Helensburgh Advertiser archives: Our favourite photos 15 years ago

Featured in our latest selection are a charity fund-raiser for an AIDS mercy mission to Zambia, a big birthday bash for the Rainbows in Helensburgh, and - and we promise this one is genuinely true - a Western horse rider named Roy Rodgers (but not that one).

How many names and faces do you recognise from the stories featured in our latest selection from the archives?

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A BIG birthday party bash was held for a group of five- to seven-year-olds when their uniformed organisation came of age.

The Rainbows, part of the Girl Guide movement, celebrated its 21st anniversary and, to mark the occasion, a party was held in the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club at Rhu. The event attracted 64 youngsters from the Western Division which takes in Helensburgh and Lomond.

A giant birthday cake, complete with candles and the Rainbow Badge, was provided while the youngsters enjoyed games, making crafts on the birthday theme of sunflowers, and listening to a story-teller.

Linda Summers, the Rainbows' Western Divisional Commissioner, said: “It was a great day and the weather was just beautiful. Everyone had a marvellous time and it was a super venue.”

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IT was a case of "howdy, pardners" when a Western riding demonstration was held in Colgrain.

Local members of the Western Equestrian Society (WES) — including one called Roy Rodgers — took to the reins by organising a two hour demonstration for around 30 people.

The evening was hosted by the Gareloch Riding Club at Colgrain Equestrian Centre and five riders: Louise Poole with Rocky, Fiona Spittal with Hooley, Tom Underwood with Bud, Roy Rodgers with Mouse and a special appearance from five-year-old Olivia Poole.

Roy demonstrated bridleless riding and a barrel race was won by Fiona, while Liz Underwood delivered a commentary. 

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A STUDENT nurse from Rosneath was getting ready to get out to Zambia to spend three months caring for AIDS orphans after reaching her fund-raising target.

Amy McMurtrie had to raise £4,000 to pay for plane tickets, vaccinations and a place on the Zambia Medical and Orphanage Programme, but she and her family organised dozens of events to fund her mercy mission - and their hard work paid off thanks to the support of generous villagers.

Her proud mum Dianne said: “This is a great achievement, and although it’s kept us all busy during the past 15 months, it’s been great fun.

“We couldn’t have done it without the on-going support of our own village and the surrounding area and I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone on behalf of Amy and her family."

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REAL ale fans rolled out the barrel while visitors sank the pints during Helensburgh’s two-day Real Ale Festival.

Drinkers at the event, in the town’s Victoria Halls, polished off 28 barrels of beer — each of which held 70 pints.

The event was organised by Helensburgh and District Round Table — who had master-minded a similar one-day session in 2007 — raising £5,000 for local charities.

The main beneficiary was the Robin House children's hospice at Balloch, though other good causes were also in line to benefit.

Festival convener Duncan Reid told the Advertiser: “The event was a great success.

"Although the weather was good, I think it was too good on the Sunday, as there were fewer people, but otherwise it was a tremendous weekend."

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Weary shoppers stopped off for coffee, cake and a massage at the Red Cross Centre in Helensburgh.

The Coffee and Comfort Day was held to raise funds for the charity as part of Red Cross Week. Visitors paid £2.50 for a ticket, then got to sit back, put their feet up and enjoy a cuppa, some delicious home baking and a relaxing shoulder rub.

The free massages were given out to highlight the theraputic care service provided by the charity.

Later in the week, the Red Cross held a highly successful music and auction night featuring the Hermitage Academy Swing Band, while volunteers also held collections at the Co-op on Sinclair Street and Morrisons in Dumbarton.

Overall, fundraisers collected more than £1,700 for the charity.

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BaBies and tots of all ages took part in the Cardross Toddler Group Pram Push.

The children were joined by mums and grandparents for the annual fund-raiser, which took place in the village.

Some toddlers adopted a hands on approach, pushing dolls in toy buggies, while others sat back and enjoyed the ride. 

Cash raised at the event was used to buy new toys and baby equipment for the group.

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And finally...

A NEW brochure promoting Helensburgh and its historic background was launched with the aim of boosting tourism.

The 20,000 leaflets were to be placed in tourism outlets, Glasgow Airport and on Edinburgh’s Princes Street, in an effort to attract more visitors and give the town and its businesses a shot in the arm.

The brochure, entitled Helensburgh: Garden City of The Clyde, was the brainchild of Melanie Andrews — who runs Craigard Tearoom in Sinclair Street. It followed a meeting last July, at which town traders, business people and politicians said the Burgh was suffering from a downturn in trade.

Melanie said: “From that meeting I felt that was nothing was being done quickly so I approached the Helensburgh Advertiser, the Retailers Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Lomond and Clyde Tourist Association about producing a brochure and the groups contributed towards a third of the cost each.”