I Grew Up in Glasgow ‘ The place to be was St Francis Church Hall’

Earliest memory of Glasgow? Walking across Jamaica Street bridge with dad. I had my dolly in the pram, pretending I was going to the shop myself.

Describe your house: We lived in a tenement off Crown Street. People always talk about how run down the old Gorbals houses were, but my mother would have skelped us if we’d gone out with dirty faces.

She was very house proud, and everyone took their turn cleaning the stairs. You could have eaten your dinner off them.

Favourite local cinema: The Palace. I read somewhere its big pillars went to the Citizens Theatre when closed. it

Favourite local shop: I remember Greasy Peter’s chip shop – it was cracking. We used to hang about in the hope of getting a bag of scrapings to take home and hallelujah, sometimes you’d even get a wee chip in it.

Where did you go dancing? The place to be was always St Francis Church Hall. That’s where all the parties were held and if you were lucky, you’d get a lumber. ( For younger readers, that means a date.) I met my husband at a party there when we were both sweet 16.

Best thing about growing up in Glasgow?

It never mattered whether you had money or not, it was about family and friendship and everyone looking out for each other. That sounds like a cliché, but it was true. Your c ommu n i t y w a s y o u r e x t e n d e d family.

Happiest childhood memory? Going to the church parties with my pals, laughing and dancing and eating a poke of sweets you’d get as a wee treat. Not very sophisticated, maybe, but I loved those days.

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