Flashback: North Ayrshire's top pictures from November 2003

Who can you spot in these photos?

West Kilbride Players were gearing up for their 2003 pantomime, and the Herald dropped by to catch them at dress rehearsal.

A former Three Towns boxer spoke of his joy at completing the New York marathon for charity just weeks after the death of his beloved mother. Saltcoats man Jim Montgomerie threw his hands in the air as he crossed the Manhattan finish line in just three hours and 39 minutes, raising £1,328 for national charity Guide Dogs for the Blind. Jim would later become a North Ayrshire Labour councillor.

Meet the 2003 prize winners at Kilbirnie Ladeside Bowling Club’s annual presentation.

Stevenston schoolboy Hugh McIlroy, 13, of Misk Knowes, won the 41-44 Kilos title at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Scotland Junior Boxing Championships in November 2003.

Glencairn PS’ Primary 6 came face to face with a huge visitor on Destination Education day at the Stevenston school. As well as meeting the dinosaur, they also got the chance to look at some fossils.

North Ayrshire Council’s education services committee gave the green light for the establishment of the controversial multi-million-pound Roman Catholic super-school to replace St Andrew’s Academy in Saltcoats and Kilwinning’s St Michael’s Academy (pictured) by 2007.

The decision – which has been attacked by some within the Catholic Church and by parents from Kilwinning and the Garnock Valley – was made at a stormy meeting at NAC’s Cunninghame House HQ in November 2003, as councillors pushed through proposals for the privately-funded amalgamation.

The school was one of four major projects made possible by the award of £80million of funding in a public private partnership initiative by the Scottish Executive. The repercussions of the funding deal continue to this day, with local authorities still paying out for the buildings.