I picked up a hardback copy of
Glasgow's Miles Better "They Said It" from a charity shop this afternoon for a couple of quid. It's fascinating to see pictures of Glasgow from the early '80s and to find out what various public figures thought of Glasgow at the time: the book was published in 1986. The written content is pretty light so it's hard to say I'm reading it in any meaningful sense, but it's a keeper all the same.
The author, John Struthers, explains how the Glasgow's Miles Better marketing campaign came to be and that to get it up and running, he underwrote the project
himself as Glasgow District Council was skint at the time. Plus
ça change...
Here's what Margaret Thatcher had to say:
"The people of Glasgow, whose forefathers pioneered trade routes around the world and engaged in extraordinary feats of engineering in distant countries are now putting these same qualities to work in successfully transforming Glasgow itself into a city equipped to meet the challenges of today.
Much has been done, and though there is still much to do, the evidence of change, of progress, of sheer dogged determination and hard work is there for all to see. Look around at the old, restored and renovated, marching in step with the new and the innovative. Enjoy the art galleries and museums with their world famous collections. Sample the opera, the music, the theatre, the ballet. Walk in the beautiful parks and gardens which lie both in and around the city.
But most importantly, talk to the people. You will find them fiercely proud of their city, and rightly so.
They will tell you in no uncertain terms, why they say Glasgow's miles better."
I didn't exactly rejoice when she passed away but reading these words now... let's just say there's as sweet as raw crab apple!
