Launched in June 1983, The Glasgow's Miles Better Campaign was one of the best promotions ever mounted by a British city. 

The campaign was originally the brainchild of advertising guru John Struthers, and its message was vigorously promoted by Lord Provost Michael Kelly and PR man Harry Diamond.

The campaign was an initiative aimed at correcting the outdated ideas that many people in Scotland, the UK and abroad had of the city.  The aim was to inform and educate people that Glasgow was no longer the proverbial 'No Mean City'.

The advertising was concentrated on the ABC1 market - namely those people who make or influence decisions, particularly of a commercial nature.  This is also the area where perceptions of Glasgow were poorest.

The low budget campaign featured Roger Hargreaves' smiley 'Mr Happy' character telling visitors that Glasgow's Miles Better.  'Mr Happy' was chosen basically because he was an instantly identifiable character who illustrated the double meaning of the slogan Miles Better/Smiles Better.  Almost overnight perceptions about Glasgow were radically altered.

There was a genuinely fresh and tangible buzz about the city, which made way for the subsequent awarding of the Garden Festival and Year of Culture accolades.

The Mr Happy drive had run its course by 1989 and was  replaced by "Glasgow's Alive" campaign - but the Miles Better thrust was successfully resurrected again in 1994.