Comedy legend Jerry Sadowitz has paid tribute to the owner of Scotland’s most famous joke shop after he passed away aged 87.
Roy Walton, who ran Tam Shepherds in Glasgow city centre, was also a world-renowned card magic expert, created hundreds of tricks and influenced countless magicians.
Sadowitz was left “devastated” when he heard the sad news.
He tweeted: “Very upset to hear that my friend and hero Roy Walton has died.
“The greatest card magician and the most exemplary human being I ever knew.
“Real giants move quietly among us and this one managed Tam Shepherd’s Joke Shop in Glasgow for fifty years. Devastated.”
Tam Shepherds Trick Shop in Queen Street first opened in 1886 and the Walton family have run the popular outlet for almost 80 years.
Roy, his wife Jean and daughters Sarah and Julia helped make the shop an instution for amateur and professional tricksters alike.
His death was announced on the shop’s official Facebook page on Tuesday.
The message said: “We are so very sad to have to let all our friends know that Roy died peacefully this morning.”
Scots illusionist Colin Cloud, who appeared in America’s Got Talent, also paid tribute to Roy.
He tweeted: “A wonderful man called Roy Walton passed away today in Glasgow. He was incredibly humble & talented. He created some of the greatest magic you’ll have seen performed on TV all over the world.”
