AN Ayrshire country legend will be hitting the stage this week to raise funds for Irvine’s community radio station.

Entertainer Sydney Devine will perform at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock this Friday, May 11 and will donate his fee to Irvine Beat FM.

Sydney, who has been entertaining fans for over 50 years and still going strong, understands the importance of local radio.

As well as being a successful entertainer, he had regular shows at Radio Clyde in the 1970’s and 1980’s before moving to Westsound in Ayr.

Irvine Beat FM are a registered charity and rely on the kindness of strangers and available grants to keep going.

Later this year the station celebrate their fifth birthday as a full time community radio station and they have already been given the go ahead from OFCOM to continue broadcasting for another five years, which is great news for all their listeners.

Irvine Beat FM’s Ceilidh Show presenter Jim Higgins said: “I’ve known Sydney for such a long time and I was gobsmacked when he suggested doing this show for the station. It’s an amazing gesture from an entertainer of his stature”.

Irvine Beat FM Ceilidh presenter, Jim Higgins, was chatting to his good friend Sydney Devine, and Sydney asked how the station funds itself.

Jim explained that Irvine Beat FM is a registered charity, with all its presenters volunteers who give up their time for free.

A few weeks later, Sydney approached Jim and said that he was going back on tour this year and that he would put on an extra show and donate his fee to Irvine Beat FM.

The show starts at 7pm on Friday, May 11, at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock. Tickets are available from the box office.