Greenock Telegraph looks back at top stories of 2023

Here’s what proved popular with our readers over the past 12 months:

Martin Compston's popular BBC show to return for second series

Martin Compston and Phil MacHugh (Image: BBC)

In May, the BBC announced that Greenock actor Martin Compston would return to TV screens alongside pal and co-presenter Phil MacHugh for a second instalment of their Scottish travel series.

Scottish Fling saw the pair learn about the country’s people and places as the embarked on a road trip through various regions.

The sequel – Northern Fling – will see Martin and Phil reunite as they travel from Shetland to Norway as they lift the lid on what can be learned from Scotland’s Scandinavian neighbours.

The BBC confirmed last week that the series will air in 2024.

Greenock pupil achieves 5 A grades in Higher exams

Narissa Munro achieved 5 A grades in her Higher exams (Image: George Munro)

Back in August, a brainy Notre Dame pupil secured a place at university at the age of just 16 after achieving a clean sweep of A grades in her exams.

Narissa Munro was delighted to receive top marks in her Higher English, maths, human biology, chemistry and Spanish.

The fantastic grades allowed her to accept an offer to study Biomedical Science at Glasgow Caledonian University from September.

Narissa told the Tele: “It’s a little bit daunting just because I’ll be at least a year younger than other students but I’m really excited.

Greenock house in final of BBC festive home competition

Gordon Mitchell and Hannah Green with dog Vinnie (Image: BBC)

Greenock hit TV screens across the country in December when a couple’s stunning Ardgowan Square home was selected to feature on BBC Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year.

Hannah Green and Gordon Mitchell live in the three-bedroom conversion with their dog Vinnie.

The festive property features a 12-foot Christmas tree in an oak panelled lounge, with other trees and tasteful decorations scattered throughout.

Hannah, 39, said: “The first time I saw the property I just loved it. It was a bit of a 'lockdown' purchase.

“We didn't need to live so near the city anymore, and it gave me the chance to live near the water. There is a good community here."

First look at 150-seater restaurant set to open at Greenock’s new cruise ship centre

Scotts provided a first look at the plans for the new Greenock restaurant in May (Image: Buzzworks)

This year saw the opening of Greenock’s new £20m cruise ship terminal – including a restaurant with an open-air rooftop terrace offering panoramic views across the Clyde.

In May, the Tele offered a first look at the plans for Buzzworks’ much anticipated Scotts Greenock.

Buzzworks managing director Kenny Blair said the restaurant would offer ‘something for everyone’ and a ‘welcoming and memorable atmosphere’.

The eatery welcomed its first customers the following month.

Ambitious plan to repatriate ex-Royal Navy warship from Pakistan to Greenock

David O'Neill, left, and Alasdair Higgins spoke to the Telegraph about plans to turn HMS Ambuscade into a floating museum (Image: George Munro)

In October, an ex-Gourock man helped launch a bid to repatriate a former Royal Navy warship and dock it in Greenock.

David O’Neill led Clyde Naval Heritage’s project to bring Type 21 frigate HMS Abuscade back to the UK.

The vessel served in the Falklands War and was sold to Pakistan and recommissioned as PNS Tariq 20 years ago.

David is also behind efforts to return the 145-year-old Falls of Clyde from Hawaii. He hopes to bring both historic ships to the waterfront in Greenock to create a visitor attraction with a west of Scotland-wide appeal.

He said: "If we can bring Ambuscade here and make a success of a visitor attraction with potentially between 50 and 100 jobs coming with it, the site should start bringing in millions to the local economy.”

Cloch Lighthouse to be star of TV programme showcasing amazing transformations

Junn and Duncan's home featured in a Discovery series earlier this year (Image: Discovery+)

In June, a couple’s amazing transformation of Gourock’s Cloch Lighthouse was documented in a television series made by Discovery+.

Derelict Rescue followed Duncan Telfer and his wife Junn as they took on the mammoth renovation.

Duncan bought the lighthouse, which dates 1797, in the 1980s, but decided to transform it following a lifetime at sea.

Viewers saw how Duncan and Junn faced a relentless series of challenges on the project over the course of several years.

‘New era for commercial shipbuilding’ as Royal Navy warship work starts at Ferguson’s

Steel fabrication work started at Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow on three units for Type 26 frigate HMS Belfast (Image: Contributed)

Earlier this year, shipyard bosses heralded a ‘new era for commercial shipbuilding’ in Port Glasgow as manufacturing work began on a Royal Navy frigate.

Fabrication work for three steel units for HMS Belfast started at Ferguson’s in April.

Management described the project as a fresh start for the yard, which has been mired in controversy for years over the CalMac ferry fiasco.

Chief executive David Tydeman said “It demonstrates the ability of our skilled workforce to secure complex new contracts in a commercial environment.

"And this is just the beginning. We plan to grow our expertise and capabilities to win additional commercial contracts and adjacent markets."