Glasgow's Govanhill Baths celebrations ends with major event

And to send the celebrations out with a bang, Govanhill Baths Community Trust is holding a two-day conference hailing the occupation of public buildings.

The Calder Street hub was taken over by protestors on March 17, 2001 in an action that lasted until August 7 that year when police stormed the premises.

It was the longest occupation of a public building in British history.

Threats by Glasgow City Council to shut the much-loved local resource also led to the 24-hour picket by the Save Our Pool: Southside Against Closure campaign group.

Not only is 2021 an important year for the Baths, it also marks the anniversary of a number of other notable occupations in the central belt of Scotland.

These include the 50th anniversary of the landmark work-in by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders; the 40th anniversary of the seven-month sit-in by Lee Jeans factory workers in Greenock; and the 10th anniversary of the Free Heatherington anti-austerity protests by Glasgow University students.

Govanhill Baths Community Trust is coordinating a two-day conference using the 20th anniversary of the occupation of the Baths as a starting point to celebrate similar protests in the central belt of Scotland.

It will feature a variety of speakers, from those directly involved in the occupations to academics and researchers working in the area.

The conference will also see the launch of the Govanhill Baths Occupation comic strip by Magic Torch Comics, kick starting a graphic novel that will be published in March 2022.

There will also be an exclusive performance from video and performance artist Donna Rutherford.

Fatima Uygun, manager of Govanhill Baths Community Trust, said: “We’re so excited to be able to celebrate the historic occupation of the Baths, and so many other organisations, in this way.

"Not only will we be marking the 20th anniversary, but we’ll be celebrating and exploring the power of occupations as effective protests to this day."