THE FAMILY of a legendary busker of the High Street who sadly passed away have been ‘blown away’ by the outpouring of love and support for him.

Michael Hynes died after a short battle with cancer on Thursday, April 16, aged 55.

The entertainer of shoppers and passers by on the High Street was so well-known that even the council registrar had a story to tell, when his older sister, Clare Kennedy called to register her brother’s death.

Clare, 66, stays in France has been arranging his funeral from the continent as she is unable to travel due the coronavirus lockdown.

But she says the family have taken great comfort in the loving tributes from Ayr.

Clare told the Advertiser: “We have been blown away by the outpouring of love and people thanking him for cheering them up.

“This was the life we didn’t know he led. We always knew he was a busker, but the outpouring of comments has really touched us. It’s really helped with the grieving process.”

Michael was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer three weeks ago. He received treatment in Ayr hospital and at the Beatson in Glasgow, with Clare unable to travel to see her brother due to coronavirus lockdown.

She said: “It was very quick. We didn’t have him as long as we thought we would.”

Michael, who came from a family of nine in Glasgow, will be remembered for his love of entertaining.

Clare said: “Michael managed to get a job as an apprentice computer engineer at the age of 16, but he gave it up because of his love for music.

“He loved singing, playing the guitar and entertaining people. He’d play at family parties. He was in a band when he was younger.”

Clare hopes to hold a celebration of Michael when the lockdown measures are lifted.

There has even been calls for a permanent tribute to the busker.

She added: “The people of Ayr took them to their hearts. There’s even been calls for him to have a plaque.

“When I was registering his death, even the registrar said they enjoyed going up the High Street on their lunch break to hear him sing.”

Fans of the performer, known as Mick, say the “High Street will never be the same again” after the news that he had lost his battle with cancer was announced last week.

Over the weekend heartfelt messages were shared of Mick, whose well-known repertoire will be fondly remembered.

He became a staple of the town for many years serenading shoppers and tourists with hits such as ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and ‘Caledonia’.

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