LAST Thursday marked the 90th anniversary of the first transatlantic television transmission by one of Helensburgh’s heroes.

Thursday, February 8 was the day of John Logie Baird’s historic triumph in the race to transmit television from London to New York.

The images were described as crude, imperfect and broken, but they were images.

The demonstration, made by the Baird Television Development Company of London using short-wave radio sets, showed the image of a woman, first of her full face and then in profile.

Baird’s early technological successes, and his role in the practical introduction of broadcast television, have earned him a prominent place in the history of innovation – and a prominent place in Helenburgh folklore.

Original artifacts associated with the transatlantic transmission, together with other items associated with Baird’s life, can be viewed in the Heroes Centre on Sinclair Street.

Phil Worms, director of Helensburgh Heroes, said that Baird’s personal contribution to the advancement of television and the world as we now know it should never be overlooked.

He said: “He was a true visionary and genius.

“He was responsible for a number of major firsts in this field – first public demonstration of a working television, first transatlantic transmission, first long distance transmission, 3D TV, the all electric colour TV system, the list goes on.

“Baird’s inventions paved the way for the technology that we use today. For example, his scanning patents filed in 1924 have defined the technology of imaging, world-wide for the past 90 years. And yet for some reason we seem hesitant to truly celebrate his legacy.”

Phil explained that when Baird successfully made the transmission he was lauded in America and largely ignored over here.

Future World in Florida’s Epcot Centre, which recognises some of the world’s greatest scientific discoveries and the innovative people that discovered them, lists Philo Farnsworth, 1928, America on the plaque dedicated to television.

Phil said: “If we don’t make the effort to tell the remarkable and inspiring stories of people such as Baird to future generations, if we choose not to remember these moments in our history, then we can’t really complain when someone else opts to rewrite it.”

The Helensburgh Heroes centre on Sinclair Street was officially opened by Miss Laura Conley, granddaughter of Jean Baird, John Logie Baird’s sister, on December 2 last year.