Clydebank Asbestos Group

The Clydebank Asbestos Group brought a vital and deeply personal dimension to the Threads of Time project. Their participation ensured that the human cost of Clydebank’s industrial heritage was acknowledged and remembered.

Clydebank’s heavy industries, including shipbuilding and engineering, shaped the town’s identity, but they also left a legacy of health challenges for many workers and families. The Asbestos Group, established to support those affected by asbestos-related illness, played a key role in sharing these experiences, ensuring that this chapter of Clydebank’s history is not forgotten.

Preserving Stories of Industry and Resilience

Clydebank Memories

Margaret MacDonald takes us back to her youth in Clydebank, where streets were lined with family-run shops and the landscape was constantly changing as the town recovered from the devastation of the Blitz.

Ina Runs

A remarkable story of how running in marathons helped one woman cope with the heartbreak of devastating loss and why running took her from Clydebank to base of the Eiger.

Jimmy's Puffer

How a chance conversation between two friends led to the creation of an iconic 24ft steel puffer boat, resulting in new friendships around the world.

Stanley in SIngers

Stanley MacDonald remembers his time on the ‘heaving blanking’ line in Singers Sewing before moving up to being a shop steward.

Walter Potter Ritchie

Stanley MacDonald shares the story of his wife’s grandfather, who demonstrated incredible courage during the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, for which he was later awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V.

Digital Storytelling – Capturing Lived Experiences

Working with artist Paul Bristow from Magic Torch, the group participated in a series of creative workshops that led to the production of five short narrative reels. These films capture personal accounts of life in Clydebank’s industrial era, the impact of asbestos exposure, and the resilience of families who faced these challenges. The stories are honest, moving, and essential for understanding the social and economic realities of the time.

Sessions were held at the Asbestos Group’s office on Kilbowie Road, supported by staff from both Community Links Scotland and the group itself. These workshops provided a safe space for participants to share their stories and contribute to Clydebank’s heritage archive.

Thanks to National Lottery players