Our latest look back into the Advertiser's archives takes us back to 2008 - and a happier Christmas for some than for others as the looming closure of Woolworths and anger at the state of a Helensburgh play park made it into our pages alongside our coverage of the area's Christmas events.
Who do you recognise in our selection of archive photos?
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![Helensburgh Advertiser: The man in red was given a big welcome by the wee ones at St Joseph’s Primary School in Helensburgh. Here he is with two fans — Brooke McAskill and Abigail Mulroy.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: The man in red was given a big welcome by the wee ones at St Joseph’s Primary School in Helensburgh. Here he is with two fans — Brooke McAskill and Abigail Mulroy.")
The man in red was given a big welcome by the wee ones at St Joseph’s Primary School in Helensburgh. Here he is with two fans — Brooke McAskill and Abigail Mulroy. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Ten years after he and his pals ran a successful campaign to save a Helensburgh play park Ben Tallents told the Advertiser he was devastated to see what a state it is in again. Ben was just nine when he and his friends ran a campaign to have the James Street play area done up and made safe for youngsters, raising large sums of money and winning a lottery grant along the way. But when he took his girlfriend Charlene Hartley to see the play park he was horrified by the mess it is in. He said: “There was broken glass and rubbish everywhere and the benches were broken and rotting. We were promised all those years ago when Murdo McLeod opened the new play park that the council would maintain it and keep it tidy, and they did do it for about five years, but they seem to have stopped now.”]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Ten years after he and his pals ran a successful campaign to save a Helensburgh play park Ben Tallents told the Advertiser he was devastated to see what a state it is in again. Ben was just nine when he and his friends ran a campaign to have the James Street play area done up and made safe for youngsters, raising large sums of money and winning a lottery grant along the way. But when he took his girlfriend Charlene Hartley to see the play park he was horrified by the mess it is in. He said: “There was broken glass and rubbish everywhere and the benches were broken and rotting. We were promised all those years ago when Murdo McLeod opened the new play park that the council would maintain it and keep it tidy, and they did do it for about five years, but they seem to have stopped now.”")
Ten years after he and his pals ran a successful campaign to save a Helensburgh play park Ben Tallents told the Advertiser he was devastated to see what a state it is in again. Ben was just nine when he and his friends ran a campaign to have the James Street play area done up and made safe for youngsters, raising large sums of money and winning a lottery grant along the way. But when he took his girlfriend Charlene Hartley to see the play park he was horrified by the mess it is in. He said: “There was broken glass and rubbish everywhere and the benches were broken and rotting. We were promised all those years ago when Murdo McLeod opened the new play park that the council would maintain it and keep it tidy, and they did do it for about five years, but they seem to have stopped now.” (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Almost 200 pupils were in full voice when they tried to break the world record for the largest simultaneous sing-a-long and raise money for charity. The youngsters of Cardross Primary, which has a school roll of 197, were among other schools and groups throughout the country who all sang at the same time on the same day. The event also raised £170 for CLiC Sargent, a charity which cares for young people with cancer, and Marie Curie Cancer Care.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Almost 200 pupils were in full voice when they tried to break the world record for the largest simultaneous sing-a-long and raise money for charity. The youngsters of Cardross Primary, which has a school roll of 197, were among other schools and groups throughout the country who all sang at the same time on the same day. The event also raised £170 for CLiC Sargent, a charity which cares for young people with cancer, and Marie Curie Cancer Care.")
Almost 200 pupils were in full voice when they tried to break the world record for the largest simultaneous sing-a-long and raise money for charity. The youngsters of Cardross Primary, which has a school roll of 197, were among other schools and groups throughout the country who all sang at the same time on the same day. The event also raised £170 for CLiC Sargent, a charity which cares for young people with cancer, and Marie Curie Cancer Care. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Retirement for one Helensburgh shop worker was set to be a sad occasion on Christmas Eve – as her colleagues faced losing their jobs as well. Rosie Livingston was preparing to retire after 31 years working at the town’s branch of Woolworths, with all the company’s stores set to shut for the last time after millions of pounds of debt forced the company into administration. Rosie had begun working as a sales assistant at Woolworths in Aberdeen, but transferred to the Helensburgh branch – and after a break of 13 years to raise her family, returned there in 1979. She told us: “I never thought that I would see anything like this happening. It is sad to see not only Woolworths going but also 21 of my colleagues who will be without a job.” Rosie, second right, is pictured with colleagues Joan Davidson, Liz Gallacher and manager Maria Mason, who between them had worked for the company for 82 years.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Retirement for one Helensburgh shop worker was set to be a sad occasion on Christmas Eve – as her colleagues faced losing their jobs as well. Rosie Livingston was preparing to retire after 31 years working at the town’s branch of Woolworths, with all the company’s stores set to shut for the last time after millions of pounds of debt forced the company into administration. Rosie had begun working as a sales assistant at Woolworths in Aberdeen, but transferred to the Helensburgh branch – and after a break of 13 years to raise her family, returned there in 1979. She told us: “I never thought that I would see anything like this happening. It is sad to see not only Woolworths going but also 21 of my colleagues who will be without a job.” Rosie, second right, is pictured with colleagues Joan Davidson, Liz Gallacher and manager Maria Mason, who between them had worked for the company for 82 years.")
Retirement for one Helensburgh shop worker was set to be a sad occasion on Christmas Eve – as her colleagues faced losing their jobs as well. Rosie Livingston was preparing to retire after 31 years working at the town’s branch of Woolworths, with all the company’s stores set to shut for the last time after millions of pounds of debt forced the company into administration. Rosie had begun working as a sales assistant at Woolworths in Aberdeen, but transferred to the Helensburgh branch – and after a break of 13 years to raise her family, returned there in 1979. She told us: “I never thought that I would see anything like this happening. It is sad to see not only Woolworths going but also 21 of my colleagues who will be without a job.” Rosie, second right, is pictured with colleagues Joan Davidson, Liz Gallacher and manager Maria Mason, who between them had worked for the company for 82 years. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Caitlin De Lyon and her mum are pictured at the Helensburgh United Reformed Church's 2008 Christmas tree festival. Thirty-nine organisations sponsored a tree in the second year of the event, which ran over eight days and included daily live music performances, with donations set to be given to SightSavers International and the health and wellbeing project at Helensburgh's own Backchat Youth Group.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Caitlin De Lyon and her mum are pictured at the Helensburgh United Reformed Church's 2008 Christmas tree festival. Thirty-nine organisations sponsored a tree in the second year of the event, which ran over eight days and included daily live music performances, with donations set to be given to SightSavers International and the health and wellbeing project at Helensburgh's own Backchat Youth Group.")
Caitlin De Lyon and her mum are pictured at the Helensburgh United Reformed Church's 2008 Christmas tree festival. Thirty-nine organisations sponsored a tree in the second year of the event, which ran over eight days and included daily live music performances, with donations set to be given to SightSavers International and the health and wellbeing project at Helensburgh's own Backchat Youth Group. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: The cast of Helensburgh Savoy Musical Theatre Group's 2008 production took their show 'on the road' - to Ardardan Nursery near Cardross. The group had performed 'Oliver!' to great aclclaim at the Victoria Halls, and gave Christmas shoppers an extra bonus by dressing up in their costumes and performing excerpts from the show.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: The cast of Helensburgh Savoy Musical Theatre Group's 2008 production took their show 'on the road' - to Ardardan Nursery near Cardross. The group had performed 'Oliver!' to great aclclaim at the Victoria Halls, and gave Christmas shoppers an extra bonus by dressing up in their costumes and performing excerpts from the show.")
The cast of Helensburgh Savoy Musical Theatre Group's 2008 production took their show 'on the road' - to Ardardan Nursery near Cardross. The group had performed 'Oliver!' to great aclclaim at the Victoria Halls, and gave Christmas shoppers an extra bonus by dressing up in their costumes and performing excerpts from the show. (Image: Newsquest)
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