Troon’s Nan McFarlane has been hailed as exceptional by her four daughters in a touching family tribute.
The sisters all paid their respects to their incredibly kind, generous and hospitable mum following her sad passing at the age of 83.
Former councillor Nan passed away just weeks after the death of her husband Angus, 90, with the pair married for almost 67 years.
The great-gran of two and gran-of-five campaigned tirelessly for disability rights and fought for change during her 10 year stint representing the SNP.
Her proud daughters have shared how their mum once rubbed shoulders with Sir Billy Connolly in the comic legends' early days, as well as providing an Ayrshire escape for Ukrainian children affected by Chernobyl.
Christine, 64, Hazel 56, Joan, 61, Heather, 56 spoke to Ayrshire Live as the town mourned the loss of an iconic figure.
Hazel, speaking on behalf of the sisters, said: “We are so proud of her. She just touched a lot of people's lives.
“It is just making us really emotional at the moment, realising the impact that she had.
“The diversity of things she has been involved in, the positive change that she affected is just incredible.
“We can’t really put it into words, she is just such a huge loss.”
“Someone messaged us to say our mum was a force of nature, she definitely was that, but to us she was just exceptional.
“She was an incredibly kind person, caring and compassionate and incredibly generous too.
“It wasn’t uncommon to be sitting next to a stranger at Christmas, she would not never let anyone spend it alone.
“She welcomed children from Ukraine twice and she and my dad absolutely loved it.”
Nan owned Troon deli Beanstalk before embarking on her journey into politics in 1994 and became active on the community council.
She then, after several attempts, was voted in to represent her town in 2007 at the age of 69.
Hazel said: “When most people are thinking about retiring she was taking on a whole new role she was absolutely thrilled.
“She always saw herself as a recycled teenager, she was full of energy.
“When she saw social injustice she had a real passion to challenge that.
“She felt being a councillor that she could make some positive change, she would work in partnership with people to empower them.
“She had been elected by the people of Troon and that was something that she took very seriously."
Nan fought for better transport to and from Troon ensuring that there were strong bus links to the local hospitals.
Her passion for homegrown food saw Nan bring Ayrshire produce to schools once again after campaigning to end poor quality cheap imported foods being served to kids.
And thanks to Nan, anyone in Ayrshire who is told they have sight loss is given emotional and practical support from the minute they are diagnosed.
Daughter Hazel, who has been living with sight loss since she was a child said: “That is my mum’s legacy, she secured the funding for something that helps so many get through such a difficult time in their lives.”
Nan started her life as a journalist, working in a newspaper in Blantyre where she came across a certain Billy Connolly who was starting off performing at youth clubs before returning to Troon in 1976.
Nan doted on her children and grandchildren, knitting clothes and she even showed her motherly side in politics knitting baby clothes for the opposition councillors families’.
Proud Troonie Nan championed her old school Marr College whilst on the board of the Marr Trust, as well as becoming a local historian.
Nan and Angus both celebrated their 66th anniversary last year.
Hazel added: “It has been such a shock for everyone.
“She knew my dad her whole adult life.”
The sisters have told how they have been comforted by outpouring of kind tributes to their beloved mum.
The family has asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.
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