Billy was the life and soul of our family... we can’t believe he’s gone
Nieces pay tribute to community stalwart loved by all
A Paisely Buddie who made Prestwick his early retirement home has died suddenly aged 79.
After leaving Paisley for a new perch down the coast, Billy Herd emersed himself in helping local good causes.
Much of his selfless charity work was done in memory of his wife.
His nieces Mary Blyth and Morvern Cameron have described him as the “life and soul” of their family.
The former shipyard union rep suffered a fatal heart attack at home last week after a battle with a long term lung condition.
Tributes have flooded in from charities that he helped.
Niece Morvern said: “There isn’t a word to describe Billy’s enthusiasm and positivity, it seems like he touched the whole of Ayrshire.
Billy moved to Ayrshire from Paisley as part of a dream early retirement plan in 2001 with his wife Ann.
But tragically Ann died in 2006 from lung cancer, aged 59, after 42 years together.
Mary revealed: “Ann was just Billy’s world, she meant everything to him.
“She told him ‘do not sit on your backside, get out there and get involved and meet new people.’
“He did just that and more. He just kept going.
“Even when his health was failing he just wanted to help others.
“Right up until he passed he was talking on the phone to four people as a befriender.
“He brought some of them from the depths of despair to being able to leave the house again.
“He would try to reach out to anyone who was affected by cancer and try to use his experience of nursing Ann to help them and address their fears.
“Ann would have been so proud. He just lived for her and for her to die so young, he really just thought right I am going to go for this - he never looked back after that.”
Despite suffering from COPD, Billy ticked off a list of fundraisers including walking the Great Wall of China, sky diving and countless zip lines, all sandwiched in between a few appearances as Santa.
In his most remarkable fundraiser - months after having a litre of fluid drained from his lungs, Billy took part in the six mile Kiltwalk for Whiteleys Retreat near Ayr.
Billy was a key player in the campaign to save Malcolm Sargent House after spending years there as a volunteer.