Tragedy in Largs in 1954 as lorry smashed into pavement

This was the scene of the aftermath was captured by the photographer for the Largs and Millport Weekly News.

Sadly a woman was fatally injured at the scene, it was reported.

And Largs High School leading prizewinners showed off their silverware and certificates after a successful 1953-54 term.

And on the crest of a wave was Largs Sailing Club as they celebrated the start of the season with a dinner dance at The Marine Hotel, shortly before it was to join up with Curlinghall to become the one hotel.

A carnival day arranged by West Kilbride Merchants Association showed the Queen Elizabeth Irvine and the King David Lennie in all their finery. 

The burning controversy of 1954 was the use of Largs Pierhead as a bus stance causing congestion in the town centre. 

The News opined that the congestion caused by traffic and the use of the foreshore as a car park 'detracts greatly from the attractiveness of this central part of town' and a 'solution seems as distant as ever'.

Mr Frank Roche, who owned the aquarium at the bathing station in Largs, endured an anxious time during a storm in November 1954 as high seas threatened to engulf his tropical fish tanks.

The ‘News’ reported: “Mr Roche feared that he had lost £200 of tropical fish. The high seas swept over the bathing station wall and flooded four foot deep of the aquarium.

"It seemed certain that the electricity supply would cut off the heat to the fish tanks which were one foot above above flood level. Most of the fish would have died in a short time in unheated water.

“Mr Roche tried to get the fire brigade to pump out the flood but was unsuccessful. He secured the help of several tradesmen, however, and working for hours, tons of shingle were removed and drainage outlets to the sea cleared.

“When Mr Roche gained entrance to the aquarium six hours later, he found that the electricity supply had fused but this had apparently happened only a short time before.

"The water in the tanks had not lost its heat and not a single fish was dead.”

Somewhat reassuringly, the ‘News’ also reported matter-of-factly that "alligators and lizards were unaffected" and thankfully did not make an escape!