Well known Dreghorn man Jimmy Walker celebrated his 80th birthday recently with a large gathering of friends and family.

And the event in the Riverside Lodge Hotel raised more than £2,000 for Alzheimer’s Scotland.

Jimmy, who ran a joinery business in the town for years which is now operated by his son, is a former Deacon Convenor of Irvine Trades and a long standing member of Irvine’s Seagate Rotary Club.

He has also been a keen golfer and curler. His wife Anne told the Times: “It was an absolutely phenomenal night. A wonderful evening.

“Jimmy has Alzheimer’s, so we asked everyone to make a donation to Alzheimer’s Scotland instead of buying presents. We raised more thanb £200, with more to come in and Seagate Rotary topped it up with a £300 donation, which was wonderful.

“Around 90 people attended, with many friends and family coming from down south or overseas, including from Cornwall and my daughter from Barbados, 3,000 miles away.

“There were many members of Irvine Trades and Seagate Rotary there and the entertainer for the evening Glen R, even sang Jimmy’s favourite song, New York, New York.

“The Riverside did us proud and the room looked magnificent, with a delicious meal.

“Jim Fairgreave, from Seagate Rotary, proposed a lovely toast to Jimmy. I would also like to thank Grassroots from Irvine for the flowers which were beautiful and Eileen from Lovely Little Cakes, for making a magnificent cake for the occasion.

“Jimmy was known as the Man With the Golden Hammer and there was a golden hammer on the cake. It was a great night.”