From the shops and the steamies to the cinemas and strolls down to the Green, old Bridgeton came alive at the first Evening Times Thanks for the Memories event.

Dozens of residents, past and present, turned up at Glasgow Women’s Library on Landressy Street to share their stories and photographs.

One of the first to arrive was Billy Hall, who was more interested than most in the article we ran to publicise the event.

The glamorous blonde woman in the photograph – the ‘girl on the steps’ - was his wife, Jenny.

Read more: Thanks for the memories - share your stories with the Evening Times

“That picture was taken in 1967, when we both lived in Bridgeton,” smiles Billy. “She was waiting for me coming off the tram on my way home for work – I delivered beer for Tennent’s brewery up the road. We’d go to the pub and then the pictures.

“She was very glamorous – she always looked so beautiful. Don’t know what she was doing with me…”

Jenny died seven years ago, as her sister Helen McLeod, explains.

“We were so close she was like my second mum and I still miss her every day,” says Helen. “She was stunning and even when she was ill, close to the end of her life, she still looked amazing and never lost her sense of humour. I admired her so much for her strength, love and compassion and for all she taught me.”

John and Rosemary Keery, who now live in East Kilbride, both grew up in Bridgeton.

“Growing up here was a happy, busy time,” says Rosemary, 74. “We played outside all the time, in the big swing park where they locked the gates at 5pm.”

John, 75, adds: “I stayed in a single end and slept in a fold-down bed with my brother William. I have lots of happy memories of my time here.”

Other locals shared stories of the old ‘picture halls’ – including the Orient, the wee Royal, the Plaza and the Olympia - which were scattered throughout Bridgeton; of visits to the steamie with their mums and hanging out the washing on Glasgow Green; and of the old shops which lined the Main Street all the way to Rutherglen – including Sinclair’s sweetie shop, Mario’s chippie, Stoddart’s beds and George’s dairy.

Read more: Thanks for the memories - share your stories with the Evening Times

Evening Times editor Graham Shields said: “Our readers never let us down – we asked for their stories of Bridgeton’s past, and we were overwhelmed by the response.

“We are grateful to Glasgow Women’s Library for hosting our drop-in event, and to everyone who turned up to share their stories and show us their photographs – they painted a wonderful picture of a community in days gone by.

“We look forward to welcoming more people along to our next event later this year.”

Over the next few months, the Evening Times will be pitching up in local libraries to hear the stories of Glasgow’s communities from the people who know them best.

Details of future Thanks for the Memories events will be published soon. If you couldn't make it along to our Bridgeton event, email your photos and memories to ann.fotheringham@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 6555.