KEN Smith’s “Those were the days” photograph of Roy Jenkins touring Glasgow’s Byres Road in an open-topped car ("Selfieless fans enjoy the victory parade in real time", The Herald, May 30), as the candidate for the newly-formed SDP in the Hillhead constituency, brought back many memories of those heady days in the early 1980s.

When he announced his intention to stand many thought that he was just a carpet-bagger, intent only on finding the quickest way back to Westminster after leaving his prestigious post as Chairman of the European Council. Why would such a senior and very English politician, As Mr Jenkins, who had been an outstanding Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer and could have been Prime Minister, want to represent a suburban Glasgow constituency with which he had no previous connection and of which he knew nothing? How wrong we were.

Mr Jenkins immediately bought a flat in Kirklee Terrace and he and his wife set up home there. In the weeks before the by-election he spent most days driving and walking round every street and avenue in the West End, getting to know the local area and meeting hundreds of local residents. His election campaign was a personal triumph and a stunning victory for his new party. He immediately threw himself into the humdrum tasks of a constituency MP, holding weekly surgeries and taking up the problems of many residents. When I raised an obscure point about a family member’s pension he wrote directly to the UK Chancellor and argued the case so persuasively that the rule was changed in the next year’s Budget speech.

Mr Jenkins worked tirelessly for the local community, and quickly won the respect and support of a large majority of his constituents. Over his five-year tenure he was perhaps the most popular MP Glasgow’s West End had ever had. I was fortunate to hear him give an inspirational Prize Day speech to the pupils of Jordanhill School, in which he urged them always to take pride in their school and their great city, and make sure that nothing they did might bring either into disrepute.

Sadly before the next General Election the constituency boundaries were once again redrawn, Hillhead became Kelvin, and he lost his seat to Labour’s George Galloway. But many of us will never forget that 1982 bi-election.

Iain AD Mann,

7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.

THE picture from the archives today showed people queuing up for a drink of water from the James Crum Memorial Drinking Fountain (MacDonald & Leslie made it in1861) (“A refreshing sip on a hot day and not a water bottle in sight”, The Herald, June 2). It was removed from George Square some three years ago and put into storage in the Necropolis. Prior to that, the drinking fountain used to be near the Gladstone statue in George Square and had even been restored to working order in 2009, but was removed, so I have been told, "to obviate the possibility of it being damaged, occasioned by the intense use of the Square, particularly at Christmas".

So, if some public-spirited organisation would like a wee pink granite drinking fountain as a piece of public art, they could do worse than approach the council, much as the Spirit of Kentigern, formerly of Buchanan Street, will soon find a new home up on Cathedral street's new college buildings.

Bailie Dr Nina Baker.

Scottish Green Party Councillor for Anderston/City Ward,

Glasgow City Council, George Square, Glasgow.

I BELIEVE that Ken Smith confirms that he is a few years short of joining the silver brigade and the bus pass battalions when he writes about Johnnie Ray visiting Glasgow (“Johnnie: Our Ray of sunshine”, The Herald, May 31). Those of more mature years, when reflecting upon the career of Johnnie Ray, which one might do when at a nostalgic loose end, can recall immediately the titles Cry and ‘The Little White Cloud That Cried’ with his signature supply of white hankies. Neither of these hits was mentioned by Mr Smith

There probably would have been some restiveness among his admirers at the Glasgow Empire if Johnnie had not given the audience his idiosyncratic and highly-popular renditions of these tear-jerkers.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.

I LOVED Ken Smith's article about Joanna's disco. (“Those were the days when ballroon dancing had a twist”, The Herald, May 28). My wife and I went every week. If my memory serves me they used to serve food after 10pm to get around the drinks licensing laws.

It was always Spam and chips on paper plates. No one ever ate it, of course.

Joe Donnelly,

33 Holmhead Road, Glasgow.