https://www.threetowners.net/forum/

Interesting additions to the list Susan. The newspaper article adds a little meat to the story.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g8 ... rran&hl=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A good source of info for famous people visiting are the guys who work at the Arran Ferry. Those who collect the tickets from the cars have in the past reported regular visits to Arran by Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Gregor Fisher and Kirsty Wark. Not to forget the the former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell who hails from the Island.

I will make some enquiries as to who else has been spotted.

Jack McConnell was actually born in Irvine Mitchy.

Meg

Meg Gordon wrote:Jack McConnell was actually born in Irvine Mitchy.

Meg

Are we getting bogged down in semantics here Meg?

I too was born in Irvine. Your big cousin will no doubt testify the suffering she went through to unleash me on the world!

In no way though do I consider myself as coming from Irvine.

an' it's a lot more romantic / attractive to hail from Arran..but a pollytishun widny stoop so low...

As Monte Rey, the "Spanish" tenor who, as some of the more mature posters may recall, was famed for the radio record adored by children, "Lady of Spain I Adore You" and who performed with the Ovaltineys, retired to Arran (where he was first "discovered" at a concert to raise cash to build the hospital in Lamlash) I suppose he must have been a regular visitor to Ardrossan.

Oh, my..a rush of memories...

Here's some info on Monte for those of you that have never heard of him

http://monte-rey.com/pdf/monte-rey.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Got some great names in the pub last night from my Caledonian MacBrayne contact, 'Big Drew' who informed me of these people below who he can remember going onto the Arran Ferry.

ROYALTY - Princess Anne, Princess Caroline of Monaco.

TV, RADIO & SHOWBUSINESS - Hughie Green, Chris Evans, Billy Connolly, Gregor Fisher, Jackie Brambles, Alex Norton, Sue Pollard, Lorraine Chase, Dougie Donnelly, Patrick McNee, Robbie Coltrane

POLITICS - Alex Salmond, Jack McConnell, Donald Dewar, Edwina Currie

FOOTBALL: Craig Brown, Brian McClair, Ally McCoist, Barry Ferguson, Pat Nevin, Bobo Balde, and the entire Rangers team 4 years ago going over for a wedding.

One famous person, well famous to my mind, visited Ardrossan on the way to Arran during his early days while studying medicine in Edinburgh was Maurice Ewing. He became the Professor of Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Back in 1971 when I was in dire straits with acute thyroid problems - his team saved my life. Prior to surgery I recall he and his team gathered around my hospital bed discussing my case and then he gave a wee spiel about where young Hughie was from and what a magical island Arran was.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ewing_(surgeon)

Just remembered meeting Alex Ferguson and Alex McLeish in the Kilmeny Hotel in 1982. They were up at Inverclyde doing the coaching licence and had popped down the coast.

It must have been about fifteen years or so ago as I was having a coffee in Del Greco's , the late Anthony Howard CBE, the well known journalist and policial commentator came in sat at a table and ordered . He was a very recognisable figure and frequently on television .
He died last December .