HELENSBURGH’S Hogmanay ceilidh was, as ever, a complete sell-out with 160 people dancing away the last few hours of 2018 before the pipes and drums of Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun Pipe Band ushered in the new with a rousing rendition of traditional tunes.

The town’s Victoria Hall hosted the popular event which is organised each year by Helensburgh and District Access Trust, with all proceeds going towards the maintenance and development of the area’s network of walking trails.

The event always features a great selection of raffle prizes donated by local individuals and businesses, and this year was no exception, including generous vouchers from The Loch Lomond Arms Hotel, Cameron House, Cruise Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine’s historic steamship ‘Sir Walter Scott’ and Eutopia Hair and Beauty.

Also repeated was the gift of ‘first footing’ shortbread (donated every year by Campbell’s of Callander) which everyone receives as they head homewards after Auld Lang Syne.

A special feature this year was a thank you presentation from the company to Anne Urquhart as this was the 25th year she had organised the event.

Accepting a card and lovely bunch of flowers from Voice Box Ceilidh band leader, Frank McCracken, Anne said how nice it was to be thanked, adding: “It is a great community event which has hardly changed down the years. People are looking for a way to celebrate the changing year with something which is authentic, genuinely family oriented, warm and traditional and that is what the ceilidh gives them.”