THERE may still be some people who choose Greenock Fair for their summer holidays but nothing like the number that once did.

Back in 1969, Fair Friday fell on July 4 and the following day’s Telegraph gave a round-up of holiday destinations and day trips.

In addition to locals flying to continental destinations, Fair Friday trains to Glasgow for connections within Scotland and south of the border had been crammed with holidaymakers.

Gourock Pier was thronged on Fair Friday with people waiting to leave for holidays at coastal resorts.

The most popular steamers were those on the Tarbert, Campbeltown, Arran and Rothesay runs.

Doig’s, the Greenock coach operators, reported that the bus that left on Fair Friday for a nine-day Irish tour was fully booked, and all seats had been taken for the firm’s Fair Saturday day trips to Braemar, Burntisland, Campbeltown, Girvan, Kirkcaldy, and the Trossachs.

About 400 members of Greenock Ex-Servicemen’s Club and their friends were leaving on Fair Saturday for their annual outing to Dunoon.

Fair Monday would see 160 members of the Tail of the Bank Club fly from Prestwick for America and Canada.

It was the eighth charter flight arranged by the club. After crossing the Atlantic members would split into individual groups to visit family and friends, and would be away for about a month.

The Tail of the Bank Club was already looking ahead and planned to send 300 members across the Atlantic in 1970.

Boys and officers from local BB companies were attending camps in Scotland, England and Ireland.

The Fair Fortnight destinations were: 1st Coy – South Cliff, Bridlington; 3rd, 11th and 17th – Kintore, Aberdeenshire; 4th – Inverurie, Aberdeenshire; 5th – Bught Park, Inverness; 7th – Kilchattan Bay, Bute; 8th – Carnlough, Northern Ireland; 9th – Glenluce, Wigtownshire; 12th, Borgue, Kirkcudbright; 14th – Arbroath; and 21st – Montrose.