Tillicoultry youngster celebrates 14th birthday with drive-by parade

Kerry Keenan secretly arranged the event for her son Declan in the lead up to his 14th birthday on Saturday, April 25.

She told the Advertiser: "It had to be a surprise.

"I put a post on my Facebook for people who wanted to be part of it – I blocked the post from Declan – then I set up a messenger group chat."

From there, those wanting to wish Declan a happy birthday on the big day arranged to drive by his home on Mayfield Avenue, Tillicoultry.

That way, they could help him celebrate while staying the mandatory two metres apart.

And neighbour Vivienne Turner helped by decorating the front of the house with balloons – again, in secret – on the morning of the parade.

Young Declan had a birthday to remember this year

Vivienne said: "We organised through messenger that Kerry would get Declan out [into the garden] at 1.55pm, so that he would get the surprise of the balloons."

Then, Kerry said, a few moments later there were numerous cars driving by, honking their horns with those inside shouting happy birthday to Declan.

Kerry said: "There were family and a few others that wanted to wish him a happy birthday – such as friends from school.

"All my neighbours came out and they were all clapping and cheering.

"I was quite emotional; I just couldn't believe what was going on and the people that he was seeing.

"He was saying he was so shocked that people would do this for him.

"He told me at the end that he'll never forget that – it was his best birthday so far, he said."

And it seems the event resonated with everyone else on Mayfield Avenue too.

Kerry said: "I think it was something that didn't just affect Declan, it affected the whole street."

Neighbour Vivienne certainly seemed to agree, as she said: "It was just something different, to make his day far more special and that he would remember for years to come."