THIS week’s look into our archives takes us back 12 years – when a Port Glasgow woman told how she'd nearly died on New Year’s Day after contracting meningitis.
Patricia Gill was rushed to hospital by her partner after falling seriously ill — and was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, a virulent strain of the deadly disease that kills one in six children who contract it.
Patricia, 42, had been suffering from shingles and was feeling under the weather when her condition took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Following nine days of hospital treatment, Patricia, from Burnside Avenue in Port Glasgow, was allowed home.
Meanwhile, Inverclyde fans were set cheer on their very own local hero as he played in the biggest sporting show on earth.
Greenock-born Lawrence Tynes was set to take the field for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots with millions of people around the world tuning in.
The kicker made headlines around the world when, with the scores tied at 17-17 in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship, the 33-year-old stepped up to kick a 31-yard field goal and secure victory.
Lawrence, who lived in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife and sons, also booted the game-winning field goal in overtime at Green Bay in the 2008 NFC title game that put the Giants in the Super Bowl, where they beat the Patriots.
Elsewhere, Greenock Burns enthusiasts were to feature in a radio programme tracing the story of Highland Mary.
BBC Radio Scotland was to broadcast In Search of Highland Mary as Burns-lovers across Scotland and beyond celebrated the life and work of the national bard.
The show was presented by actress and former Deacon Blue singer Lorraine McIntosh, who spoke to members of Greenock Burns Club about Mary Campbell or Highland Mary as she became known.
In other news, fallen and damaged trees in the storm-battered Ardgowan Estate in Inverkip had forced the cancellation of a popular charity event.
The Snowdrop Day, a fundraising walk planned for 19 February, had been cancelled amid health and safety fears.
More than 150 trees across the estate were ripped from their roots when hurricane-force storms tore through the forest.
In sport, Andy Graham had revealed that the Morton squad had rallied around stricken captain Stuart McCaffrey following the news that he had been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Cappielow skipper had succumbed to a long-standing foot problem that had kept him out of action since September the rule over Ton’s league rivals.
Graham told the Tele at the time: “Caff is still a great guy to have around and to have in the dressing room and both he and Ross Forsyth have been doing a lot of scouting.
“They have been going out to watch our next opponents as they have been unable to play and the quality of the reports they have been giving us have been excellent. “
They are still playing their part and I think that is the most important thing — but I really felt for Caff when he got the news.”
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