It feels like February has flown by - even with the leap year! We take a look through our archives to see what happened in the second month of the year in 2009.
However, in 2024, we have covered a lot that has happened in Helensburgh and Lomond already.
We reported on a community initiative getting a rebrand, listed all the businesses that have been shortlisted at a prestigious hotel award and how a Ukrainian family is hosting a rally to mark the anniversary of the invasion.
But what was happening in and around the town 15 years ago this month?
![Helensburgh Advertiser: A special party was planned for Helensburgh for later in the year of 2009 and the organiser tried to get in touch with the guests. June McMurdo, whose son serves in the Army in Afghanistan, was planning a big bash for some of the local soldiers who have also served in Afghanistan and for the friends and families of those who are still there.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: A special party was planned for Helensburgh for later in the year of 2009 and the organiser tried to get in touch with the guests. June McMurdo, whose son serves in the Army in Afghanistan, was planning a big bash for some of the local soldiers who have also served in Afghanistan and for the friends and families of those who are still there.")
A special party was planned for Helensburgh for later in the year of 2009 and the organiser tried to get in touch with the guests. June McMurdo, whose son serves in the Army in Afghanistan, was planning a big bash for some of the local soldiers who have also served in Afghanistan and for the friends and families of those who are still there. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Golfers marked two special occasions — their club’s 30th Burns Supper and the Bard’s 250th anniversary. Members of Helensburgh Golf Club celebrated the double occasion — after the official Burns’ celebrations took place at the end of January. Gordon Hanning had been chairman and organiser of the top table members and guests for the 30-year-old event but this was his last as he decided to retire from this position.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Golfers marked two special occasions — their club’s 30th Burns Supper and the Bard’s 250th anniversary. Members of Helensburgh Golf Club celebrated the double occasion — after the official Burns’ celebrations took place at the end of January. Gordon Hanning had been chairman and organiser of the top table members and guests for the 30-year-old event but this was his last as he decided to retire from this position.")
Golfers marked two special occasions — their club’s 30th Burns Supper and the Bard’s 250th anniversary. Members of Helensburgh Golf Club celebrated the double occasion — after the official Burns’ celebrations took place at the end of January. Gordon Hanning had been chairman and organiser of the top table members and guests for the 30-year-old event but this was his last as he decided to retire from this position. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: A girl who emigrated with her family has graduated from university — in Australia. Deborah Thomson, a former St Joseph’s Primary School and Hermitage Academy pupil, five years ago at the age of 17 for a new life down under. The student obtained a First Class degree in Bachelor of Communications/ Business and Politics Major at Melbourne University.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: A girl who emigrated with her family has graduated from university — in Australia. Deborah Thomson, a former St Joseph’s Primary School and Hermitage Academy pupil, five years ago at the age of 17 for a new life down under. The student obtained a First Class degree in Bachelor of Communications/ Business and Politics Major at Melbourne University.")
A girl who emigrated with her family has graduated from university — in Australia. Deborah Thomson, a former St Joseph’s Primary School and Hermitage Academy pupil, five years ago at the age of 17 for a new life down under. The student obtained a First Class degree in Bachelor of Communications/ Business and Politics Major at Melbourne University. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Two enterprising pupils are in the pink after raising almost £1,000 for cancer research. Kirsty MacGinlay and Ashton Winter organised a fund-raising pink awareness day at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy which included the sale of pink ribbons. The event raised £956.80 and they held a cheque presentation.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Two enterprising pupils are in the pink after raising almost £1,000 for cancer research. Kirsty MacGinlay and Ashton Winter organised a fund-raising pink awareness day at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy which included the sale of pink ribbons. The event raised £956.80 and they held a cheque presentation.")
Two enterprising pupils are in the pink after raising almost £1,000 for cancer research. Kirsty MacGinlay and Ashton Winter organised a fund-raising pink awareness day at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy which included the sale of pink ribbons. The event raised £956.80 and they held a cheque presentation. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides from all over the area got together to celebrate Thinking Day. The girls, from Helensburgh, Rhu and Arrochar, gathered at the Victoria Halls for the annual Thinking Day Parade and church service. They met at the halls and then paraded to the Baptist Church in East King Street for the service, during which girls from various units explained how they are getting involved with the ‘Changing the World’ worldwide Guiding initiative.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides from all over the area got together to celebrate Thinking Day. The girls, from Helensburgh, Rhu and Arrochar, gathered at the Victoria Halls for the annual Thinking Day Parade and church service. They met at the halls and then paraded to the Baptist Church in East King Street for the service, during which girls from various units explained how they are getting involved with the ‘Changing the World’ worldwide Guiding initiative.")
Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides from all over the area got together to celebrate Thinking Day. The girls, from Helensburgh, Rhu and Arrochar, gathered at the Victoria Halls for the annual Thinking Day Parade and church service. They met at the halls and then paraded to the Baptist Church in East King Street for the service, during which girls from various units explained how they are getting involved with the ‘Changing the World’ worldwide Guiding initiative. (Image: Newsquest)
![Helensburgh Advertiser: Helensburgh girl Natasha McLean was set to represent her country in Australia in 2010. Natasha, 17, was the only Scottish Guide attending the Centenary Camp in Yarra River, Victoria, Australia. Young Leader Natasha joined 40 girls from all over the world at an international selection camp in the Netherlands just before Christmas.]( "Helensburgh Advertiser: Helensburgh girl Natasha McLean was set to represent her country in Australia in 2010. Natasha, 17, was the only Scottish Guide attending the Centenary Camp in Yarra River, Victoria, Australia. Young Leader Natasha joined 40 girls from all over the world at an international selection camp in the Netherlands just before Christmas.")
Helensburgh girl Natasha McLean was set to represent her country in Australia in 2010. Natasha, 17, was the only Scottish Guide attending the Centenary Camp in Yarra River, Victoria, Australia. Young Leader Natasha joined 40 girls from all over the world at an international selection camp in the Netherlands just before Christmas. (Image: Newsquest)
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