Those were the days Blowing hot and cold at Rouken Glen

THERE is a saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. The hardy skaters in our main picture, mostly youngsters, would perhaps give a lie to that statement. Yes, there are gloves, yes, there is the occasional scarf, but what seems incongruous to the modern eye is the amount of bare legs on show.

The young chap near the centre in a group of three seems particularly contemptuous of the conditions, and there’s even a lad to his left taking hardiness to the brink of foolhardiness by braving the ice in a kilt. A spill in that garb hardly bears thinking about.

That kilt may be explained by the fact that the picture was taken on a Sunday, when for many children, dress would necessarily have been more formal. It is January 15, 1939, at Rouken Glen boating pond at Whitecraigs, and the weather has brought its share of problems. The Glasgow Herald of the day before had carried, on Page 3, a report headed “Wintry conditions trouble Scots roadusers: Children Injured in Skidding Bus at Denny: Minor Mishaps in Glasgow”. The following day we were to get “Car Goes Over Cliff: Another Ditched: Third Strikes Rock on Argyll Road”. Mishaps, minor or otherwise, however, were evidently far from the minds of our cheerful revellers.

It is of course rare indeed for the Rouken Glen pond to be frozen over deep enough for skating to take place. Man-made, it was opened in 1924 and for years visitors could enjoy a trip out to its small islands by hiring a rowing boat or a catamaran canoe or climbing aboard a motorised pleasure craft. That service was withdrawn in 1983. The boathouse is now a cafe, and the park itself is still a haven for families.

The picture above was taken in the heat of July 28, 1963. For the novelty value alone, we prefer the big freeze.