Death of popular Ayrshire Post photographer

Aug 8 2008 by Yonnie McInnes

FREELANCE photographer Les Flannigan of Ayr sadly died on Monday, July 28, after a long illness.

Les, who worked for the Ayrshire Post, passed away in Crosshouse Hospital.

He had suffered from Wegener’s disease for four years.

Les was a cameraman long before his association with newspapers, having served as a photographer with the police in Ayrshire.

It was in 1973 when he first met Margaret Clarke, who at the time was opening a coffee shop in Ayr and who was later to become his wife. Les and his police colleagues quickly became regulars at the Sandpiper in Cathcart Street, Ayr, enthralling customers with their stories. Margaret recalls: “During the 70s and 80s Les was something of a hippie – with long dark hair, dark glasses and as much jewellery as he could cram on to his fingers and wrists – hence his nickname in the police force – Rings and Things.”

Les left the police photography job around the time Strathclyde took over from Ayrshire Constabulary, and secured a post at Makro cash and carry, first as a rep and latterly as head of security.

He chose to be self employed as a freelance photographer, and worked mostly for the Ayrshire Post under contract. Margaret was features editor there and eventually they each divorced and married in 1987.

Les had been a compositor to trade – he worked in a printing place in his home town of Kilmarnock before joining the police – but his photography was his favourite occupation primarily because he made so many friends through the job.

For years Les photographed the games at Somerset Park, occasionally away matches including two major ties at Hampden Park and one, courtesy of the Ayrshire Post, in Dublin.

Jazz, photography, Ayr United and Rangers, Scottish nationalism, and his family, were Les’s loves, not necessarily in that order.

In 1974 he became an SNP councillor for a Kilmarnock ward.

He and his first wife had a daughter Stephanie and son Leslie.

Les died very peacefully, thanks to the attention of the caring doctors and nurses at both Ayr Hospital and Crosshouse Hospital. His funeral was held at Ayr Crematorium on Monday.