AN AYR pensioner has taken to vlogging during the coronavirus lockdown to tell of his remarkable life.

Billy Herd, 78, has met royalty, including Princess Diana, and FOUR prime ministers.

Add to that a trek of the Great Wall of China to raise £10,000 for respite care charity Malcolm Sargent House, a trip to a hospital as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, and being a baton bearer for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, there are plenty of tales to keep him and his growing number of fans occupied.

The hospice volunteer has picked a topic every night at 8pm to broadcast the greatest stories you’ve never ‘herd’.

Billy told the Advertiser: “I’ve got stacks of stories. Someone approached me before asking me if I wanted to join the Ayr Writer’s Club and write a book on all my experiences, tell people what I have done from all my volunteering.

“I thought with the lockdown going on, it was time to start telling the stories.”

From growing up in Paisley to his time working in shipyards in Glasgow, to later years fundraising and holidaying, Billy has been covering all bases.

He also pays a heartfelt tribute to his beloved late wife, who he lost to cancer in 2006, aged 59, and his charming stories revealed how he looked after her, both taking her on holidays and her time at the Ayrshire Hospice.

Billy, an ambassador for Whiteleys Retreat who has raised thousands supporting the charity through fundraisers, is currently shielding due his COPD.

But his condition has not stopped him from continuing his good work, as he highlights the importance of charities during the time of crisis.

He said: “The nurses from the hospice are watching it. The hospice is amazing, my late wife died there and I’ll be talking about them, Whiteleys, Ayrshire Cancer Support and Malcolm Sargent House. Some of the stories of the brave kids I have met over the years are unbelievable.

“All the charities are struggling right now and its important to keep supporting them.

He added: “The NHS are heroes without a doubt, the dedication from the doctors and nurses. I could never fault any them. I think they are marvellous.

You can tune into Billy’s tales every night on his Facebook page from 8pm.

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