HMS Vigilant (Port) ship’s company — which is one of two crews operating nuclear submarine HMS Vigilant — sent 16 sailors to the competition at Tignes, in the French Alps, earlier this month.

The crew members are a mixture of skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and were up against competitors from throughout the Navy and Marines.

Lieutenant Shaun Mackay, Assistant Marine Engineer Officer with HMS Vigilant (Port), told the Advertiser: “There aren’t many navy-sponsored events like the ski championships. The opportunity to go out to France, get out on the slopes and improve your technique with top instructors is one that we were glad to take advantage of.

“The beginner’s package takes you from zero experience to a downhill race on skis or board by the end of the week.” The HMS Vigilant team held their own in the events with Sub-Lieutenant Sophie Brook winning silver in the female intermediate giant slalom event, whilst Lieutenant Dave Hobby placed well in the boarder cross final.

Sub-Lieutenant Brooks said: “It was an excellent week of skiing with friends and colleagues. Representing HMS Vigilant and bringing home a silver medal made the experience even more worthwhile.” The most senior officer to attend from HMS Vigilant, Lieutenant Commander Titch Evans, said: “It was good to see so many attendees from Vigilant.

“It is unusual that a sea-going submarine is able to allow so many people to conduct representative sport at this level. The ski championships are challenging, worthwhile and I would highly recommend them to everyone in the service.” Helensburgh police have appealed for witnesses following a spate of graffiti incidents in Garelochhead on January 24 and January 25.

Investigations are being carried out after yellow paint was used to daub slogans onto walls and street furniture in the village between 8pm on January 24 and noon on the 25.

Anybody who saw or heard anything or think they might be missing some yellow paint should contact Police Scotland on 101.

A HELENSBURGH charity which looks after welfare of the elderly and vulnerable recorded a record number of calls over the festive season.

The Abbeyfield Society — which has an office in West King Street, Helensburgh — has called on the public to think of elderly friends or relatives as the cold snap kicks in with force, reminding younger generations of the daily difficulties faced by vulnerable, older people.

Abbeyfield, which has over 500 homes and houses for older people across the UK, has been inundated with calls from both worried family members and from older people themselves living alone, who feel especially vulnerable during the cold, dark days of January, after the excitement of Christmas has subsided.

Anna Boyes, Abbeyfield’s Head of Marketing, said: “Our everyday modern living means that many families are dispersed across the country, often as a result of our work commitments.

“The festive period is often one of the few times in the year when families have the chance to meet up.

“When you don’t physically see older relatives every day, it can be a shock to find out that they have become much frailer and this naturally leads to worries about their well-being and feelings of guilt that they are struggling to cope with everyday living tasks in their later years.

“People have shared their concerns and sought Abbeyfield’s advice about the security and well-being of vulnerable, frail relatives who live too far away for them to visit regularly. Their main worries are issues such as front-door security and their family member’s personal safety, whether they are eating properly, if they are warm enough and their mobility in treacherous, wintery conditions.”