A ROLL of honour commemorating some of the men from the Helensburgh and Lomond area who died in the First World War has gone on display at the Mackintosh Club in the centre of the town.

The memorial, being loaned to the Sinclair Street premises by the Helensburgh Heritage Trust, lists the names of the members of the Helensburgh and Gareloch Unionist Association who died in the 1914-18 conflict.

The roll of honour now on public display at the Mackintosh Club – designed by the young Mackintosh in the early 20th century as a home to the association – is a replica, as the original, which now belongs to Argyll and Bute Council, is in poor condition because the materials used reacted badly with one another.

The council had a scan made of the original, and Pat McCann, head of the local authority’s culture and libraries service, was among those present at the unveiling of the memorial on Friday.

Also present were Bruce and Nicola Jamieson, owners of the Mackintosh Club, Stewart Noble, representing the Helensburgh Heritage Trust, and Barbara Morgan, the Conservative party’s candidate for Lomond North in next month’s Argyll and Bute Council election.

The framing of the replica memorial, and its presentation to the Trust, was organised by Helensburgh resident and Conservative MSP and councillor Maurice Corry.

Mr Corry was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony, but after the event he told the Advertiser the document had been donated to the Helensburgh branch of the Scottish Conservatives by local businessman Leonard Prow.

He said: “Some of the names on the roll displayed are those of local residents who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War One and who have family members still living in the area.”

Mr Noble said: “It’s a beautifully-produced work, with beautiful handwriting, which would put most modern handwriting to shame.”

Mr Jamieson said: “The roll of honour contains a lot of fascinating information. We’ve had lots of older people speak to us about their memories of coming to the club in the past, and when we’ve brought the roll of honour out to show them it’s amazing how it’s jogged people’s memories.

“It’s a brilliant document from a storytelling perspective, and anyone who remembers visiting the club in the past or who would like to look at the roll of honour to see if they recognise any names is welcome to pay us a visit.

“We’re always looking to build up a better picture of the history of the club.

“We’re also keen to hear from anyone who has photographs of the club or who knows their father or grandfather was a member.”

Bruce and his wife Nicola are currently adding to the Mackintosh Club’s story by investigating the links between the clubhouse and the well-known local Kidston family – who funded the building and who, Bruce thinks, were instrumental in shaping the career of Conservative prime minister Andrew Bonar Law, who led the country for a brief period in the 1920s.