People

ONE of Helensburgh’s best known residents of the 20th century who donated the Templeton Library to the town, Nance Anderson, died on January 13 1980 at the age of 90.

Annie Templeton Anderson, MBE, JP, of Inistore, James Street, passed away at the Barclay Smith Home in Colquhoun Street.

HELENSBURGH’S last Provost was Norman Macleod Glen, CBE, TD, MA, JP, who gave a lifetime of dedicated public service — including two years as honorary president of Helensburgh Heritage Trust.

A key figure in the final years of the Town Council, he also served with distinction on its successor, Dumbarton District Council, in which he carried the Conservative banner in a Labour-controlled authority, and he then went on to serve on Argyll and Bute Council.

A WEATHER-BEATEN headstone in a Rosneath Peninsula graveyard is believed to mark the grave of the only African slave ever buried in Scotland.

The grave, tucked in at the side of the St Modan’s Church cemetery at Rosneath, bears the name Robert Story, and a Victorian inscription, written by the slave’s master, praises him for his honest and devout service.

SEVENTY years ago on March 20 1936, one of Scotland's most famous men — whose family home was at Ardoch, Cardross — died at the age of 84 on a last visit to Buenos Aires.

Robert B.Cunninghame Graham of Ardoch, known as Don Roberto, was an adventurer, politician, explorer, and writer.

THE BELL'S connection with Helensburgh seems to date from 1806 and he was receiving mail there in July and September of that year.

In July of that year the Register of Sasines records that Henry Bell, Architect, of Glasgow, had feued on 29th May a piece of ground lying on the south side of the road from Dumbarton to the Kirk of Row. This was the site of the Baths Inn.

MOST people cultivate flowers and vegetables in their gardens . . . but one Helensburgh scientist claimed to manufacture diamonds in his.

James Ballantyne Hannay is a name known to few, but nevertheless it is a name which left its mark on the scientific world in no uncertain terms.

THE man who brought international golf to Loch Lomondside but fought fiercely to preserve the beauty of the area, Clan Chief Sir Ivar Iain Colquhoun, 8th Baronet, died peacefully on January 31 2008 at the age of 92 at home at Camstradden on his beloved Loch Lomondside, just outside the village of Luss.

Sir Ivar (right) — the 30th Chief of Luss and 32nd of Colquhoun — was the longest serving Clan Chief of Colquhoun, having succeeded to the title almost 60 years ago in November 1948.

HELENSBURGH had its fair share of poachers and one, in particular, stood out — Sandy.

He was well acquainted with all methods, legal or illegal, for getting bird, beast or fish, by gun or by rod. In some quarters he was looked up to, in others not so.

A YOUNG man who left Helensburgh in 1880 and died in 1940 is revered to this day in New Zealand as an author and naturalist.

William Herbert Guthrie-Smith was born in the burgh on 13 March 13 1861. His father was John Guthrie-Smith, from Mugdock Castle, Stirlingshire, who had married into the well known Dennistoun family and was partner in a firm of insurance brokers.

IN the early days the men elected to run Helensburgh Town Council were required to attend church. If they didn't, they were fined — something that early officials seemed to prefer to do.

There are recollections of how justice was carried out, frequently in Jamie Colquhoun's pub, in the Old Granary Malt House. Fines imposed did not always leave the pub to go into the town coffers.

A NORTH American Indian, Grey Owl, spoke to a Helensburgh audience at the Victoria Hall in November 1937, and was well received.

Grey Owl was on tour in Britain, giving talks on his life, on the Canadian wilderness, how native Americans lived etc. Films and documentaries made about him had resulted in him becoming quite a celebrity.

THE historic Rhu churchyard is associated by many people with Henry Bell, steamship pioneer and Helensburgh's first Provost, whose grave is marked with a large monument and statue.

But nearer the Gareloch there is a most unusual gravestone, and it has a moving story which was uncovered some years ago by Greenock Telegraph woman’s editor Evelyn Raden, who in an article in June 1966 told the sad tale of 'The Three Laughing Maids of Rhu'.