Glasgow Grand Central Hotel - 06/12/21

Irvine Seagate Rotary had a hybrid meeting on Monday, some attending at the hotel, and some by Zoom.  The speakers, by Zoom, were Jill Scott and Bill Hicks, talking about the history of the Glasgow Central Hotel.  Both former Sunday Post journalists, they got involved following the £20m renovation of the hotel in 2010 when they were invited to produce a brochure for hotel guests.  Built in 1883, the Central was one of the best hotels in Britain at the height of the empire, and for over 140 years it has welcomed visitors from royalty to Roy Rogers and Trigger, The Beales to Mae West.  In the 1960s the hotel was ‘modernised’, and all of the luxurious woodwork and marble was hidden behind smooth plywood linings.  It is now restored to its former glory.  

Jill and Bill unearthed so much information and so many fascinating stories that the proposed brochure became a fully illustrated book, Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel.  They were very good and entertaining speakers, and a Vote of Thanks was proposed by Andy Slater.  Next week the speaker will be from Barnardo’s children’s charity.