All us schoolkids got a Dunoon mug for our city’s 800th birthday… and if I still had it I’d raise it now and say Let Glasgow Flourish in its 850th year.
My fellow Glaswegians are promising a cornucopia of events over the year.
With a three-day music event Clyde Chorus in May, a pop-up social history exhibition and April’s Taste the Place food trail.
Back in 1975 as well as the school mugs the city threw a party in the May full of special events, exhibitions, concerts and contests.
For a nine-year-old an evening at the football with their Dad to see Scotland play Portugal at Hampden Park was a big occasion.
Nifty Fifty
And it passed me by that the crowd booed off The Wombles, the first concert I’d attended earlier in the year, at half-time after their penalty shoot-out antics.
Football, of course, has long been the pastime of its people.
Probably since Richard the Lionheart granted Glasgow burgh status on May 10, 1175.
Musical tastes extended to a military band concert at the Kelvin Hall, the Scottish National Orchestra at the Cathedral and a Highland Gathering in Scotstoun.
While Denistoun diva Lulu wowed her fellow Glaswegians at the Pavilion Theatre.
Gie it Welly Big Yin
Individual districts held their own celebrations with open days and the election of gala queens.
All capped off with the Lord’s Provost’s Procession and the cavalcade of floats.
Depicting historical aspects of Glasgow making its way from Kelvin Way to Glasgow Green.
And a fireworks display and ‘ox-roasting’ ceremony (they we’re different days) on Glasgow Green.
Alongside a celebration ball, cabaret and buffet in the City Chambers and rowing and canoeing on the Clyde.
Best of all though was the city’s second most famous son Billy Connolly (after myself, obvs) entertaining the crowds with his Welly Boot Song.
The Big Yin has, of course, done more than anyone to promote his home city.
Although whether his health will allow him to pay a visit through this year we will have to wait and see.
It is undoubted that the comedian was the city’s first modern superstar.
Bringing colour with his harlequin hippy clothes, not to mention his infectious humour to a grey industrial city, and beyond.
Following in Billy’s banana boots
Many have followed in his banana bootsteps in the years since.
And Glasgow has successfully reclaimed its Dear Green Place moniker given to it by its saintly founder St Mungo.
And moved away from the No Mean City image of gangs and violence although the challenges still persist.
We have seen unimaginable progress in the 50 years since with major sporting events.
A Commonwealth Games and another to come next year.
A riverside refurb and iconic buildings springing up such as ‘The Armadillo’.
Sign of the times
So that now Scotland’s largest city can proudly complement.
And even compete with cultural and historical Edinburgh for visitors.
All of which it does with its renowned gallous (cheeky) humour.
Aas evidenced when Glasgow was promoting its award of European City of Culture in 1990.
And two likely lads decamped to the capital‘s Princes Street.
With a sign pointing in the direction of Glasgow, reading: ‘You are just 46 miles from the European City of Culture.’
So happy birthday to my home city and in the words of its founder St Mungo.
I say proudly Let Glasgow Flourish in its 850th year.
And now to find out if any of those classmates of mine still have their Dunoon mugs.
As I’d rather not fork out the £20 on Ebay.