Dr-J-Ewing-Hunter-bust-09.12.14-wA BRONZE bust of Dr James Ewing Hunter, MB, CM, FRSGS, JP, stands in the upstairs gallery at Helensburgh Library.

The strongly worked facial features of the bust — presented to the town by his son and daughter David and Margaret — are picked out well by the lighting. But who was Dr Ewing Hunter, and what did he do?

Read more …Doctor brightened town streets

WHENEVER the topic of the Suffragettes crops up, one person’s name immediately springs to mind — Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst.

As the campaign for votes for women reached fever pitch in the years leading up to the First World War, the militant actions of Mrs Pankhurst and the Suffragettes were headline news up and down the country.

Read more …Mrs Pankhurst spoke in burgh

mcnab familyOVER the years one name has become synonymous with the Loch Longside village of Portincaple . . . Finlay McNab.

The name came up again when Helensburgh Heritage Trust chairman Stewart Noble was given a copy of a one-page letter from the LochGoil & Inveraray Steam Boat Company on their headed notepaper awarding a sub-contract to him.

Read more …Finlay McNab: a Portincaple legend

THE MOST generous benefactor in Helensburgh’s history believed that divine intervention saved his life, and giving was his way of expressing his gratitude.

Provost Andrew Buchanan is best remembered for donating the outdoor swimming pool, but he also paid for a paddling pool at the foot of James Street, and refurbishment of the Victoria Hall to mark the Silver Jubilee. Privately his generosity was just as great.

Read more …Second account of loch tragedy

Robert-R.Tatlock-wONE of the leading chemists of his era — and an institution in the whisky industry — lived for much of his life in Rosneath and Helensburgh.

Professor Robert Rattray Tatlock was an analytical and consulting chemist, an expert witness in trials involving chemicals, and later public analyst, gas examiner and sewage chemist to Glasgow Corporation.

Read more …Chemist was expert on whisky

John-Ure-wA SAD SIGHT on Helensburgh seafront at the moment is the boarded up mansion Cairndhu — once the proud home of the Ure family.

The fate of the former home, wartime degaussing base, hotel and lastly care home has still to be decided, but it is a treasure which is well worth preserving and is on the Buildings at Risk Register.

Read more …Cairndhu owner became Lord Provost

Andrew Buchanan sketchTHE MOST generous benefactor in Helensburgh’s history believed that divine intervention had saved his life, and giving was his way of expressing his gratitude.

Not only did Provost Andrew Buchanan pay for the King George V Silver Jubilee beakers and sweets given to town schoolchildren in 1935, but he is best remembered for donating the outdoor swimming pool.

Read more …Tragedy inspired Provost's generosity

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