TIMES PAST Shops, pop and the Pope in 80s Glasgow...
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THESE photos are sure to take you back to Glasgow in the 80s .... It was a time of change for the city – shipyards were closing, factories shutting up shop. Frustrations had boiled over in sport – the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden ended in a riot, resulting in the permanent banning of alcohol at all Scottish football games.
It was not all miserable though – the 80s were fun too. Pop was on song – Wham! came to the Apollo – and just look at Fran and Anna, enjoying themselves receiving one of Italy’s top showbiz honours from Lord Provost David Hodge in George Square in January 1980.
Yes, you heard that correctly. The singing sisters from Coatbridge received a handpainted scroll from Genoa’s equivalent of the Variety Club of Great Britain praising them for having “delighted us with their sweet voice, their warmth, their musical talent, outstanding personality and sympathy.” The sisters, who had long endured good-natured mocking on the popular STV show Thingummyjig, were overjoyed. Elsewhere, hot new rollerskating craze tri-skating came to the Barrowland in 1981. Computers were massive, Goldbergs was still THE shop to be seen in.
In June 1982, the Pope came to visit in his specially constructed Popemobile. Thousands of people – including this well-prepared nun – turned out to see him at Bellahouston Park. In 1980, the city’s fancy new subway opened and in March 1981, welcomed its 10 millionth passenger – Mrs Valerie Thomson, of Maryhill.
Send us your memories of the 80s in Glasgow.