THE funeral of Bay City Rollers legend Alan Longmuir took place in Bannockburn yesterday with hundreds of mourners joining his family for a service in Allan Church of Scotland in Bannockburn’s Main Street.
After the service, Longmuir’s widow Eileen Rankin, supported by family members, led the funeral cortege to nearby Bannockburn Cemetery behind the hearse which itself was preceded by a lone piper.
Longmuir died at the age of 70 in Forth Valley Royal Hospital on July 2. He contracted a virus while on holiday in Mexico and it attacked his vital organs.
he had been in poor health before, surviving two heart attacks and a stroke some years ago.
Co-founder with his brother Derek of the band which became the Rollers, Alan Longmuir hailed from the Dalry area of Edinburgh where his father was an undertaker. He himself was a time-served plumber to trade and subsidised his early music career from his tradesman’s earnings before hitting the big time.
He originally played bass guitar in the Rollers, the biggest Scottish pop band of all time and a genuine worldwide phenomenon in the 1970s. Their tartan outfits and catchy tunes saw them sell millions of records.
Longmuir left the band at the height of their fame but later rejoined and while their popularity waned in the 1980s, the re-formed Rollers have been enjoying success latterly, particularly in Australia, where the latest line-up is currently touring.
Among the speakers at the service were Longmuir’s stepson Nik Rankin and close friend, the journalist Liam Rudden. The service also featured the hymns Morning Has Broken and Abide By Me.
The family released a tribute to Longmuir on social media. It said: ‘He brought so much love and kindness to everyone h met, and he leaves a huge hole in our family. He would humbly say he was “just a plumber from Edinburgh who got lucky”.
Longmuir is survived by wife Eileen, step sons Nik and Kyle, sisters Betty and Alice and brother and fellow Roller Derek. He is also survived by son Jordan from his marriage to his first wife Jan.
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