Edinburgh city centre was positively teeming with people keen to welcome home local sprinter Allan Wells, who was fresh from securing Olympic gold in Moscow for the 100m dash.
Also in sport, Hearts, having been relegated for the first time in their history, won the First Division at the first attempt and were back in the top flight by the summer.
Generous Evening News readers donated money towards equipping Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary with a Flying Squad ambulance.
And Edinburgh Castle’s historic Mons Meg cannon was removed and sent to Armadale steel works for testing.
1. Billy Connolly smoking 1980
Legendary comedian Billy Connolly with a cigarette during an interview in Edinburgh in August 1980.
Photo: Albert Jordan
2. Hearts v Hibs 1980
Willie Gibson in action during the Hearts v Hibs Edinburgh Derby football match at Tynecastle in August 1980. Hearts were newly-promoted after being relegated to the First Division in season 1978-79.
Photo: Bill Newton
3. Allan Wells in Edinburgh after 1980 Olympics
Scottish athlete Allan Wells (with wife Margot Wells) waves to the Edinburgh crowds from an open-topped bus in August 1980. Wells won an Olympic gold medal in Moscow for the 100m dash with a time of 10.25 seconds.
Photo: Ian Brand Joe Steele
4. ERI Flying Squad ambulance 1980
Evening News readers raised money to equip the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary hospital with a Flying Squad ambulance in December 1980. Dr Keith Little shows how the storage system works.
Photo: Alan Ledgerwood