Hundreds of people, including leading politicians, celebrities, locals and shipyard workers came out to pay their respects to Jimmy Reid at a service in Glasgow.
Jimmy Reid died in hospital the week before at the age of 78, after suffering a brain haemorrhage. 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.
The service at Govan Old Parish Church that celebrated Mr Reid’s life heard speeches by Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, and from Billy Connolly. Both men knew Jimmy Reid for decades, Alex Ferguson having grown up in Govan, Billy Connolly having worked in the shipyards on the Clyde.
Both gave memorable speeches at the event, Connolly speaking for more than 25 minutes.
First Minister Alex Salmond and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown were among the political figures attending a ceremony. During his political career Mr Reid had been a member of both the Labour Party and in his later years was a member of the SNP. He had earlier been a member of the Communist Party, and elected as a local councillor in Clydebank.
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, Mr Reid's body was returned to the isle of Bute where he had lived in retirement with his wife. Before the service, on Thursday morning, around 100 people gathered for a 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 the Govan shipyard lined the road as the hearse passed.
IN DETAIL
- VIDEO: Billy Connolly's speech at Jimmy Reid's funeral
- VIDEO: Alex Ferguson's speech at Jimmy Reid's funeral
- Tributes paid after death of shipyard leader Jimmy Reid
- Jimmy Reid: 'The best MP Scotland never had'
- Watch original STV programme: Reid about Scotland
