One of Ayrshire's leading property chiefs reckons his home town is on the verge of "sustained growth and prosperity".
Bob Cherry took a well earned retirement this week following 30 years as an estate agent and respected face of the industry.
And the man who spent many years helping to steer CKD Galbraith and its clients to success in Ayr believes a post-pandemic landscape can be one of huge opportunity.
He revealed: "Ayr and its surrounding areas are places of natural beauty and the property market, particularly in this part of the world, has taken a well documented surge.
"With so many people shifting to a work from home lifestyle, coastal living is going to become a huge area of growth and prosperity.
"People who once viewed Ayr as just too far a commute to the city are now coming here to set up home and begin new lives.
"I really do believe it's a huge chance for the town moving forward and there is plenty of reason to be positive."
Bob, 64, built the agency department for Cluttons at Killoch Place in 1991, before the merger with Finlayson Hughes which saw the birth of CKD Galbraith in 2003.
He specialist knowledge of the rural property market saw him become a hugely respected figure at the Ayr branch, which now employs 14.
As a firm, the independent property consultancy manages everything from farm, forestry, land and estate interests on over 3.5 million acres and has offices stretching across Scotland and into the north of England.
Bob added: "As a brand, we have always been respected for being friendly, approachable and less corporate and that's something I've liked to pride myself on as well.
"I've spent the last few years training up my successors, Alice Wilson and Jake Shaw-Tan, and know that now is the time to step aside and enjoy my hobbies outside of work.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my 30 years...the engaging of the brain and the valuations and just the day-to-day contact with clients.
"But the business is in very safe hands and I'm sure the team will go from strength to strength."
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