Photos Past & Present

A period street scene in Union Street, Aberdeen in 1979. A Grampian 1959 Daimler bus, fleet number 343, registration plate SGD243, route number 24 and destination board 'Union Terrace' pulls away from the traffic lights at the junction of Union Terrace and Bridge Street. It is a busy Saturday and the footpaths are full of shoppers wearing wide flared trousers and laden with carrier bags. A 1970 Mk III Ford Cortina Ghia Estate, registration plate RRS874J pulls away in the opposite direction, whilst a Ford Capri and Ford Cortina follow the bus towards the traffic lights, which are the now rare cast iron variety adorned in black & white and probably dating back to the early 1940's. Generally, Union Street is not much different today other than the shops and buildings which are put to different use or have been refurbished and modernised in some ways. The C&A store closed in 2000 and is presently a Travelodge hotel with a Barclays Bank and Boots Chemist at ground level. What is now HMV, waterstones and Pizza Hut was back in 1979 Dorothy Perkins, Willerby Tailoring and the Saxone store. An interesting look at a busy Saturday shopping scene in the 70's. (order ref: bw015x)