01/05/2026
As a youngster growing up in Aberdeen, attending monthly concerts by the Scottish National Orchestra, I considered it the height of sophistication and glamour to be in among the exuberant Promenaders in the Royal Albert Hall for the last night of the BBC Proms.
I wanted to see the bust of Sir Henry Wood crowned with his laurel wreath and wave my flag in wonderful synchronicity with the sea shanties soaking up the glorious music and the party atmosphere.
It’s still on my bucket list, even tho’, while my heart is saying “yes! Do it!”, my brain is saying “no, don’t be stupid”.
However, on Saturday evening, in Helensburgh Parish Church, I got to at least get a real sense of what it might be like and it was great.
I saw a tiny bust of Helensburgh’s most famous son, John Logie Baird, crowned with his own laurel wreath and got to wave my JLB flag in time with the sea shanties selection presented as a finale to the John Logie Baird Gala Concert, the closing extravaganza for a fabulous celebration of genius that changed the world.
This event, attended by a large enthusiastic audience and featuring the incredible wealth of musical talent that Helensburgh and Lomond has to offer, leaves a lasting legacy of community not just from the hundreds of musicians from all around Helensburgh and Lomond but from the long list of people who worked together, donated funds, took part and generally made a wonderful thing happen which will leave lovely memories for everyone who was there.
The concert was a culmination of a number of celebrations for John Logie Baird’s Centenary which included an inspiring exhibition of Baird memorabilia in the Burgh Yard, historical exhibits charting the development of television over the years with contributions from members of the Baird family, some of whom came along to see the exhibition for themselves, and a series of talks all of which were well attended and much appreciated.
And then, on Saturday, before the concert, Helensburgh’s Colquhoun Square, bathed in glorious sunshine hosted a special JLB Festival with market stalls and entertainment from many of the groups who were to perform later in the church.
Dozens of people, and endless months of planning and organising were involved in making this all happen but none of it would have happened at all without the determination and drive of Fiona Baker of Destination Helensburgh … maybe she should have had the Laurel Wreath.
The pictures show Fiona with representatives of the Helensburgh Pier Company and the Tower Cinema at the Saturday market and the bust of JLB crowned with his laurel wreath.
