THERE had been much talk, that year, of the cost of living, and the need to tighten belts, but this was made redundant by the spending sprees planned by people during the Glasgow Fair. Over the holiday season starting in June, Glaswegians had withdrawn £6 million from savings banks, £500,000 more than in the previous year.

The figure was disclosed in mid-July, as packed duplicate trains from Glasgow Central (pictured) and St Enoch stations began the southbound holiday traffic. Amidst dire weather, almost everyone wore some protection from the rain, observed the Evening Times: "the attire of many of the little groups gathered at rail and bus stations was more in keeping with survivors from a shipwreck than holiday-makers."

“It is,” it added, “a ‘follow-the-sun’ Fair, and record crowds are going over the Border - and over the Channel - in search of sunshine ... The main rush begins tonight, however, in a stream of traffic the like of which has not been seen in many years. At 6.30 this evening the first of British Railways Fair holiday ‘Starlight’ specials to London will leave from Central Station and 11 more will follow at intervals up to 10.20pm."

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Herald Diary

An Evening Times columnist lamented that so many Glasgow Fair holiday-makers favoured English resorts, when they could enjoy ‘invigorating air’ and ‘scenery that is unsurpassed in Britain’ if only they opted for the Clyde resorts. The meals in the English places, he added, tended towards the ‘ersatz’.

A Bud Neill cartoon, incidentally, showed a Glasgow wifie heading for the coast train to Troon, wondering if she had everything she needed for her holiday. The caption reflects her thoughts: “... tooth-brush ...saun’-shoes ... sun-glesses ... Bikini ... bail money.”