Esther Nairn of Curlinghall in Largs has written to the 'News' following a recent article about the history of the long running Mackies blacksmith business which has spanned many years in the town.

Esther said: "I read with interest your article on the local business of A.H Mackie. Both my father (Alex Ross) and my uncle (Tony Slaven) worked there in the 1940s and 50s. My father worked in the machinery side of the business and my uncle was the farrier for many years. I used to go down to the smiddy after school to see if my uncle was shoeing any horses - great excitement! The Clydesdales were huge, and could be stroppy and my uncle received many a kick - one or two were quite serious.

"My uncle also attended farms in the area to see to horses and travelled to Dunoon approximately once a month to attend to the Duke of Argyll's horses. He was highly thought of as a farrier.

"I enclose an old photo from 1948 - unfortunately my uncle is not in it."