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The Herald Scotland
03-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow's medieval roots commemorated in stone
In collaboration with the Merchants House, Trades House, and City of Glasgow College, the project honours Glasgow's past and engages young people in preserving this heritage, while working on a practical project with valuable learning opportunities. The project involved the design and production of the port stones by students from the City of Glasgow. Each stone, designed by construction apprentices, after discussions with students and senior pupils as part of the college's Schools' Partnership Programme, incorporates Glasgow City Council's coat of arms as well as the crests of Trades House and Merchants House of Glasgow, Glasgow Dean of Guild Court Trust and City of Glasgow College. READ MORE: Each Caithness stone marker is also engraved with a compass point denoting the 'port gate', the Glasgow 850 logo, a brief historical description and the year it was laid. Medieval Glasgow ran from the River Clyde, up through the Saltmarket, along High Street and up to the Cathedral. The historical locations for the stones, installed by the council, are based on the approximate sites of the original medieval city gates. These locations were chosen based on historical documents and maps, including the "Medieval City Map: Glasgow's Medieval City development between 1150 and 1550" produced by Glasgow City Council in conjunction with West of Scotland Archaeology Service. The markers are located at: Glasgow Cathedral Precinct; Saltmarket at Jocelyn Square; Gallowgate opposite Molindinar Street and Trongate opposite Trongate 103. (L-R) Lord Dean of Guild, Lord Provost, Deacon Convenor, Andy Pollok, City of Glasgow College (Image: Glasgow 850) Lord Provost of Glasgow, Jacqueline McLaren, said: 'This project symbolises the unity and collaboration of three historic civic institutions in Glasgow, and one that reflects a shared commitment to civic pride and legacy.'Together, with the College, this project has allowed the students to contribute something tangible in this special year – something that they can be proud of and that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.' Lord Dean of Guild Merchants House of Glasgow, Andrew McFarlane, said: 'The marker stones are intended to be a reminder to future generations of both the development of the city and the celebrations to mark its 850th birthday." Deacon Convenor Trades House of Glasgow Richard Paterson, said; 'The marker stones are a legacy to the city's past and a reminder that 'People Make Glasgow.' The Glasgow 850 celebrations mark a significant milestone in the city's history, commemorating 850 years since Glasgow was granted burgh status, in 1175. The year-long programme includes a variety of events and activities designed to engage and inspire people of all ages, reflecting Glasgow's dynamic past, present, and future.
Glasgow Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow streets have unusual new paving stones
This is the Port Stones Project, part of Glasgow 850, a year-long celebration marking the anniversary of the city being granted burgh status in 1175. As well as creating physical reminders of Glasgow's medieval roots, it is helping the stonemasons of the future take their first steps into the industry. Construction apprentices at City of Glasgow College, including senior school pupils completing their Foundation Apprenticeships as part of the college's Schools Partnership Programme, had a hand in designing and laying out the elegant stone markers, which now sit at the approximate sites of the original city gates. (Image: Glasgow City Council) Callan McBroom, first year stonemasonry apprentice, working for GC Stonemasons, said: 'Being involved in the cutting of these stones for the city's 850th was a proud moment. It's not every day you work on something that's going to stand in Glasgow for generations." Kalvin Mackie, who is also in his first year of the apprenticeship, working for KS Stonemasonry Specialists, said: 'You learn the craft in college, but this project drove it home - like we were part of something bigger than ourselves." Sam Hymas with apprentices Kallan and Kalvin (Image: City of Glasgow College) Bethan Baillie, one of the pupils taking part in the School College Partnership Programme, said: 'It was amazing to be part of something that marks Glasgow's history in such a permanent way. We had a look at old maps, talked about the layout of the stones, and discussed where they were going - and now people will see our work as part of the city." Blending traditional skills with modern laser cutting technology, the students painstakingly cut individual pieces with precision to form the full flagstones. READ NEXT: Glasgow organist's tribute to city's 850th anniversary The unusual way Glasgow pupils are celebrating city's 850th birthday How Billy Connolly's banana boots inspired a Glasgow 850 gift Sam Hymas, curriculum head of construction skills, said: 'We are very proud to have helped make something for the city, which will stand for generations to come. 'It's great to think that we are combining the oldest trade with the most modern technology." He added: 'It's very exciting, to see the stones in place and think, 'we did that'.' Each design incorporates the Glasgow 850 logo, Glasgow City Council's coat of arms, and the crests of Trades House Glasgow, Merchants House Glasgow, Glasgow Dean of Guild Court Trust and City of Glasgow College. Each stone is engraved with a compass point, denoting the port gate it applies to: north, at Glasgow Cathedral Precinct; south, on Saltmarket at Jocelyn Square; east, at Gallowgate opposite Molendinar Street; and west, on Trongate. Medieval Glasgow ran from the River Clyde, up the Saltmarket, along High Street to the Cathedral. The historical locations for the stones, installed by the council, were chosen based on historical documents and maps, including the Medieval City Map: Glasgow's Medieval City development between 1150 and 1550, produced by Glasgow City Council in conjunction with West of Scotland Archaeology Service. Lord Dean of Guild of Merchants House Glasgow Andrew McFarlane, Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, Deacon Convenor of Trades House Glasgow Richard Paterson and Andy Pollok, City of Glasgow College. (Image: Glasgow City Council) Representatives of all of the organisations met at an official unveiling recently. Lord Provost of Glasgow, Jacqueline McLaren, said: 'This project symbolises the unity and collaboration of three historic civic institutions in Glasgow, and it is one that reflects a shared commitment to civic pride and legacy. 'This project has allowed the students to contribute something tangible in this special year – something that they can be proud of and that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.' Lord Dean of Guild of Merchants House of Glasgow Andrew McFarlane, said: 'The marker stones are intended to be a reminder to future generations of both the development of the city and the celebrations to mark its 850th birthday." Deacon convenor of Trades House of Glasgow Richard Paterson, said: 'The marker stones are a legacy to the city's past and a reminder that 'people make Glasgow.''
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
The inside story of Glickman's - Glasgow's oldest sweet shop
'They were looking for some sort of white powder that they could use for a 'drug deal',' Irene Birkett from the 122-year-old London Road business explains. 'In the end, we found that crushed white sugar mice worked best, so on the TV they held up a plastic bag filled with that.' 'The best request was a crowbar to fling into the Clyde for an episode where someone was disposing of a murder weapon," her daughter Julie Birkett jumps in to add. "We ended up making a long stick out of rock candy." Pictured: Mother and daughter duo Irene and Julie Birkett of Glickman's (Image: Supplied) It's just one of the fascinating stories the pair manages to pack into an hour-long interview, each taking turns to spur each other on. There's talk of a visit from TV chef Jamie Oliver, a chat with a customer which led to the adoption of a beloved canine friend, Bailey, and even the start of a long-term romantic relationship. 'These paramedics used to stop in now and then for sweets, and one day one of them came in alone to ask if I would ever consider going on a motorbike trip with his colleague,' Julie tells me. 'I said 'eh, no way'. 'Anyway. That's us still together 15 years later'. READ NEXT: We tried the al fresco champagne bar at Glasgow Central Pictured: Glickman's was established in 1903 by Isaac Glickman (Image: Supplied) Before any of this would come to pass, the retail shop's journey first began with Isaac Glickman, grandfather to Irene and great-grandfather to Julie in 1903. Although details of his early life remain scarce, it is believed that he emigrated from Poland to Glasgow with the ambition of selling homemade confectionery. The shop became known for its tablet recipe, utilising cream rather than butter, and when war later broke out, queues for aniseed-infused 'cough tablet', which was deemed medicinal and therefore unaffected by rationing, would often stretch down the street. In more recent years, having discovered Glickman's handwritten recipes after his passing, the current owners undertook a mission to preserve them, translating his text from old metrics and committing themselves to learning the craft of confectionery by enrolling at the Food Technology College, now City of Glasgow College. Irene says: 'When my father died, the shop was passed down to our family. 'Though we had no prior experience in confectionery, Julie and I were determined to maintain his recipes. 'Mum and I went along to the college once a week, every week, for two years,' Julie confirms. Pictured: Glickman's is renowned for its handmade sweets, which include classic favourites including cream tablet, macaroon cake, candy balls, and Krispets (Image: Supplied) Holding a key role in the shop's day-to-day operations, she is keen to stress the importance of preserving these traditional recipes: 'Our sweets are not just a treat; they're a link to the past. Whether it's a bag of soor plooms or a handful of handmade tablet, our customers are experiencing something that has been part of Glasgow's history for generations.' While each day brings with it the joy of interacting with customers old and new, maintaining an independently run retail shop in the current climate is not without its difficulties. Their location on the edge of Glasgow Green means that Glickman's will often be affected by nearby football matches or be forced to shut due to music concerts and festivals which the team say leave locals less likely to leave their homes in search of a sweet treat. Still, one of the toughest challenges in the shop's history also served as a welcome reminder of what their service means to the community. 'Covid wiped out so many small businesses like ours across Scotland,' Irene said. 'We were shut, then open, and shut again, so there was no sense of normality at all: it was just awful. 'When we opened again, we thought that there was no way we would ever catch up, but we were totally shocked at just how many people were happy to see us back. 'We're so grateful to them. It was quite an amazing thing.' READ NEXT: New Yoker mural for Glasgow comedian Limmy Pictured: Take your pick of sweet treats from the shelves (Image: Supplied) Though the peak of the pandemic is slowly becoming a distant memory, Glickman's now must contend with the rising prices of ingredients from chocolate to coconut, over which they have no control. 'All of your costs are going up and essentially you're working for less money, but we don't want to put our prices up,' Julie says. 'We've always been known for keeping our prices reasonable and some of our customers have been coming here for decades. 'It's hard, taking the hit, but the support we continue to get from them has been really encouraging.' Beyond its historical significance, Glickman's Confectionery plays an active role in the local community. The shop has long supported the Glasgow Film Theatre's Movie Memories initiative, a dementia-friendly film programme that seeks to make cinema accessible to everyone. The team contributes to the initiative by providing small bags of sweet nostalgia for attendees, helping individuals living with dementia feel more connected to their surroundings. Pictured: Irene carries on her grandfather's legacy at Glickman's (Image: Supplied) Over the years, they have also worked extensively with community groups such as The Brownies and also give those visiting Glasgow a warm welcome by acting as a pit stop for the red double-decker buses which ferry tourists from landmark to landmark. Julie says: 'Our goal is to be more than just a sweet shop. 'It's about fostering a sense of community and belonging: whether through supporting Movie Memories or bringing together generations of Glasgow residents, we are proud to play our part in creating a welcoming space for all.' This year, celebrating Glasgow's 850th birthday as one of the 44 establishments participating in the Taste the Place initiative, Glickman's Confectionery invites both locals and visitors to savour the flavours of the city's past while celebrating its vibrant future. Whether enjoying a traditional sweet or learning about the history behind each treat, Glickman's offers a unique opportunity to experience a taste of Glasgow's cultural heritage. Irene says: 'We are honoured to be part of Glasgow's 850-year history. 'Taste the Place is an excellent opportunity for us to share not only our sweets but also our story with those who walk through our door.' 'Neither of us could believe it when they asked if we would be involved,' Julie continues. 'The food scene in Glasgow is amazing at the moment with such a huge variety of talent, we're absolutely delighted to be included on the list.' Glickman's Confectionery is located at 157 London Road in Glasgow. To learn more about Taste the Place, visit
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The inside story of Glickman's - Glasgow's oldest sweet shop
'In the end, we found that crushed white sugar mice worked best, so on the TV they held up a plastic bag filled with that.' 'The best request was a crowbar to fling into the Clyde for an episode where someone was disposing of a murder weapon," her daughter Julie Birkett jumps in to add. "We ended up making a long stick out of rock candy." Pictured: Mother and daughter duo Irene and Julie Birkett of Glickman's (Image: Supplied) It's just one of the fascinating stories the pair manages to pack into an hour-long interview, each taking turns to spur each other on. There's talk of a visit from TV chef Jamie Oliver, a chat with a customer which led to the adoption of a beloved canine friend, Bailey, and even the start of a long-term romantic relationship. 'These paramedics used to stop in now and then for sweets, and one day one of them came in alone to ask if I would ever consider going on a motorbike trip with his colleague,' Julie tells me. 'I said 'eh, no way'. 'Anyway. That's us still together 15 years later'. Pictured: Glickman's was established in 1903 by Isaac Glickman (Image: Supplied) Before any of this would come to pass, the retail shop's journey first began with Isaac Glickman, grandfather to Irene and great-grandfather to Julie in 1903. Although details of his early life remain scarce, it is believed that he emigrated from Poland to Glasgow with the ambition of selling homemade confectionery. The shop became known for its tablet recipe, utilising cream rather than butter, and when war later broke out, queues for aniseed-infused 'cough tablet', which was deemed medicinal and therefore unaffected by rationing, would often stretch down the street. In more recent years, having discovered Glickman's handwritten recipes after his passing, the current owners undertook a mission to preserve them, translating his text from old metrics and committing themselves to learning the craft of confectionery by enrolling at the Food Technology College, now City of Glasgow College. Irene says: 'When my father died, the shop was passed down to our family. 'Though we had no prior experience in confectionery, Julie and I were determined to maintain his recipes. 'Mum and I went along to the college once a week, every week, for two years,' Julie confirms. Pictured: Glickman's is renowned for its handmade sweets, which include classic favourites including cream tablet, macaroon cake, candy balls, and Krispets (Image: Supplied) Holding a key role in the shop's day-to-day operations, she is keen to stress the importance of preserving these traditional recipes: 'Our sweets are not just a treat; they're a link to the past. Whether it's a bag of soor plooms or a handful of handmade tablet, our customers are experiencing something that has been part of Glasgow's history for generations.' While each day brings with it the joy of interacting with customers old and new, maintaining an independently run retail shop in the current climate is not without its difficulties. Their location on the edge of Glasgow Green means that Glickman's will often be affected by nearby football matches or be forced to shut due to music concerts and festivals which the team say leave locals less likely to leave their homes in search of a sweet treat. Still, one of the toughest challenges in the shop's history also served as a welcome reminder of what their service means to the community. 'Covid wiped out so many small businesses like ours across Scotland,' Irene said. 'We were shut, then open, and shut again, so there was no sense of normality at all: it was just awful. 'When we opened again, we thought that there was no way we would ever catch up, but we were totally shocked at just how many people were happy to see us back. 'We're so grateful to them. It was quite an amazing thing.' Pictured: Take your pick of sweet treats from the shelves (Image: Supplied) Though the peak of the pandemic is slowly becoming a distant memory, Glickman's now must contend with the rising prices of ingredients from chocolate to coconut, over which they have no control. 'All of your costs are going up and essentially you're working for less money, but we don't want to put our prices up,' Julie says. 'We've always been known for keeping our prices reasonable and some of our customers have been coming here for decades. 'It's hard, taking the hit, but the support we continue to get from them has been really encouraging.' Beyond its historical significance, Glickman's Confectionery plays an active role in the local community. The shop has long supported the Glasgow Film Theatre's Movie Memories initiative, a dementia-friendly film programme that seeks to make cinema accessible to everyone. The team contributes to the initiative by providing small bags of sweet nostalgia for attendees, helping individuals living with dementia feel more connected to their surroundings. Pictured: Irene carries on her grandfather's legacy at Glickman's (Image: Supplied) Over the years, they have also worked extensively with community groups such as The Brownies and also give those visiting Glasgow a warm welcome by acting as a pit stop for the red double-decker buses which ferry tourists from landmark to landmark. Julie says: 'Our goal is to be more than just a sweet shop. 'It's about fostering a sense of community and belonging: whether through supporting Movie Memories or bringing together generations of Glasgow residents, we are proud to play our part in creating a welcoming space for all.' Read more: This year, celebrating Glasgow's 850th birthday as one of the 44 establishments participating in the Taste the Place initiative, Glickman's Confectionery invites both locals and visitors to savour the flavours of the city's past while celebrating its vibrant future. Whether enjoying a traditional sweet or learning about the history behind each treat, Glickman's offers a unique opportunity to experience a taste of Glasgow's cultural heritage. Irene says: 'We are honoured to be part of Glasgow's 850-year history. 'Taste the Place is an excellent opportunity for us to share not only our sweets but also our story with those who walk through our door.' 'Neither of us could believe it when they asked if we would be involved,' Julie continues. 'The food scene in Glasgow is amazing at the moment with such a huge variety of talent, we're absolutely delighted to be included on the list.' Glickman's Confectionery is located at 157 London Road in Glasgow. To learn more about Taste the Place, visit
Glasgow Times
08-05-2025
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow college led tributes to student who died in hotel
Samorine Djene Touré, 26, was discovered in a hotel in London. She studied Travel and Tourism at City of Glasgow College in the city centre, and they've paid tribute to her. A City of Glasgow College spokesperson said: 'It is utterly heartbreaking to hear of the tragic passing of Samorine Djene Toure, a former Travel and Tourism student here at City of Glasgow College. Our deepest condolences go to Samorine's family, friends, and former classmates for this very sad loss.' "Samorine completed a HNC in Travel and Tourism in 2016/17 here at City. READ MORE: Police update after firefighters close off Glasgow street READ MORE: Homes facing nearly 10-hour outage after power cut strikes "She then enrolled in the HND Travel and Tourism course for 2017/18 before moving on from the College in November 2017." Former Knightswood Secondary School pupil Samorine worked for ScotRail and lived in the Yoker area. The cause of her death remains unknown at this stage. City of Glasgow College where Samorine studied (Image: Archive) A London Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "On Sunday, 4 May at 11:25hrs, police were notified by the London Ambulance Service about the death of a woman at Kendal Gardens, N18. "Officers attended alongside paramedics, and a 26-year-old woman was sadly declared dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed. "Her death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious at this time. Officers are currently awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination that will be held in due course." A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:'We were called at 11.12am on Sunday 4 May to reports of an incident on Kendal Gardens, N18. 'We sent an ambulance crew and a clinical team manager to the scene. 'Our first paramedics arrived in approximately four minutes. 'Very sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.' Her family have started a GoFundMe page to raise funds to have Samorine's body transported and buried in Côte d'Ivoire. They wrote: "We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts to ask for your support. "Our beloved Samorine Djene Touré recently passed away in the UK, and her wish was to be laid to rest in our homeland, Côte d'Ivoire. "The costs associated with transporting a body internationally are significant, including transportation fees and customs clearance. "We want to honour Djene's wish, but we are facing financial challenges in making this happen. "We are asking for your generosity in this sad time to help us towards covering these expenses and bring Djene home to her final resting place. "Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a huge difference and will be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your kindness and support during this difficult time." You can find out more about the GoFundMe page here.
