In celebration of Mauchline Young Farmers Club’s 75th anniversary year, the club is holding series of events to commemorate its milestone year.

William Wyllie, from the club, told The SF: “We have the ambitious target of building a tower of £1 coins the height of the Burns Monument in Mauchline, which, if achieved would raise more than £7,000.

"We hope to do this by running fundraising events during the year and by holding a grand raffle, to be drawn at our finale dinner dance next February, with fantastic cash prizes of £1000, £500, £250, and many additional prizes.

"Tickets cost £1 each and will be on sale at Many Thanks Gift Shop, in Mauchline, and we are indebted to Barclays Bank which is going to match any funds we may raise.

The events already in the diary are:

July 1, 2017 Family fun day at Auchenbay Farm, Ochiltree

October 11-14, 2017 Anniversary concert at Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock

November 17, 2017 'All our yesterdays' at Mauchline Primary School and Scout Hall

February 17, 2018 Finale dinner dance at Ayr Racecourse.

The club members have selected four charities which will benefit from this raffle, and also from some of the surplus raised from the events. They are Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland, Ayrshire Cancer Support, RSABI.

The club was formed on the March 1, 1943, at a meeting held in Mauchline School where 50 members enrolled.

Williams concluded: “We are all looking forward to a great year of reminiscing and creating new memories.”