THE first of 11 sporting statues to grace community gardens at Glasgow's fire stations has been unveiled.

In a Streets Ahead partnership project, Scottish Fire and Rescue teamed up with local schoolchildren, prisoners at Barlinnie and Glasgow City Council to create a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

ANN FOTHERINGHAM reports.

IT'S A scene which will be recreated dozens of times in Glasgow this summer, captured forever in sparkling steel.

Three proud athletes stand tall on the podium, medals around their necks and flowers held aloft, as the first sporting statue is unveiled as part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue's Commonwealth Games legacy project.

"You can just imagine the cheering crowds," says one spectator, admiringly.

The unveiling ceremony at Cowcaddens Fire Station attracts a big crowd, with representatives of all the partners gathering in the sunshine.

The Podium is the first of 11 statues which will appear in specially created mini-gardens at all of Glasgow's community fire stations in the run-up to the Games.

Designed and built by prisoners at Barlinnie, they represent some of the sports which comprise the Games, including boxing, rugby, hockey and athletics.

Connections to local athletes will also be celebrated in every area.

Wullie Digney, officer instructor at Barlinnie, said: "The prisoners have loved the opportunity to work on a Commonwealth Games legacy project because it has made them feel part of it.

"They have worked extremely hard and the results are fantastic."

Local pupils, most of whom have completed Firereach courses, will help to create small gardens around each statue.

Allan Brown, Scottish Fire and Rescue's comm-unity safety engagement officer for the centre of Glasgow, says: "The courses show them all the elements involved in becoming a firefighter, helping them to develop team-building and communication skills.

"They will also form part of our Commonwealth Games volunteer squad, drawn from nine secondary schools across the city, who will promote fire safety at the Games venues."

Melissa McAulay, 15, from St Mungo's Academy in the East End, said: "Living and going to school in the East End during all the building works has been a nightmare at times and it's been hard to see what it's all about.

"But seeing the statue today is great and getting the chance to volunteer at the Games teaching people about fire safety will be brilliant."

Shannon Dobbie, 14, who is a pupil at Whitehill Secondary, agrees. She said: "I did a Firereach course and it was great. Going to the Games as a volunteer will be really exciting because it means you are part of it."

Councillor Archie Graham, Glasgow City Council's executive member for the Common-wealth Games, paid tribute to everyone involved.

He added: "This is a brilliant partnership project, creating a lasting legacy of the Games - which is just as important as the Games themselves.

"It is crucial that everyone in Glasgow understands the Games belong to all of us."

Ian McMeekin, group manager of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We engage with our communities on many fronts as we strive to make them safe places to work, live and visit.

"This partnership project is a great opportunity to show the good work done around the city - and that people really do make Glasgow."

A leaflet promoting the statues and explaining the story behind them, and their connections to each local area, will be produced and future Firereach course participants will help maintain the gardens.

Ian added: "The things we do together are the most successful and have the biggest impacts on our neighbourhoods.

"This project and the Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign will serve as beacons for future initiatives and are great examples of what can be achieved when we work together."

GROUPS from all over Glasgow will gather in the Winter Gardens tomorrow night for the third Streets Ahead Awards, in association with Clean Glasgow.

The ceremony celebrates all the fantastic work done in every corner of the city as part of our community campaign.

We will be awarding eight prizes, including an overall winner chosen by the judges.

Supported by our other Streets Ahead partners - Glasgow Housing Association, ScotRail, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the City Charitable Trust, the event will pay tribute to the wonderful work being done around the city.

There will be trophies for the best garden, best clean-up campaign, best environmental initiative, best community garden, best community initiative and best business initiative, plus a schools award.

Check out Friday's Evening Times for all the winners and look out for a special 24-page Streets Ahead supplement on June 25.

To get involved in Streets Ahead, visit www.evening times.co.uk or email streets ahead@heraldandtimes.co.uk