Friends and acquaintances crowded into a Maybole Church for the funeral of Stanley Bone, who died suddenly but peacefully in the Ayrshire Hospice after a long illness bourne with great courage and humour. Fr Stephen McGratten told mourners in Our Lady and St Cuthbert's Church that Stan adored his family but he added: " Stan's commitment extended beyond his own family. He had a very real sense of service to the community: be it coaching Carrick Colts -- even picking up the boys from the villages in his own car to keep the team together: teaching his own special sliding technique at curling; the time and energy he dedicated to the children at the primary schools, his involvement on the Community Council; or his work with the Carrick Crime prevention Panel.".

	With Father & Mother		Stan is  4th row 4th in from the right. Close-up view

Stan was born in Glasgow's Rottenrow Hospital in 1932, but came to Maybole at only a few weeks old, with his Parents who were the custodians of the old Collegaite Church. He started primary School in the hall next to Our Lady and St Cuthbert's Church before moving to what was then a new St Cuthbert's Primary School in Kirkland Street, Stan went on to St Mungo's Senior Secondary School in Glasgow where he played rugby and cricket, and was also interested in Scouting. He left school in 1949 and started work as an apprentice plumber with Myles J Callaghan Ltd in Maybole remaining with the firm until 1976. He also while with the firm opened up the main showroom as a Sales Manager selling goods you would buy in Comet or Dixons where you could buy a Washing Machine, Fridge, even rent a Television At one time in the shop you could buy a record from the top 40 music charts he also maintained and managed a several laundrettes around west coast of Scotland, Prestwick, Kilmarnock, Port Glasgow and Paisley. He kept the shop running for a year or so and then took over the shop in Kirkland Street for a few years, many local folk worked in factory's in the town and he would drive his own car around the factories with cakes and pies for all the staff at there tea breaks at that time there was not many shops for the local workforce to go and buy some lunch.

He then moved onto United Friendly Insurance Company and was an Agent in Dalmellington, Patna and areas of Ayr. He made many friends with his customers before he retired in 1996.  Stan's national service was with the RAF from October 1954 to October 1956. He became a Senior Aircraftsman, working in the Armoury, and he was stationed at Bridgeworth, Kirkham, Marham and King's Lynn where he would first meet his longest friend Andy Lochead from Glasgow. In 1962 he then married Rosemary (McCutcheon) and they had four children, Roseanne, Kathryn, Sandra and Martin. Subsequently they also had five grandchildren ---- Stefan, Liam, Kieran, Shannon and Kirstin.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's Stan had a spell as a Special Police Constable then as a part-time Fireman with the responsibility of driving the vehicle.  In his spare time in the early 80's Stan and Andy Ross with the help of Sandy Anton and Graham Clark helped coach The Carrick Colts Boy's Football team. Then at 55 Stan found his great passion-- curling . He was active on Curling Committees, and went on to coach new members, even coaching his Grandsons when they took up the sport. He developed his own sliding technique.

Stan would also take groups of Children from Local Primary Schools to Ayr Ice Rink to give them the opportunity to go on the Ice and get an insight into the sport. When his grandsons were playing football with Carrick Colts, The club had difficulty in getting adults to take the team and Stan once again found himself coaching boy's football again. At the age of 66 he took a SFA Coaching Certificate but unfortunately within a few years he had to give up coaching due to ill health. 

Stan also served for a few years  on Maybole Community Council and moved onto Carrick Crime Prevention Panel where he became Vice-Chairman and he met who he called his shortest friend Alex Kelly. Stan particularly enjoyed the drug awareness sessions working with the school children trying to highlight the dangers of drugs. He would relate his own experience of Smoking from a young age and consequences -- his cancer, chemotherapy and operations.  Stan always said it would be worthwhile -- even if he could persuade just one young person to stop.

He got lot of pleasure from making stepping stones for his garden and lost count of how many he had made and given to family and friends even as far as London. Stanley Bone will be missed in the community and a large turnout at his funeral was a testament to just how much people thought of him.