A brass plaque erected on Argyll island in memory of a respected journalist has been stolen.
Kenny Macintyre, who grew up in Tobermory on the isle of Mull, was a political correspondent for more than 20 years.
Mr Macintyre died suddenly from chronic heart disease in 1999 aged 54 while jogging near his home in Glasgow.
During a colourful career, he charmed John Major into giving him an interview by telling him that if he refused, Chelsea F.C. would be defeated; ambushed Margaret Thatcher by hiding in a hotel cupboard to get an interview with her; and refused an OBE.
The Kenny Macintyre Memorial Sports Facility was opened at the King George V public park in Tobermory in 2006 by First Minister Jack McConnell.
The centre houses a seven a side football pitch and tennis courts and is used for football, shinty, rugby, netball and basketball.
A football tournament is played every year in Mr Macintyre’s honour.
Now the plague dedicated to his memory at the entrance way to the sports pitch has been removed.
Councillor Mary Jean Devon, who lives in Tobermory, said: “He was crazy about football and was often seen playing in the local park with the youths of Tobermory. Coming back from his funeral four or five of us wanted to do something to remember him by.
“I am really sad and disgusted that someone could stoop as low as to steal something like that. I don’t know what is happening in Tobermory these days.”
Sergeant Alan Moore of Oban Police Station said: “It is really of no use to anyone else. It is of no value for scrap metal, it is purely of sentimental value.
“We are hoping that if we get the word out through the press and on social media it might mysteriously turn up again.
“It’s not the kind of thing you would steal, it would make you extremely unpopular, especially on a small island.”
BBC reporter Mr Macintyre had two sons. Colin Macintyre is a member of the band Mull Historical Society and his other son Kenny Macintyre is a sports reporter.
He was a great sportsman, who once contemplated being a professional footballer. It was football that he spoke about in his spare time, but in politics that he was a slave to his mobile phone for.
His brother Lorn said at his funeral that it was fitting that his wife, Elizabeth, and his sons had placed a mobile phone and football socks in his coffin.
The funeral at Muckairn Parish Church in Taynuilt, near Oban, was attended by an array of leading figures, including Scotland’s First Minister at the time, Donald Dewar.
Tony Blair paid tribute at the time of his death, calling him “an institution”.
