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22 Year Old Double Decker Bus -Auld Reekie

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Twenty years ago, a group of local lads bought a 22 year old double decker bus, did it up, named it Auld Reekie and took it to Spain to support Scotland in the World Cup. And they made the round trip with no spare wheel and the only tools they carried were a hammer, and a hacksaw. The “Boys from Maybole” were Billy Hamilton; Robert Conn; Tommy Campbell; Eddie Glass; Jim McCulloch; Gordon Walker; Richard Ferrol; Harry McDill; Campbell Conn; Billy Milligan; Tommy McMillan; Cohn Harvey; and Willie Docherty — all regulars in the Gluepot Inn, Welltrees Street. Anyone who remembers Cliff Richard in “Summer Holiday” and the double decker he and his mates used to travel across Europe will be able to imagine the boys from Maybole —especially as their trip was filmed by Scottish Television and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Their plans nearly collapsed, mind you, only two weeks before they set off when the bus engine blew up as they returned from a game at Hampden against England. They did manage to get it repaired with help from Western SMT, a local bus company, and set off from Maybole on June 7, 1982. They travelled during the night through England and got lost in Paris the following day. A cracked pipe held them up in Bordeaux for three hours but they did complete the journey without any more problems. When they did arrive in Spain they received a great welcome from the locals who jammed the streets and cheered them on, shouting “El Reekie, El Reekie”. The bus became so well known that when the lads cashed their travellers cheques some cashiers just wrote “Bus” or “Hotel Reekie” on the back.

Based in Torremolinos at first for Scotland’s win over New Zealand, they then set off for Seville for the game against Brazil — guess who won 4-1? They did enjoy, however, a night out afterwards with forty Brazil fans who bought them champagne! With a sore head or two the next day it was off to Malaga to see Scotland exit the competition against Russia. There they met the great Eusebio, Gordon Strachan and John Robertson -who told them he never thought they would make it past Ayr. CBC showed the programme in Canada later in 1982— complete with sub-titles and Scottish Television showed their programme, written and directed by Ian Archer, as part on the New Year schedules on January 3, 1983. The boys themselves got a preview the previous week when they travelled in Auhd Reekie to the STY studios in Glasgow. That day started with a photo-call in the Ghuepot then it was off to Glasgow complete with “carry out”. Unfortunately, Cohn Harvey, Jim McCulloch, Richard Ferrol and Harry McDill were unable to make the preview so Andy Clark, Ronnie Campbell and Alex Conn went in their place. After a buffet and some drinks they settled down to watch the film and they were all very impressed despite the record number of bleeps as frustration with their team got the better of them. Ian Archer then treated them to a round of drinks before the boarded their bus for the journey back to Maybole. When the programme “The Boys from Maybole” was screened it made them international stars and attracted the attention of most national newspapers as well Auld Reekie - a 22 year old double decker bus in 1982— will always have a special place in the hearts of thirteen lads from Maybole.
(As published in the Maybole Community News of September 2002 by the Ayrshire Post)

The legend lives on! In 1982 a group of local lads decided to follow Scotland at the World Cup finals in Spain and to get there they bought a 22 year old double decker bus, called it Auld Reekie and set off as if they were Cliff Richard and The Shadows in "Summer Holiday". Their plan attracted the attention of Scottish and Canadian television companies who recorded their exploits and broadcast them to the world. So was born the legend of "The Boys from Maybole". Twenty-one years after the showing of the programme on STV the boys held a reunion last Saturday night in Maybole Town Hall and raised a massive £1,298 for Heartstart (Ayrshire & Arran). This particular charity was chosen in memory of Willie Docherty, one of the original boys, who died of a heart attack a few years ago. The "Boys from Maybole" were Billy Hamilton; Robert Conn; Tommy Campbell; Eddie Glass; Jim McCulloch; Gordon Walker; Richard Ferrol; Harry McDill; Campbell Conn; Billy Milligan; Tommy McMillan; Colin Harvey; and Willie Docherty - all regulars in the Gluepot Inn, Welltrees Street. And they made the round trip with no spare wheel and the only tools they carried were a hammer, and a hacksaw! Saturday, though, was a night to remember and a night that will probably never be matched for many a year. It was a night that had caught the imagination of the town and attracted a huge crowd. The boys and top table guests were piped in by Andy McClung and Matt Davey welcomed everyone before recounting some of the stories from Spain. Guest speakers were Iain Ferguson, journalist and broadcaster with West Sound, Bob Shields, top columnist with the Daily Record, and Maybole lad Campbell Money, manager of Ayr United and former Scottish reserve goalkeeper. George Templeton, of Heartstart also spoke and thanked the boys for choosing them as their charity. The audience were well entertained by the speakers who had a fund of humorous tales to tell. Douglas Harper, one of the organisers of the reunion said afterwards, "The night was a complete success and the whole town is talking about it. It was a night that brought the town together." He continued, "We would like to thank everyone who donated gifts to the auction and raffle (GE Caladonian, PLPC, Vodafone, West Clean, John Jamieson, Flower Power, Ayr Racecourse, Strachans (Ayr), Morrisons Wine, Safeway, Birthdays, South Ayrshire Council, Gary & John Malone, Welltrees Inn, Mc Innes's, Ottakers book shop, Cameron's and everyone else as the list is too long to mention); and Interpak for providing the boxes for the lads' special medals that were presented to them on the evening. We would like to say a special thank you to guest speakers Bob Shields of the Daily Record, Iain Ferguson of West Sound and Campbell Money, manager of Ayr United. We would also like to say a big thank you to Tom Hunter and the band "Still Kicking" who provided excellent entertainment. Also Davie Park for providing the early entertainment and Andy McClung for being the memorable piper who was meant to pipe "Flower of Scotland" at the end of the evening but ended up on stage singing it instead. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the night a success and a big thank you for everyone who turned up to make sure the lads had a reunion to remember."(As published in  February 2004 by the Ayrshire Post)