OCTOBER 21, 2010: The 300th anniversary of Scotts Shipbuilders was to be marked with a major exhibition in Greenock’s McLean Museum in 2011.

And, to help get things going, the museum was planning a series of get-togethers for people who worked in the yard.

The first was for those who were employed in Scotts engine works, which closed in 1984.

Around 3,500 people worked there, including those who did the outfitting on ships as well as the drawing and design team.

Former works director, Neil MacFarlane, told the Tele: “There was a tremendous amount of skilled people in this area who were never recognised.

“The people at the engine works were highly skilled. The quality of their work was second-to-none.”

 Mr MacFarlane said he wanted to encourage people from all of the departments to go along to the reunion.

He said: “The engine works manufactured a wide variety of goods for ships and oil rigs, including engines, tanks, funnels, pipework and flooring, as well as the ventilation equipment.

“We were also heavily committed to making components for submarines.”

The reunion events are being organised by the Museum’s assistant curator of social history, Vincent Gillen.

He said: “We hope former employees will come in for a cup of coffee, the chance to catch up with old workmates and to hear about the plans for next year’s Scotts 300 exhibition.”

He was to make a presentation of pictures and show a DVD of Scotts produced by The Friends of Scotts Shipbuilders.

The Friends, a group of retired senior managers including Mr MacFarlane and chairman Andy Gunn, recently arranged for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship.