A FAMILIAR face at the Loch Lomond Shores shopping complex has raised more than £4,500 to help former service personnel – despite a ban on his usual method of attracting donations.

Captain Brian Warren, 82, who served in the Royal Army Service Corps and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, has been raising cash for the Erskine charity by playing his bagpipes at the Balloch venue for the last six years.

The coronavirus restrictions meant Brian was unable to play at the ‘bonnie banks’ this year – but that didn’t stop him going along, with his banner, information leaflets and donations bucket, for three days every week since the easing of lockdown limits enabled the shops at the centre to re-open.

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As a result he has raised an impressive £4,620.35 for Erskine’s Reid Macewen Activity Centre - to add to the £23,000 he’s raised in previous years.

Erskine community fund-raiser Jim Watret said: “Hats off to Brian from everyone at Erskine for his dedication in supporting our residents.

"He is a remarkable man and we are in awe of the time and effort he puts into raising money for us.

“To raise over £4,500 during a global pandemic is such an incredible achievement and we cannot thank him enough.”

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