The Arts

A PAINTING by the famous ‘Glasgow Girl’ artist Bessie MacNicol — who had many links with Helensburgh —  changed hands in April 2011.

But purchaser Jim Smith, who enlisted the help of Helensburgh Heritage Trust in his quest to buy the painting entitled ‘Lady with a Fan’, had some difficulty in completing the acquisition.

THE distinguished artist Sir Henry Raeburn RA painted a stunning portrait of a lady who spent part of her life in Rosneath . . . but did he paint another of the same lady?

That is the question asked by a distinguished art and antiques dealer who lives in Australia and owns what he thinks is the original version.

A KILCREGGAN man made his living from breaking up ships — but he also had a special talent for preserving nautical subjects by painting them.

'Clyde Regatta' is one of Arthur Henry Turner's paintings, and it is owned by the Anderson Trust Local Collection and is often exhibited in Helensburgh Library.

ONE of the great writers about Scotland, its countryside and wildlife in the 20^th century was born in Helensburgh and had two spells of living in the burgh.

Campbell Rodger Steven, who was born in April 1911 and died in 2002, loved the outdoors — and it provided the inspiration for both his work and how he spent his leisure time.

ONE of the most fascinating books about Helensburgh’s past is ‘A Nonogenarian's Reminiscences of Garelochside and Helensburgh’.

It was written by a burgh tailor, Donald MacLeod, and published by Macneur & Bryden Ltd. of East Princes Street in 1883.

NEW YEAR blues are dispelled every year by the return of the Turners at the National Gallery in Edinburgh . . . and of the Anderson Trust paintings in Helensburgh Library.

This fine local collection, bequeathed to the town in 1980 by Annie Templeton Anderson, now numbers 90 paintings – too many to be displayed together, so a different selection is made each time.

THE top Scottish comedian of his age, Lex McLean, lived in Helensburgh for many years and loved the peace and quiet of his home across the road from Kidston Park.

Born Alexander McLean Cameron on April 30 1907 in a drab tenement at 6 Rosebery Place, Clydebank, he was the son of iron moulder Donald Cameron (1871–1951) and his second wife, grocer Mary Howe McLean (1876–1948).

HELENSBURGH-born actress Morven Christie appeared in Alan Bleasdale's The Sinking of the Laconia, a wartime drama screened on BBC TV on Thursday and Friday January 6 and 7 2011.

October 2004 was when writer Alan Bleasdale first heard about the fate of the RMS Laconia during World War Two and now his dream of telling the story of the merchant vessel has become a reality in a two-part dramatisation on BBC2.

A YOUNG girl who grew up on Loch Longside took the name of her home and went on to become a singer who worked with top stars including Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

Jessie Ronald was born in America, the daughter of an American father and Scottish mother. Sadly her father died two years later, and her mother brought her back to Glenmallon to live with her grandparents.

A HELENSBURGH man was one of the best known character actors of his generation.

James Copeland — known to all as Jimmy — is best remembered for his appearances in the BBC TV drama series Dr Finlay’s Casebook and the film comedy Rockets Galore. But he was a man of many talents.

A RAILWAYMAN was the inspiration behind two clubs for Helensburgh artists.

Charlie Taylor, who lived in the Claverton flats at 101 East Princes Street with his wife May (nee Thomson), was a keen and very good amateur painter, and he relished working with other local artists.

ONE of the most prolific authors of his generation had strong connections with Helensburgh and lived in the town for four years.

George Blake, who was born in Greenock on October 28 1893, the son of engineer Matthew Blake and his wife Ursula, came to the burgh with his family in 1935 and stayed as tenants of The Glenan, 41 John Street, until 1939.