One of the finest pictures of the Queen was taken in Irvine more than 40 years ago.
The award-winning photo of Her Majesty was captured by Ayrshire Post photographer Ken Ferguson as he nervously waited outside of the Magnum leisure centre on July 3, 1979.
One of the images he captured was so striking that he was advised to enter it into the National Photographer of the year Awards competition.
And the snap did go on to win Royal Photograph of the Year.
Ken recalls: “The picture was taken in July 3,1979 when The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were on a Royal Visit to Irvine.
“I was working for the Ayrshire Post and had covered a few Royal visits but never one involving The Queen so I was a bit nervous and wanting to impress my editor.
“There was a strict protocol for accredited members of the media back then, that you had to wear collar and tie and a jacket. I was stationed at the Magnum and remember it was a blistering hot day… There was big crowds and as the Royal car approached there was huge applause and the Queen from the car gave a lovely smile and I was in the right place at the right time.
“My editor, Matt Lynch, was delighted with it and said it was worth putting it into the ‘National Photographer of the year Awards’ at the end of the year. It was good advice - the picture won ‘Royal Picture of the Year’ in the National Press Awards.”
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