AS we reach the end of an old year and the start of a new one, it's customary to look back at the past 12 months and what the next 12 might have in store.

But we thought we'd wind the clock back just a little bit further to see what was happening in and around Helensburgh 15 years ago.

In our last edition of 2008 and first of 2009 we reported on festive season celebrations, fine foods, and even on the day the wonders of ancient Egypt were brought to life at a school in Helensburgh.

Whose faces do you recognise in the photos below?

Helensburgh Advertiser: A third-year Hermitage Academy pupil triumphed when Helensburgh Rotary Club hosted the west of Scotland final of the nationwide Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition. Ben Gibson, the 13-year-old winner of the Helensburgh club’s local contest several weeks earlier, faced stiff competition from three other young chefs - Kathryn McNaughton of Craigholme School, Amy McCulloch of Calderglen School, and Declan Reid of Woodfarm School. Ben is pictured with Helensburgh Rotary Club president Jack Rudram, Linda Harvey, the local club’s youth activities organiser, and Catherine Stewart.A third-year Hermitage Academy pupil triumphed when Helensburgh Rotary Club hosted the west of Scotland final of the nationwide Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition. Ben Gibson, the 13-year-old winner of the Helensburgh club’s local contest several weeks earlier, faced stiff competition from three other young chefs - Kathryn McNaughton of Craigholme School, Amy McCulloch of Calderglen School, and Declan Reid of Woodfarm School. Ben is pictured with Helensburgh Rotary Club president Jack Rudram, Linda Harvey, the local club’s youth activities organiser, and Catherine Stewart. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: Little Shaun Smith made Christmas very, very special, not just for his fam ily in Garelochhead but for the Vale of Leven Hospital. Shaun, the only baby born at the Vale Community Midwife Unit on Christmas Day, was not just a Christmas baby but the 100th child born at the unit this year. His mum Donna, 19, of 26 Feorlin Way, who was accompanied at the birth by her mum, sister and aunt, said: “The staff were really nice and it was all very relaxed.”Little Shaun Smith made Christmas very, very special, not just for his fam ily in Garelochhead but for the Vale of Leven Hospital. Shaun, the only baby born at the Vale Community Midwife Unit on Christmas Day, was not just a Christmas baby but the 100th child born at the unit this year. His mum Donna, 19, of 26 Feorlin Way, who was accompanied at the birth by her mum, sister and aunt, said: “The staff were really nice and it was all very relaxed.” (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: A community’s 10-year wait for work to start on a new village hall has come to an end — with the push of a spade. After years of campaigning, setbacks and fund-raising, the people of Arrochar, Tarbet, Succoth and surrounding areas saw their tangible efforts finally come to fruition when development of their £1.1 million Three Villages Hall building began. Around 60 members of the community, and those involved in the campaign, representatives of funding contributors, architects, builders and pupils from Arrochar Primary School attended the ceremony.A community’s 10-year wait for work to start on a new village hall has come to an end — with the push of a spade. After years of campaigning, setbacks and fund-raising, the people of Arrochar, Tarbet, Succoth and surrounding areas saw their tangible efforts finally come to fruition when development of their £1.1 million Three Villages Hall building began. Around 60 members of the community, and those involved in the campaign, representatives of funding contributors, architects, builders and pupils from Arrochar Primary School attended the ceremony. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: Two members of the austere-sounding Lomond and Argyll Decorative Fine Arts Society added some festive fun to the occasion — with one of them clowning around. The jokey twosome were Arthur Pedlar, wearing the clown’s mask, and Allan Whitely, accompanist, who entertained and highlighted the society’s events – with Arthur speaking at the group’s final talk of 2008 on ‘The Art of the Clown’.Two members of the austere-sounding Lomond and Argyll Decorative Fine Arts Society added some festive fun to the occasion — with one of them clowning around. The jokey twosome were Arthur Pedlar, wearing the clown’s mask, and Allan Whitely, accompanist, who entertained and highlighted the society’s events – with Arthur speaking at the group’s final talk of 2008 on ‘The Art of the Clown’. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: Helensburgh’s Brownies, Rainbows and Guides joined forces to help bring Christmas festivities to the town. The Guides decorated a tree for the Christmas tree festival in the United Reformed Church while all three groups made decorations on an international theme to co-incide with Girlguiding UK who werere working up to celebrating their centenary in 2010. They all walked to the church to see the trees and sing carols before returning to the Guide Hall for hot chocolate.Helensburgh’s Brownies, Rainbows and Guides joined forces to help bring Christmas festivities to the town. The Guides decorated a tree for the Christmas tree festival in the United Reformed Church while all three groups made decorations on an international theme to co-incide with Girlguiding UK who werere working up to celebrating their centenary in 2010. They all walked to the church to see the trees and sing carols before returning to the Guide Hall for hot chocolate. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: Mummies, pyramids, the Sphinx and hieroglyphics were the subjects of investigation when the pupils of Helensburgh’s St Joseph’s Primary School delved into ancient Egypt. The primary 4 youngsters impressed their parents, relatives and friends when they showed off the amount of work they had done on the Egyptian project. Head teacher Ann Chalmers said: “The parents were astounded at the work the pupils had done. They did really well and made the whole thing vibrant and stimulating and showed all aspects of learning and teamwork.” Mummies, pyramids, the Sphinx and hieroglyphics were the subjects of investigation when the pupils of Helensburgh’s St Joseph’s Primary School delved into ancient Egypt. The primary 4 youngsters impressed their parents, relatives and friends when they showed off the amount of work they had done on the Egyptian project. Head teacher Ann Chalmers said: “The parents were astounded at the work the pupils had done. They did really well and made the whole thing vibrant and stimulating and showed all aspects of learning and teamwork.” (Image: Newsquest)