Events

THE history of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was described in an illustrated talk given to Helensburgh Heritage Trust's final open meeting of 2011 by Joyce Steele on Wednesday November 30.

Mrs Steele, who lives in Garelochhead with her husband Colonel Bobby Steele, is the curator and manager of the regiment's museum in the King's Old Building at Stirling Castle.

HELENSBURGH Heritage Trust organised a very successful visit for members and friends to Dumfries House and Aiket Castle on Wednesday June 8 2011.

As promised when Charlotte Rostek Davis (pictured) spoke to the Trust, the special visit was arranged to see the historic Dumfries House, near Cumnock, now reopened by HRH The Prince of Wales, Great Steward of Scotland, after a major refurbishment.

THE formation of Helensburgh's Lomond School was described at the final open meeting of the Helensburgh Heritage Trust winter season in Helenburgh Tennis Club on Wednesday March 30.

The speaker was David Arthur MBE, the first headmaster of the new school — which came about through the merger of St Bride's School for girls of all ages and Larchfield Preparatory School for boys.

HELENSBURGH Heritage Trust's 2011-12 winter session of talks started on September 28 with a thought-provoking presentation from Michael Davis, the Trust's first and only honorary life member.

Although his subject was 'Castle Restorations', the talk covered a much broader field. This became apparent from his very first slide which was entitled 'A Restoration Tragedy', and which contained further wording in the style of a Victorian melodrama in three acts and with a prologue!

HELENSBURGH Heritage Trust now has its first ever honorary life member.

The board of the Trust agreed to confer this honour when they heard that Mike Davis, reference librarian at Helensburgh Library in West King Street, was taking early retirement.

THE five year project to restore gates and fencing to the Victoria Hall was described to members of Helensburgh Heritage Trust at their February 2011 open meeting.

Tony Dance, who led the project on behalf of the Friends of the Victoria Hall, gave a very well illustrated talk which demonstrated the complexity and the skills involved in the metalwork and stone masonry. The original fencing was removed in 1942 for the war effort.