The Hidden Glasgow Forums

In February 1967, Alexei Nikolaievich Kosygin the then Premier (Prime Minister) of the Soviet Union visited Glasgow.

I found these pics when i was raking through the Scotand - Russia Trust (Formerly Scotland - USSR Society) Archive whilst looking for stuff for their website. Hope you enjoy this small selection from about 200 pics Comrades!



Kosygin arrives in George Square with Police Motorcycle Escort.
(This is one of the few colour photos in the archive, it was taken by a member of the Scotland - USSR Society - not their official photographer)

Upon arrival in George Square, Kosygin and entourage walk towards their awaiting public.





Kosygin meets his adoring Glasgow public. Note Plackard on left. "Welcome to your target area Kosygin"





All photos courtesy of the Scotland - Russia Trust Archive.

Oh, wasnt political diversity great Before the advent of global competativenessness...

Vladimir wrote:Oh, wasnt political diversity great Before the advent of global competativenessness...

Aye Political diversity was great, but it transpired that Kosygin was a bit of a Rangers Fan.

Socceroo wrote:

Vladimir wrote:Oh, wasnt political diversity great Before the advent of global competativenessness...

Aye Political diversity was great, but it transpired that Kosygin was a bit of a Rangers Fan.

Maybe not. I'm looking at that photo thinking "it's not Ibrox with a terracing that low and a main stand that wee". A wee dig about shows it's Rugby Park, Kilmarnock and here's Kosygin meeting the Killie players as well.

It's definitely Rugby Park, i was just having a wee joke about him being a Rangers Fan.

Where did you dig up that Pic Schiehallion? I have a photo of the same scene from a different angle.

The Scotland - USSR Society's Photographer at that time was a member of the Society who i believe also worked for the Scotsman. I wonder if the Photo you posted is from the same set.

There's quite a few on Scran.

Thanks for the info Schiehallion, i see the Photo's on Scran are by the Scotsman, which ties in nicely with it the Scotand - USSR Society photographer - Hugh... McLinden? who followed Kosygin about Glasgow and Scotland.

I've discovered about 200No. Kosygin Photo's alone in the Scotland - USSR archive. There only seems to be one "doubler" between Scran and the Kosygin bundle which is the one of the group Resevoir Dogs style entering George Square.

There is about 15,000 photo's total in the Scotland - Russia Trust archive from 1945 - 1992. I am looking for some Photo's with buses in the backdrop for Glasgowken.

In the meantime.....




The adoring citizens of Glasgow call on their City fathers to come to the window.



No actually it is Comrade Kosygin they are waving to.





Anyone know where this little bit of street art is / was situated? (It is not in Glasgow)

Is that not Willie Ross Scottish Secretary of the time and MP for Kilmarnock in some of teh above photographs?

Socceroo wrote:

That's a good view of the building which had been derelict and took a hit from the Germans before it was pulled down and replaced by the Ernst & Young building in the north-east corner of George Square.

Dexter St. Clair wrote:Is that not Willie Ross Scottish Secretary of the time and MP for Kilmarnock in some of teh above photographs?

Which would explain Kosygin's presence at a Kilmarnock v Rangers match.

I don't know why Kosygin visited Kilmarnock as part of his visit, because Willie Ross was MP as well as Secretary for State may have been part of the reason.

I know there is also another reason, something to do with the town, but i don't think it was town twinning. Kilmarnock was twinned with a Soviet town eventually, but i think that came later.

I think Kosygin visited Burns Cottage also. I have got Photo's somewhere of him and his entourage with the Scotand - USSR Secretary of the day in and around the cottage.

There is also a lot of photographs of him in Kilmarnock and at Hunterston Power Station, which is where i think the bit of spherical sculpture was / is?



Kosygin arriving at train station getting the Red carpet treatment with pipe band. Is it Central Station?

Socceroo wrote:




Anyone know where this little bit of street art is / was situated? (It is not in Glasgow)

I'm sure I have seen this at a Power Station somewhere, Hunterston or Longannet maybe?

skintobalinto wrote:I'm sure I have seen this at a Power Station somewhere, Hunterston or Longannet maybe?

Yes i think it is Hunterston. It is scribbled on the back of a couple of the Photos with the spherical sculpture.

Here is some more Photos of Kosygin's visit...




Something has obviously caught their eyes. Maybe they are admiring the College of Building and Printings fine architecture.....maybe not.




Kosygin's admiring Glasgow public outside the City Chambers.




On the road from Glasgow to Kilmarnock to see Killie Vs Rangers.





Some more admirers at the roadside on the way to Kilmarnock.





In the stand at Rugby Park to see Killie Vs Rangers.





Rangers and Killie fans invading the pitch.

They are absolutely fantastic pictures.

Particularly like the woman greeting him with the wave of a "No deposit" sign.

JayKay wrote:They are absolutely fantastic pictures.

Particularly like the woman greeting him with the wave of a "No deposit" sign.

I'm currently, when i get the time, wading through about 15,000 or so Photos from the Scotland - Russia Trust archives.

The above pics are only the tip of the iceberg. I've found a few really good series of Photo's of Glasgow from after the war until the early 1990's.

One of the Scotland - Russia Trust's all time classic Photo's is of George Robertson and Brian Wilson in their younger days with CND badges on.

George Robertson who later became NATO Secretary General.