Helensburgh Heritage
Helensburgh Heritage Trust
THE author of 21 spy novels, which have sold more than 23 million copies in the United States alone and been translated into over 22 languages, is one of the most famous former pupils of Helensburgh’s Hermitage School.
But Helen Clark MacInnes, who was born in Glasgow on October 7 1907, only came to the burgh when she was five with her parents, Donald and Jessica McDiarmid MacInnes.
AUTHOR Neil Munro’s 67 years of life began on June 3 1863 in Inveraray and ended in Helensburgh, in whose east end he spent the last years of his life until he died on December 22 1930.
While a resident of the town he lived in the seafront mansion Cromalt (below left), 148 East Clyde Street, a fine house which was built in the 18th century.
A GARELOCHHEAD man rose from draughtsman and amateur actor to journalist and then a playwright whose work was produced across Europe and in America.
Tom Gallacher, born in Alexandria on February 16 1932, was the third son and one of five children of Edward and Rose Gallacher, who moved from the Vale of Leven to Linn Walk in the village when he was one.