Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival is an annual event started by the Trustees of the Old Bathgate Academy in 1844 to commemorate its founding. Events, including children’s sports and a street fair, run for the two weeks prior to the first Saturday in June and end with a historical Pageant commemorating the marriage of Princess Marjory to Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland, followed by a procession through the town.

About Us

The procession began as a Founder’s Day Parade on 17th April 1844 in remembrance of John Newland’s contribution to the building of Bathgate Academy. On this day the pupils marched from the academy to the Parish Church (The High Church). The Newland Trustees had declared this day a holiday as they believed that it commemorated Newland’s birthday. However, in 1901 it was revealed that this was actually the date of his baptism and no birth date was recorded. In 1849 after the service in the parish church, the pupils paraded through the town. In 1862 the Newland Trustees and the Town Council attempted to ban the procession due to drunkenness during the previous year’s celebrations. The people of Bathgate were not happy about this and the event went ahead.

In 1924, the Historical Pageant was introduced. Also the Procession was moved from April to June in the hope for better weather!

The procession is led by the Halberdier and the Procession Banner. On the banner there is a picture of the Academy and Alexander Marjoribanks. Marjoribanks fought to ensure that the money, which John Newland had left for the people of Bathgate, was claimed.

The Procession has expanded with the times and events now span the two weeks before the Pageant and Procession.

The Oration is held on the night before procession. It commemorates the generosity of John Newland. Every Year a Bathgate Bairn, who has left Bathgate and made their fortune just like John Newland, is invited back to the town. They perform the oration to John Newland, where they remember the history of Newland and the Town.