By ANN FOTHERINGHAM

OUR first year of Thanks for the Memories has been a fantastic success – thanks to our wonderful readers.

The series of articles drawing on personal recollections and photos of people all over the city sparked a huge response, with many more lovely tales and images flooding in throughout the last 12 months.

Our fantastic year launched in Glasgow Women’s Library, where many readers flocked to tell us their memories of Bridgeton.

We uncovered a special story, about a long forgotten photograph of a beautiful woman sitting on the steps at Bridgeton Cross, which we had used to publicise our event.

She turned out to be Jenny Hall, and her husband Billy came along to share her story.

“That picture was taken in 1967, when we both lived in Bridgeton,” he said. “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…”

Sadly Jenny died seven years ago, and her sister Helen McLeod was also delighted to see her in the newspaper.

“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.”

We also met John and Rosemary Keery, who 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.

Our next events took place in the Gorbals, Possilpark and Hillhead, and readers were full of fascinating stories.

One of the most touching came from May Wilson has never forgotten the moment, more than 50 years ago, when she made a shocking discovery in the Gorbals tenement where she lived with her family.

“It was a Sunday morning, and I was on my way out to church,” recalled May, who is now 67. “I went into the toilet on the upstairs landing in the close, and there she was – a wee baby, wrapped up in a tartan shawl, barely alive….”

It was 1963, and the story hit the headlines – May (nee Henderson) has kept newspaper clippings in a folder of old documents and photos.

“We called her Mary, but I don’t know what name they gave her. We never found out who she was, or who the mother was,” she said.

“I still say a prayer for her, and wonder where she is now.”

And in Possilpark Library, we met Sarah McCartney, who had spent every spare second tucked up in a corner of the place with a good book.

But when her family moved away, she lost touch with the area and never returned – until she came along to our Thanks for the Memories event.

Now 83 and a grandmother of eight, Sarah – whose married name is Burns – was delighted to be back.

“This place was my second home when I was a child,” she said, her eyes filling up with tears.

“There were nine of us at home in a room and kitchen on Mansion Street – so you had to get out to get some peace and quiet!”

Sarah lived with her six brothers and sisters, her mum, Helen, who was a housewife and her dad, James, who worked as a supervisor at the local foundry.

“He was in the Merchant Navy and he was torpedoed twice – he was lucky to come home,” recalls Sarah. “I remember being evacuated to Lesmahagow during the war.

“All I missed about Glasgow was this library….”

Look out for more local Thanks for the Memories events at a venue near you in 2018 – and keep sending us your stories and photographs of old Glasgow.