Colourful way to remember to remember Hearts great John Cumming

A COMMEMORATIVE painting of one of Hearts' greatest-ever players was presented to his family at Tynecastle Stadium.

The grandchildren of John Cumming, inducted into the club's Hall of Fame and known as the Iron Man during his playing days, received the gift from the Willie Bauld Memorial Club following the recent Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs youth football final.

Andrew Baird and Lindsay Cumming received a framed portrait from Wilf McLauchlan, while a second painting is to be displayed within the stadium.

Mr Baird said: "We are very pleased with the painting, and it will be a keepsake for my grandmother, Jane, who will hang it in her house."

Jane Cumming was widowed a year-and-a-half ago as husband and former Hearts left-half John passed away aged 78. "In the last year or so, we've attended numerous events at Tynecastle to commemorate our grandfather," said Andrew.

Ian Richardson of the Willie Bauld Memorial Club said: "The idea was brought up at one of the club meetings just after John died in December 2008. He had been an honorary member of the club and came to all the finals and dinners we had. We decided to have a painting commissioned and raked around for a good picture, eventually finding one in an old club calendar. The young artist, Nicola Cairns, drew the paintings superbly."