We are now halfway through the month of October with autumn fully here and leaves starting to fall off the trees. Do you remember when Iran attempted to create the world's largest sandwich, Google Play was launched and India launched its first unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1?

All that happened in the third week of October 2008 – but what was going on closer to home in Helensburgh?

Here, we’ve picked out some of our favourite photos from 15 years ago this week, courtesy of the Advertiser’s archives. Whose names and faces do you recognise?

Helensburgh Advertiser: School pupils brought Africa into their playground and filled it with cash. Pupils from John Logie Baird Primary drew a map of the continent and put coins around its edges to raise money for a food aid programme Primary one pupils and nursery youngsters took part, with the help of teacher Mrs Gillian Paton.School pupils brought Africa into their playground and filled it with cash. Pupils from John Logie Baird Primary drew a map of the continent and put coins around its edges to raise money for a food aid programme Primary one pupils and nursery youngsters took part, with the help of teacher Mrs Gillian Paton. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: Older people in Helensburgh were the focus of a pioneering new project aimed at making senior citizens more involved in community life. The ETHOS project aimed to challenge the stereotype of lonely older people spending their days home alone. The highly popular initiative was successfully managing to encourage people to come out of their homes and meet new people.Older people in Helensburgh were the focus of a pioneering new project aimed at making senior citizens more involved in community life. The ETHOS project aimed to challenge the stereotype of lonely older people spending their days home alone. The highly popular initiative was successfully managing to encourage people to come out of their homes and meet new people. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: A family ceilidh was held as part of the Dance Scottish Festival. Organised by the local branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in the St Joseph’s Church Upper Hall the event attracted dance enthusiasts of all ages. Light refreshments were served, and music was provided by the Andrew Warren Ceilidh Band.A family ceilidh was held as part of the Dance Scottish Festival. Organised by the local branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in the St Joseph’s Church Upper Hall the event attracted dance enthusiasts of all ages. Light refreshments were served, and music was provided by the Andrew Warren Ceilidh Band. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: Members of the Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary Club were out on Sinclair Street continuing their mission to bring spring colour to the whole street. Rotarians, and a few ‘volunteers’, were busy planting some 5,000 daffodil bulbs in the grass verges. The previous year they did the verges at the top of Sinclair Street and they continued the project by planting bulbs in the verges on the stretch.Members of the Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary Club were out on Sinclair Street continuing their mission to bring spring colour to the whole street. Rotarians, and a few ‘volunteers’, were busy planting some 5,000 daffodil bulbs in the grass verges. The previous year they did the verges at the top of Sinclair Street and they continued the project by planting bulbs in the verges on the stretch. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: We shared this photograph of the 3rd Helensburgh Scouts taken in January 1956 by Helensburgh photographer W.M. Benzie. The photograph was brought into the Advertiser by Helensburgh man Gordon Tran who is pictured fourth from the left in the second row from the back. His brother Angus is at the right end of the next row.We shared this photograph of the 3rd Helensburgh Scouts taken in January 1956 by Helensburgh photographer W.M. Benzie. The photograph was brought into the Advertiser by Helensburgh man Gordon Tran who is pictured fourth from the left in the second row from the back. His brother Angus is at the right end of the next row. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Advertiser: A life where this is a constant threat of famine, and street kids risk being trapped by people traffickers. That stark imagery confronted a group of 22 young people from Route 81 Youth Project in Garelochhead. The youngsters were re-enacting what life is like in Cambodia, the former war-torn country and it meant leaving all technology and gadgets at home and having only one main meal for 24 hours. A life where this is a constant threat of famine, and street kids risk being trapped by people traffickers. That stark imagery confronted a group of 22 young people from Route 81 Youth Project in Garelochhead. The youngsters were re-enacting what life is like in Cambodia, the former war-torn country and it meant leaving all technology and gadgets at home and having only one main meal for 24 hours. (Image: Newsquest)