PICTURE ONE: “AS the sun climbs higher in the sky and summer approaches, I have chosen five pictures of a much-loved event that, rain or shine, always draws great crowds. 
“The Gourock Highland Games is a big day on the Inverclyde calendar as people come from afar and wide to participate in the various competitions on the day, and this means there is no shortage of picture opportunities. 
“The Highland Games wouldn’t be what they are without the many dancing competitions which take place along with the other disciplines. This picture shows the majorettes of the May Hughes School of Dance performing at the games back in 2000. 
“The dance school has supported the event for many years, and continued to do so with an appearance of two of their Scottish dancers on the front page of the Tele when this year’s Chieftain, Douglas Rae, was announced.”

PICTURE TWO: “CUSTOM has it that a local celebrity, or maybe a personality from elsewhere, is given the privilege of being appointed Chieftain of the games. 
“The honour this time round was bestowed on well-known shop owner Gordon Wilson of Smiths Shoes and Sports, a man who supported many sporting events in Inverclyde. Gordon was joined by ‘Rocket,’ a sporting personality on the once mega-popular competition TV show Gladiators. Rocket opened the 1999 games along with Gordon – and the day was a resounding success.”

PICTURE THREE: “ANOTHER group picture of May Hughes dancers, this time taken in 1999. The thrill of performing in front of thousands of spectators is obvious here. It is clear that the kids were not nervous in the slightest, and that they were keen to take part in the dance competition which followed the picture call.”

PICTURE FOUR: "THIS bunch of energetic youngsters from the local Hwa Rang Do club showed their skills for the camera during the Highland Games of 1998 and I think the picture shows how enthusiastic the kids were to take part.”

PICTURE FIVE: “THE massed pipes and drums, held at the end of the games is always a wonderful sight. 
“Sadly the summer of 1997 saw a considerable amount of rain but although crowds had dwindled as the rain began to fall, those taking part in the parade were not deterred.”