Dunbartonshire Lieutenancy remembers the Fallen

Hundreds of people have gathered to mark Remembrance Sunday, at a series of parades and services across Dunbartonshire.

The events were attended by members of the public, military veterans and cadet organisations, who stood in silence for two minutes to remember the fallen.

Wreaths were then laid by local dignitaries.

Dunbartonshire’s Deputy Lieutenants were in attendance at events across the Lieutenancy.

Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Jill Young MBE, laid a wreath on behalf of His Majesty King Charles at the war memorial in Clydebank following a church service.

The event was led by Salvation Army Piper Alasdair Henderson.

Mrs Young was escorted by Leading Sea Cadet Samantha Evans, the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet and Petty Officer Conor Young from HMS Glasgow.

In attendance were Provost of West Dunbartonshire, Karen Murray Conaghan, VIPs, veterans, Clydebank Sea Cadets, RAF Cadets, Helensburgh Army Cadets and Scouts.

The largest event was held at Hermitage Park in Helensburgh, where several hundred people turned out to pay their respects, despite appalling weather.

A wreath was laid at the war memorial by Dr Gill Aitkenhead MBE DL, at her last event as a Deputy Lieutenant before she retires.

Local Sea, Air and Army Cadets provided the guard of honour at the service.

The event was also attended by senior officers from HMNB Clyde at Faslane.

The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, James Rogers DL laid his Lieutenancy wreath at the picturesque Rhu and Shandon Parish Church where the weather was much kinder.

The service was led by former Deputy Lieutenant, Andrew Nicolson JP.

Argyll and Bute Councillor Maurice Stewart-Corry TD was also in attendance and laid a wreath on behalf of the local authority.

The Rhu Scouts and Cubs provided the guard of honour.

Round the coast at Shandon, Deputy Lieutenant, Colonel Mike Edwards OBE, laid a wreath on behalf of His Majesty at the local war memorial.

The service was led by Tom Stewart, one of the elders from Rhu Parish Church.

New Deputy Lieutenant, Elaine Ferguson, laid a wreath at the service held at the former US Navy base at Rosneath.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the memorial, which is dedicated to the American and British forces who served there during World War Two.

The memorial was established by the United Kingdom State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Rosneath Anvil Trust.

To mark the 25th anniversary, Mrs Holly Smith from the society joined the service.

In the east of the Lieutenancy, several hundred people turned out for the Remembrance parade in Kilsyth.

Anne Smillie DL laid the King’s wreath at the Cenotaph.

A service of Remembrance at Kilsyth Burns and Old Parish Church was led by Rev Kenneth MacLeod.

The event was attended by local cadets and members from the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

Musical accompaniment was provided by the Kilsyth Thistle pipe band.

Another well attended Remembrance event took place in Bishopbriggs where around 300 people paid their respects.

The Lieutenancy wreath was laid at the war memorial there by Garry MacLeod DL.

Gordon McInally, Locum of Cadder Parish Church conducted the service, East Dunbartonshire Community Police Inspector Stuart Murray and his officers supervised the event, David Ritchie of the 212 Boys Brigade, coordinated and managed the parade and wreath-laying, East Dunbartonshire Council Depute Leader Councillor Calum Smith represented the local authority along with Councillor Alan Moir and Executive Officer Ms Evonne Bauer.

Local youth organisations, local groups and schools including Bishopbriggs Academy and Turnbull High School staff and pupil representatives were in attendance as were the 175th Glasgow Scout Group who provided refreshments.

Isabel Ewing DL attended a special service at Woodilee, organised by Lenzie Community Council and the churches of Lenzie.

It remembered the fallen and those whose lives were associated with Woodilee Hospital.

Professor Elaine Boyd OBE DL laid a Remembrance wreath at the war memorial in Milngavie.

East Dunbartonshire Council elected members and officials were also there to pay their respects as were Milngavie FC, the Boys’ Brigade, Girl Guides, Douglas Academy, Milngavie Community Council and Army Cadets.

The Milngavie Pipe Band was also in attendance as were a large number of veterans.

In nearby Bearsden, a large ceremony was held at the war memorial where Deputy Lieutenant Sandie Scott laid a wreath.

The event was attended by Provost Gillian Renwick from East Dunbartonshire Council and representatives of the emergency services, Scouts and Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades.

The service was led by Rev Roddy Hamilton from the New Kilpatrick Church.

The Remembrance service at St David’s Church in Kirkintilloch was followed by a parade to the Cenotaph.

Deputy Lieutenant Mark Billington laid a wreath on behalf of the Lieutenancy.

The event had musical accompaniment from the Kirkintilloch Pipe Band and was attended by Kirkintilloch Girl Guides, Brownies and Rainbows and Army Cadets.

A large turnout attended the ceremony at Christie Park in Alexandria.

The King's wreath was laid by Tom Finnigan DL.

He was escorted by the Lord-Lieutenant's Cadet, Flight Sergeant Connor McCairn from 1777 Air Cadet Squadron in Dumbarton.

Deputy Lieutenant Kenneth Grieve represented the Lieutenancy at the parade at Levengrove Park in Dumbarton, where he laid a wreath on behalf of the King.

The event was attended by local MSP, Dame Jackie Baillie, the Dumbarton & District Pipe Band and the Dumbarton Army Cadet Force.

The Remembrance Service in Cumbernauld was well attended as ever - despite the awful weather.

Parade was lead by Stonehouse pipe band and the 2946 Squadron of the Air Cadets.

Wreaths we're laid by Anne Walker DL, Katrina Murray MP, Jamie Hepburn MSP, local council representatives, representatives of the emergency services and a large number of local community groups and organisations.

The Remembrance event at Duntocher was attended by Douglas McAllister MP and Marie McNair MSP and the service was led by Rev Gregor McIntyre.

Deputy Lieutenant Elliot Witherow laid a wreath on behalf of the King.

In Milton of Campsie, members of the local Scout troop and Boys Brigade took part in a service and parade.

The parade formed up in the grounds of St Paul’s Chapel on Cairnview Road, and processed to the war memorial beside the former Milton Church. Councillor Vaughan Moody of East Dunbartonshire Council laid a wreath, followed by Alex Buist from the Community Council. The ceremony was jointly conducted by Rev Julie Moody and Canon Jeremy Bath. Musical accompaniment was provided by Jocelyn Glennie.

A wreath was laid on behalf of the Dunbartonshire Lieutenancy by Nick Allan DL.

At Old Kilpatrick, a Remembrance Sunday service was conducted by Ian Stormonth and Scouts recited ‘In Flanders Fields,’ a war poem written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.

The Lieutenancy wreath was laid by Angela Harkness DL

Remembrance Sunday 2023 was marked by a series of well attended events across the Lieutenancy.

Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Jill Young MBE, attended the ceremony at Christie Park in Alexandria, where she was accompanied by Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets, Cadet Sgt Olivia Winton of RAFAC 1777 Dumbarton Squadron and Cadet Sgt Grace Bradley of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Army Cadet Force. Among the dignitories in attendance was local MSP Pam Gosal.

The ceremony was also attended by Provost Douglas McAllister of West Dunbartonshire, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP and Dame Jackie Baillie MSP.

A service at Clydebank Town Hall was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial. Wreaths were laid by Tom Finnigan MBE DL, Provost Douglas McAllister, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP, Marie McNair MSP and representatives from various civic and voluntary organisations. There then followed a march past by all members of the parade at the Solidarity Plaza.

A large crowd attended the Remembrance service at Rhu Parish Church, where Deputy Lieutenant Angela Harkness laid a wreath.

Kilsyth gathered to honour the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during times of conflict, at the town's Remembrance Service.

Deputy Lieutenant, Anne Smillie joined local school pupils, community members, military veterans, the Kilsyth Thistle Pipe Band, the Army Cadet Force and other dignitaries at the event.

The Remembrance Service was held at the Burnbank Park War Memorial.

The Parade was led by Kilsyth Thistle Pipe band, followed by members of the local Army Cadets.

The service was held by Rev Kenneth MacDonald and Father Scott Deeley.

Wreaths were laid by Councillors Jean Jones and Heather Brannan McVey on behalf of Provost Kenneth Duffy, Stuart MacDonald MP, Councillor Dennis Johnston on behalf of Jamie Hepburn MSP, Mark Griffin MSP and RAF veteran George MacDonald.

Gill Aitkenhead MBE laid a wreath at the war memorial in Gartocharn after a Remembrance service in the local parish church, led by Rev Ian Millar. 

A combined Remembrance service took place at St David’s Memorial Park Church with St Mary’s Parish Church in Kirkintilloch.

The service was performed by Rev Derek Peat and Dr Rev Ruth Morrison. Mark Billington DL laid a wreath at the Cenotaph afterwards.

A large turnout paid their respects to the Fallen amid stunning surroundings at the site of the former US Navy base at Rosneath, where Major Mike Edwards OBE DL, laid a wreath.

Major Edwards also laid a wreath at the war memorial in Shandon, after a service led by Andrew Nisbet from Rhu Parish Church.