Poppy day tributes are paid
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A BITTERLY cold day peppered with hail showers did not stop people from turning out in force last Sunday to pay their respects at the war memorial in Huntly and others throughout Strathbogie.
Huntly Pipe Band lead the parade through the centre of Huntly to the war memorial, heading a procession which included the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire James Ingleby, ex servicemen and women, members of the Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Scout and Guide groups and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Wreaths were laid by the Lord Lieutenant, Anne Williamson, representing the Ex Servicemen's Club, Lillie Sandison and Connor Wilson for the ATC and ACF, Guides Rachel McKay and Leah Halley, Scouts, Innes Cranna and Dylan Morrison, Councillor Moira Ingleby and Tony Gill for Huntly Community Council. Anthony Mitchell represented the firefighters and Rotary president Paul Robinson also laid a tribute.
The short service was delivered by the Reverend Thomas Calder who reminded the large gathering of the huge debt of gratitude owed to those who had laid down their lives in conflicts which allowed current generations to enjoy so much freedom and hope.
After the two minutes' silence, George Brown and Ed Friday sounded the last post and the lament was played by Pipe Major Ian Stuart.
At the end of the service in Huntly Cairnie Glass Church, the parade made its way to Gordon Street where the salute was taken at the Stewart's Hall by the Lord Lieutenant James Ingleby, Lt Col Gordon McKen, Flt Lt George Anthony and former Corporal Dorothy Noble.
In Rhynie, a good sized company gathered at the war memorial in the centre of the village. Towie Pipe band played and wreaths were laid by Mick Bastable for the British Legion and Dod Yeats on behalf of the community council. A member of the Royal British Legion bikers group also laid a tribute.
Mr Bastable laid the wreath at Gartly and had visited the World War I memorial in Kennethmont on Armistice day to lay a wreath.
Wreaths were also laid in Clatt by Lachlan Rhodes and in Kennethmont by Wilma Grant.
More than 70 people attended the service, conducted by the Rev Calder at Glass war memorial. Wreaths were laid by James Ingleby, Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Moira Ingleby and Rotarian Stuart Wright.
Earlier in the day, Glass Community Association hosted a soup and sweet lunch and a donation from the teas will go to Poppy Scotland.
A wreath was placed at the memorial in Cairnie Church and at Drumblade, a service was held at the war memorial and Elaine Robson laid the wreath.
