FROM dinosaurs and drama to inspirational schoolchildren and world-changing women, over the last 12 months at the Glasgow Times I have written about them all.

In January, I caught up with Cora Bissett, creator of the Glasgow Girls, to discuss how the musical play – about seven teenagers from Drumchapel whose lives changed forever when their friend and her asylum-seeking family were forcibly taken from their home to be deported – was still relevant today.

I went behind the scenes at Glasgow Children’s Holiday Scheme, a magnificent charity which gives young people and families adventure, escape and the chance to explore new places, as it marked its 60th anniversary – and spent much more time than I should have being excited about Dippy the Dinosaur’s arrival at Kelvingrove.

The Natural History Museum’s famous skeleton was popping in to Glasgow as part of a national tour, and it had dino-fans in a frenzy.

It was a real privilege to interview Glasgow author AH Proctor, who spoke movingly about how writing helped her cope with the loss of her mother; and comedian Craig Hill was a joy to chat to ahead of his city shows in February.

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March belonged to Lucy Lintott and Maria Lyle, the newly crowned 2018 Scotswoman and Young Scotswoman of the Year respectively.

The MND campaigner and athlete were popular, worthy winners of our long-running celebration and the awards dinner, at the Grand Central Hotel, was a sparkling success.

The women I write about as part of SWOTY continue to inspire me long after the last glass of fizz has been polished off.

In March, for example, I spoke to Ann Moulds, the woman behind Action Against Stalking as she marked 10 years of her groundbreaking charity, and later in the year, I caught up with Sally Magnusson’s music charity Playlist for Life, as the Glasgow Times launched its dementia campaign.

In May, I worked closely with the fantastic team behind Face Equality Day, the UK’s only campaign to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equally whatever the appearance of their face or body. It is organised by Changing Faces, which supports the 1.3 million people in Britain with a mark, scar or condition that makes them look different.

Meeting Wishaw schoolboy Craig Mitchell, one of the charity’s youth ambassadors, was a highlight.

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Over the summer, I helped to profile 100 of the most incredible men and women who have put Glasgow on the map through science, the arts, politics, sport and more. Greatest Glaswegians was a bit of fun, which also provoked some heated debate both in the office and on our website and social media pages. In the end, the mighty Billy Connolly triumphed in the public vote and few people disagreed with that choice, at least.

In June, I spent an hour in the company of one of the nicest people on the planet. Keith Banks, chaplain at Glasgow Airport, retired after a decade in the job. Walking through the airport gave you a sense just how much he would be missed, as so many people came to chat and shake his hand.

In August, along with thousands of others, I mourned the sudden and devastating loss of Janice Eaglesham, Red Star Athletics coach and mentor, friend and inspiration to many.

Her late husband and fellow coach Ian Mirfin asked people attending the funeral to wear colourful clothing and sportswear and as a result, shades as bright as the day’s sunshine mingled with Commonwealth Games kilts, Team GB and Scotland tops and Red Star T-shirts.

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Janice would have thoroughly approved.

In September, everyone at the Herald and Times waited with bated breath to see how our fly-on-the-wall documentary The Papers would be received. (I successfully dodged the cameras).

Just a few weeks later, it was all change as the Evening Times became the Glasgow Times, with a new editor and a new look for a bright new future.

I met the incredible Annabelle Gray in October. Her innovative ‘home to hospital’ approach to caring for her husband was being recognised by the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) and Annabelle received the centre’s 2019 celebration medal in recognition of her contribution to dementia care and her inspirational work with students and medical staff.

Later that month, I broke the story that a crime prevention scheme which helped a teen who committed nearly 600 offences turn his life around was to be rolled out across the UK.

Anyone who thinks nostalgia isn’t what it used to be should catch up with our new Times Past pages – it’s been fantastic writing about Glasgow’s landmark anniversaries and the famous faces who have graced our city over the decades, as well as continuing our popular Thanks for the Memories series sharing stories and photos from our readers. Getting famous and not-so-famous to share tales of their schooldays has been fun, too.

Community reporting is at the heart of what we do and this year, as well as having the chance to work on the fabulous Glasgow Community Champions Awards, I marked nine years of Streets Ahead, our campaign which encourages neighbours and friends to work together to improve their neighbourhoods for the benefit of all.

The initiative reaches people in every corner of the city, from choirs in fine voice in the Gorbals to pizza-oven builders bringing joy to a community garden in Kinning Park.

To all who have allowed me to tell their stories this year – thank you, and happy new year to all Glasgow Times readers.