More than 60 members of the Arran Antiquarians met to hear Donald Reid speak to the group on The Last Miners of the Doon Valley, his latest book, .
Donald was born and educated in Dalmellington and lived in Beith for more than 20 years. He joined the Ayrshire Constabulary in 1967 and retired 32 years later as a superintendent, a subdivisional officer responsible for Glasgow City Centre.
He is past-president of the Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club and Garnock Valley Round Table. He is a regular after-dinner speaker and was Beith and district correspondent for the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. He was Beith citizen of the year in 1994.