A Stevenston pensioner's personal memorial to his late wife and dog has been targeted by vandals more than 30 times in three years - but he has vowed to keep rebuilding his loving tribute. 

Donald Meldrum, 78, lost his wife Jan in April 2020, following a battle with cancer.

Jan had a love for Stevenston beach and requested that her ashes be spread there and as a further tribute loving husband Donald set-up a beautiful memorial amongst the sand dunes.

A few months later Donald suffered a further loss when his dog Tali died. The beloved pet is also remembered on the same memorial.

Donald said the memorial site is a "labour of love" after he carefully selected each brick, slate, and stone constructed a small wall and structure surrounded by plants and hand painted tree trunks where his wife’s ashes were scattered.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Donald Meldrum describes the memorial as a "labour of love".

But sadly the spot has been targeted by mindless vandals on more than 30 occasions over the past three years.

Back in 2021 we reported on thieves stealing from Donald's memorial - and it is still happening.

Donald believes that it has been the same person who has taken from the memorial, stealing the plants which surround it.

He explained: “It’s horrendous, over the past three years that’s 32 times this person has stolen the plants.

“I’ve had it totally wrecked by youngsters as well, fuelled with drink. It’s a constant battle trying to keep it nice.

“It’s a lot of money as well, I've spent about £1,500 in plants over the last three years.

“I go down every day, keep my fingers crossed there’s nothing wrong with it – I just don’t understand it.”

But Donald says he will not let the vandals "beat him" and he will continue to look after the memorial.

He added: “Have you ever heard the story of Grayfriars Bobby? I’m a bit like that.

"I go down every day and I sit and I talk to her - if she’ll listen - then I go for a nice walk along the beach. I never tire of that place. It’s beautiful. 

"It’s up on the hill and you get different views everyday.

“I’m a simple person, I don’t ask for much, I just want it to be left alone.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Donald Meldrum describes the memorial as a "labour of love".

Despite the destruction, the site has benefitted from a visit from a Good Samaratain too.

One morning when he visited Donald said the memorial looked like "a bomb had hit it". 

He added: "The full wall was knocked away. There was a nice log from down the beach that I had concreted in that’s got my wife’s plaque on it, that was lifted away and knocked over the edge.

“The bench which I had concreted in – they had smashed a big boulder over it, it was a total nightmare.

“I looked about and there was cans of Dragon Soop and Four Loco, quite strong stuff.

“I couldn’t face it, I was really down.

I went back down the next morning and started building the wall up, I got it half built."

He added: "I went back down the next morning and someone had rebuilt the wall for me.

“It was very nice of them, I left them a wee note thanking them. I still don’t know who it was.”

This has given Donald hope and he has experienced further acts of kindness too.

He met another couple on the beach who told him they had intervened when they they saw teenage boys knocking over the memorial wall. 

The said they had educated the youngsters about the memorial and have since returned to the site but have not destroyed it again.