THE moniker of a proud and heroic former Scots Army regiment which has a special association with Inverclyde will be kept alive forever — after a walkway was officially named in its honour.

The footpath — linking Shore Street in Port Glasgow with the town’s Tesco supermarket — has been titled Argylls’ Parade in recognition of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Councillors agreed on the name at a meeting in the Municipal Buildings on Thursday, following representations made last year by Port pensioner John Hanley.

The Tele told how John, 73, came up with the idea after being inspired by an emotional farewell parade through his home town by the Argylls — now officially known as the 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Provost Robert Moran told a committee meeting: “I very much welcome this.

“Everyone knows about the strong ties Inverclyde has with the Argylls.

“Their parade through Port Glasgow last year was truly magnificent, the turnout for it was second-to-none, and I am delighted that we can make this gesture to them.” Port councillor Jim MacLeod, pictured at the walkway, said: “We had a fantastic day last year and I believe that Port Glasgow was their first stop after arriving back home from Afghanistan.” Inverclyde was traditionally a huge recruiting ground for the former regiment, which became 5 Scots in 2006 and is losing its battalion status as part of a major armed services shake-up.

Council head of regeneration and planning, Stuart Jamieson, told the committee: “A number of requests have been received that the council acknowledge the strong links that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders has with the town of Port Glasgow.

“The strategic leadership forum and corporate management team are supportive of this proposal.

“The local community council and ward councillors have been consulted and there are no objections.” Present-day soldiers of the Argylls — who can trace their history all the way back to 1881 — made an emotional farewell visit to Port Glasgow in June last year.

Pensioner John said then: “As a boy I remember members of the Argylls who had been fighting out in the northwest frontier, talking about burying their mates.

“We’ve now got Argylls burying their mates from the same place — Afghanistan — twice during my lifetime.

“This needs to be commemorated in some way.” Councillors unanimously agreed to the Argylls’ Parade walkway name.