Remembrance events
Oban’s Remembrance Sunday plans are back on after Covid, writes Kathie Griffiths.
This year’s parade will muster at the Corran Halls car park at 10am on November 14, setting off at 10.15am to reach the war memorial on the Esplanade at 10.45am. Chaplin Peter Park will open the ceremony before wreaths are laid and a two-minute silence starts at 11am.
Last year, Tier 2 Covid restrictions cancelled Oban’s Act of Remembrance parade.
Despite lots of safety planning, a small-scale parade and service scheduled at the town’s War Memorial on the Esplanade and a second act of remembrance at the Garden of Remembrance on George Street had to be called off.
Instead people were encouraged to take to their doorsteps for the usual two-minute silence and to go online to make donations to The Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Oban councillor Jim Lynch said: ‘It’s so important we keep the Remembrance event going in Oban. I hope people will come out to show their respects as they have in the past. We’ve had so many offers of help from people from the pipe band to West Coast Motors and all the cadets and it is very much appreciated.’ On Seil people are invited to gather at Balvicar’s old cemetery at 10am on Remembrance Sunday for an Act of Commemoration at 10.15am where crosses will be placed on the Commonwealth War Graves. An Act of Remembrance will follow at the war memorial at 10.45am where the branch’s acting padre Phil Moss will lead the service.
On Luing, there will be a gathering at 10.30am at the island’s war memorial for a service led by Jean Alexander.
A service will follow at Kilbrandon Parish Church on Seil at 11.45am and there are plans to livestream it and put it on YouTube so the congregation at Luing Church can watch it as it happens.
In Kilmelford, people are asked to assemble at the village’s war memorial for 10.45am to lay poppy wreaths and for the minute’s silence. A ‘special’ church service will follow, said Easdale Royal British Legion branch chairman Ron Hetherington.
October 27 saw the centenary rededication of Killin War Memorial. The ceremony was performed by Reverend Russel Moffat.
Killin Memorial Preservation Group planned the ceremony for last year but was forced to postpone because of the pandemic until now. Members of The Black Watch attended the ceremony along with many former soldiers from the area, supported by a good community turnout.