PICTURES: Centenary of Kildonan Parish war memorial marked with procession, service, spectacular poppy fall and exhibition
A Sutherland community has marked the centenary of its war memorial with a procession, service, spectacular poppy fall and exhibition.
There was a huge turnout for yesterday’s event in Helmsdale, where the Kildonan Parish war memorial, an imposing Grade C listed clock tower, stands in a commanding position in Castle Park overlooking the sea.
Representatives of armed services organisations were there in force including members of the Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie and Creich, Kincardine Lairg and Rogart branches of the Royal British Legion Scotland and the Royal British Legion Scotland Riders.
A large number of local residents were present and people originally from Helmsdale returned to the village to take part in the event.
The commemoration had been months in the planning with knitters busy making poppies for the striking poppy fall which was draped over the ice house, located near the war memorial.
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A spokesperson for the organisers said: “A massive thanks goes to everyone who attended, helped organise or took part in the event, as well as those who made poppies and posies.”
The commemoration began with a procession led by Sutherland Schools Pipe Band from Telford Bridge and up Church Brae to the war memorial.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Sutherland, Patrick Marriott, gave an address and the service was led by Rev Roddy Macrae, minister of Helmsdale Free Church of Scotland. The service was based on the original service of dedication held on August 27, 1924.
Pupils from Helmsdale Primary School read out the names on the war memorial and Esther McDonald gave a history of the monument.
A bouquet of flowers grown in Sutherland was laid on behalf of all those present by the four new P1 pupils at the school.
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The spokesperson said: “In addition to the bouquet laid for all those present, people were welcome to lay their own at the memorial in memory of relatives.
“Each grave in the cemetery with a connection to those named on the memorial was marked with a posy of flowers grown in the parishes of Kildonan and Loth.”
Piper April Sutherland played Flowers of the Forest and the Last Post was sounded by bugler Graham Mackenzie who also sounded the reveille after a minute’s silence
Refreshments were then served in Bunillidh Church where there was an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia relating to the construction of the memorial and the two world wars. There was also a similar exhibition in the library lounge of the village’s Timespan Art and Heritage Centre.
The collection for Poppy Scotland raised £348.
