The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Children to play part in Charles Kennedy’s funeral
Politics: Tears shed at council meeting as tributes paid to former MP
Children from Charles Kennedy’s former primary school will mix with highpowered politicians as they play a part in the former Liberal Democrat leader’s funeral today.
Mr Kennedy attended St Columba’s RC Primary School at Lochy side in Lochaber and today 14 youngsters from the school will sing the psalm, O God, You Search Me and You Know Me.
Major figures from the political world are expected to be among the mourners attending the service for Mr Kennedy at his local church in Caol near Fort William.
The proceedings, which are expected to last more than an hour, will be broadcast outside the church, where large numbers of his former constituents are also predicted to gather.
The former Liberal Democrat leader died more a week ago, at the age of 55, after suffering a haemorrhage relating to his alcoholism. Today’s service, which starts at St John the Evangelist at noon, will be led by Monsignor James MacNeil, administrator of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles.
Parish priest Father Roddy Macaulay will preach the homily.
Mr Kennedy’s family has chosen a number of hymns for the service: Christ Be Beside Me, Our God Loves Us, I the Lord of Sea and Sky, Soul ofmy Saviour, and How Great Thou Art.
A close friend of Mr Kennedy’s, Brian McBride, will give a eulogy after communion.
Another family friend, John Cameron will lead the musicians, who also played at Mr Kennedy’s parents’ funeral.
Father Pat Brown, chaplain to the Westminster Parliament and Monsignor Thomas Wynne, of StMargaret’s Roy Bridge – a friend of the Kennedy family – will celebrate Mass.
Afterwards Mr Kennedy will be buried at Clunes, Achnacarry, in a private service.
There will be amemorial service at the University of Glasgow on June 18 and another in London at a later date.
Seasoned politicians on Highland Council meanwhile shed tears yesterday during heartfelt tributes to Mr Kennedy.
The highly charged speeches came at the start of a special council meeting to elect new officials marking a new era for the authority which is now under the command of a new administration.
Liberal Democrat group leader David Alston, who a fortnight ago terminated a three-year-old pact with SNP and Labour coalition colleagues, began themeeting with a five-minute tribute to his late party colleague.
He twice broke down, while sharing memories of Mr Kennedy, describing him as “a committed internationalist, a compassion- ate and principled politician, a great Scot and a respected and loved Highlander”.
He asked hushed colleagues to pause the next time they pass an Invernessian artwork that he said encapsulated the goodness of Charles Kennedy. Three birch trees in Church Street, he said, “seem to erupt through the paving stones. Just like these birch trees, Charles erupted through the flat, constraining paving stones that pass for much of politics and he brought life to everything he was committed to.”
He touched briefly on Mr Kennedy’s tragic alcoholism. New council leader Margaret Davidson revealed that her own family had suffered through its own experience of alcohol abuse.
“A committed internationalist, a great Scot and a respected and loved Highlander”