The City Bakeries Boys Camp Log Book Collection
A collection of material relating to the annual City Bakeries Boys' Camp
About City Bakeries
City Bakeries on Cathcart Road, 1935, Copyright Glasgow City Archives D-CA8/592
After the First World War, Glasgow became a major manufacturer of baked goods and confectionery. By the 1930s City Bakeries had more than 60 branches and, after Lyons, was the largest retail baker in Britain. The bakery’s building, in Clarendon Street, Glasgow was built in about 1887 by the Friendly Bread Association, and completely rebuilt in 1924-8 for City Bakeries Ltd, who operated a chain of shops throughout Glasgow.
Van outside City Bakery Building Clarendon Street Glasgow
About the collection
Second annual camp to Kilchattan Bay, Bute
The City Bakeries Boys Camp was held yearly – this collection contains log books from 1921 – 1939, and contains a total of 333 photographs, and camp logs for each year, including expenditure. Apprentices employed by the company attended the camps in early July of each year, which were held in various UK locations including Bute, Aberdour, Whiting Bay, Bangor, Groomsport, Isle of Man and Northumberland.
One of the log books describes the object of the camps: “The object to be aimed at in welfare work should be to develop the physical and moral wellbeing of the boys and in the camp, one has such an opportunity. It is some reward to feel one has helped one’s younger brothers and instilled the seeds of 'Esprit de corps'.”
The camp log books document the activities at the camps, which included camping, swimming, cricket, boating, fishing, football and tennis. They held a “visitors’ day” when family members and employers would visit and take part in games and activities. The camp often included members of the 97th Scouts, and there was an annual cricket match between the two groups.
Tenth annual camp at Bogany Farm, Rothesay 1930
Entries in the log books document contemporary events, including the introduction of a gramophone (1928), the visit of the King and Queen to Glasgow (1927), a strike of seamen on the Clyde (1933), the Irish Free State (1933), and a shooting incident in Belfast (1935).
The last logbook in 1939 portends the war: “1939 has been a year of hopes and fears, hopes that peace might be preserved and fear or war breaking out.”
Finding aid
City Bakeries Boys Camp Log Book Collection Listing (PDF, 131KB)
Contact us
We welcome feedback from library users.
Contact us to let us know how we are doing or if you want to find out more.