Connolly to pay Reid funeral tribute

Friday 13 August 2010

Connolly to pay Reid funeral tribute

Comedian Billy Connolly will pay a personal tribute to Clydeside legend Jimmy Reid at his funeral next week.

The former shipyard worker, above left, agreed to address mourners after being approached by the family.

Football manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was brought up in Govan, will also take part in the service and will be joined by First Minister Alex Salmond.

Workers’ champion Mr Reid, left, died on Tuesday aged 78 at Inverclyde Royal Hospital after a brief illness. Meanwhile, a fundraising bid to secure the public purchase of a painting of the union leader is £10,000 short. The picture – valued at £45,000 – by Glasgow artist Barry Atherton and his wife Linda, was unveiled at the city’s People’s Palace to mark Mr Reid’s 75th birthday. Fiona Hayes, social history curator at Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s museums and galleries, said: “We are very keen to have it.”

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