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The emotions of the Lancastria medal presentation were still very much with us all at our third Memorial Service on the 14th of June. Members of the Association gathered with family, friends and invited guests for this very special service.
As always, we had the warmest of welcomes at St George’s West church from the minister, Rev Peter Macdonald, the organist, David Stewart and members of their congregation.
Mr Tom Mechan, a committee member, gave the bible reading from the Psalms.
Christine Grahame MSP to whom, once more, we are greatly indebted delivered the Eulogy. Jonathan Fenby, the author of the “Sinking of the Lancastria”, who had planned to be with us, was held up in York due to vandalism on the line.
At extremely short notice Christine Grahame stepped in to speak in his place. The East Fife Male Voice Choir whose presence greatly enhanced the service followed the Eulogy. Under their conductor, Jim Broadly, they gave a most moving rendering of “Morte Christi” and a piece composed by Nigel Everett, one of our members, called “Remembrance“. Group Captain Robert Kemp then delivered the “Ode to the Fallen”. Representing Air Commodore Barstow and RAF Leuchars, Group Captain Jane Nottingham laid a wreath on their behalf followed by Fiona Symon who laid the Association wreath. We were honoured to have survivor Mr Harry Harding from Salisbury who gave the Kohima Epitaph. We were indebted to the three buglers from the BB who played the Last Post and Reveille with great resonance.
Among the guests who joined us at the service were Mr Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Christine Grahame, MSP representing the Scottish Government; Christophe Francois, whose film about the Lancastria disaster had it’s British premier at the Scottish Parliament after the presentation of the commemorative medals; Major R. Ritchie, Black Watch Association; Mr Wart Shields, The Earl Hag Poppy Fund; Group Captain R. Kemp, director of the RAF Benevolent Fund for Scotland; Group Captain Jane Nottingham from RAF Leuchars, representing Air Commodore Bairsto; Mr David Hamer, director of RAFA for Scotland and N. Ireland; Mr D. Scarlet BEM, from the Royal Naval Association and lastly, we were delighted to welcome back a party of residents from the Edinburgh Erskine Home who support us every year.
There were members, family and friends from France, the South of England to the North of Scotland and Northern Ireland, a true representation of those involved in the Lancastria disaster.
Fiona Symon, Chair, Lancastria Association of Scotland
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