We’re taking a look back at what was happening across Renfrewshire this time 10 years ago.
We have dived into the extensive archives here at the Gazette and had a look at Wednesday, February 19, to find and share some of the content that we covered then.
Do you recognise or remember these stories?
1. Teenager speechless at award honour
17-year-old Gareth Scott, who lives in Spateston, Johnstone, had been given the title of Young Volunteer of the Year after giving up his free time to help children in the community.
Gareth at the time had clocked up more than 700 hours of coaching running sessions at Renfrewshire Council’s summer sports camps and as lead coach at the Paisley Piranhas Swim Club for children with disabilities.
He started volunteering through Renfrewshire’s Active Schools programme during his third year at Johnstone High.
2. Schoolgirl led a parade of elephants through Braehead Shopping Centre
A Schoolgirl led a parade of elephants through one of Scotland’s biggest shopping centres.
Visitors to the intu Braehead mall, Renfrew were amazed to see the herd of 28 multi-coloured elephant statues dotted around the centre last week.
Intu Braehead is hosting the first-ever visit to Scotland by the Elephant Parade, which aims to raise awareness and funds for Asian elephant conservation.
The statues were on display for four weeks and eight-year-old Olivia Martin helped welcome the amazing elephants.
Prominent artists and celebrities have created the designs on the seven-foot high elephant statues.
Elephant Parade is a global public art festival, which brings together the worlds of art, business and charity to create vibrant elephant statues that are sold or auctioned to raise money for the Asian Elephant Foundation — a charity that supports conservation of the Asian Elephant
3. Sports coaches scoop up prestigious awards
Coaches, officials and volunteers all over Renfrewshire had been recognised for their contribution to the local sporting scene.
Robert Hawkins, from Kilbarchan Amateur Athletic Club, was crowned Renfrewshire’s Performance Coach of the Year. Meanwhile, Iain Crawford, from Renfrew Town AFC, had scooped Community Coach of the Year.
Renfrewshire Council and Sportscotland had teamed up to honour its local sports heroes with the Renfrewshire Coaching, Officiating & Volunteering (COV) Awards 2013.
Members of local sports teams and clubs nominated the people they felt created sporting opportunities in Renfrewshire with their time and effort.
4. 20th century joy for Erskine event
Kind-hearted pupils at Barsail Primary School had hosted their own fundraiser for Erskine Hospital.
Pupils at the Erskine school joined together when they put on their own 20th-century fashion-themed fundraiser to help raise funds for a local charity and managed to collect just over £308.
Principal teacher, Mrs Mavers, said at the time: “At Barsail we have a house system.
"Pupils make up the houses Skye, Mull, Jura and Bute and formed the basis of the fundraiser.
“In the end it was Mull that got to organise the event.
“House captains Rachel and Paige took control and they chose the charity, invited visitors, what they were going to do and pretty much ran the whole event.
“In the end they opted for the Erskine Hospital charity as it is something close to Rachel’s heart as her uncle is there and it is a local charity. “It was a really good day, with lots and lots going on.”
5. Kind hearted team raise vital funds for charity over a year
Big-hearted staff members at a Linwood firm have raised almost £6,000 for a vital charity.
The office of IT services company, Atos, based at St James’ Business Park, had raised £5,883 during 2013 for Macmillan Cancer Support following a successful year of fundraising activities.
The team of Atos business technologists held a range of fundraising events including dress-down days, bake sales, seasonal activity during Easter, Halloween and the festive period as well as coffee mornings and individual employee fundraising projects.
Atos employees went on to support Macmillan Cancer Support, until at least 2015, as one of the company’s chosen corporate charities.
6. Commonwealth hopefuls benefited from Renfrewshire Council fund
Two Commonwealth Games hopefuls had benefited from a new Commonwealth Games Fund set up by Renfrewshire Council.
Kilbarchan athletes Derek Hawkins and Cara Kennedy received grants and had attended an event at the town hall to answer questions about their achievements.
Grants of up to £5,000 were available through the fund to help with personal development, training, equipment, transport or efforts to increase participation in sport across Renfrewshire.
Derek, who had been Scottish champion 16 times and had held the 11th best time in the marathon ever by a Scottish athlete at the time, said: “The funding will go towards helping me to travel to races around Europe and it has also allowed me to train in high altitude venues in Kenya and France which I have found very beneficial.”
Gymnast Cara Kennedy added: “The grant will allow me to attend training camps out with Scotland; specifically in Russia. It will help me try to make the 2014 team and then continue on to make the 2018 team as well.”
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