Russ Henderson of Bo’ness Means Business and key driver of the event, said “This is a good measure of the more positive approach that local businesses are bringing to our hamlet.

Let us hope that more local businesses will join with us to help positively promote Bo’ness in the future.”

Support from the Common Good Fund at Falkirk Council, Town Centre Management and a small group of local businesses helped to make the Victorian Street Fair a reality and the success it was (see below).

Bo’ness means Business is a local economic development charity that brings local business together to help develop the local economic opportunities and sustainability in Bo’ness - working in partnership where possible, as with the street fair.

Bill Bruce, Bo’ness Community Council, added “It has been so good to see the street fair return to our town and so many people join us from the many areas around the town.”

A significant amount of time was committed by the key partners to bring this event into being. Local business people from Bo’ness Means Business gave up hours of precious time to help make it a success.

Madelene Hunt and Bill Bruce of the Bo’ness Community Council have been crucial in secure key resources and bringing experience and knowledge of previous events to the team.

Mary Jane Armstrong and Alastair Mitchell have contributed a great deal of time and resource to gather loads of activities and manage the whole process.

Bruce Henderson of Bo’ness Means Business added, “Without such a dedicated team and a determination to promote Bo’ness as the terrific place it is, we would not have had a Victorian Street Fair.”

Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Chairman of the Environment & Heritage Committee of Falkirk Council, said “The Victorian period was a time of great change for Bo'ness. Many of the historic buildings in the town centre date back to that period - and we owe a lot to the community figures who built up the town at that time.

The Victorian Street Fair is a great innovation that takes us all back this bygone age.

Everyone appeared to have a great time and supported the local shops, businesses and the charity stalls taking part in this fantastic community event. He added: "The Street Fair has been revived this year and I hope it will become a regular fixture in the local calendar.”

A relatively new business in Bo’ness, Fulcrum Construction Management seeks to encourage good building practices through excellent construction management, project planning and cost consultancy for property investors and
developers. A talented team can help people and companies to build with confidence.

David Brunton of Fulcrum said, “I chose Bo’ness as our East Coast office because of the prime location. As someone who travels a lot, Bo’ness gives good access to the whole of Scotland and I can still be home in time for tea.

Sponsoring the Fair is a good way to repay the community for the support I get with my business.”

Christie Timber Services Ltd of Bridgeness Road, Bo’ness is Scotland’s Premier Specialist Timber Machining Company, and has recently invested in a new purpose built factory and production equipment to satisfy demand for its wide range of products.

The company has also opened a New Trade Centre where local trades people can source all their requirements for flooring, joists, decking, fencing, finishings, doors, windows .

Roy Hetherington – Merchanting Manager of the new facility – said“ I’m delighted to see the re-introduction of the Victorian Street Fair it provides an excellent opportunity to showcase Bo’ness and its business community. I hope the event encourages residents and visitors alike to come into the town and see what is on offer.”

Having started-up in the 1820's on their current site in Bo'ness, Ballantine Creative Ironworks became formally established in 1856 and have been in continuous production ever since. For the entire period the company has been owned and run by the Ballantine family.

Thomas Cutthill & Sons, long servicing Funeral Directors in Bridgeness Road, added their support to the Victorian Street Fair with a valuable contribution.

Local activist, Alec King, came forward to make a personal contribution and added further to his well established reputation as one of our most dedicated
Bo’nessians.

In addition the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, operators of the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, offered 50 free family tickets to be handed out to children who made the effort to come to the fair in fancy dress.

The organisers would like to thank them all for their contributions without which it would not have been possible to stage such a successful revival of the fair.

Bo'ness Real Ale Appreciation Society (BRAAS)

Another welcome addition, at the last minute, was BRAAS, who were promoting the Annual Real Ale and Music Festival held in the town hall each October.

Given the lovely sunny and warm weather all afternoon their stand, giving away free samples of three locally brewed beers from the Tryst Brewery, was also well 'attended' and seen to be doing a roaring trade.