Just as the harness weaver had a draw-boy, each block printer had a tearer. These tearers were boys and girls, and if the draw-boys were a demonstrative class, the tearers were not behind them. When the day’s work was over, they issued in a stream from the orate, their hands and arms stained with all the colours of the rainbow, and they made the streets lively on the way home.

Living and working in Renfrewshire for many years and where my home and my family are, I know first hand that Paisley and Renfrewshire has so much to offer, from our rich heritage and wide variety of visitor attractions, to the warm friendly welcome you'll get from communities in our towns and villages. We want to make our place somewhere where everyone feels at home.

Wandering down cobbled wynds, up hidden stairs, going inside the wonderful green-roofed abbey and finding the tomb of Marjorie Bruce – what a revelation. Paisley is so rich with history – and I started wondering – why do we not shout about this place more? Why don’t we tell Paisley’s story to the world?