AN ARDROSSAN soldier’s reading material whilst on service was well-travelled - as he took a copy of the Herald.

Michael Spencer is pictured back in the mid 1950s whilst serving with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in Malaysia between 1953-55 and the 86-year-old requested his hometown paper as his son Michael explained: “As the story goes he was asked what newspaper he would like to be photographed with and of course he said The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. He was under the impression they were going to post it but never did. He was part of group A who went. I believe he was 21 at that time. When he returned he went back to work at the Ardrossan shipyards as a joiner. He also played football with Star of The Sea and was part of their undefeated season.”

Michael, who used to live in Linn Road, emigrated to the USA back in 1960s with his wife Margaret (nee Nicol) who sadly passed away in 2007.

The Spencer’s stumbled across the photo whilst Michael Sr. was visiting his son and his family for Thanksgiving.

Life could have been very different for Michael as he was approached by Liverpool FC after he was spotted whilst playing in Ireland but he had been served with his enlistment papers so the opportunity had passed. Michael Jr said he never regrets a day.

Margaret was born in Saltcoats in 1934 and worked in ICI like many of her peers.

Her ashes are scattered in Ardrossan Cemetery and family are scattered all around the world but they still come back to the Three Towns.

Michael Jr added: “Much of my family still lives in Saltcoats and Ardrossan and those of us around the world still come back and visit as we are scattered in Utah,Texas,Oklahoma, Florida, Australia, England and Belgium.”

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