THERE was a full house as one of Largs' great characters and Largs Players stalwart was laid to rest last week.

People packed in to say a final farewell to Jimmy Wilson at the Clyde Coast Crematorium on Tuesday.

Mourners from local theatre clubs, education and his beloved Largs Golf Club joined his family to pay tribute to 'Wee Jimmy', who died aged 90, at Cumbrae Lodge Home on October 25.

His elder son Allan, played his favourite tune, 'Highland Cathedral', on the pipes as the cortege arrived at the service and 'Simply The Best' - the Tina Turner anthem that has been adopted by Glasgow Rangers - was the finale, marking his life-long support for the football club.

Officiant Alan Saunderson said that Jimmy had loved the beautiful game all of his life, and told how he had played for Scotland at under-18 level, been a ball boy at Hampden Park and had helped form Giffnock North Football Club, which is still going strong.

Among the hymns and music was the Frank Sinatra number, 'Fly Me To the Moon', denoting Jimmy's service in the RAF after the Giffnock-born man left Hutcheson's Grammar School.

His sporting prowess led to him being a PE instructor in the RAF, where he also became an entertainer with the servicemen's club.

On leaving the air force, he qualified as a PE teacher from Jordanhill College and taught at Twechar, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Kilbirnie, Speirs College in Beith and, latterly, at Greenock High School, before ending his career as Head of Department at Johnstone High.

He met wife Nancy at the Cameo Ballroom in Shawlands, Glasgow, and they married in August, 1958. As he had joined Largs Golf Club, where he served as secretary for 11 years and as captain in 1990, they moved to Largs in 1962.

They had children Allan, David, Lynn and Lesley and enjoyed ten grandchildren.

Jimmy had a love of theatre and played many principal roles with the Players, particularly as a funny man in pantomime, and in leading parts with the Operatic Society over four decades. He was also a Burns performer, 'Holy Willie' being his piece de resistance, and an elder at Clark Memorial Church.

In his eulogy, son Allan said: "He loved life and loved to show off. He was a very fit man until living with dementia in his later years. He had a wonderful life and had 30 years of quality time in retirement."

A collection was taken at the service in aid of Dementia Scotland.

Read about some more memories of Jimmy in Cochrane's Column on Page 19.