Greenock 1959

[williambraid]

Thanks for commenting. You're right it does seem that rain and Greenock go hand in hand.

[hujjesb]

great film / love it . see it was raining all the time back then too. never changes

[williambraid]

Thanks for your comment---appreciated.

[arizonagcs]

Optmus I think you should have got your eyes out of the gutter. Greenock itself isn't the most glam of places but at the time of the film there was a thing called employment and only by raising your outlook you had world standard scenery around you.

This had some wonderful clyde steamers and CP ship, keep up the good work in finding old 8mm film.

[williambraid]

Rather a negative outlook as I think there are much worse places.

[optimuspriime02]

Greenock was a shit hole then and it still is!

[williambraid]

I liked your recollections of the town as it was. I very much agree wwith you as to the appearance of Clyde Square in particular----if Hamilton street could have been kept in its original and a way found to roof it over (it still rains a lot here!) it would have been more interesting than our now bland Oak Mall shopping centre where you may well be dry and warm but you could be anywhere in the UK. I do remember the glory days of the BB Cinema---see how it looks today on my video.

Bill

[allanscot1]

I wasn't born until 1964 but much of what was on this wonderful film was still in existence into the 70s and this brought back so many memories.Town of Ships and Sugar....and so it was! My uncles used to work at Walkers and I used to love when they brought home the syrup.Seeing the cinemas was interesting - I remember the Gaumont, Regal and Odeon, but only remember the BB and La Scala as bingo halls.Hamilton St and Clyde Sq looked so much better than now.I live in England now so ta for posting!

[DavyLazarenko]

Very interesting. Shows the value of keeping films!

[williambraid]

@DavyLazarenko Thanks Davy, look forward to seeing your uploads.

[williambraid]

Thanks Rosebud your comment is appreciated. What a pity that digital video was unknown in these early days. Film stoack was so much more expensive that it limited how much you were willing to shoot also low light levels restricted one due to the much slower emulsions used iby film.

[rosebud2004]

This was great! Thanks so much, I was only 2 when this was filmed, shows a way of life long gone - traditional typsetters, coopers etc and how busy the pier was! Fantastic.

[williambraid]

Hi sstlexy. Thanks for your kind comments, glad you enjoyed it.

Wish you well in your navy career!

Bill

[sstlexy]

I thouroughly enjoyed these. Thanks for uploading. It brought back so many memories of the town. The things you remember when you were a kid. One of my first memories was on West Blackhall St, shopping at Christmas. Lovely job. I bet there's not a lot of film like this around, it's historical. Thanks for sharing.

[williambraid]

Thanks Tony for commenting. It does rain a lot but the sun does shine also.

[tony671]

look its raining !!!!!!

[williambraid]

Thanks Sandy Greenock is very much a changed place these days but probably it is not alone in suffering from the loss of so many major established industries. Great optimism is being shown at present for the regeneration taking place in the town (see my last YT posting) so let's hope that it yields positive results. As an older person I am inclined to feel that change should be taken slowly and with care- but that is not the way of the world today

Thanks for commenting

Bill

[sancov]

1959 when i was moved down to coventry due to my fathers better job prospects in the car industry and looking back at these films reminds me of what greenock used to be(a proud industrial town) i wish i could go back to greenock to live .thank you for the film.sandy

[williambraid]

Thanks for your comment----glad you enjoyed comparing the past with the presesnt.

Both times have their pluses and minuses.

[w3stcoastcr3w]

Thanks for uploading. Makes you realise how much we've fucked things up in the relatively short 50years since.... This footage a show vibrant town centre, extremely busy shipping industry, great nightlife and properous place to be.... how things can all turn round so quickly in 50 years eh?!? Junkies, Pound-shops and Tescos Extra now. Thanks again for taking time to gather, process, convert and upload. Great you made the effort :) JH

[williambraid]

Thanks nortonman. The shots of the kids on the gangway were taken on a Sat morning and from memory they were wearing Greenock Academy uniforms. Other than that I can't be more helpful as these were the days when you could film children without getting parental permission.

[nortonman1]

Any idea who the kids on the rocking gangway were?? Vague resemblence to my cousin. I lived in Ardgowan square from 1959 to 1966.

[kristallin]

Wonderful material, I found myself trying to spot my granddad, who ran a few bakeries in and around Greenock at the time. Thanks!

[williambraid]

@kristallin Thanks Kris---there were quite a lot of local bakeries at that time but now the supermarkets have taken over.

Glad you rnjoyed the video.

[supernumery]

Can I suggest that you approach the McLean Museum about this. If the SSA get it, no one will ever see it again.

[williambraid]

@supernumery Hi--Thanks for your comments which i do appreciate.The museum is in fact aware of this film and at present I have the raw material on two separate digital files plus i have copied it to DVD for my own private collection.

My original impression was that film would deteriorate with time whereas my research has shown that film kept under controlled storage conditions will last almost indefinitely. Surprisingly this is not the case with electronic syatems which have yet to be proved

[supernumery]

By all means let the Screen Archive restore it but make sure they give you a copy because once they have, no one sees it again unless they pay loadsamoney. Very well done, this is sheer magic and I'd love to see it properly scanned.

[hammbetta]

the year i was born cheers the black and white days

[williambraid]

@hammbetta Thanks Tom, glad you enjoyed the film-made by me when I was 23yrs

[hammbetta]

the year i was born cheers the balack and white days

[knutfheifer]

Then along came the likes of tesco and robbed everyone of life long jobs and upset the whole applecart, sad loss

[optimuspriime02]

Greenock was a dump then to lol

[969CALLY]

THE YEAR I WAS BORN, JEES, IT BRINGS BACK SOME MEMORIES

[rella62]

Have you had this wonderful film converted to DVD before it is lost

Im so interested

Billy Sinclair.....GreenockI was 23 Yrs old when this was filmed

[williambraid]

@rella62

Thanks Billy for your comment---i also was 23 yrs of age when i made this film.

The original is in standard 8mm which I have filmed by tansfer to my PC.( not the best way to do it!)

The result you see on YouTube is a very much edited down version of the original but I have been in touch with the Scottish Screen Archive who are interested in archiving the material.

[ZITuk1]

Flashbacks to my childhood -- thanks

[williambraid]

@ZITuk1 Appreciate your comment ZIT--glad you enjoyed it.

[grana41]

I think it is very very kind of you to share this. It was as though I was looking at part of my life over again.

Thank you.

Victor

[williambraid]

@grana41

Thanks Grana!

Glad you enjoyed it.

BIll

[cskasofia05]

William, the cine film was converted by a company down in Derbyshire, Timeless Moments. I've used them quite a bit and would recommend

[williambraid]

@cskasofia05 Thanks again.

I will have a look at Timeless Moments.

[cskasofia05]

That was fantastic to see William. I recently got some of my Dads old cine film converted to AVI. I've uploaded a boat trip on the Clyde,early 60's, which may interest you.Search under my user name

[williambraid]

@cskasofia05 Thanks for your kind comment.

I had a look at your footage of the PS Caledonia sailing up to Glasgow---how the river scene has changed within living memory!

You've managed a good quality transfer, did you send the original film for professional scaning?.

Well done.

[xliztayx]

★ That was amazing...watching that...brought a tear to my eye...★

[jlospooky]

loved this!! was really nice to see what it used to be like :) back in my grandparents day

[MartyFaeScotland]

looking back then, things where a lot more easier in life, no one was rushing about on mobiles and computers... the river Clyde was buzzing..

excellent stuff....

[williambraid]

Thanks Marty. 1959 was so different that it could be set in another world altogether.

[AndrewEllio]

Interesting vid of Greenock. Cheers.

[williambraid]

Thanks for your comment.

That is how the original footage was transferred and then digitally edited.

However professional scanning , though more expensive, does render a much higher quality.

I do appreciate your kind offer

[mackuk]

Thats a brilliant walk down memory lane. I'm only in my 30's so a lot of what you showed in that clip was before my time. Its amazing how some parts look to similar, yet in other scenes so much has changed. It would be interesting to make a video showing the old footage, then fade out and fade in with the curent scene. It would help put a lot of it into perspective. Excelent movie 5 stars.

[williambraid]

Thanks Mac for your complimentary comments,

Your suggestion is a good one and is a possibilty which, amongst others, I had considered in a possible re-edit of this film.

As I used a very crude method to capture the original footage to digital it would be necessary to have the 8mm film professionally scanned in order to improve the quality of the images and allow them to stand beside the present day standards of digital imaging.

I will do some further research into scanning costs.

Bill

[hughmagee]

i really enjoyed watching that it was good to see the river so busy i live in govan but i have worked in greenock for 20 odd years keep them coming

[williambraid]

Thanks Hugh

I was born and bred in Greenock and looking back one took it for granted that the river would always be busy.

The underlying tragedy is the loss of so many skills.

[lxashleighxl]

Wow great footage - this is from the year my dad was born seems really strange to think this is the way it was back then!

x

[williambraid]

Hi Ashleigh.

Thanks for your comment though it does make me feel old as I was only 23 when i shot the original footage.

I agree things have changed a very great deal!

[Janeinwales]

Wonderful, I loved this. I was still living in Greenock then!

[williambraid]

Glad you enjoyed it Jane.

Still trawling old 8mm film for more postings.

Bill.

[Janeinwales]

Thanks Bill, I have now subscribed and I will keep an eye out!

Jane

[delbhoy61]

loved this, anymore

[williambraid]

Thanks Delbhoy!

I'm still working through lots of old film and hopefully can extract something of general interest from the miles of family record.

[jimph1]

This is brilliant, thanks for posting william very interesting to see how the town was before i was born.

[williambraid]

Comment appreciated. As one who is terrified of flying I enjoyed looking at Greenock from the safety of my computer chair----thanks to your videos.

[grana41]

Hi.! I left in 1958. , and I sat here with a Lump in my throat watching this Film. I was watching everyone, & everything I knew.

Thank you very much.

Best Regards. Victor

[williambraid]

Hi Victor. Thank you so much for your generous remarks. The raw material for this film was amongst a collection of 8mm films which I had stored and never viewed for years. I confess that it came as a surprise to me when I saw just how much things have changed since 1959---I now no longer look in the mirror when shaving as I fear just how much the years have changed me!

Kind Regards

Bill

[BeggarsOperaOfficial]

It is really wonderful to se this :-)

[williambraid]

Thank you for your kind response.

Pity that the great advantages of digital imageing had not been available in 1959!

[pmckerna]

Fascinating - many thanks for posting this.

[williambraid]

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm sure there must be a lot more material like this stored and forgotten.

[williambraid]

I very much appreciate your kind reamarks and totally agree with your remarks about foul language and safety at night. There is no question that in these areas our quality of life has deteriorated since the film was made

I share your regret for the passing of that era.

[williambraid]

Unfortunately the positive aspects of progress always seem to carry a degree of negative ones. I do sympathise with what you say.

[gourockguy]

What a fabulous piece of history, filmed the year I was born....This footage is priceless as a former professional photographer for ove 22 years I strongly urge you to noy let anyone however good their intentions may be get a hold odf the original or offer to buy copyright to it from you. It is priceless and if you do wish advice on restoration or improving let me know I will help and will NOT charge you a penny for anything I can do

[williambraid]

Your kind comments are very much appreciated and I thank you for them and your generous offer.

The original is still in my hands, and yes I have experienced what you say.

I edited the video using the 8mm film (carefully stored and in good physical condition) which, though better in quality, was poorly edited.

Ideally it should be scanned and an AVI file produced for an opportunity to re-edit.

[fiwarburton]

Fabulous to look back at how nice Greenock once was. The town has really changed and not necessarily for the better!!!

[williambraid]

Glad you liked it despite the poor picture quality.

Presesnt day standards have got us all used to a very high qualty of image but I take comfort in the knowledge that the original is very much better and with professional scanning the video would be capable of showing that

[escociagirl]

It has changed mostly for the better I'd say - Can you imagine if it didn't change & it was still like this. Everyone would be up in arms about living in the most backward town in Scotland & moan about how unprogressive the council were, etc - Things change in most part for the better but unfortunately progress & nostalgia are not the best of bedfellows - Some amazing footage though. It's always amazing to see how things where...

[robbeale]

Cracking, absolute gem.

[williambraid]

Thanks Rob. I have been thinking of adding some commentary just to identify some of the content.

[81williammurray]

Excellent footage of a "time gone by" - I enjoyed watching it. The town has certainly changed !! Vicki

[williambraid]

Thanks Vicki, glad you enjoyed the content despite the poor picture quality.

[louiepastore1]

Great stuff!

[williambraid]

Thanks Louie--oh that digital camcorders had been available in 1959.

[edowds]

Wonderful memories - I look forward to the better version.

[williambraid]

Comment appreciated-Thanks

[VPGillen]

Fantastic video - congratulations on putting this together. Vincent at the McLean Museum

[williambraid]

Thanks Vincent for your kind comments..

I would hope to improve on the editing and quality of this film.