AN American visitor can claim ancient St John’s Tower in Ayr as his family home.

John Garner, the great, great, great grand nephew of Baron John Miller who owned the tower, travelled more than 3,000 miles from Maryland to tour the tall South Ayrshire Council owned landmark earlier this month.

Software developer John, 69, said: “I am the first person in my family to visit Ayr in three generations.

I feel a sense of connection to this place even though I have never been here before.”

John’s great great grandmother Agnes Wilson Miller also lived at the tower.

She moved to the US aged only 14 and she cried for a year because she missed Scotland.

Commenting on his welcome to the ‘Auld Toun,’ John said: “I want to thank the Friends of St John’s Tower.

They have been magnificent and are doing a wonderful job taking care of the tower.”

Peter McCall, Friends Secretary, said: “Baron Miller was one of Ayr’s great characters, and John’s visit to Ayr provides a wonderful, tangible link to Ayr’s rich and colourful past.”