Remember when: The pier show takes centre stage

That was back on July 28, 1956 when a group of Capital-bound travellers had just docked in South Queensferry, having sailed from New York earlier that month on a 38-day cruise around the Baltic Coast and Scotland.

Despite his lack of knowledge on the famous Forth Bridge towering over the pier, the tourist and his companions were, without question, taken aback by the beauty of the area their boat had just arrived in.

Many rushed to tour it and Edinburgh for three days before travelling to Oban where the Caronia liner would be waiting for them.

Hawes Pier has welcomed millions of visitors over the years and continues to act as a platform for nautical trips in the modern day - as well as a launch pad for lifeboats, much like the one pictured here in September 1972.

The Evening News recently revealed plans for a long-overdue 1.6 million revamp of the structure, which dates back more than 300 years with its current walls built around 1817.

Cracks were discovered in 2006, along with subsidence, prompting concern from experts.

There was no sign of problems back in September 1964, though, when more than 100,000 people crammed themselves into South Queensferry - many on Hawes Pier - to enjoy the Royal opening of the Forth Road Bridge.

The then-prime minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, was cheered loudly by the crowd before the Queen arrived some 15 minutes later in her Daimler car. Before the Forth Road Bridge was completed, travellers made their way across the Firth of Forth either by train or using the Queensferry Passage - one of the oldest ferry routes in Britain, dating back to the 12th century.

In April 1956, the government promised to build a road bridge within eight years, sparking surprise from locals who had recently watched thousands of pounds being spent on new jetties, as well as an undisclosed sum on a new ferry boat, Sir William Wallace.