THE Stevenston community has said goodbye to one its most well-known sons, with the passing of community stalwart Gavin McInnes.

Born in the town in 1940, Gavin attended Ardeer Primary and then Stevenston Higher Grade and had four brothers in Daniel, Thomas, Robert and Billy.

He started working in ICI at just 15-years-old like so many in others in the area but he always had an interest in nature and environmental issues.

Gavin was married to Sadie in 1962 and the couple had four children, Neil, Iain, Morag and Gavin.

In 1975, he decided to leave ICI and take up a job at the Ardeer Community Centre alongside his wife. In the late 70’s and early 80’s Gavin started undertaking different mural projects with the unemployed youth of the area, teaching them respect, self worth and pride in their community and through these projects the ‘Giro Club’, as it was known locally, started to win national competitions, with the money received, Gavin chartered two A1 single decker buses and took the members to Spain for a well deserved holiday.

Gavin’s son described his dad as ‘The Original Banksy’ due to his work in the local area.

The tireless worker also built two islands on the Auchenharvie golf course ponds.

He met members of the Royal family on several occasions, in 1993 his club won the BP Youth Clubs Scotland award which was a national environmental project. Gavin along with Ricky Bathgate took five boys from Ardeer on a two-week, all expenses paid trip to America.

He then set his sights on building a pond at the Ardeer Quarry which was aptly name ‘Gavin’s wee pond’ and it was his wish to pass the upkeep of the pond on to Ian Hanlon.

Gavin famously undertook the painting of the much revered Robert Burns mural on the Stevenston sea wall.

In 2002, he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Voluntary Award where he attended a garden party at Holyrood and an evening reception at St James’ Palace in London with The Queen.

These are some of the projects that he was involved in but it doesn’t even start to cover the mentoring, encouragement and support he gave to generations of young people from Stevenston.

His wife Sadie, who sadly passed away in 2005, and Gavin were the Matriarch and Patriarch of the Ardeer community and they were proud of their community.

When things were bad, they encouraged people to do the best they could for themselves and for Ardeer.

Gavin retired back in 2005 but he continued to support the Ardeer Centre by joining their committee and becoming Chairperson, a post he held until his recent passing.

His family have said that the words of condolence that they have received from the community have been very humbling.

Gavin’s funeral will take place on Saturday, January 16 at Ardeer Parish Church at 9am and then at Hawkhill Cemetery at 10am followed afterwards at Stevenston Masonic Hall.