Dear blog reader,
Welcome to part 1 of an occasional series focusing on what happened in Shandon in a particular week in the past.
This week, let’s explore what happened in Shandon in the last week of July 1884.
Helensburgh News 31st July 1884
Shandon
The Regatta
After a good deal of bantering between the Garelochhead and our local Regatta Committees as to the propriety of the two events being amalgamated into one, and no definite arrangement having been come to, it has now been arranged that the Shandon Regatta will take place on Saturday week, and announcement has been made to that effect, James Bell, Esq., Summerhill, being appointed commodore. The events number in all 13, including sailing and pulling races (confined and open), a race for the Cumberland boys, punt race, etc, and from the number of entries already made, the different events are likely to be keenly contested.
Excursion
The children attending the Sir Michael Street United Presbyterian Church Sabbath School, Greenock, accompanied by several of their friends and teachers, to the number of about 300, had their usual summer treat on Tuesday, which took the form of a trip to Shandon. There were several slight showers during the day, which damped the ground a little but not the spirits of our youthful friends. On their arrival at Shandon, the young folks were treated to a plentiful supply of bread and milk, after which races and games were engaged in. A sack race, for which four boys entered, was won by William Aitken. Quite a feature of the day’s entertainment was a wild flower bouquet competition, for which there were seven prizes. Between forty and fifty engaged in the contest, and the two ladies who acted as judges had a task of no small difficulty in awarding the prizes. The first prize was gained by Annie McDonald, the second by Sarah Strathers, while Annie Crawford and Johanna McNab were equal for the third prize. The party were much indebted to Mr and Mrs McLachlan, who kindly gave the use of their fields. The young people arrived safe home about seven o’clock, and were apparently much pleased with their day’s outing.
Shandon People and History 