Funeral salute for late soldier by Greenock Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders' Association

John Williams, 82, was proud of his service with the Argylls and it was his final wish to be remembered by his own.

Jimmy Boyland, of the Greenock Association, walked in front of the coffin at Greenock Crematorium with the Argylls' flag.

John was Greenock born and bred and he and his wife Margaret, 80, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year.

The couple had four children, Patrick, 59, John, 56, Anastasia, 52, and Thomas, 43, plus grandchildren Stephen, Stacey, Michaela and Kellyanne and great-grandchildren Ryan and Cailen.

John passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after being troubled with a series of health issues.

He was a caulker burner at Scott Lithgow before joining the Argylls and was stationed in Cyprus in the late 1950s and based at Fort George and Stirling Castle.

He returned to the yards when he came home.

Anastasia said: "Dad always told us about his time with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and his time working in the yards.

"He was a family man and the love my mum and dad had for each other always shone through.

"My dad is missed and loved by every single heart he touched throughout his life.

"He was well liked by everyone he met, a joker and always full of banter.

"He had a heart of gold and was always helping others.

"In his younger days he loved to play the guitar and often thought he was Elvis.

"He was also a huge Morton fan."

John and Margaret lived in Tasker Street when they got married, and then Caithness Road in Larkfield before moving to Rose Crescent in Gourock.

Son Thomas said: "Dad was asked to move to New Zealand to teach new recruits before I was born.

"But mum and dad decided they didn't want to leave all the family they had here in Scotland."

His older brother John added: "Dad was a special man who held his head high."

A convoy of motorcylists escorted John's cortege as a tribute to the former biker.

Although he and his wife retired to their favourite coastal haunt of Saltcoats 14 years ago their hearts remained in Greenock.

Mr Boyland said: "It was an honour for myself and for the family to pay tribute to an ex-Argyll.

"He was one of our own.

"It is a sign of respect to carry the flag and put the flag down in front of the coffin, a way of saluting John.

"There was a guard of honour of eight men saluting him at the crematorium and a piper.

"It was very poignant."

The family would like to express their thanks to the bikers, as well as the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Foster Funeral directors, piper Ryan Sims and all of their family and friends for their support at this sad time.