All West Lothian Councillors unanimously agreed to formally congratulate a number of individuals and groups at today's Full Council.

Kara Young, a member of Broxburn Boxing Club, has recently taken the Gold Medal at the European Schools Championships in Bosnia. Kara, is 14 years old and from Broxburn. Broxburn Boxing Club head coach Andy Leask says everyone in the club is extremely proud of Kara's achievement. He said: "Kara was excellent in Bosnia, she really worked hard on her training , and she's only the eighth in Scottish history, as I've been told, to win this, and the first schoolgirl, it's an absolutely incredible achievement and everyone at the club is so extremely proud of her."

Whitburn Academy's Hope Sinclair

Congratulations to Whitburn Academy pupil Hope Sinclair who became Kickboxing World Champion at the recent WKO World Kickboxing Championships in Barnsley. It was only Hope's third tournament where she also picked up Bronze in light continuous kickboxing. Hope fights as part of Clan Combat Martial Arts in Polbeth.

Pumpherston's James Vickers & GMAC Martial Arts

Pumpherston's James Vickers the new World Kickboxing Association World Champion for under 60kg light contact in the 12‐14 age group.  He also achieved silver for over 60kg and bronze for under 60kg for points fighting.   James qualified to represent Scotland at this event by winning the Scottish and European titles and now the world title is added to his tally.  James is coached by GMAC Martial Arts Livingston club based in Houston Industrial Estate.

Congratulations to James and to GMAC Martial Arts

Grant Walker, People's Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, Pipe Major Ross Walker and leading drummer Kerr McQuillan

Former council employee, Grant Walker on the occasion of his retirement from competitive piping after 52 years.  Grant joined the newly formed Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band at the tender age of seven and has been playing at grade one level since 1980. Grant is now the last of the original "Boggies" and clocked up an impressive 51 years of playing in the Bathgate Procession. He describes winning last year's world championships as his greatest achievement with the band.

Congratulations to Grant and the now world famous People's Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band.

Under the direction of Pipe Major Ross Walker and leading drummer Kerr McQuillan on his solo success of leading drummer, winning solo championship Intercontinental, Scottish, European and British contests as well as leading the band drum corps to win the European championship.

Broxburn Academy

The success of Broxburn Academy on the Schools Debating Stage has been recognised many times by West Lothian Council. This year, another pupil from Broxburn Academy has added to the long list of debating achievements for the school.   Lena Zielinksa was the youngest member of the Scotland schools' debating team who have just been crowned World Schools' Debating Championships for the fifth time after victory at the competition in Serbia.

Young Writers have been running competitions with secondary schools across the UK to promote poetry and creative writing since 1991. Young Writers aims are to inspire young people everywhere to become confident and passionate writers. 'Through Their Eyes' helped students channel their creatively by writing poems from the point of view of someone or something else. Congratulations to Teigan Thomson who is a 15 years old pupil who attends Broxburn Academy. Teigan has been chosen by Young Writers to have her poem Through a Gamer's Eyes to be published in a book called "Through Their Eyes"

Bennie Museum, Bathgate

Warmest congratulations to the weavers at the Bennie Museum in Bathgate who achieved first prize in the 2024 Royal Highland Show handcraft competition for a purse made with their own tweed. The tweed was produced on their in house loom at the Bennie Museum and is thought to be the first tweed ever to have been made in Bathgate. The museum itself was originally two cottages which were the homes of handloom weavers in the 18th Century. The Bennie Museum weavers formed over two years ago and have been sharing their skills locally, inviting a range of schools and community groups to gain experience of weaving. They have begun producing handmade products which they hope will provide an income for the Bennie Museum and attract more visitors to the museum itself and Bathgate more widely. Council commends the Bennie Museum weavers for their innovation, dedication and hard work to keep this tradition, deeply rooted in Scotland's culture, alive in the 21st Century.