What’s on in Helensburgh & Lomond

Please check with organisers – for most of these you will need to book in advance!

Hogmanay Hoolie with 4 course dinner at Rosslea Hall Hotel
Hogmanay Dinner and DJ at Riva
Hogmanay Dinner and DJ at Sugar Boat
Hogmanay Dinner and live music at Riverhill Courtyard
The Grande Soiree Canapes, Cocktails and DJ at La Jupe
Party at Peckhams of Helensburgh
Helensburgh & District Highland Association Hogmanay Dance at Geilston Hall Cardross, BYOB
Ceilidh with Reely Jiggered at The Cardross Inn
Ceilidh at 3 Villages Hall Arrochar
Party at The Rhu Inn
Party at The Creggans, Kilcreggan
Party at The Anchor Inn Garelochhead
Party at Rosneath Castle Park
Live music at The Village Inn Arrochar
Drinks and Dancing at The Ardencaple
Cove Burgh Hall – SOLD OUT!

The return of the traditional New Year Swim at Rhu Marina!

Registration is open for the New Year’s Day Dook at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/helensburgh-new-years-day-dook-2025-registration-1098071022989

Are you up for the Dook challenge? Are you brave enough to take the plunge to raise funds for the Helensburgh lifeboat? New Year’s ‘Dookers’ will need to register individually to enter this event. While there is no entry fee, we welcome your donations which help us to train and equip our crew to save lives at sea. ‘Dookers’ should arrive at Rhu Marina. Check in will be open from 11.15 am. The swim starts at 12.00pm and finishes at 12.30 pm.

You will be given a 2025 wristband for entry where you will listen to a Safety Briefing before the Dook begins. Once you have completed the Dook you should get dry and into warm clothing as soon as possible. Once dressed you can get soup at the RNLI Boathouse.

We look forward to seeing you at our New Year’s Day Dook. Your donations help us save lives at sea. Please note – No walk-ins on the day; pre-registration via Eventbrite is required. Children aged 8-16 must be accompanied by an adult at the event. If you have any questions about the event please contact [email protected]

See the Helensburgh RNLI Facebook Page for more info.

Cove Burgh Hall, 8.00pm to 10.00pm, doors open at 7.30pm. Our 2024-2025 season of talks begins on Monday 30th September when we welcome Sophie Torrens of the National Trust for Scotland, who will update us on The Hill House, Helensburgh. We then meet every two weeks on Mondays with great talks through to March 2025. Only £20 for the whole season, guests are welcome at £3 per evening. Tea and biscuits plus the popular raffle. Contact: [email protected]

Mon 14th Oct: My Adventures as a Lone Practitioner on a Remote Orkney Island, by Sheena Edwards.
Mon 28th Oct: QE2 – Last Clyde built Fast Passenger Liner & Cruise Ship, by Tim Henderson.
Mon 11th Nov: J.D. Fergusson, Scottish Colourist, by Ailsa Turner   
Mon 25th Nov: Animal Tales from Little Rahane, by Steve and Shirley Dalziel    
Monday 9th December: Brothers of Steell, by Andrew Smith
Monday 6th January: Anatomy of Laughter (an Unofficial Guide), by Geoff Baker.

Helensburgh Community Council are inviting local businesses to attend a meeting at the Civic Centre. This event will give Helensburgh businesses the opportunity to raise issues and feedback ideas. There will be discussion about upcoming opportunities and how town businesses can work together for the benefit of all.

On the next meeting agenda, the proposed Visitor Levy, and discussion of banking and postal provision in the town.

Join Helensburgh Music Society for their seasonal programme of events, held at Helensburgh & Lomond Civic Centre:

October 13th 2024 Classico Latino;
November 24th 2024 Trio Arisonto;
January 19th 2025 Barros Pereira-Alves Duo, harp and violin;
February 23rd 2025 Ceruleo;
March 16th 2025 Ensemble Renard.

Single tickets: online (preferred) or card/cash on the door: Adults £15, Students £5, under 18s £1
Season ticket for 5 Concerts £50 Book online at https://helensburghmusicsociety.org.uk/booking

Helensburgh Music Society presents a series of 5 concerts each year, between October and March, in the form of performances by Professional Ensembles or Solo Recitals. Our concerts, in the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on Clyde Street, Helensburgh, are open to everyone. An evening out listening to beautiful music, and a chance to meet friends over an interval drink. Ticket prices are low, especially the season ticket. We encourage performers to talk to the audiences, introducing both themselves and the pieces of music they are playing, expanding on the programme notes so adding to the accessibility of the music. Each year the programme we present, features a variety of performers and instrumental combinations. We also include repertoire ranging from early music to established classical works as well as modern compositions and Jazz. Performers include Scottish based musicians as well as international musicians and ensembles, all of the very highest calibre. It is also an important aim of HMS to offer opportunities to outstanding young artists, especially those based in Scotland.

Stopgap Community Cinema CIC are keeping cinema alive in Helensburgh until the Tower reopens. Screenings take place in Annexe 1 of the Civic Centre.

Forthcoming in 2025 – tickets and timings will be available from from https://www.ticketebo.co.uk/stopgap-community-cinema-cic
January 23 The Critic 5.45pm
February 25 Paddington in Peru
March 25 Love Actually Party
April 25 Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy
May 25 Wicked

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

20 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙇𝙚𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙬 (𝙈𝙚𝙯𝙯𝙤-𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤) 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙠 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠 (𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙤)
Following study at the RCS, Lea Shaw has just completed two years as an Emerging Artist at Scottish Opera, during which time she made a very favourable impression on audiences as a mezzo to watch. Her varied recital programme here includes five rarely performed songs by Alma Mahler, whose music is only now receiving the recognition it deserves, following years of neglect after her husband, fellow composer Gustav Mahler, insisted give up composition when she married him. Also included are the lively ‘Canciones negras’ by Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge, based on West Indian rhythms.
24 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙂𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙜𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙧 (𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙬𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚)
This concert forms part of the Glasgow Chamber Choir’s 30th anniversary season, so to celebrate they are performing music by composers who also have anniversaries this year. Swiss composer Frank Martin died 50 years ago, and his Mass for double Choir lay in a cupboard unperformed for many years. Charles Villiers Stanford died 100 years ago. His setting of the Magnificat, also for double choir, was inspired by the motets of J. S. Bach. Jonathan Dove’s choral song cycle, The Passing of the Year completes this virtuosic programme.
22 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – ‘𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜’ 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩—𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 7.30𝙥𝙢!
Our annual Carol concert with augmented choir, brass ensemble and organ and plenty of opportunity to join in, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the hall. There will be the usual retiring collection in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, for which the choir has now raised over £33,000.
26 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝘽𝘾
17 𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙥 𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚
This Glasgow- based ensemble comprises two singers (soprano Jessica Leary and baritone Andrew McTaggart) with cellist Andrew Drummond-Huggan and pianist Andrew Forbes. They present a programme of specially arranged music with a sea-faring theme (including Stanford’s well-known ‘Songs of the Sea’) which was originally put together for the Tall Ships Festival in Aberdeen.
30 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 2025 – 𝙋𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮
Local school pupils present a varied programme of vocal and instrumental music to suit all tastes under the direction of their Head of Music, Pamela Frew.
27 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 2025 – 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨
Former colleagues from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera join HPC’s Director of Music for another evening of chamber music, centred around Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. This work, described as ‘Brahms’ most epic and monumental chamber work’ started out as a quintet for strings, and was then recast as a sonata for two pianos, before assuming its final form. It contains one of the composer’s most beautiful slow movements and an especially powerful and dramatic finale, bringing the work to a triumphant conclusion. Definitely a season highpoint!
25 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2025 – 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙝 𝙃𝙮𝙢𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩
A much-anticipated return for this popular event. Join the augmented choir, praise band, brass and organ to make a joyful noise with a programme of favourite hymns and worship songs which will combine old favourites with some newer items A ‘good sing’ is guaranteed.
29 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙
A return visit from husband and wife duo Danny and Alison Miller with a wonderfully nostalgic trip down memory lane featuring music from many of Hollywood’s greatest films. Music by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Erich Korngold and Richard Rogers, to mention but a few, provides what we hope will be the perfect finale to our season.

25 September 2024 – Stewart Noble: Helensburgh’s Railway History
30 October 2024 – AGM, then Elizabeth Davidson: The Renovations at The Hill House
27 November 2024 – Bruce Keith: Scotland Beneath the Surface
29 January 2025 – Alasdair Jamison: subject to be confirmed
26 February 2025 – Jeremy Watson: Mysteries of Dumbarton
26 March 2025 – Michael Davis: Victorian Villas of Helensburgh

Talks take place in the Marriage Room at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on East Clyde Street at 7:30 PM. The programme meetings are free to attend. Those who come along will be invited to make a modest donation.

RSGS Members and students are entitled to free entry, some tickets may be available on the door for cash only – all subject to availability. Part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society Inspiring People talks programme.

Thursday 30 January: Kirsty Fisher: The Journey West: Sailing Around the World
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kirsty-fisher-the-journey-west-sailing-around-the-world-helensburgh-tickets-1010360795337

Thursday 27 February Luisa Hendry: The Geology of Scotland HELENSBURGH
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/luisa-hendry-the-geology-of-scotland-helensburgh-tickets-1010502990647

Thursday 27 March Dr Adrian Webb: Churchill’s Secret Chart Makers
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-adrian-webb-churchills-secret-chart-makers-helensburgh-tickets-1010649819817

Concerts for the 2024-25 season are currently scheduled to take place on

Saturday 26th October 2024 – 7.30pm, Victoria Halls
Saturday 1st February 2025 – 2.00pm, Victoria Halls
Saturday 31st May 2025 – 7.30pm, Helensburgh Parish Church

The programme for Saturday 26th October is

Overture – The Thieving Magpie – Rossini
‘Sarka’ & ‘Blanik’ from Ma Vlast – Smetana
Symphony No.7 – Beethoven

Tickets available from the Scandinavian shop, Destination Helensburgh, orchestra members.

A series of talks held at Helensburgh Community Hub – Non members welcome, with a £3 donation appreciated.

October 2nd – Knockderry Castle Conservators
November 6th – People and their past, 30 years of a adopt a monument
December 4th – tbc
February 5th – The art of Lindisfarne Gospels
March 5th – Govan Stones Project
April 2nd – tbc

An Evening with Psychic Medium Dominic Boag. Doors open at 7pm for show to begin at 7:30pm

PLEASE NOTE: Attendance does not guarantee a reading during the event. Tickets are non-refundable, can be transferred to an other date. Entertainment purposes only.

Tickets https://dominicboag.com/eventss/helensburgh/

Dom Joly is not just a man with a big phone. He’s an award winning travel writer with 108 countries under his belt. He will share amazing stories and images from his trips to North Korea, skiing in Iran, hunting the Yeti, getting kidnapped in the Congo, walking across Lebanon and spending the last year hanging out with conspiracy theorists…

Dom Joly is an award-winning television comedian, TV & Radio broadcaster and writer. His first television series, ‘Trigger Happy TV’, was a prime-time Friday night hit for Channel 4 in 2000-4 which went on to be sold in over fifty countries world-wide and win several awards, including the Silver Rose of Montreux. Dom has made TV shows for the BBC, FIVE, Sky One and Comedy Central USA, such as the acclaimed travel series ‘Dom Joly’s Happy Hour’ and ‘Dom Joly’s Excellent Adventure’ and radio shows for Radio 4, most recently a show about Goths.

Dom is also an award-winning travel writer and has visited over a hundred countries. His books include ‘The Dark Tourist’, ‘Scary Monsters and Super Creeps’, ‘The Downhill Hiking Club’ and ‘Such Miserable Weather’. His latest travel book, ‘The Conspiracy Tourist’ – published in November 2023 – sees him travelling the world and hanging out with conspiracy theorists. He has been touring his new book with an accompanying stage show, ‘The Conspiracy Tour’, over the Spring this year to sold out venues. He’ll be taking the tour out again this Autumn. Alongside this, he is a columnist for Cotswold Life and has written extensively for most major newspapers. He is also an ambassador for Save the Children. He is researching and writing his new travel book.

Doors open 7pm, show starts 8pm. Tickets £27 plus booking fee from https://liveargyll.co.uk/event/dom-jolys-holiday-snaps/

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

20 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙇𝙚𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙬 (𝙈𝙚𝙯𝙯𝙤-𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤) 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙠 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠 (𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙤)
Following study at the RCS, Lea Shaw has just completed two years as an Emerging Artist at Scottish Opera, during which time she made a very favourable impression on audiences as a mezzo to watch. Her varied recital programme here includes five rarely performed songs by Alma Mahler, whose music is only now receiving the recognition it deserves, following years of neglect after her husband, fellow composer Gustav Mahler, insisted give up composition when she married him. Also included are the lively ‘Canciones negras’ by Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge, based on West Indian rhythms.
24 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙂𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙜𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙧 (𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙬𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚)
This concert forms part of the Glasgow Chamber Choir’s 30th anniversary season, so to celebrate they are performing music by composers who also have anniversaries this year. Swiss composer Frank Martin died 50 years ago, and his Mass for double Choir lay in a cupboard unperformed for many years. Charles Villiers Stanford died 100 years ago. His setting of the Magnificat, also for double choir, was inspired by the motets of J. S. Bach. Jonathan Dove’s choral song cycle, The Passing of the Year completes this virtuosic programme.
22 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – ‘𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜’ 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩—𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 7.30𝙥𝙢!
Our annual Carol concert with augmented choir, brass ensemble and organ and plenty of opportunity to join in, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the hall. There will be the usual retiring collection in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, for which the choir has now raised over £33,000.
26 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝘽𝘾
17 𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙥 𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚
This Glasgow- based ensemble comprises two singers (soprano Jessica Leary and baritone Andrew McTaggart) with cellist Andrew Drummond-Huggan and pianist Andrew Forbes. They present a programme of specially arranged music with a sea-faring theme (including Stanford’s well-known ‘Songs of the Sea’) which was originally put together for the Tall Ships Festival in Aberdeen.
30 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 2025 – 𝙋𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮
Local school pupils present a varied programme of vocal and instrumental music to suit all tastes under the direction of their Head of Music, Pamela Frew.
27 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 2025 – 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨
Former colleagues from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera join HPC’s Director of Music for another evening of chamber music, centred around Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. This work, described as ‘Brahms’ most epic and monumental chamber work’ started out as a quintet for strings, and was then recast as a sonata for two pianos, before assuming its final form. It contains one of the composer’s most beautiful slow movements and an especially powerful and dramatic finale, bringing the work to a triumphant conclusion. Definitely a season highpoint!
25 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2025 – 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙝 𝙃𝙮𝙢𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩
A much-anticipated return for this popular event. Join the augmented choir, praise band, brass and organ to make a joyful noise with a programme of favourite hymns and worship songs which will combine old favourites with some newer items A ‘good sing’ is guaranteed.
29 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙
A return visit from husband and wife duo Danny and Alison Miller with a wonderfully nostalgic trip down memory lane featuring music from many of Hollywood’s greatest films. Music by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Erich Korngold and Richard Rogers, to mention but a few, provides what we hope will be the perfect finale to our season.

Join Helensburgh Music Society for their seasonal programme of events, held at Helensburgh & Lomond Civic Centre:

October 13th 2024 Classico Latino;
November 24th 2024 Trio Arisonto;
January 19th 2025 Barros Pereira-Alves Duo, harp and violin;
February 23rd 2025 Ceruleo;
March 16th 2025 Ensemble Renard.

Single tickets: online (preferred) or card/cash on the door: Adults £15, Students £5, under 18s £1
Season ticket for 5 Concerts £50 Book online at https://helensburghmusicsociety.org.uk/booking

Helensburgh Music Society presents a series of 5 concerts each year, between October and March, in the form of performances by Professional Ensembles or Solo Recitals. Our concerts, in the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on Clyde Street, Helensburgh, are open to everyone. An evening out listening to beautiful music, and a chance to meet friends over an interval drink. Ticket prices are low, especially the season ticket. We encourage performers to talk to the audiences, introducing both themselves and the pieces of music they are playing, expanding on the programme notes so adding to the accessibility of the music. Each year the programme we present, features a variety of performers and instrumental combinations. We also include repertoire ranging from early music to established classical works as well as modern compositions and Jazz. Performers include Scottish based musicians as well as international musicians and ensembles, all of the very highest calibre. It is also an important aim of HMS to offer opportunities to outstanding young artists, especially those based in Scotland.

Stopgap Community Cinema CIC are keeping cinema alive in Helensburgh until the Tower reopens. Screenings take place in Annexe 1 of the Civic Centre.

Forthcoming in 2025 – tickets and timings will be available from from https://www.ticketebo.co.uk/stopgap-community-cinema-cic
January 23 The Critic 5.45pm
February 25 Paddington in Peru
March 25 Love Actually Party
April 25 Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy
May 25 Wicked

25 September 2024 – Stewart Noble: Helensburgh’s Railway History
30 October 2024 – AGM, then Elizabeth Davidson: The Renovations at The Hill House
27 November 2024 – Bruce Keith: Scotland Beneath the Surface
29 January 2025 – Alasdair Jamison: subject to be confirmed
26 February 2025 – Jeremy Watson: Mysteries of Dumbarton
26 March 2025 – Michael Davis: Victorian Villas of Helensburgh

Talks take place in the Marriage Room at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on East Clyde Street at 7:30 PM. The programme meetings are free to attend. Those who come along will be invited to make a modest donation.

RSGS Members and students are entitled to free entry, some tickets may be available on the door for cash only – all subject to availability. Part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society Inspiring People talks programme.

Thursday 30 January: Kirsty Fisher: The Journey West: Sailing Around the World
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kirsty-fisher-the-journey-west-sailing-around-the-world-helensburgh-tickets-1010360795337

Thursday 27 February Luisa Hendry: The Geology of Scotland HELENSBURGH
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/luisa-hendry-the-geology-of-scotland-helensburgh-tickets-1010502990647

Thursday 27 March Dr Adrian Webb: Churchill’s Secret Chart Makers
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-adrian-webb-churchills-secret-chart-makers-helensburgh-tickets-1010649819817

A series of talks held at Helensburgh Community Hub – Non members welcome, with a £3 donation appreciated.

October 2nd – Knockderry Castle Conservators
November 6th – People and their past, 30 years of a adopt a monument
December 4th – tbc
February 5th – The art of Lindisfarne Gospels
March 5th – Govan Stones Project
April 2nd – tbc

The Provy Wummin The smash hit musical comedy is chapping doors in Helensburgh!

It’s 1979. Does the wean want a chopper for Christmas or does she fancy a new outfit from What Every Woman Wants? Or is it What Every Woman Needed?

Margaret Morrison is that friendly face, who in times of need, can help. The Provident Woman knocked on many a door on a Friday, offering a friendly loan to families struggling with the cost of living. and life’s hardest knocks. But what cost life? What cost love?

Tickets https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-provy-wummin-tickets-1087106497799

Join Helensburgh Music Society for their seasonal programme of events, held at Helensburgh & Lomond Civic Centre:

October 13th 2024 Classico Latino;
November 24th 2024 Trio Arisonto;
January 19th 2025 Barros Pereira-Alves Duo, harp and violin;
February 23rd 2025 Ceruleo;
March 16th 2025 Ensemble Renard.

Single tickets: online (preferred) or card/cash on the door: Adults £15, Students £5, under 18s £1
Season ticket for 5 Concerts £50 Book online at https://helensburghmusicsociety.org.uk/booking

Helensburgh Music Society presents a series of 5 concerts each year, between October and March, in the form of performances by Professional Ensembles or Solo Recitals. Our concerts, in the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on Clyde Street, Helensburgh, are open to everyone. An evening out listening to beautiful music, and a chance to meet friends over an interval drink. Ticket prices are low, especially the season ticket. We encourage performers to talk to the audiences, introducing both themselves and the pieces of music they are playing, expanding on the programme notes so adding to the accessibility of the music. Each year the programme we present, features a variety of performers and instrumental combinations. We also include repertoire ranging from early music to established classical works as well as modern compositions and Jazz. Performers include Scottish based musicians as well as international musicians and ensembles, all of the very highest calibre. It is also an important aim of HMS to offer opportunities to outstanding young artists, especially those based in Scotland.

Stopgap Community Cinema CIC are keeping cinema alive in Helensburgh until the Tower reopens. Screenings take place in Annexe 1 of the Civic Centre.

Forthcoming in 2025 – tickets and timings will be available from from https://www.ticketebo.co.uk/stopgap-community-cinema-cic
January 23 The Critic 5.45pm
February 25 Paddington in Peru
March 25 Love Actually Party
April 25 Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy
May 25 Wicked

25 September 2024 – Stewart Noble: Helensburgh’s Railway History
30 October 2024 – AGM, then Elizabeth Davidson: The Renovations at The Hill House
27 November 2024 – Bruce Keith: Scotland Beneath the Surface
29 January 2025 – Alasdair Jamison: subject to be confirmed
26 February 2025 – Jeremy Watson: Mysteries of Dumbarton
26 March 2025 – Michael Davis: Victorian Villas of Helensburgh

Talks take place in the Marriage Room at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on East Clyde Street at 7:30 PM. The programme meetings are free to attend. Those who come along will be invited to make a modest donation.

RSGS Members and students are entitled to free entry, some tickets may be available on the door for cash only – all subject to availability. Part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society Inspiring People talks programme.

Thursday 30 January: Kirsty Fisher: The Journey West: Sailing Around the World
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kirsty-fisher-the-journey-west-sailing-around-the-world-helensburgh-tickets-1010360795337

Thursday 27 February Luisa Hendry: The Geology of Scotland HELENSBURGH
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/luisa-hendry-the-geology-of-scotland-helensburgh-tickets-1010502990647

Thursday 27 March Dr Adrian Webb: Churchill’s Secret Chart Makers
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-adrian-webb-churchills-secret-chart-makers-helensburgh-tickets-1010649819817

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

20 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙇𝙚𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙬 (𝙈𝙚𝙯𝙯𝙤-𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤) 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙠 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠 (𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙤)
Following study at the RCS, Lea Shaw has just completed two years as an Emerging Artist at Scottish Opera, during which time she made a very favourable impression on audiences as a mezzo to watch. Her varied recital programme here includes five rarely performed songs by Alma Mahler, whose music is only now receiving the recognition it deserves, following years of neglect after her husband, fellow composer Gustav Mahler, insisted give up composition when she married him. Also included are the lively ‘Canciones negras’ by Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge, based on West Indian rhythms.
24 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙂𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙜𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙧 (𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙬𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚)
This concert forms part of the Glasgow Chamber Choir’s 30th anniversary season, so to celebrate they are performing music by composers who also have anniversaries this year. Swiss composer Frank Martin died 50 years ago, and his Mass for double Choir lay in a cupboard unperformed for many years. Charles Villiers Stanford died 100 years ago. His setting of the Magnificat, also for double choir, was inspired by the motets of J. S. Bach. Jonathan Dove’s choral song cycle, The Passing of the Year completes this virtuosic programme.
22 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – ‘𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜’ 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩—𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 7.30𝙥𝙢!
Our annual Carol concert with augmented choir, brass ensemble and organ and plenty of opportunity to join in, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the hall. There will be the usual retiring collection in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, for which the choir has now raised over £33,000.
26 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝘽𝘾
17 𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙥 𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚
This Glasgow- based ensemble comprises two singers (soprano Jessica Leary and baritone Andrew McTaggart) with cellist Andrew Drummond-Huggan and pianist Andrew Forbes. They present a programme of specially arranged music with a sea-faring theme (including Stanford’s well-known ‘Songs of the Sea’) which was originally put together for the Tall Ships Festival in Aberdeen.
30 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 2025 – 𝙋𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮
Local school pupils present a varied programme of vocal and instrumental music to suit all tastes under the direction of their Head of Music, Pamela Frew.
27 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 2025 – 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨
Former colleagues from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera join HPC’s Director of Music for another evening of chamber music, centred around Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. This work, described as ‘Brahms’ most epic and monumental chamber work’ started out as a quintet for strings, and was then recast as a sonata for two pianos, before assuming its final form. It contains one of the composer’s most beautiful slow movements and an especially powerful and dramatic finale, bringing the work to a triumphant conclusion. Definitely a season highpoint!
25 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2025 – 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙝 𝙃𝙮𝙢𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩
A much-anticipated return for this popular event. Join the augmented choir, praise band, brass and organ to make a joyful noise with a programme of favourite hymns and worship songs which will combine old favourites with some newer items A ‘good sing’ is guaranteed.
29 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙
A return visit from husband and wife duo Danny and Alison Miller with a wonderfully nostalgic trip down memory lane featuring music from many of Hollywood’s greatest films. Music by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Erich Korngold and Richard Rogers, to mention but a few, provides what we hope will be the perfect finale to our season.

A series of talks held at Helensburgh Community Hub – Non members welcome, with a £3 donation appreciated.

October 2nd – Knockderry Castle Conservators
November 6th – People and their past, 30 years of a adopt a monument
December 4th – tbc
February 5th – The art of Lindisfarne Gospels
March 5th – Govan Stones Project
April 2nd – tbc