STAFF and volunteers from the Heart of Scotstoun welcomed former employees of Albion Motors to help them celebrate Doors Open Day.

The Balmoral Street site of the truck company remained derelict for 23 years until local campaigners got together to develop and build a community centre – and the beating Heart of Scotstoun was born in 2011.

Many of the staff members who used to work for Albion got in touch to talk about their time with the company.

June Mitchell, volunteer at the centre and organiser of the event, said: “When we started organising the day, we really thought we were organising activities to show off the centre and the area’s industrial past.

“What we quickly realised was the yearning people had to connect with their past and talk about their working lives which were so important to them, and to the community here. It’s been a marvellous project for me, personally, and one I will never forget.”

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During the Doors Open Day event on Saturday, September 21, there was a vintage tea party, trucks on show, and opportunities for members of the public to see what’s on offer at the centre.

Amanda Quinn, Heart of Scotstoun manager, said: “There is so much going on here for people of all ages.

“We have more than 200 diverse activities every month – from our youth group to our weekly dance club, to karate, pilates and yoga.

“And those looking for a more relaxed couple of hours are always welcome at our Hearties Lunch Club and knitting group.

“Doors Open Day gave us a wonderful opportunity to reach out to a wider community and encourage people to come and see the brilliant and worthwhile work we do here.”

Photographs by Derek Young