RAB C Nesbitt has a lot to answer for. Govan's most infamous under-achiever has taken a lot of living down.
RAB C Nesbitt has a lot to answer for. Govan's most infamous under-achiever has taken a lot of living down.
But while the spirit of Rab and his string vest may still linger down the JobCentre, everywhere there are signs the ancient burgh of Govan is re-inventing itself.
And the Evening Times is also re-inventing itself.
This month we launched 12 community websites, which have proved massive hits.
Now we are launching another 12 - Anniesland, Baillieston, Bridgeton, Calton, Castlemilk, Drumchapel, Govan, Knightswood, Merchant City, Parkhead, Pollok and Yoker.
The websites are a great way for every community to get together.
Each site will cover its district in brilliant detail, with all the latest news and views and essential information on local schools, leisure centre, doctors' surgeries and events.
They are YOUR sites and you can upload your own stories, pictures and videos.
Back in Govan, Rab C himself sadly would not feel out of place beside the boarded-up, shopfronts along the length of Govan Road.
But if everyone was as enthusiastic as retired businessman John McLaughlin then Govan would be sorted in double-quick time.
With his carved, wooden bow tie and badge proclaiming himself Chairman of Govan, John cuts an eccentric figure.
NEW EVENING TIMES COMMUNITY WEB SITES OPEN TODAY | ||||
 ANNIESLAND |  BAILLIESTON |  BRIDGETON |  CALTON | |
 CASTLEMILK |  DRUMCHAPEL |  GOVAN |  KNIGHTSWOOD | |
 MERCHANT CITY |  PARKHEAD |  POLLOK |  YOKER | |
 CARDONALD |  DENNISTOUN |  EASTERHOUSE |  GORBALS | |
 HILLHEAD |  MARYHILL |  PARTICK |  ROBROYSTON | |
 SHAWLANDS |  SPRINGBURN |  TOLLCROSS |  WHITEINCH/ | |
But the founder of Skylight International Ltd has a deep passion for Govan and believes our new websites will help put the heart back into the area.
"They are a good idea," says the 72-year-old.
But he is under no illusions about the hard work needed to improve the image of Govan.
"I had to work hard when Rab C was about because, everywhere you went, Govan got knocked."
He points out three young women walking down Govan Road. "Not a decent shop window for them to look in," he says. Why can't we open these shops and give them to artisans for free?
"The shops here all used to be beautiful.
"Passing through Govan in a tram or bus, you could look into the pubs and they were full of bunnets on a Friday night."
John, who is well-known for his wooden carving and sculpture - he makes ornamental chairs, hence chairman' - speaks to primary pupils each week.
He says there are good stories in Govan and talks of imaginative projects in the pipeline, community groups doing amazing work.
These are the sort of good news' stories about all of Glasgow's communities the Evening Times wants to publicise on our websites.
John is full of schemes, although you suspect the community website will be red hot when Govanites get wind of some of them.
He wants to knock down the iconic Pearce Institute to "open up the centre of Govan" and also take down Govan Old Parish Church.
He wants to move the church, which was closed last summer, stone by stone to create a heritage centre - Govan's own Iona Abbey - nearer the site where legend says St Constantine, king and martyr, first came ashore in his wee coracle.
Helen Kyle, director of Scotland in Europe, an arts organisation that has been involved in creating an arts revival in Govan, says: "The website is a brilliant idea."
She points to The Portal, the refurbished shop that is the hub of the arts in Govan Road, and the Luv Cafe in Linthouse as two examples of the changing face of Govan.
"The heavy industries may have disappeared, but the creative industries are one of the ways forward for Govan," says Helen.
However, the decreasing population is a worry. Before people were decanted to the estates, Govan had a population of 130,000. It now stands at 22,500.
But Helen points out that any new housing in the private and public sector is snapped up.
"People want to come back to live in Govan.
I am thrilled with what the housing associations are doing in creating housing," she says.
John Gordon, a development officer with the local housing associations, who has been seconded to Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency, has been involved in getting funding for various projects.
"It is all making a difference, he says.
"It is creating a buzz about the place and more things are happening, more housing, more social enterprises. Govan is on the up again."
The Reverend John Purves, of Drumchapel St Andrew's Church, also welcomes the community website for the scheme.
"It's always valuable to have a forum for people to talk about things. Often, there is the frustration that nobody listens and people have valid points.
"One of the things it will show is what people in Drumchapel are really like. For me, it is a good place to be and I love being here. The people are brilliant."
He believes the website will give Drumchapel a chance to counter its negative image.
Lynda Rollo, manager of Healthy Castlemilk, also believes that area's new website will be a great asset to the estate.
"It is a very good idea and we support it," she says.
"As someone who has lived here most of my life, I would say the positive site of Castlemilk is it is a close community and there are a lot of good people here."
Taking part online is just a click away
TO make it easier for you to access the community websites, you don't even need to type www' every time you log on.
The address for, say, Bridgeton, is simply bridgeton.eveningtimes.co.uk The sites have been designed to make it easy, fun and very straightforward to upload words, pictures and videos.
- News: Can be anything from a comment to request for information/search for an old pal, to a story you want to let everyone know about. Go to the News section on the front page and click. Then click on the words, "submit your news".
- Pics & videos: Images of anything, people, places, buildings, outings, trips, old, new. Go to the page and click on the words, "upload your pics and video". Always remember to put a title and a description along with your name in the appropriate boxes.
- Mini sites and links: Very easy, simply follow the instructions.
- Local information: A chance to make sure your school, doctor, dentist etc is included in the listing.
- And history: Great opportunity to highlight your take on the history of your area through words and pictures.
