The final round of applause for Sydney
SCOTS singer and entertainer Sydney Devine received a fitting send-off from his loyal fans yesterday.
Many lined the streets to applaud the showbiz legend who died earlier this month aged 81 after being admitted to hospital with an undisclosed illness.
Devine, originally from Cleland, Lanarkshire, was best known for his version of the song Tiny Bubbles and sold more than 15million albums during a career spanning seven decades.
His widow, Shirley, was among family and band members at his funeral service in Alloway Parish Church, Ayrshire. It was restricted to 20 mourners but fans lined up outside.
Later, a socially distanced crowd gathered at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr and applauded as his cortege paused outside.
Fan Pat Munro held up a scarf with his name on it as she stood in tribute with friends. She said: ‘We had to come and say our final farewell – we’ve been going to see him for 45 years, so we couldn’t let today go by. We’re heartbroken.’
Gaiety Theatre chief executive Jeremy Wyatt and staff members also turned out to pay their respects. Mr Wyatt said: ‘He was quite a man and a special entertainer. He’d lived in Ayr for many years and had a very strong connection with the Gaiety. We’re here on behalf of the thousands of people who have been to see him.’
Earlier, his family released a statement thanking fans for their support. It said: ‘We would like to say a huge thank you for all the kind tributes and messages of condolences for dad.
‘It was a massive shock to the family... it was a comfort to know just how much our dad was loved by many people.’ The singer was made an MBE in 2003 after a decade of fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also paid tribute to Devine, describing him as a ‘true legend’ of Scottish entertainment.