Glaswegians
have had a big chip on their shoulders over many decades which hopefully today is
in the past. Glasgow
is the city that built the ships with its great shipbuilding yards. On the Clyde river there are now abandoned buildings and ghosts from the past. They helped build an Empire and
then as a reward had their industries closed and with no investment in future businesses
In the 80s
Glasgow Provost Kelly knew something had to change and taking from New
York city's drive to rebuild the city with 'We Love New York', the
slogan 'Glasgow's Miles Better' was introduced on a
yellow Mr Happy background and was then followed by 'People Make
Glasgow'
Glasgow saw the importance of investing in
sport and culture in defining a nation.
This has helped
to shape modern Glasgow
which has regenerated and re packed itself successfully and the city believed
it could successfully bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
I discovered
a Glasgow rich
in culture, character, music, and with outstanding venues and many small venues
for new artists. In the 50s American sailors brought in their blues and
rock records (just as they did to Liverpool)
and resulted in Scottish sounds mixing with country and rock and roll.
I have
travelled many extraordinary journeys in Glasgow
in the grey light over the Clyde river, by the
university's imposing spires, the tall graceful elegance of Rennie
Mackinotosh’s art school, the long shadows on Sauchiehall street and across the city's
steep hills.
I originally
come from Edinburgh and have lived abroad many
years in America and I now
live north of Glasgow. My children all attended Glasgow University. In my teens
I used to travel over to Glasgow
clubs and it often seemed a rather dark place. Now the buildings have been
cleaned up and rejuvenated. It is a city of great heritage and surprises and
you never know when a building of impressive architectural merit will appear as
if from nowhere.
I once
covered a fashion event at the imposing Corinthian on Ingram Street along from the Italian
shops, the charm of the Merchant city,
the City halls and the Old Fruitmarket venues. If you look there are many
hidden treasures on Glasgow's
side streets. Both the
Concert hall and the Theatre Royal have been under going recent building
improvements.
Glaswegians
never take themselves too seriously though and there is a true creative freedom
of expression here where nothing can possibly be too wacky or off centre! It may once have been the city of fallen hopes
but it seems today there is a rebirth of dreams and renewed confidence once
again.
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The city of fallen dreams
The
city of fallen dreams
Of
no tomorrows,
Of
ancestors rich homes,
Cathedral
spires
And
the fast
Highway
of speeding lights.
On
the hilltop sits the proud university
Solid
and tall
A
small cloud on its rooftop.
Far
off in the dull distance
High-rises
of fallen flats
Boxes
of lights.
I
watch the clear slow grey of the Clyde river
As
it winds slowly through
Momentarily
its story shifting,
With
every bend
Every
look.
Beside
me the modern, the new,
Tell
of the future,
Fast,
ever changing
And
the old faces the new.
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