Some of Scotland’s most famous faces gathered to pay tribute to former trade unionist Jimmy Reid on Thursday afternoon.
First Minister Alex Salmond and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown were among the political figures attending a ceremony to celebrate Mr Reid’s life at Govan Old Parish Church.
Comedian Billy Connolly and Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson, a fellow Govan man, also made personal tributes during the service.
Jimmy Reid, a stalwart of the 1970s labour movement, died in hospital last week at the age of 78, after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
His body was returned to the Isle of Bute, where he lived out his later years with his wife Joan.
And on Thursday morning, around 100 people gathered for the first of two funeral services in Rothesay. A further 50 people then lined the pier as his cortege made its way onto a ferry to the mainland.
The cars travelled under police escort to Glasgow and workers at Govan shipyard lined part of the road as the hearse passed.
The coffin, bearing floral tributes spelling out the words "papa" and "dad", was then piped into the church.
Mr Reid was born in Govan and rose to international prominence when he led the famous "work-in" of thousands of shipbuilders on the Clyde during 1971 and 1972, thwarting government attempts to close the yards.
A speech he made to students as rector of Glasgow University on "rejecting the rat race" in 1971 appeared in full in the New York Times.
He later went on to become a respected journalist and broadcaster, and was described as “the best MP Scotland never had”.
Following his death on August 10, figures from across the world’s of politics, entertainment and sport joined the tributes, with Alex Salmond describing Mr Reid as “Clyde-built” and “a great rallying figure”.
As mourners gathered inside the church on Thursday, more than 100 people stood outside to listen to the service as it was relayed on speakers.
Sir Alex Ferguson said his memories of Mr Reid were as a young boy with books under his arm while the Manchester United manager played football.
He told the service: "Our education was football, his education was the Govan library. He was never out of there."
Sir Alex said Mr Reid became a great supporter of the Scottish football team in his later years.
Speaking about the Govan sit-in, Sir Alex said: "He was a great leader."
He said Mr Reid helped the underprivileged and those who lost their jobs and dignity adding: "That was his mantra in life. It never changed."
Another of Mr Reid's friends, Bob Thomson, said: "We have lost a great Scot and a true internationalist."
David Scott, who said he met Mr Reid in the 1970s, told the service: "We have lost a dear, trusted and loyal friend and today Scotland somehow feels diminished."
He said Mr Reid's wife had lost a "wonderful, caring, loving husband" and his daughters a "doting father".
Comedian Billy Connolly, a former shipyard welder, had much of the congregation in fits of laughter as he recounted several anecdotes involving himself and Mr Reid.
He told the service: "I don't know what to say about Jimmy. I loved Jimmy Reid.
"I'm going to miss him terribly.
"I'm always terrible at this kind of thing.
"He put things beautifully simply, complex things that just knocked me back three steps."
Connolly spoke for more than 25 minutes in total, paying tribute to his "dear friend Jimmy", and recalling life in Govan and the shipyards.
The comedian, who said he had been semi-adopted by Govan, recalled Mr Reid's leading role in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in and his famous speech in which he told comrades: "There will be no hooliganism, there will be no vandalism, there will be no bevvying, because the world is watching us."
Connolly told mourners today: "The UCS thing happened and I was so immensely proud.
"Who among us will ever, ever forget that meeting, that ridiculously famous meeting among Scotsmen, where Jimmy said those immortal words?"
Connolly told how he got in touch with actor John Sessions after news of Mr Reid's death emerged last week and spoke of an email he received in return.
Quoting from it, with the emotion clear in his voice, Connolly said: "'I saw the news on Wednesday morning. So dies one of the greatest examples of Scottish working class character, verve, intelligence and grace.'
"Ladies and gentlemen, I couldn't have put it better myself.
"Jimmy Reid - cheerio and thank you very, very much."
IN DETAIL
- Tributes paid after death of shipyard leader Jimmy Reid
- Jimmy Reid: 'The best MP Scotland never had'
- Watch original STV programme: Reid about Scotland
