COUSINS Charles and Ronnie Muir have fond memories of growing up in the west end.

The two men joined other readers at our latest Thanks for the Memories event in Hillhead Library, sharing stories and photographs of old Glasgow.

“We lived on Arlington Street, beside the Arlington Bar, where all the footballers would go to drink,” recalls Charles.

“At the end of the night, they’d all come in to our house because we had the only telephone in the street, to do their interviews over the phone for all the newspapers.”

He grins: “It was very accommodating of my parents – but they got paid a wad of cash to let them do it…”

Charles was a prefect at Woodside School, and recently unearthed some old photos of his friends from the same time, around 1958.

“I believe one is Alan Green, it would be great to get the photo back to him,” he smiles.

Charles and Ronnie recall the shops on Woodlands Road.

“There was Elder’s, the posh furniture shop,” nods Ronnie. “And Stuart’s, the one people like us would be able to afford to shop in!”

Charles adds: “There was Sharp’s post office, and Galt’s the first Volvo showroom, and Arnold Clark’s showroom on Bank Street.

“I also remember Cooper’s supermarket – they had a place in the city centre too, where a specialist would cut really thin pieces of salmon.”

Ronnie recalls seeing derelict bomb shelters in the middle of the roads around the west end after the war.

“That’s quite exciting, and scary for a wee boy,” he smiles.

Charles was a member of the 201st scout group, and he remembers one occasion in the 1950s, when there was a ferocious fog.

“It was incredible, you couldn’t see far in front of you, and because of all the coal fires, the air was thick and black,” he says.

“I remember the Scout master getting us all out on to Woodlands Road, spacing us out 100 yards apart, so we could help guide the motor cars up the street to avoid them hitting the trams.

“I must have been about nine years old and I remember it clearly.”

The cousins also spent time in Kelvingrove Park.

“If it was a good day, we’d go and eat ice cream and watch the bands on the bandstand,” says Ronnie.

“And if it was a terrible day, we’d go in to the art galleries.”

Charles laughs: “I knew every inch of the place, every painting and statue. There were lots of rainy days!”

Trevor Dempster, 60, who lived in a tenement on Rupert Street in the late 60s and early 70s, recalls: “I remember my old school, Willowbank Primary, and playing in Kelvingrove Park on sunny days.

“There were cinemas too – we’d go to the Blythswood on Maryhill Road, and the Seamore.

“I remember Jimmy Logan’s Metropole too, and the Ayrshire dairy on St George’s Road.”

Charlie Doran, 61, lived in Drumchapel but recalls being treated to days out at the Botanic Gardens in the west end.

“For a wee boy living in a scheme, surrounded by concrete, the Botanics were magical,” he smiles.

“We could run wild, in all that green space, my six brothers and I.

“My dad worked hard all week – he was a builder’s labourer – but Sunday was his day off, and he’d take us to the Botanics.

“We walked all the way from Drumchapel – very far, when you just have wee legs.”

Charlie also went to Glasgow University in the 70s, and recalls: “Byres Road was wonderful – that’s where the social scene was.”

Both Charlie and Trevor have fond memories of the jobs they did as schoolboys.

“I had a paper round in the high flats, and I had to deliver the Evening Citizen – all those stairs,” groans Trevor.

Charlie laughs: “You were lucky – I had a milk round, which meant early mornings. I worked for Sloan’s, and started at 4.30, then went straight to school.

“I handed all my wages to my mother…”

Charlie adds: “I used to deliver round Hyndland, and would marvel at the big, posh houses and dream of living there one day.”

He laughs: “I live in Dowanhill now – so I’m just round the corner!”

Both men recall the coal merchant, who used to deliver round the houses, and the dance halls of the west end, including the Albert ballroom and the Locarno.

Charlie adds: “I have lots of happy memories of growing up here. It’s funny, but I always miss Glasgow when I’m away. The west end is home.”