Jack Aitchison's Review of The Year: Marches, fires and Fernando Ricksen's death

In fact, I’m fully prepared for the complaints this article will receive for the inaccuracy in the headline. But it’s Christmas, so I’m appealing to your kind nature to let this one slide.

I joined the team on September 4 – back when it was just the Evening Times. Glasgow has always been at the heart of what this paper does, so the name change felt only natural.

I was brought in as a Multimedia Journalist, which I believe makes my role even more exciting than that of my colleagues. I have the opportunity to cover what I want when I want (within reason, of course) in-depth for the paper – while also helping make us the prominent, proud voice in Glasgow online.

Not only have we, in the last year, pulled together some incredible exclusives, the growth in digital stats is clear as day highlighting a strong connection with the people in our city.

Such is the way with such a diverse, dynamic and dramatic place like Glasgow, my first few days and weeks were far from a walk in the park. Instead one could only describe it as a 13,000-foot parachute jump into a swimming pool filled with sectarian marches, fires, the small matter of an election and a sleep out for the homeless. Oh, did I mention marches? And fires?

All that in just 16 weeks, too.

I was proud to cover Fernando Ricksen's funeral

READ MORE: Fernando Ricksen's funeral: Final farewell for Rangers legend

September was a real eye-opener for me. Having previously been on the scene in Govan when riot-like scenes erupted as Loyalists protested an Irish Republican event, I – and the resilience of the city – was put to the test.

Being on the scene on September 7 – when more than 1000 Irish Republican marchers and Loyalist protesters took to the city centre – I found myself faced with one of our city’s more questionable behaviours. On occasions, I was approached, by either group, questioning what I was doing and why – with language not suitable for print. Fellow journalists and I were just metres away when a firework thrown by a protestor hit and injured a police officer.

To say marches was one of the biggest stories for the city this year would be an understatement. Not a day would pass in September without more coverage – twists and turns in a complicated and divisive saga.

But as divisive as that was, I was quickly reminded of Glasgow’s heart. On September 18, Rangers footballing legend Fernando Ricksen died aged 43.

It fills me with the utmost pride that as a young reporter I was given the opportunity to cover his funeral at Wellington Church. The Dutchman in his final years showed this city the real meaning of life, touching the hearts of everyone even after his death. As his funeral cortege passed Ibrox, a sea of red, white, blue, orange and spots of green paved the way as even the fiercest rivals came together to pay their respects.

George Parsonage of the Glasgow Humane Society

READ MORE: Glasgow river rescuer who saved thousands charts new course

I watched as the likes of Michael Mols, Bobby Petta, Peter Lovenkrands, Neil Lennon, Steven Gerrard and more attended the emotional service – providing continuous updates online as well as writing an in-depth piece for the paper’s splash. This also ended up on the front page of our sister title, The Herald.

In a change of pace, I ended the month breaking the news that George Parsonage, who has saved thousands of lives on the River Clyde throughout his life, was taking a step back from his duties at the Glasgow Humane Society.

Never off-the-ball, my interview with the riverman was even delayed by 30 minutes as he was forced to race out on a lifeboat towards yet another emergency. He politely excused himself as he donned his life jacket… I was more than understanding.

My work was widely shared across the country, with BBC, STV, and numerous papers and websites picking up the tale.

Just a few days later, on October 3, I was sent out to Allison Street in Govanhill after a ground-floor flat was gutted by fire leaving 12 people needing treatment for smoke inhalation.

My story on a tanning salon posting images of golliwogs divided our readers

READ MORE: Glasgow tanning salon used 'racist' golliwog dolls to promote business

I met with the granddaughter of the resident who lived there, who welcomed me inside to film and photograph the shocking scenes, with the entire flat left decimated.

The heartbroken woman, who asked not to be named, told me: “Now we need to go about rebuilding an old man’s life, but how do we do that. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Glasgow is never without surprise, something I learned on October 15. Our front page that day led with my story about a row over a city tanning salon using “racist” golliwog dolls to promote its business.

The behaviour was widely condemned, and the company apologised for what they described as a “lazy attempt at humour”. That story once again showed a clear division in our readers – many defending the salon for the joke, others furious at their actions.

On November 10 our city was rocked by yet another devastating fire. Dozens of locals were evacuated from Albert Drive. The tenement later collapsed as a result.

The scene the following day was something more suited to the World War Blitz than a 21stcentury street – it truly is a miracle that no-one was seriously injured.

Albert Drive was devastated by fire

READ MORE: 'That could have been me': Residents describe Pollokshields fire drama

I spoke to a young woman who lived just around the corner – she previously lived in the top floor flat hit by the blaze – her old bedroom nothing but rubble three-storeys below. The community was, to say the least, heartbroken.

But the resilience of Glasgow shone through. Groups from across the city teamed together – offering food, warm clothes and places to stay to complete strangers. When people need help, the city answers.

Two days later I had another splash on a story very close to my heart. My investigation found that fewer than half of all Glasgow’s railway stations were fully accessible – with a shocking 39% having no disabled access at all.

My brother relies on a wheelchair. To live in a modern and forward-thinking, open society yet exclude so many people from their independence worried me.

Now if you weren’t aware, a general election just took place. With a keen interest in politics and a desire to maximise our online content, I put myself forward to run a live blog from the Glasgow count at the SEC.

I slept homeless for the night with volunteers from HtHG

READ MORE: Reporter Jack Aitchison spends a night on Glasgow's streets with volunteers from Help the Homeless

I worked throughout the night with our political correspondent, creating video pieces, keeping the city in-the-loop from the inside, and live-tweeting the results as they happened. Our online engagement and readership on the night was huge – much greater than expected – while the SNP moved to win all seven seats in the city.

And it was straight from one night shift to the next, as I joined Help the Homeless Glasgow for their sleepout to round off a busy few months.

Over 100 people slept on Buchanan Street on December 16 to raise awareness for the city’s rough sleeping crisis, as official figures emerged revealing 45 homeless people died in Glasgow last year.

The story, like many others I covered this year, reminded me why I do this job. Glasgow is a city like no other.

Of course, being a journalist for the Glasgow Times I would say that. But it’s true. Our city comes together in times of hardship to support those in need – regardless of who they are, where they come from or what drove them to need help.

Thank you, Glasgow. Here’s to another action-packed year.