IN this week back in 2003, two high profile hotels on Largs seafront were purchased by a Cambuslang couple who promised to bring new jobs to the town.

The new owners of the four star Brisbane House Hotel and the Priory House Hotel were Jim and Irene Whitelaw.

The couple had a 20-year background in the pub and hotel industry and were one of the biggest independent pub owners in Scotland.

Mr Whitelaw promised 'many opportunities' for local people on the back of the big buys.

Elsewhere Fairlie historian John Millar looked back at the remarkable story of his father's role in a Lithuanian book smuggling operation that helped preserve a language.

His father, Vincentas Stepsys, fled his homeland at the turn of the century to escape political oppression at the hands of the Russian authorities. His crime? Defending Lithuanian language and culture from the threat of extinction. After receiving funding from the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, the 80-year-old Fairlie historian went on all-expenses-paid fact-finding mission to the Eastern European country.

In other news, two talented teenagers from Largs were accepted at senior associate level at Scottish Ballet.

Young ballet starlets Derek Fairlie, 13, and Leslie Cabrie, 14, were both members of the Karen Aitchison School of Dancing, and received official confirmation of their acceptance. Derek had been travelling to London to the Royal Ballet School at Convent Garden, where he was receiving training with other boys in a bid to become Largs’ very own Billy Elliot. The Scottish Ballet scheme was a three-year course, with both Derek and Leslie having to audition at the end of each year to continue.

Elsewhere there were capacity concerns at Largs Academy. The pupil count of Largs Academy had increased by 112, despite no extension to the school building. This was revealed at a North Ayrshire Council meeting from a set of written answers to questions raised by Elisabethe Marshall, Conservative councillor for Largs North and Skelmorlie. The questions followed the council’s admission previously that the local secondary school had reached capacity.

Brisbane Queen Megan Wilkin was pictured at the historical setting of Skelmorlie Aisle. She visited the local landmark during her first tour around the district since her formal crowning at Largs seafront with her entourage. Other places she visited on her weekend itinerary including Nardini's and Kelburn Castle. The day was rounded off with a reception and ceilidh at Largs Sailing Club.

And the junior pupils from Largs Academy successfully participated in the UK and Scottish Maths Challenge before the summer break.

In sport, Thistle boss Raymond Fallon managed to get some bargain basement buys in the transfer market without having to spend a penny, and the Largs Tennis Ladies first team posed for the picture including Margaret Gibson, Morcella Taylor, Kath Cairns and Sue Wilkie.