Henderson’s Kilts - Johnstone


Henderson’s Kilts have moved to larger premises in Collier Street, Johnstone. The new shop is beside the Morrison’s Store, which offers free parking and therefore easy access.


With more space, they have expanded their range in kilt-hire, and now also offer formal wear, dinner suits and tartan “trews” outfi ts.


Alan would like to take this opportunity to thank all his customers, going back 22 years in Bridge of Weir, and looks forward to seeing them, as well as any new customers, at his new premises.


Paisley Colour Photographic Club


Paisley Colour Photographic Club has started the new session well, with a thriving membership enjoying a variety of Club evenings.


Recently Libby Smith MPAGB, EFIAP, President of the Scottish Photographic Federation, presented a Photographic Society of America (PSA) Gold Medal to Club member Bill Spence for his image ‘Morning has Broken’ (see photo below).


In October we enjoyed presentations by Will O’Mailley and Bill Terrance, as well as the large entry of excellent images for the 1st Bi-monthly Competition. Results later.


And fi nally, with Christmas just around the corner, bookings are being taken for purchases of outfi ts as well as hires. Students are reminded to book early for the Christmas dances.


Call now on 01505 328888.


GVRC - James Bond Talks To Rotary


Paul Henke is an author who lives near Loch Lomond. OK, he may not be James Bond, but when he talked to Gryffe Valley Rotary club about his life, it certainly sounded a lot more interesting and exciting than that experienced by his audience.


Paul’s ambition as a lad in the Welsh valleys was to be a naval offi cer and, against the odds, he was accepted by Dartmouth and successfully graduated to join the Navy. He signed up as a bomb disposal diving offi cer (he said because it paid an extra £1 per day danger money!) and he described the arduous nature of the training (only 4 passed out from 50 original applicants). Apparently our divers are the only ones in the world who free-dive to a depth of 75metres – the depth of the shelf around Britain).


In November we look forward to three well known Scottish photographers - Hunter Kennedy MPAGB, EFIAP, Fergus Gill (Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009-2010) and Karen Berry ARPS, AFIAP - as well as our Summer Assignment competition.


New members and visitors are always welcome, so if you are free on a Thursday evening please come along to the McMaster Centre, Renfrew (or Hunterhill Centre, Paisley on 3rd November) and enjoy some top class photography with us.


Please check our website at www.paisleycolour.co.uk for further details of venue and the syllabus, or contact Andy at 01505 690778.


Bomb disposal underwater is an inherently dangerous activity, and Paul had a number of hair-raising stories involving bad weather, fi nding out how bombs and mines work and handling explosives. One bonus aspect was that he was never short of fresh fi sh, as every explosion yielded a plentiful supply on the surface! He also mentioned Prince Charles, with whom he spent quite a lot of time whilst he was training on a minesweeper. Contrary to popular belief, he found him to be a really nice guy – talented, brave and amusing.


Despite his royal connections, Paul left the navy when it became clear that he wasn’t going to be an admiral and he spent some time on oil industry diving operations off the Nigerian coast. Again, Paul had some alarming tales to tell – for example involving attacks by dozens of poisonous sea snakes - and it was during his spare time there that he wrote a novel (though he did nothing with it).


After a hugely successful and lucrative spell in the insurance industry, he blew it all on a boat. However, some 21 years after writing it, his fi rst novel was published and he started to write some more. Many of his own experiences infl uence his stories, most of which are thrillers written around “issues” eg Russian guns, dirty bombs, and terrorism, and a recent back packing trip to Hungary gave him the inspiration for his current book. Although he is quite successful, and is compared with the leading authors in his fi eld, he explained that writing is the easy bit – constantly travelling around to promote the books at book signings etc is essential hard work if the mortgage is to be paid.


Paul’s talk confi rmed that he is a natural born story teller and that he had a really interesting story to tell. The photo shows him with President Chris Butlin, himself an old sea dog and graduate of Dartmouth!


26 |NOVEMBER 2011 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |


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