OUR SALUTE TO THE FALLEN
Services of Remembrance
People of all ages gathered in Blairgowrie on Sunday to remember the fallen in two world wars and other conflicts.
Arrangements for the Remembrance Day parade were by the Blairgowrie, Rattray and District branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland and the service was led by the Rev Harry Mowbray, Blairgowrie Parish Church, with contributions by the Rev Father Gregory Umanna, St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, and the Very Rev Kenny Rathband, St Catharine’s Scottish Episcopal Church.
The parade commander was Col Jim Gibb, RBLS branch chairman, and the parade adjutant was RSM WD Whytock, Black Watch.
The parade from the Legion’s George Street clubrooms to the Wellmeadow was one of the longest for many years.
It was led by Blairgowrie, Rattray a n d Di s t r i c t P i p e Ba n d , l e d by Pipe Major Calum Patterson, and included members of the local Legion branch and detachments of the RAF Air Cadets lead by Lieut Mike Mooney, 2nd Blairgowrie BB Company led by company captain Bruce Dow, Blairgowrie and Rattray Scouts, Guides and Brownies led by Guider Amanda Bell and Carrieann Northcott, assistant Guider.
The Queen’s Colours were carried by Willie Donaldson and the Legion Standard by Mike Smeaton, ex-Black Watch. Other standard bearers were Jamie Bruce (RAF Air Cadets), Sgt Luke Cunningham (2nd Blairgowrie BB Company), Arran Boyd (Scouts), Ramsay Gregor-Jenny (Cubs), Jade McKen (1st Blairgowrie Guides) and Ailsa Low (1st Rattray Brownies).
The parade also i ncluded members of the RBLS Bike Riders branch including Derek Campbell and Willie Howie, vice-chairman, w h o w a s a c c o mp a n i e d b y h i s grandson Michael, a member of the junior branch.
A l s o p re s e n t wa s B e v L e s l i e, headteacher of Blairgowrie High School.
At the Wellmeadow were Brigadier Christopher Dunphie and his wife Sonia, Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie and the Glens councillor Bob Brawn, as well as other ex-servicemen and women.
Mr Mowbray said: “We remember the past, remembering the sacrifices made by countless people so that we can enjoy the freedom we have in our country to live our lives as we choose.
“We re me mb e r t h e p re s e n t , the needs of the people who have been wounded both physically and mentally in war and conflict and who have lost family members in war and conflict.
“We a l s o l o o k t o t h e f u t u r e , learning from the past, resolving to work for a world in which war and conflict are not the means by which disputes are settled.
“We g i v e t h a n k s f o r a l l t h a t members of the armed forces have done. We express our support for those who are presently serving.
“Our poppies express the support for servicemen and women injured or disabled in the course of their duty and needing our continuing help.”
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the RBLS branch by Col Gibb and the women’s section by Kimberley Ferguson.
Others were laid on behalf of the Black Watch by Arthur Beedie, the Royal Marines by Wayne Stevenson, the Royal Corps of Transport by Ewan Russell, Blairgowrie firefighters by watch manager Chris Smith, MSP Murdo Fraser, Bob Ellis on behalf of MSP John Swinney, Councillor Tom McEwan on behalf of MP Pete Wishart, Councillor Caroline Shiers, Ian Richards vice-chair of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, Alisdair Drummond on behalf of Blairgowr ie Par ish Church, RWM Rory Lean and WJW Pat Marshall on behalf of Blairgowrie Lodge St John, Blairgowrie High School pupils and staff by Murray Cunningham, head boy, and Kirsty Barnett, head girl, RAF Air Cadets by Flight-Sgt Wallace Gillan, 2nd Blairgowrie BB Co by Sgt Mathew Mi t c h e l l , Gu i d e s by Ca r r i e a n n Northcott, Caitlin McCarthy and Brownie Lucy Smith, and the Scouts by Hannah Galloway and Andrew Wilkie.
Prayers by Mr Mowbray were followed by Col Gibb reciting Binyon’s lines “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old.”
The Last Post was sounded by Clair Annan for the start of the two-minute silence, which was followed by the Kohima Epitaph by Fr Gregor y: “When you go home tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow we gave our today.”
The lament, The Flowers of the Forest, was played by Pipe Major Calum Patterson and ‘Reveille’ by Mrs Annan. The benediction was pronounced by the Very Rev Kenny Rathband.
The parade returned to George Stre et, where Col Gibb and Mr Whytock congratulated all ranks on their turnout before dismissal.
RSM Whytock said he was pleased at the turnout of ex-servicemen and women and also by members of the public.
“I was especially impressed by the turnout of the members of the youth organisations, who showed great respect for the occasion and added to the solemnity and dignity of Remembrance.
“They embodied Kipling’s words: lest we forget,” he said.
“Next year will see the 100-year anniversary of the end of the Great War and already arrangements are being discussed about how we in Blairgowrie and Rattray can mark Remembrance Sunday, which will be on Armistice Day, November 11.”
A l l ra n k s we re i nv i t e d t o t h e Legion clubrooms for soup and refreshments, prepared and served by members of the women’s section.
Police stopped traffic during the parade.