NEXT week marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most important decisions in East Ayrshire's - and Scotland's - history.
On September 18, 2014, the nation went to the polls for the Scottish independence referendum.
Across East Ayrshire just under 85,000 local people put a small cross in a box to vote and decide whether the nation should become an independent country.
East Ayrshire Council counting officer Fiona Lees announced the results just after 5am, with those at the Galleon Centre on tenterhooks.
The 'Yes' campaign received 39,762 votes, while there were 44,442 votes for 'Better Together'.
East Ayrshire followed the national trend, with 32 council areas voting against independence - despite an overall split of 45 per cent to 55 per cent.
Our reporter headed out into the area shortly before the polls closed on the day to find out what the locals had decided to do.
At the time, Alec Rea, 62, from Netherthird, said: “I voted yes for my two grandkids. I’m scunnert by Scotland being guinea pigs for everything else. We can do better on our own I think."
Theresa Ferguson, then 71, from New Cumnock, said: “I voted no, and I was quite happy doing that. I think it would be a bit risky. I feel we’re doing alright the way we are.
"The currency and the uncertainty over it is the biggest risk. I’m quite happy with Scotland the way it is. I’m not against those voting yes.
"I suppose everybody has a different view and the young ones will have a different view from me, but each to their own."ls had their say. (Image: NQ Archive)
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the East Ayrshire result, Labour MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun at the time, Cathy Jamieson said: “We worked extremely hard.
"We literally went door by door, street by street, speaking to the people of East Ayrshire, making a positive case for remaining part of the United Kingdom but with new powers for the Scottish Parliament.
“The people of East Ayrshire have spoken, it’s up to us now to recognise that people do want change. There are many things people want to see changed in their life.
“I hope we can now go forward positively based on the outcome of the referendum.
“We always believed it was going to be very close. I know that in the past couple of weeks we have literally walked the streets. I know how many miles I’ve put in between the doors and perhaps we didn’t have the same razzmatazz on the streets or all the excitement of cavalcades and all sorts of things that others had but we literally spoke to thousands of voters and I think that’s what has made the difference.”
Then-Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour MP Sandra Osborne added at the time: “It has been a long and sometimes acrimonious campaign.
"However the level of participation has been exceptional and a credit to the whole of Scotland. I would like to thank the whole team of Labour workers and everyone who contributed to the campaign.”
She continued: “We must now all come together and work to take Scotland forward to a better future. I look forward with enthusiasm to playing my part in legislating for the further devolution powers promised by the party leaders within the agreed timetable”.
Despite both Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock voting against independence, both Labour MPs lost their seat at the following year's General Election, to be replaced by incoming SNP candidates.
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