AN ‘Old Neilston’ exhibition was a smash-hit this week in 2003 - attracting 300 visitors.

Over two days, folk of all ages, from schoolkids to the elderly, went along to view an amazing selection of displays featuring places and people from yesteryear.

Locals gave the exhibition rave reviews and said they were looking forward to the next one.

Organiser Peter Johnstone, of the Barrhead and Neilston Historical Society, said: “I tried to make it the best exhibition there has ever been in the village — and I hope I achieved this.

“There was a great turn-out and I enjoyed listening to people’s stories. Everyone enjoyed looking back and discussing things in the past. It was more like a reunion - people spent time chatting and catching up.”

An enthusiast for local history, Peter spent three months preparing the presentation, utilising his own endless collection of photographs.

He also gathered memorabilia from others and put in plenty of research to find out more about Neilston.

Some of the most eye-catching exhibits at the Glen Halls included a photograph of a World War II refugee, ‘Gibraltar Boy’, who stayed in a camp, which is now Kingston Avenue.

The collection included photographs of Victorian Neilston, featuring thatched cottages and showing the old cobbled streets.

There were also poems about Neilston during the war.