But as this week's old picture shows, the Society was going strong 60 years ago and bringing Bo'ness Town Hall to life with a variety of performances.

A picture of the stage hands from around 1959/1960 has been submitted by Bill Gilfinnan who has fond memories of his time there.

From left to right (back row) Frank Butler, unknown, Bill Gilfinnan, Billy Hardie, (middle row) John Graham, Nan Bailie (Mrs McAlister), Stewart Sinclair and Fred Layy at the front.

50 years ago

The 1960 Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival Queen is June Grant (12) from Livingstone Drive, Bo'ness. June, a pupil at Kinneil school, enjoys horse riding and swimming. The Chief Lady-in-Waiting is Esther McPherson of Borrowstoun Crescent who likes ballroom dancing.

A 23 year-old junior technician in the RAF who entered the West End Cafe, Linlithgow and produced an axe from his jacket, appeared at Linlithgow Sheriff Court and was fined £15 or 60 days' imprisonment for being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

A runaway horse tore down the steepest hill in Bo'ness on Tuesday morning pulling a milk van behind it. The van belonged to Bo'ness Co-operative Society and plunged into a parked car. The owner said that the horse, Darkie, ''acted without warning'' as it raced through Corbiehall.

At half-time Bo'ness were 2-0 up against Armadale - but with 15 minutes to go lost their keeper and were beat 4-2.

Linlithgow preserved their unbeaten away record by beating Easthouses 1-0 in the Murray Cup second round, playing with 10 men for most of the second half.

25 years ago

Bo'ness was hit with a major jobs blow when chemical company Kemira announced it was to locate elsewhere in Europe. The company had been interested in building a £150 million plant at Kinneil Kerse, which would have created up to 100 jobs.

Residents in Linlithgow are up in arms over plans to open a gravel quarry at Kettilstoun Mains. They worry that the roads are unsuitable for HGVs.

Council tenants in the Grangepans area of Bo'ness are set for crunch talks with Falkirk District Council over their homes. The tenants were forced to leave their homes last November after fears of subsidence but there has been no dialogue as to when they can return.

Traders in Queensferry are to form an association in a bid to secure their livelihoods. There have been major concerns over the drop in business since the closure of the VAT 69 plant.

An injury crisis at Linlithgow Rose saw coach Jimmy Crease named as a substitute in the team lines this week.