A DEDICATED Malcolm Sargent House campaigner this week said the respite service for children with cancer was a ‘national treasure’ after the building’s demolition.

Billy Herd was saddened to see the bulldozers move in to flatten the stunning Prestwick shorefront holiday retreat used by families from all over the UK before it was sold off in 2016.

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The 79-year-old chaired a committee in a bid to try and save it four years ago but now is left with just memories as new owners made the call to knock down the historic building.

Billy told the Advertiser: “It is a very sad time to see that Malcolm Sargent House is no longer there.

“It holds a lot of special memories and has an amazing history.

“I have noticed comments online that have been made by former staff and families, when you see that it really hits home.

Billy, along with other committee members he called The Magnificent Seven, tried their best to save Malcolm Sargent House when the charity placed a £1.75m price tag on the holiday retreat opened by Princess Diana in 1989.

But despite a huge backing from the people of Prestwick the charity CLIC Sargent pressed on with the sale.

Billy believes there is still a feeling of resentment within the community.

He said: “I was the chairman of the committee I called us the Magnificent Seven. We tried to run them out of town.

“We offered to buy it in instalments, we tried everything.

“The end product was Whiteleys Retreat, which has been an amazing thing to come out of it.

“But there was something special about Malcolm Sargent House. It brought royalty to Prestwick.

“I would say it was a national treasure at one point, all the families would come from all over Britain to stay. We wanted to protect that respite for children with cancer.

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“I think the Prestwick community are still really angry because of the amount of money that was raised to maintain that place and to buy it off the charity.”

We told how in July the site was earmarked for demolition after owners took action on yobs who had turned it into a ‘drinking den’.

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Billy who helped raise thousands for the charity during his 10 years as a volunteer, was left disgusted to find empty cans of booze and smashed bottles next to areas once enjoyed by children battling cancer.

Billy told the Advertiser: “If we had never highlighted the problem with youths going in and drinking at Malcolm Sargent House, then it could have been worse.

“It would have been awful to see it being set on fire, that is what happens to a lot of these buildings.

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Malcolm Sargent House opened up as a holiday escape for families with children who had cancer or other illnesses in Easter 1989.

It was officially opened by Princess Diana on September 27, 1989 .

The home became part of charity CLIC Sargent when two charities merged in 2005.

Billy discovered through research that Malcolm Sargent House which was once used as respite away from WW2 for brave soldiers.

Nearly half a million men of all ranks and branches of HM Forces visited the home for rest and recreation, with half a million servicemen visiting between October 23, 1939 and September 18, 1945.

Last month’s demolition brings an end to 140 years of history with the property first opening in 1880.

Billy added: “Maybe a plaque should go there? It is something that would be worth asking the people of Prestwick if they want to see it.

“There are pieces of history that deserve to be placed in a museum.

“It would be a small consolation for those who gave so much of their time to it.”