Poppy Week in Hamilton remembers war heroes

Nov 5 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

Service marks the start of solemn remembrance

POPPY Week in Hamilton began on Saturday with dignitaries and ex-services personnel attending this year’s Garden of Remembrance service.

A procession to the Top Cross was led by the parade marshall.

Prayers were said and hymns sung in memory of the county’s war dead, as shoppers also paid their respects.

Guests at the service included South Lanarkshire Provost Russell Clearie, who gave a scripture reading, and Hamilton South MSP Tom McCabe.

Rev John Thomson, minister of the Old Parish Church, Hamilton, gave the dedication, while the Prayer of Remembrance and Thanksgiving was delivered by the Rt Rev Monsignor Tom O'Hare VG.

North Lanarkshire Provost Tom Curley and the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Gilbert Cox, were also in attendance.

Music for the hymns was supplied by Hamilton Temple Band, led by Captain David McCaw-Aldworth.

During the singing of the final hymn, wreaths and crosses were placed at the Garden of Remembrance by the presidents of the ex-services associations, other dignitaries, and groups.

Afterwards, the groups retired to the Banqueting Hall at the council HQ in Almada Street for lunch, where Provost Russell Clearie gave a short speech.

He said: “At these ceremonies we set aside some of our own time to remember the millions of people who have and continue to lose their lives to protect the very freedom that we all too readily take for granted.

“As always I am delighted to see so many young people attending – many of whom may well have friends, brothers or sisters serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or some of the other trouble spots overseas.

“These services are therefore a way in which my generation can help get the message across to our young people of the very real significance of why we continue to observe the importance of Remembrance Day.”