SUMMERS aren't as bright, or warm, or sunny, as they used to be - at least so many of us think.
But our latest rummage in the Advertiser's photo archive shows that wind, and rain, and grey skies were as much a feature of summer days gone by as they are now.
Thankfully nobody was letting some decidedly dreich conditions wipe the smiles off their faces in the summer of 2008, as we turn our attention to what was happening in Helensburgh and Lomond 15 years ago this week.
How many faces can you spot in our latest selection of bygone photos?
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The reign of Arrochar's new gala queen got off to a rather wet start - but while the dreich day meant attendance numbers were slightly down on 2007, that didn't stop those who did attend having a grand time.
The event began with a parade from Arrochar and Tarbet railway station to the pier in Tarbet and boasted Highland games, a raft race and pipe bands among its attractions.
Organiser Melanie Tonks said: "The weather was absolutely awful -– it was a welly job this year.”
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The rain poured down on Ardencaple FC's 40th anniversary gala day - but there were still plenty of smiles on show.
More than 300 players — together with family, friends and guest opposition — congregated at Helensburgh Cricket and Rugby grounds for the event.
The day celebrated a hugely successful 2007-08 season for the club's various age group teams, with the U16s winning their league title, the U14s taking home their league cup, and the U13s creating a little bit of history by winning the West Regional Challenge Cup, contested by teams from all four of the major youth leagues in west central Scotland.
Pictured above smiling through the wet weather are Caple's 2000 squad.
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A Kilcreggan woman who promised herself she'd return to education after raising her family gained a coveted degree - three decades after leaving school.
Jane Rolling was awarded a BA in education and social services at the University of Strathclyde.
Jane, who had worked as a classroom assistant at Rosneath Primary, Garelochhead Primary, Kilcreggan Primary and Hermitage Academy, said: "I was a bit daunted and anxious when I started, particularly with the essays I had to write and the references I had to look up, but I knew I could do it."
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Cove residents turned out in force to help boost the village’s summer fete.
More than £2,000 was raised for Craigrownie Parish Church's funds, with stalls including fresh fruit and veg, bric-a-brac, books and games and the ever-popular tombola among the big success stories - while cream teas served by parishioners also proved a big hit with hungry gala-goers.
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We met up with the Backchat Youth Project in Helensburgh to find out about the secret of their success after the group was announced as the winner of a Great Scot Award for its health and wellbeing work.
Project co-ordinator Jenni Crumless said: “Everything from physical fitness to mental health is covered in our programme. Each young person has an individual action plan for what they wish to achieve."
The project came to a climax at the end of the 2007-08 school year with an adventure holiday to Devon, including speed sailing, surfing, bodyboarding, abseiling and climbing.
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MEMBERS of St Modan’s Church in Rosneath excelled themselves when they held their annual fete.
All the church’s organisations pulled out the stops to hold a very successful event raising £2,700 for funds.
Isobel Calderwood, chair of the fete's organising committee, said: “It was a very good afternoon. Everyone excelled themselves and I want to thank everyone who contributed to make it a success."
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