TRIBUTES have been paid to a Kilwinning stalwart who sadly passed away last week.

Jim Kennedy, who cared deeply for Kilwinning’s rich history and heritage sadly died on Thursday aged 76.

Jim was a dedicated member of Kilwinning Heritage and longest-serving member of Kilwinning Community Council.

The sad news was announced on Facebook by daughter Kathleen Kennedy Hiddleston, as tributes poured in from across the community.

She said: “From making and receiving so many phonecalls today, I underestimated how many people knew my dad, so I’m posting on here to let people know he passed away suddenly yesterday.

“He will be missed more than he’ll ever know.

“We take great comfort in the fact he is so highly thought of, and that he has clearly left his mark on his/ our lovely home town. We are so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and admiration for my wee dad’s contribution to his town.”

Community council chair Jackie Hamilton said: “It was very sudden. He was our elder statesman, he was the longest serving member of the Tributes paid to Jim community council.

“He would sit quietly throughout a lot of our ramblings, then he would speak just towards the end. He was quite a calming influence on us but an absolute fountain of knowledge of Kilwinning.

“I remember during that whole boundary issue when the sign went up for Stevenston at the fire station, we were all enraged about it, then Jim said ‘well actually it’s right’, due to where the burn runs down and could talk about where the boundary lines were.

“All that knowledge is going to be lost. “He also had a very subtle sense of humour, he could be quite funny.

“I could listen to him for hours. It’s going to be a huge loss to the town.”

Community council secretary Nairn McDonald said: “He knew more about Kilwinning than I think anyone will ever know.”

Jim’s funeral will be held on Monday, October 23 at 10am in St Winning’s Chapel then onto the cemetery.