Sunshine blessed the big day
Troon’s largest welcome ever to beloved Glasgow taxi run
Since 1945 it has brought the people of Troon onto the streets.
And the sunshine that bathed Wednesday’s 73rd edition of the Glasgow taxi run helped make it possibly the biggest crowd in the event’s history.
Shopkeepers stopped trading to get out in Portland and Ayr Streets with their staff.
The Granny Smith’s nursery kids and crew took their usual spot across from the St Patrick’s Primary gang.
And the massed ranks of Troon Primary had welcomed the convoy as they approached the town centre from the parade start at North Shore Road.
The cavalcade of cabs and buses – guided by police outriders – were about 40 minutes late reaching the town. Shops decorated windows and there were more balloons and bunting than Blackpool.
Girvans Bar – which stages raffles to help raise money – turned itself into a 1950s American diner with staff dressing up in the clobber.
The Live@ Troon organisers presented a £ 1000 to Girvans for the taxi fund.
Provost Helen Moonie and town councillors Phil Saxton, Peter Convery and Craig Mackay joined community councillors and chairman Helen Duff to welcome the children and their families.
It was also one of the final duties of the Gala Queen and Princess before they hand over power to the Graham triplets, who also joined the parade.
The cabs were walked in with three pipers and two drummers. And the Karalyn Bell dancers strode out ahead of the first taxi – a weird buggy called the Jurassic Taxi.
Other cabbies had dressed up as super heroes including Wonder Woman and the Incredible Hulk.
More than 100 cabs parked up along the esplanade while the kids enjoyed themselves at the playpark, beach and the Walker Hall.
And one mum said: “I can remember watching this when I was a wee girl.
“Since then it has always brought a lump to my throat. Troon is such a welcoming town and I think all the taxi drivers know that.”
The results of the best dressed window competition were – Pubs 1 Girvans 2 The Poppy Room 3 Smugglers. Shops 1 Wills Chemist 2 Mary’s Meals 3 Spar
Rumours abounded that Billy Connolly was to make another appearance. He arrived without warning on his own last year and did a spot of shopping. But there was no known sightings of the Big Yin.