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Weekly editor who later became clergyman dies aged 85

Bill HannahA weekly editor who later went on to become a clergyman has died aged 85.

Tributes have been paid to Bill Hannah, who edited the Ayr Advertiser before becoming ordained in the Church of Scotland.

Bill, pictured, was also made a Freeman of Ayr for his services to the town, which gave him the right to drive a flock of sheep down the its High Street.

He continued to preach well into his eighties, but had lived with dementia in recent years.

An obituary in the Advertiser described him as one of Ayrshire’s “most dedicated and eminent churchmen”.

Bill began his journalism career as a cub reporter on the Advertiser, where he covered Ayr United football matches under the name ‘Carrick Hill’.

He undertook two years of National Service as a corporal in the Royal Army Pay Corps, in Singapore, before returning to journalism in 1953.

Bill was later promoted and became the Advertiser’s editor between 1962 and 1965, before switching careers for the first time by joining chemical company ICI in a public relations role.

He then moved to computer company Burroughs Corporation, where one of his proudest moments was overseeing the Queen’s visit to the firm’s Cumbernauld plant in 1977.

Bill left Burroughs to study at Glasgow University, where he entered Trinity College and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1986.

He was minister at Muirkirk Parish Church from 1987 until he retired in 2001, and also served as moderator of Ayr Presbytery between 1999 and 2000.

Bill continued to edit and publish their monthly newsletter well into his eighties.

He is survived by wife of 62 years Morag, children John, Billy, Ruth and Jamie, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Due to the coronavirus crisis a private funeral was held last week but the family intend to organise a Memorial Service for Bill in the near future.