A PARADE could be held in Helensburgh in spring 2026 to celebrate the centenary of John Logie Baird’s invention of television, councillors and community figures have heard.
The committee of JLBTV100, a group set up to mark the milestone, are awaiting the result of a funding application which could net thousands of pounds towards the proposed event.
Fiona Baker, of the group, also told Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group of other events planned, including a cinema screening, sandwich board parade and book festival.
The meeting of the community planning group took place at the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on Tuesday, November 11.
Ms Baker said: “We have a funding application for a creating arts project, which would work across the community.
“We will not know until the end of November, but we hope it will be the big finale [to the programme of events].
“What we would like at the end of it is our young people being more aware of John Logie Baird, and to see that even if you grow up in a smaller town, you can go out and change the world.”
After Lindsey Young, of Cardross Community Council, asked for more information, Ms Baker added: “The big creative arts event is making illuminated lanterns, which will be giant things, the size of the table [used for the meeting], and having a parade.
“It does not get dark until later in the evening, and the cherry blossom will be coming out and it will be seen at its best.
“There would be music all day, and we would like it to be like the food and drink festival, all styles with local organisations and groups. It would be a really community-focused day.”
People in attendance at the meeting were also given leaflets detailing a walking trail around the town, which takes in Logie Baird’s birthplace, former school and final resting place.
Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central), who attended the meeting, said: “I was more than impressed by the range and quality of JLB events detailed.
“It has clearly been a great deal of work for a very small group and I hope that the public will give them the support they deserve and honour a man who came from a small town and changed the world.”
