Forth & Clyde Canal celebrated in Maryhill

The day included a huge selection of land and water activities for everyone to enjoy. Visitors tried their hand at canoeing, kayaking and angling and enjoyed relaxing boat trips along the Forth & Clyde Canal.

There was also street theatre, model boats, exhibitions, arts & crafts and refreshments, as well as live music performances from a host of Scottish favourites including Tam White and his Shoestring Band, The Gutty Slippers, Punjabi No 1 and X-Factor finalist Nikitta. The day was rounded off in spectacular fashion with the ‘burning’ of the 'Big Man'.

The event was developed to celebrate artist Andy Scott’s latest engineering design of a giant steel sculpture, known as the ‘Maryhill Bigman’, which will act as a footbridge at Stockingfield Junction.

The project has just received funding for the second stage of the design process and it is hoped that the event will encourage the local community to find out more about the future plans for the canal and the great things you can do and see on the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Andy Scott, the creator of the Kelpies (the centrepiece of the Helix Project), came up with the concept of the 30m steel sculpture after British Waterways Scotland asked the artist to design a public art work that would also become the bridge at Stockingfield Junction.

Andy, who works in Maryhill, said: "It's a really exciting project to be involved in. I’ve worked in Maryhill for over 15 years now and know how important the canal was to the history of the area and the city of Glasgow. The design evolved from the structural engineering of a world unique bridge to link the communities and increase use of the canal. The intention is that the 'Bigman' holding up the footbridge will be representational of the historic ironworks, boat-building and other industries that were found in the Maryhill area. I hope he becomes a symbol of the area’s proud history and a beacon of hope for the future."

Bringing the 'Big Man' event to life was a partnership between The Waterways Trust Scotland, Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership (British Waterways Scotland, Glasgow City Council, ISIS), Cube Housing, Glasgow Housing Association, Queen’s Cross Housing Association, Sustrans Scotland and Maryhill Housing Association. It is supported by Diageo.