By Jackie Grant
Louise Haggerty is clutching at straws trying to track down her stolen Billy Connolly scarecrow. It was nicked from her front garden just a few hundred yards from where the Big Yin himself lived in the late 70s. Louise, 65, whose late brother-in-law Davie was Billy鈥檚 minder and best pal when he was a resident in Drymen, Stirlingshire, is hoping the comedian himself might make an appeal for the scarecrow鈥檚 return if he reads the Record. She said: 鈥淓very year as part of the Drymen Gala Day celebrations, there鈥檚 a scarecrow competition and this year we decided to do Billy with his banana feet. 鈥淚t turned out great and you have no idea the number of people who stopped to photograph it. Some even climbed up to our fence to have their picture taken beside Billy. 鈥淭he gala committee decided on a Hawaiian theme for the scarecrows this year so we just shoved a garland round its neck. 鈥淚t was great. I went into the butcher鈥檚 and he said it was the talk of the steamie. 鈥淏ut on Saturday night, a car pulled up, and somebody jumped out and stole our scarecrow. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wearing my leggings and T-shirt and I鈥檇 like them back. 鈥淚 was angry at first but we can see the funny side now. 鈥淚f the scarecrow is off on a haycation somewhere and somebody鈥檚 getting pleasure from it, fair enough. But I鈥檇 hate to think it鈥檚 been flytipped, because a lot of work went into it. I made the big banana feet from old oilskins and the hair, beard and eyebrows from sheep鈥檚 wool I dyed black. 鈥淛ohn even made a wee banjo for it. Just before it was stolen, John heard a lot of cackling and laughing and a horn beep, beep, beeping. 鈥淗e went outside and all that was left of Billy was his glasses. 鈥淗e鈥檚 raging and says he鈥檇 like to get his hands on whoever stole Billy. 鈥淚t seems like it was just a quick grab and go. 鈥淭he gala was last month but I was going to leave it out until the end of August just because of the amount of interest it sparked. 鈥淲hoever has taken it has ruined the fun and joy for other people.鈥 The legendary -Glaswegian comedian, 82, lived with his first wife Iris and two children near the loch in Drymen and fished its waters for a number of years. After the couple divorced, he moved to London and now lives in Florida with second wife Pamela Stephenson. Louise said: 鈥淲e鈥檇 love to know where the scarecrow is now. 鈥淛ohn鈥檚 brother Davie was great friends with Billy when he lived here all those years ago so maybe if he reads the Daily Record, he could put out an appeal for the return of the scarecrow and help us get it back.鈥