A leap year baby is bidding farewell to his soon to be demolished birthplace.
Robert McCurdie, 63, was born in the back of an ambulance at Prestwick police station’s car park.
That in itself is pretty remarkable but Robert was also Ayrshire’s first leap year baby of 1956.
Surprising everyone with his early arrival, due to his mother tripping over a bicycle, Robert cried hello in the cop shop car park at two minutes past midnight on February 29.
An ambulance raced from the then village of Cairntable, between Drongan and Patna, in the hope of making it to Irvine Hospital.
The dad-of-three said: “My uncle Robert left the bike in the hallway and my mother tripped over the bike and the bike fell on top of her.
“They phoned an ambulance and they were escorted by the police and flying squad.
“There were no bypasses then so they came through Prestwick to go to Irvine.
“And I obviously wanted to see Prestwick.
“They ended up going round the back of the police station and I was delivered there in an ambulance.
“And from there I was transferred up to Irvine Central.
“I was the first leap year baby of 1956 of that year in Ayrshire.
“I think it was only two minutes into the leap year.
Plane enthusiast Robert now celebrates his birthday from 6pm on February 28 through to 6pm on March 1.
The 116-year-old building, which was latterly shared with South Ayrshire Council’s social work department, is set to be demolished this month.
Bulldozers will flatten the Prestwick Main Street site to make way for 12 new affordable homes.
Prestwick residents voiced their concerns about the demolition as hundreds signed a petition to save the building, which was hailed as part of Prestwick’s character.
Robert, now of Ayr, was saddened to hear his birthplace will soon be knocked down. He said: “I’m actually quite sad about it.
“It’s a shame.
“I signed the petition to object to the demolition.”
Alasdair Malcolm, a former Prestwick police officer, previously told the Post: “The building is one of Prestwick’s most historic and deserves to be preserved in some shape or form.
“So much more could be done with that building.”
Robert is keen to keep a piece of the old red sandstone block as a memento of his birthplace.
●If you can help make Robert’s wish come true, call us on 01292 262200.
