FORMER workers who helped build the Clyde Tunnel that runs through the river in Glasgow have walked the length of the tunnel again as it reaches 50 years old.
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The nostalgic visit took place as the Princess Royal visited to mark one of one of the city's most revolutionary structures.
Arriving at the north side of the Clyde Tunnel, Princess Anne talked to some of the men who worked on the underwater passage connecting Govan and Whiteinch, which was opened by the Queen on July 3, 1963.
Robert Cowan, 74, worked at the site for two years and told her about his experiences.
Mr Cowan, of Old Kilpatrick, West Dunbartonshire, said: "It was very enlightening, and I was surprised that we had a lot of things in common.
"She was asking what I did during my time in the tunnel and I was explaining my situation and the working conditions. She was very interested in that and she was quite knowledgeable, I found, as well."
Andrew Christie, 69, was born in Govan and worked on the tunnel during the summer of 1962 while he was a student at Glasgow University.
He said: "The Clyde Tunnel has always been a big part of my life. It was the first job I'd ever worked on, and it was five-and-a-half days work for £4 and 10 shillings, but that could get a student quite a lot of beer in those days.
"I always remember the very first job I ever did on the site was levelling the decking on the first tunnel, and every time I go through it I think of that."
A specially commissioned mural was unveiled at the Whiteinch side of the structure to mark its 50 years and a plaque to commemorate the Princess Royal's visit was also revealed.
Councillor Alistair Watson, executive member of Land and Environmental Services at Glasgow City Council, had attended the tunnel's opening ceremony with his father in 1963.
He said of the workmen: "I think it's testament to their level of expertise and dedication that they're prepared to build something that will last 50 years and indeed beyond.
"I was saying to Princess Anne earlier that it's a critical part of the city's economy, with nearly 66,000 vehicles [passing through] a day. I'd like to think we'd be capable of doing something like that again."
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