Glasgow Garden Festival 1988
Discussion
whilst raking through the hiddenglasgow.com website I stumbled upon a thread about the 1988 garden festival. I went twice when I was 6 and when I went to uni I lived in a flat near the old site, so I went for a rake around, at the time (2001) there were still the old tram lines and a few other odds and ends floating about. Anyway, In this thread was these 2 comparison shots of the site then, and as it is now, someof you might find it interesting 
The sites full of stuff like this, well worth a look through if youre bored.
The sites full of stuff like this, well worth a look through if youre bored.
Oh the memories
Lived in Garnethill at time and bought a ludicrously cheap season ticket used to wander down in the evening 2 three times a week
Alway remeber my wife who detests thrill rides walking by the CocaCola ride spotting no Q and saying lets give it a try 2 min later as we were pulled up be fore it dropped and started the cry went up "let me out" she stll breaks out in a cold sweat
Yes Festival was one of Glasgow's succeses
Lived in Garnethill at time and bought a ludicrously cheap season ticket used to wander down in the evening 2 three times a week
Alway remeber my wife who detests thrill rides walking by the CocaCola ride spotting no Q and saying lets give it a try 2 min later as we were pulled up be fore it dropped and started the cry went up "let me out" she stll breaks out in a cold sweat
Yes Festival was one of Glasgow's succeses
I remember going to it quite a few times that summer - great memories! Me and a couple of friends from work quite ofter walk across the site on our lunchtime excape from the computer monitor.
It's a shame that they've just plonked the new buildings in and not tried to capture any of the heritage.
It's a shame that they've just plonked the new buildings in and not tried to capture any of the heritage.
Andrew[MG] said:
I remember going to it quite a few times that summer - great memories! Me and a couple of friends from work quite ofter walk across the site on our lunchtime excape from the computer monitor.
It's a shame that they've just plonked the new buildings in and not tried to capture any of the heritage.
actually, see the wiggly snake shaped part at the bottom of the top map? Most of that bit is still there in the current picture. I popped down there today for a look as last time I was there it was a bit scabby, its now been spruced up a bit and its quite nice. Its called Festival Park and the water fall from the festival is still there It's a shame that they've just plonked the new buildings in and not tried to capture any of the heritage.
This is a quote of a poster on the hiddenglasgow website who has kindly been scanning in a pile of his old slides.
MacotheIsles said:
A few more until I investigate Flykrrrr. Hope this doesn't slow down page loading toooo much...
One of my favourite sculptures...
And another...
Topiary Teddy...
Topiary teddybears' picnic
Multijointed rotating decapitator...
Giant mirror wall...
Bristow-type commuter on fountain
Giant arc depicting the sun I think
One of my favourite sculptures...
And another...
Topiary Teddy...
Topiary teddybears' picnic
Multijointed rotating decapitator...
Giant mirror wall...
Bristow-type commuter on fountain
Giant arc depicting the sun I think
MacotheIsles said:
Thank you UG.
A couple more - will get others scanned as soon as...
1) Dress up day. Those of us graciously invited to attend the opening ceremony were encouraged to dress in period costume (can't remember why). Some folk did - viz the gent in the topper. I hope Their Royal Highnesses (Chas and Diana I think) appreciated it. The wee fella here certainly seemed to be entering into the spirit of things.
2) View from the Clydesdale Tower
A couple more - will get others scanned as soon as...
1) Dress up day. Those of us graciously invited to attend the opening ceremony were encouraged to dress in period costume (can't remember why). Some folk did - viz the gent in the topper. I hope Their Royal Highnesses (Chas and Diana I think) appreciated it. The wee fella here certainly seemed to be entering into the spirit of things.
2) View from the Clydesdale Tower
MacotheIsles said:
Deevlash - Glad these pics are bringing back some memories. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things and I was lucky enough to have a season ticket, so I was there hundreds of thousands of times. Good to know that so many bits and pieces survived too - Motherwell got the George Wylie Tin Tree and the road train went to Strathclyde Park. I never went back to the site after it closed but it's nice that a bit of garden survives(d) - a gardener I talked to at the time assured me that there was no depth beneath the topsoil so I gave up all hope that any plants/trees would persist. Glad he was wrong.
Here's a few more shots in the meantime...
1) The sun didn't shine every day. Just almost every day.
2) Bells Bridge at capacity...
3) BBC Pavilion
Here's a few more shots in the meantime...
1) The sun didn't shine every day. Just almost every day.
2) Bells Bridge at capacity...
3) BBC Pavilion
Edited by deevlash on Sunday 8th February 18:46
Great pictures!
As a kid, I never understood why the garden festival just shut up shop after a year or so. It seemed like a magical place, especially being trusted to wander around on our own as part of the school trip.
The sunglasses seemed to be a common memory! I got a pair on my school trip and think I was one of the few that never applied the 5-finger discount! Remember the oor-wullie garden? Also a talking cactus seems vaguely familiar.
not applicable said:
Took part in a canoe slalom competition at the Garden Festival, we were all well warned, under no circumstances were we to capsize, as the water was too contaminated.
n/a
nice! I can imagine it was fairly horrible at the time, the old docks around there must have had all sorts of crap floating around in them. n/a
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