Wubi News

Mourners to gather for Alex Salmond memorial service

2024-11-30 17:00:29

A memorial service is to take place on Saturday for the former First Minister Alex Salmond, who died suddenly last month.

Mourners will gather at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral, with the service being streamed live from 11:00.

Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia on 12 October.

Saturday's service will include tributes from political allies and opponents as well as musical performances by Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers.

Salmond was buried after a private funeral service on 29 October in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, where he had lived for many years with his wife, Moira.

His family said the memorial service would allow people to say goodbye and reflect on his life.

The memorial event is invitation only, with about 400 people attending.

First Minister John Swinney is expected to attend, alongside representatives from the main political parties in Scotland and the UK government.

The service will be led by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the former Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

There will be a Bible reading by Sir David Davis, the Conservative MP who was a close friend of Salmond's.

Dougie MacLean will sing his song Caledonia. Salmond's niece Christine Hendry and his close friends and political allies Duncan Hamilton KC and Kenny MacAskill will share their memories.

The former first minister was buried after a private funeral service in Strichen in October