I can also spy one of my childhood loitering spots - the big, golden, wooded shotgun that used to hang outside gunsmith Alexander Martin's ever fascinating Royal Exchange Square shop. Its window was always packed with high-end shotguns, gruesome looking crossbows, and truly terrifying hunting knives. All the sort of stuff wee (and big) boys like.

Alexander Martin had been established in the 1820s and had branches in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Stirling. The firm had a shooting school at "grounds convenient to Glasgow" where customers were fitted with a gun to match their build and natural action.

The sign on the building along from the shotgun reads 'Overseas Forces Club'; a place where our French, Polish, Canadian, American, Australian, New Zealand and South African comrades in arms, all so far from home and family, could grab a cuppa, or something stronger.

The big beauty in the background, on the corner of Queen and Ingram Streets, is the former Glasgow HQ of the British Linen Bank. Sadly, it was demolished in 1970, by the Bank of Scotland, to make way for a new concrete office building. That too has now gone, to be replaced a curvy-walled glass and steel creation.

And what's that wee guy doing, left, seated on a bucket?; do we think he's offering to shine shoes?

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Please note that framed prints are only available for pick up from The Herald offices: 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB.

If you are interested in purchasing one of our products but live outside of the UK please get in touch.

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The Herald Picture Store is proud to present these images in their actual condition. We haven't manipulated these photographs and are proud of their character.

Please be aware that due to their age some images may show imperfections. This is as a result of the technology available at the time they were captured and/or scanned and saved for our records.