MORE than 40 years ago, when I moved to Bonhill, it was not unknown to me.

As a proud possessor of a magnificent 10 speed bike, I used to cycle from my home village of Kilbarchan, past green fields, down to the Erskine ferry, then through Dumbarton and Bonhill, en route to Balloch and Loch Lomond.

As I cycled through the village of Bonhill I would glance at the notice board of the south church which indicated that their minister was the Rev Allan G. Hasson.

Allan was seldom out of the news at that time.

He married young couples from England and Holland who took advantage of the less stringent residence requirements for Scottish weddings.

He was also the Grand Master of the Orange Order and had a liking for white horses and flute bands. As a 15-year-old boy I had no idea that I would be his successor.

Some five years or so later, now working as a travel agent, Bill Adam, owner and manager of Vale of Leven Travel Agency(VOLTA) sought to entice me to Alexandria – but such a move was out of the question.

Kilbarchan was my home and the centre of my universe. Strange how things change.

Move on another five years and I find myself as a mature student commencing a theology course at Glasgow University, and five years after that, looking for a church.

It was then that Bonhill came calling. Initially, I was pretty unenthusiastic, but agreed to meet with them.

What struck me then was the friendliness and acceptance of the people and that feeling never changed. It's the people that make a community what it is.

As I write this I am gazing at the Untersberg – that magnificent mountain that seems to rise out of nothing on the outskirts of Salzburg.

It's been a great week in that most wonderful of towns. Everything is magical and picturesque.

Church bells chime, everywhere you look you are aware of the scenes from the Sound of Music.

I love it. Could I stay there? Probably not.

At the end of the day I am left feeling that the decision I made 40 years ago to come to the other side of the Clyde was the second best decision in my life.

Best of course was marrying my wife!