A SMALL group has banded together to highlight Irvine Old Parish churchyard.

The seven men are aiming to promote a greater awareness of the historic importance of the old Kirkyard and they plan to preserve and restore memorials and boundary walls of the Kirkyard.

Organiser Billy Kerr said: “We intend to do our wee bit by monthly days on action, trimming graveslabs etc. We’ve named ourselves Irvine Kirkyard Restoration Group and recently we had a very successful afternoon bringing to life several ancient memorials that had almost sunken out of sight under the graveyard turf.” Members in the above picture include, (l-r), David Jeffries, Billy Kerr, Simon Jeffries, Roger Kentfield, Ken Roden, Keith Henry and Ian Clarkson. The graveslab in the foreground belonged to an ancient Irvine family the Barclays of Warrix who were Provosts and Baillies in the town.

See more in this week's Irvine Times, out now.