A Troon community stalwart was given a beautiful ‘taxi outing’ send-off.
Drivers from Glasgow headed to the coast in a fitting tribute to Helen Duff.
The community council leader was instrumental in arranging their annual outing to Troon for children.
Despite the annual taxi trip being axed for the second year during Covid, drivers travelled to Ayrshire to pay a final tribute to Helen.
Members of the Glasgow Taxi Outing Fund made their way to the town to say goodbye to their very dear “friend, colleague and supporter” on Thursday, September 2.
Dozens of taxis drove along Portland Street – usually a sea of colour during the annual outings to Troon.
Locals lined Portland Street, as the funeral cortege passed through, to pay their final respects to Helen who passed away after a short illness last month.
Shop owners and workers stood outside their businesses and clapped for Helen who is widely acknowledged as having helped make Troon a better place.
Community fundraiser Connie Girvan, who has helped raise thousands of pounds for the big charity day out from her pub Girvan’s, told Ayrshire Live: “Helen was a lovely kind lady who was always on hand to help me with anything regarding the taxis.
“Everyone thought very highly of her and she will definitely be missed by everyone in Troon.”
The Glasgow Taxi Outing Fund told how Helen helped thousands of children have a day to remember.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “Helen Duff was the leader of the Troon Community Council and as a leader she was always inspiring others to make the outing to Troon extra special for the children.
“Helen and a few of the GTO Fund committee would meet up to organise the day and whenever we talked you could sense her excitement and pride ahead of the whole of Troon turning out to give the children and the taxi drivers a guid Ayrshire welcome.
"A leader, she was inspiring the local businesses to decorate and dress up their premises while also collecting raffle/auction prizes to raise funds for the outing and other charitable events.
“Next year we hope to celebrate the 75th outing and it will be different, it will be touched with sadness. I know how much Helen wanted to party at the 75th outing – we will 100 per cent honour that wish and make it a party.”
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