Young group members remember past sacrifices
IN THE quiet before the Armed Forces Day parade arrived last Saturday, there was a poignant moment at Lochgilphead front green.
As veterans gathered, the event’s main organiser, Betty Rhodick, presented 65 hand-knitted poppies to Mid Argyll Youth Development Services (MAYDS).
The youth group spent two years looking in depth at the people whose names are inscribed on Lochgilphead’s war memorial. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, MAYDS members uncovered all kinds of information and tales of tragedy and heroism. Youth worker Raymond Flanagan said: ‘Our members really enjoyed this project. They learned a lot from it while giving them a link with the relatively recent past.
‘The work they have done will contribute to accredited learning towards youth achievement awards.’
Betty, who knitted every one of the poppies herself, explained: ‘The number 65 is sig- nificant, because there are 65 names on the memorial from the First World War.
‘This was an excellent project by the young people and we wanted to show our appreciation to coincide with Armed Forces Day.’
As the Lochgilphead memorial project draws to a close, the attention of the youth group now turns to Ardrishaig war memorial. They would be pleased to hear from anyone with information on the names on this monument.