Scotland's biggest autograph hunter has passed away.
Alan Marsh, better known as Big Al, died in his sleep on Thursday night. He was 73.
The popular figure from Kilmarnock rubbed shoulders with thousands of A-list celebrities over the years including Keira Knightly, Al Pacino, Bill Murray, Ricky Gervais, Sir Roger Moore, Brain May, Liz Hurley and many more.
Such was his fascination with celebrities that he became famous in his own right throughout Kilmarnock.
But one 'celebrity' encounter saw Alan make national headlines in 2015 after Donald Trump, who had just announced his intentions to run for the office of President of the United States, nicked his £5 note on one of his visits to Turnberry.
The tycoon signed one of Alan's fivers and trousered the other for himself. After Trump was elected as president in 2016 Alan's prized note was thought to be worth £5,000.
Alan said in 2016: “I told one of the main guys the story. He said he’d never heard of anything like that before and it is a one off. He said it was worth £500 and if Trump becomes president it is worth £5,000 – and if anything untoward happens to him I can buy a Bentley Turbo.
“In August, 2015, he was prominent, but not that prominent. At the time, he said: ‘What is it? It’s not real. What is it? Is it Monopoly money?’
“I explained it to him and said if he signed one for me I would give him one to keep.
“I have it framed. He returned to Turnberry six months ago and I couldn’t get close to him because he was surrounded by FBI guys. It was a different ball game.
“The FBI wouldn’t let me near him but I’m sitting pretty with the original five pound note.”
Not content with just meeting the good and great of Hollywood, Alan was also a keen amateur filmmaker with countless short movies written by and starring him.
His YouTube channel is stacked with his original work with more than 250,000 views on a variety of content over the past decade.
His talent was recognised in the industry too with Alan featuring as an extra in the screen adaptation of Irvine Welsh's Filth starring James McAvoy. He also appeared in Scots sketch show Burnistoun.
Alan was a favourite at Maggie's Bar and Kitchen in the town, where he lived above. His flat was a treasure trove of celebrity memorabilia from film and television with signed trinkets and pictures adorning the wall of his living room.
Alan's first love was cars and he owned Autocare on High Glencairn Street a number of decades ago and still took a keen interest in all things to do with vehicles up until his death and was a regular at Moorfield Motors in the town.
Alan's YouTube channel also features incredibly popular videos of him driving around Kilmarnock in the 80s and 90s to show how much the town has changed over the decades.
An outpouring of emotion from the community has highlighted how popular a character he was in the town and beyond.
One friend said: "Just heard the sad news Alan Marsh has passed away. He was a bigger celeb than the hundreds he met. RIP Alan."
Another wrote: "Well today is a day that I hoped i never would experience where I lost my best pal Marshy.
"You brightened up everyone's day and I honestly cannot imagine a single day with you not being here. We will all miss you and your wee treats from Lidl and your kindness. My wee heart is truly broken, I will miss you so much. Love you always my big pal."
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