Celebrity couple Maxwell Caulfield and Juliet Mills stopped off in the village on August 18 for the opening of a new Memorial Garden at Erskine home.

Caulfield, who is best known for his roles in TV series Dynasty and film Grease 2, launched the Stars on Parade programme to commemorate the start of World War One.

He was joined by his wife Juliet, the daughter of actor Sir John Mills, Pony Major Corporal Mark Wilkinson and retired Lance Corporal Cruachan III, the mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The actor later retweeted a post by the Erskine charity, which read: “What a fantastic day — opening of Erskine Memorial Garden by Juliet Mills and @maxcaulfield aided by pony Cruachan!” The garden, which won the People’s Choice Award for Best Show Garden at Gardening Scotland 2014, was transported to Bishopton and rebuilt for the charity’s veterans and their families to enjoy.

Showcasing the skills of the Dry Stone Walling Association, the poignant garden depicts the corner of a walled garden abandoned by a young gardener as he goes off to fight in World War One.

Veteran’s see the door through which he left his tools abandoned and the flower beds he left behind. A scythe lies ominously beside the red door but the wild flowers and poppies which have invaded the garden bring new life and hope.

This Centenary year of the First World War, it is apt the garden has been opened at Erskine as the charities work caring for veterans began during the conflict.

The opening of the garden is the start of a much larger project to create a memorial area within Erskine Home grounds where residents and family can go for quiet contemplation or to lay a stone on a cairn to remember a loved one who served in the services.

Once finished there will be woodland walkways, memorial cairns and seating areas. Commenting on each of the stars’ visit, Steve Conway, Erskine chief executive, said: “The award winning memorial garden, which was first constructed by the West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association for the Gardening Scotland Show, has been opened by Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield in its new location at Erskine, where it will form the entrance to a new memorial garden to remember all those veterans Erskine has cared for since 1916.

“We are extremely grateful to Juliet and Maxwell for opening the garden at the launch event for the Stars on Parade Concert particularly given that both the concert and the Memorial Garden commemorate the First World War.

“We hope the garden will provide a quiet place for anyone visiting to remember those veterans who are no longer with us.”