Fifteen years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo won first award as best football player in the world, former NFL star O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery and Kirsty Williams was announced as the first female leader of a political party.
But what was happening closer to home as the festive spirit was well under way in 2008?
Here we take a look at the local news - and the people who were making it - as it was reported in the pages of the Advertiser on December 4, 2008...
![Helensburgh Advertiser: A baker has tasted international success when he achieved a prestigious award at the Scotch Pie World Championship. Helensburgh firm James Allan became a leading pie maker of the industry by scooping the silver award at the event thanks to their new secret recipe. The Sinclair Street baker beat off dozens of entries from all over Scotland to take the tasty title — and was one of only three firms to achieve a silver accolade.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: A baker has tasted international success when he achieved a prestigious award at the Scotch Pie World Championship. Helensburgh firm James Allan became a leading pie maker of the industry by scooping the silver award at the event thanks to their new secret recipe. The Sinclair Street baker beat off dozens of entries from all over Scotland to take the tasty title — and was one of only three firms to achieve a silver accolade.")
A baker has tasted international success when he achieved a prestigious award at the Scotch Pie World Championship. Helensburgh firm James Allan became a leading pie maker of the industry by scooping the silver award at the event thanks to their new secret recipe. The Sinclair Street baker beat off dozens of entries from all over Scotland to take the tasty title — and was one of only three firms to achieve a silver accolade. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Pupils, staff and ministers came together for a poignant ceremony held at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy. A short service was held to re-dedicate the war memorial at the secondary school. The ceremony was held after the memorial was moved from the old school and came before the annual remembrance day service.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Pupils, staff and ministers came together for a poignant ceremony held at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy. A short service was held to re-dedicate the war memorial at the secondary school. The ceremony was held after the memorial was moved from the old school and came before the annual remembrance day service.")
Pupils, staff and ministers came together for a poignant ceremony held at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy. A short service was held to re-dedicate the war memorial at the secondary school. The ceremony was held after the memorial was moved from the old school and came before the annual remembrance day service. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Some of the principal cast members took a break from rehearsals of Stourie Annie (Cinderella pantomime to pose for a group photo. The show was staged by Helensburgh Theatre Arts in the Victoria Halls and hoped to be to well attended by the local community.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Some of the principal cast members took a break from rehearsals of Stourie Annie (Cinderella pantomime to pose for a group photo. The show was staged by Helensburgh Theatre Arts in the Victoria Halls and hoped to be to well attended by the local community.")
Some of the principal cast members took a break from rehearsals of Stourie Annie (Cinderella pantomime to pose for a group photo. The show was staged by Helensburgh Theatre Arts in the Victoria Halls and hoped to be to well attended by the local community. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Ten year-old Sam Dye is was an “aspiring champion” in more ways than one. The Burgh lad, who lived in Glen Drive and attended Hermitage Primary School, completed the Aspire Channel Challenge in record time, swimming 22 miles in just eight weeks. He decided himself to tackle the channel challenge and in doing so has raised £250 for the Aspire spinal chord injury charity.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Ten year-old Sam Dye is was an “aspiring champion” in more ways than one. The Burgh lad, who lived in Glen Drive and attended Hermitage Primary School, completed the Aspire Channel Challenge in record time, swimming 22 miles in just eight weeks. He decided himself to tackle the channel challenge and in doing so has raised £250 for the Aspire spinal chord injury charity.")
Ten year-old Sam Dye is was an “aspiring champion” in more ways than one. The Burgh lad, who lived in Glen Drive and attended Hermitage Primary School, completed the Aspire Channel Challenge in record time, swimming 22 miles in just eight weeks. He decided himself to tackle the channel challenge and in doing so has raised £250 for the Aspire spinal chord injury charity. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: The power of colour was proved at a fashion show in Helensburgh. Organised by Carol Foubister of the Pink Gallery and Shirley Thornley of True Colours, the event was designed to show how carefully chosen accessories can make an outfit without costing the earth. The ladies who attended were shown that a selection of accessories carefully chosen for their colour can make any outfit — and can ring the changes without the need to buy expensive new clothes.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: The power of colour was proved at a fashion show in Helensburgh. Organised by Carol Foubister of the Pink Gallery and Shirley Thornley of True Colours, the event was designed to show how carefully chosen accessories can make an outfit without costing the earth. The ladies who attended were shown that a selection of accessories carefully chosen for their colour can make any outfit — and can ring the changes without the need to buy expensive new clothes.")
The power of colour was proved at a fashion show in Helensburgh. Organised by Carol Foubister of the Pink Gallery and Shirley Thornley of True Colours, the event was designed to show how carefully chosen accessories can make an outfit without costing the earth. The ladies who attended were shown that a selection of accessories carefully chosen for their colour can make any outfit — and can ring the changes without the need to buy expensive new clothes. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: A young Lego fanatic put his hobby to good use — by raising money for charity. Eleven-year-old Struan was a member of the Lego Club and enthusiastically took up their charity challenge to raise money for the National Autistic Society. The Hermitage Primary pupil collected a magnificent £210 after organising an appropriate Lego competition. People were asked to guess how many Lego bricks were in a bottle.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: A young Lego fanatic put his hobby to good use — by raising money for charity. Eleven-year-old Struan was a member of the Lego Club and enthusiastically took up their charity challenge to raise money for the National Autistic Society. The Hermitage Primary pupil collected a magnificent £210 after organising an appropriate Lego competition. People were asked to guess how many Lego bricks were in a bottle.")
A young Lego fanatic put his hobby to good use — by raising money for charity. Eleven-year-old Struan was a member of the Lego Club and enthusiastically took up their charity challenge to raise money for the National Autistic Society. The Hermitage Primary pupil collected a magnificent £210 after organising an appropriate Lego competition. People were asked to guess how many Lego bricks were in a bottle. (Image: Newsquest)
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