Councillors suspended
46,000 poppies released from Wallace Monument to honour fallen heroes of Arras
Two Conservative councillors embroiled in social media rows have now been suspended by their party.
Party bosses confirmed this week that Alastair Majury and Robert Davies had been suspended pending an internal investigation. Councillor Majury has been accused of posting tweets of a sectarian nature, whilst Councillor Davies faces a complaint over allegedly racist posts.
Skies over Stirling were yesterday (Tuesday) filled with fluttering poppy petals.
The National Wallace Monument was the venue for a poignant commemoration to mark the 100th anniversary of one of the First World War’s bloodiest battles.
The iconic landmark saw 46,000 paper poppy petals released from its top to commemorate the end of the Battle of Arras in France.
Each of the poppies represented a Scottish soldier who lost their life or was wounded during the conflict.
As part of the event, there w a s also a service of commemoration led by The Royal British Legion Scotland at the base of the monument. Wreaths were laid at the ceremony attended by Poppyscotland chief executive officer Mark Bibbey, Legion Scotland CEO Kevin Gray MM and pupils from Queen Victoria School, Dunblane. Hundreds of people attended
the event, packing the immediate area around the base of the monument, while others watched the car park and cafe area.
Some were veterans of other wars and others had relatives killed at Arras.
One of the latter was newly-elected Stirling councillor, Alasdair Tollemache. His great uncle, Walter Josiah Pearse – a Canadian soldier – was killed during the battle.
The 26-year old from Kamloops, British Columbia, was a member of the Royal Horse Artillery. He is buried in Mont St Eloi, a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, eight kilometres north-west of Arras.
Councillor Tollemache said: “It was very moving if you know or are related to someone who was killed in the battle.
“It’s easy to forget that each of those small petals represents a life. You never really think about it that way. I’ve been over to France twice to see his grave as my grandmother was his sister and I’m the only living relative so it was nice to be there to commemorate that.”
Second Lieutenant Pearse was then awarded the Military Cross, which Councillor Tollemache had to hand at the event.
Alva man Ken Ravey described the special ceremony as a success. He added: “It was absolutely marvellous. We were up at the monument and it was lovely.
“I did my national service in France and we lost one of our lads so this all reminded me of that as well.”
Two members of the Royal Engineers were on hand to witness the poppy fall. Tommy Watt said: “It was very well organised. It was a commemoration of Arras but really it was a commemoration of all British servicemen who have lost their lives.”
Gordon Michie, head of fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: “The sight of thousands of poppy petals gently fluttering to earth was a dramatic and fitting way to mark the centenary of the Battle of Arras.
“It was also a moment to remember those for whom the poppy is a symbol of hope today and to show our support for the Armed Forces community living in Scotland. We were delighted so many were able to come along and witness the poignant spectacle of the Arras petal cascade.”
Ken Thomson, from Stirling District Tourism, added: “Steeped in history and Scottish heritage, the monument pays tribute to one of the country’s most iconic heroes, Sir William Wallace, and it is a real honour to have staged this dramatic and poignant moment in the history of Poppyscotland and its support of the armed forces.”
The event was organised by Poppy Scotland.