Schools in Helensburgh and Lomond are out for summer and we are looking forward to warmer weather for the next few weeks.

But what was happening in and around the town 15 years ago this month?

In the June 25, 2009 edition of the paper, we reported on pirates launching an invasion in Tarbet, Helensburgh Scouts embarking on a sleepover on Loch Lomond and celebrating a head teacher in his final week.

Members of the Royal British Legion in Helensburgh and Lomond joined hundreds of people across Britain to “Fly a Flag for Our Armed Forces. Councils, organisations and individuals across the country and around the world raised the official Armed Forces Day flags which were flown as part of the celebrations to honour Britain’s Armed Forces, past, present and future. in Helensburgh and Lomond a flag was raised on the flag pole at Hermitage Academy, on the Victoria Halls and at the bowling club in Clynder.Members of the Royal British Legion in Helensburgh and Lomond joined hundreds of people across Britain to “Fly a Flag for Our Armed Forces. Councils, organisations and individuals across the country and around the world raised the official Armed Forces Day flags which were flown as part of the celebrations to honour Britain’s Armed Forces, past, present and future. in Helensburgh and Lomond a flag was raised on the flag pole at Hermitage Academy, on the Victoria Halls and at the bowling club in Clynder. (Image: Newsquest)

A band of pirates launched an invasion the Tarbet area all with the aim of getting themselves a new ship. The band of ruffians, more usually to be seen in school uniforms belonging to Arrochar Primary School, made good use of the fabulous weather to hold a sponsored walk to help raise money to buy a pirate ship for their school playground. The children saw a pirate ship on a school outing to Finlaystone Country Park and set their hearts on one for their own school so they set about raising the money for the project.A band of pirates launched an invasion the Tarbet area all with the aim of getting themselves a new ship. The band of ruffians, more usually to be seen in school uniforms belonging to Arrochar Primary School, made good use of the fabulous weather to hold a sponsored walk to help raise money to buy a pirate ship for their school playground. The children saw a pirate ship on a school outing to Finlaystone Country Park and set their hearts on one for their own school so they set about raising the money for the project. (Image: Newsquest)

HM Naval Base’s Waste Forum gave kids at Clyde Nursery a lesson on being eco-friendly. Senior Building Coordinator Jane Trayte along with Grounds and Waste Team Leader Colin Storrie visited the nursery and taught the children how to be environmentally friendly. The day was such a success that they have been asked back to teach the younger children at the nursery a lesson on going green.HM Naval Base’s Waste Forum gave kids at Clyde Nursery a lesson on being eco-friendly. Senior Building Coordinator Jane Trayte along with Grounds and Waste Team Leader Colin Storrie visited the nursery and taught the children how to be environmentally friendly. The day was such a success that they have been asked back to teach the younger children at the nursery a lesson on going green. (Image: Newsquest)

The glorious spectacle of 17 pipe bands led by Highland dancers in their full rig parading down Helensburgh’s Sinclair Street brought a hugely successful homecoming weekend to a thrilling close. The streets were lined with spectators who had turned out to see the parade, the like of which Helensburgh has never seen before. The early evening sun glinted on the drum majors’ maces as the bands and dancers marched proudly down the street, bringing tears to many an eye along with cheers. The Helensburgh Bicentenary Pipeband Championships, which in 2009 was a three-day celebration of Homecoming had closed the way it had started — with music and laughter.The glorious spectacle of 17 pipe bands led by Highland dancers in their full rig parading down Helensburgh’s Sinclair Street brought a hugely successful homecoming weekend to a thrilling close. The streets were lined with spectators who had turned out to see the parade, the like of which Helensburgh has never seen before. The early evening sun glinted on the drum majors’ maces as the bands and dancers marched proudly down the street, bringing tears to many an eye along with cheers. The Helensburgh Bicentenary Pipeband Championships, which in 2009 was a three-day celebration of Homecoming had closed the way it had started — with music and laughter. (Image: Newsquest)

Helensburgh Scouts and Beavers slept on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond - well, almost. The 36 children who took part in the giant sleepover, which raised money for Save the Children, were spared the Scottish elements as they camped inside the aquarium at Loch Lomond Shores. The event started as the excited children gathered at 7.30pm before embarking on a tour of the aquarium. After that, followed an openair barbecue overlooking the loch, as they grilled their feast on the balcony of the tower. The kids were then treated to a film in the aquariums own film theatre. Helensburgh Scouts and Beavers slept on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond - well, almost. The 36 children who took part in the giant sleepover, which raised money for Save the Children, were spared the Scottish elements as they camped inside the aquarium at Loch Lomond Shores. The event started as the excited children gathered at 7.30pm before embarking on a tour of the aquarium. After that, followed an openair barbecue overlooking the loch, as they grilled their feast on the balcony of the tower. The kids were then treated to a film in the aquariums own film theatre. (Image: Newsquest)

Lomond School bids farewell to its headmaster of 23 years. Angus Macdonald took the closing assembly and presided at the school prize giving. Several other functions were planned in his final week of the school year — all of which were specially poignant for the man who took the reins at the independent school in August 1986. Mr Macdonald, 58, was born in Edinburgh. His father was in the Navy so the young Angus was brought up both north and south of the border and attended different schools, among them Portsmouth Grammar School. By coincidence, Mr Macdonald’s successor at Lomond, Simon Mills, is headmaster at the same school and both did geography degrees at Cambridge.Lomond School bids farewell to its headmaster of 23 years. Angus Macdonald took the closing assembly and presided at the school prize giving. Several other functions were planned in his final week of the school year — all of which were specially poignant for the man who took the reins at the independent school in August 1986. Mr Macdonald, 58, was born in Edinburgh. His father was in the Navy so the young Angus was brought up both north and south of the border and attended different schools, among them Portsmouth Grammar School. By coincidence, Mr Macdonald’s successor at Lomond, Simon Mills, is headmaster at the same school and both did geography degrees at Cambridge. (Image: Newsquest)