative spectacle it has been these past 101 years. 

The Fair is a heart warming reminder to us all, of the long summer evenings and the enviable community spirit on these cold wintery nights. I hope that everyone is excited in the lead up to Christmas, as the children of Bo'ness are during the week before the Fair.

So on that note, I would like to wish the lovely people of Bo'ness and their many absent friends a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.



Peace & Goodwill

Queen Shanagh.