A RETIRED businessman has called for statues to be erected in Largs to celebrate two historical figures of the town who had global influences in changing people’s lives.
David Ennis, a former managing director of OKI Japanese Electrics Plant in Cumbernauld for many years, thinks that Largs could do more to celebrate its iconic people of the past.
He believes that a reminder of the legacy left by Thomas Brisbane and Lord Kelvin – both pictured – would be inspirational and help bring tourism to the town.
Mr Ennis wants a statue at each end of the town and says this would be fitting recognition of the pair’s incredible achievements.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:
David, inset, who speaks fluent Japanese, and has travelled around the world, believes the local area could benefit from the worldwide effect two of its renowned inhabitants have had in their spheres of knowledge.
He said: “Kelvin and Brisbane are giants in each of their fields.
“They are legendary outside of Scotland and we should do more to recognise this not just in their home country but in Largs itself.
“We have Lord Kelvin in terms of the Kelvin scale and his contribution to science is immense.
“Then we have Sir Thomas Brisbane. His contribution to astronomy, the army, navigation, and to Australia itself is also massive.
“Sir Thomas Brisbane has a marvellous story and was also a fantastic benefactor to the town, including building the Brisbane Academy School.
“If you ever visit Brisbane City Hall, they have the door of his Largs house up on display, and a massive area dedicated to him.
“I wonder how much it would cost to bring two statues to the town - I certainly think it would be worth looking into.
“We used to have the Brisbane Queen Festival in Largs which existed from the 1930s until 2007 in Sir Thomas Brisbane’s honour, while there is some recognition of Lord Kelvin with a plaque in place at his former home in Netherhall, but I think there is the opportunity for so much more.”
Lord Kelvin, originally known as Baron William Thomson, died in Largs in 1907.
The mathematical physicist and engineer was born in Belfast in 1824.
At the University of Glasgow he carried out groundbreaking work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging discipline of physics. 
He also had a career as an electric telegraph engineer and inventor, which propelled him into the public eye and ensured his wealth, fame and honour.
He was knighted for his work on the transatlantic telegraph project in 1866 by Queen Victoria, becoming Sir William Thomson. 
Lord Kelvin had extensive maritime interests and was most noted for his work on the mariner’s compass, which previously had limited reliability.
Sir Thomas Brisbane managed to catalogue over 7,000 stars in the night sky and even has a crater on the moon named after him.
His original observatory building is still based in Largs, with efforts being made by a local group to preserve the historic relic, built in 1808.
He also was a fierce defender of press freedoms and fought for the abolition of slavery. 
His residence, Brisbane House, was knocked down during the Second World War after being used for target practice by commandos, but rare video footage of it exists and can be seen on the Largs and Millport News website.
Largs Rotary have a Brisbane Ambassador, who is a pupil selected each year from Largs Academy, but the Brisbane Primary name was lost when the school amalgamated with Kelburn to become Largs Primary.