Remembrance Day 2013

Remembrance Sunday - Click on the images to view full size

Remembrance Sunday in Maybole began with an ecumenical service in the Town Hall conducted by Rev Brian Hendrie. During the first hymn, the flags of the local branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland were accepted from standard bearers Stephen Sinclair and Alex Gemmell.

Following the service, Maybole Pipe Band led the parade to the war memorial for the traditional two minute silence and a wreath laying service led by Rev Hendrie, chaplain to the local RBLS. Pipe Major Gavin Nicol played the lament and Alex Kelly recited Binyon’s Lines and the Kohima Epitaph.

Taking part in the parade and laying poppy wreaths were many local organisations including the local branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland; the Women’s Section of the branch; Adam Ingram MSP representing the Scottish Parliament; South Ayrshire Councillors Brian Connolly, Ann Galbraith and William Grant; Maybole Community Council; Families and Friends; Maybole Town Twinning Association; Maybole Community Association; Maybole Council of Churches; Army Cadets; Scouts, Cubs; Brownies; Carrick Academy; Masonic Lodges; Apprentice Boys of Derry; Carrick Round Table; and the Fire Brigade.

After the service, the pipe band led the parade back to the Greenside with the salute being taken at the golf course’s 9th tee.

This Remembrance Speech Given by Claire Bryan, School Captain – Maybole 2013

Morning everyone, I am very honoured to have been asked to speak to you today, on such a meaningful occasion. But, when I started to think about what I wanted to say, I began to think that perhaps I was not in the best position to give a personal reflection. By this, I mean that I felt that I did not have the right to describe any particular event of the war, especially when addressing such a knowledgeable congregation.

I really worried about getting a detail or a date wrong, which to me would seem just so disrespectful. Like the majority of people in Britain today, there have been members of my family who have lived through and fought in both the First and Second World Wars. But how could I, a girl 17 years old, ever truly understand what they went through? It is strange to think that it was only around 100 years ago that our country was at War on such a great scale, I just find the enormity of it all difficult to imagine.
We owe our freedom to those people who gave their lives.

One thing that I have always admired alongside those who went to fight, are those who kept our country going at home. Those who took on tasks they had never experienced before and those who remained strong even without their husbands, brothers and fathers. That togetherness and spirit that War gave us is something I believe we need to practise day to day.
It should not take a War to make us help each other and work together.

I would like to finish my speech today on this note. In February this year, my family suffered the sudden loss of my grandmother, Margaret Coleman. I am going to read you a poem that she wrote about Remembrance Day, which I think gives us a very important message.

A Time to Remember
A time to remember, this day in November,
When petals fall and memories call,

Whispering winds weave through Flanders fields
Whilst sleeping warriors dream
of fists of flashing steel.

Young and old together stand,
Heads bowed low, wreath in hand,
Thoughts of love, of peace and war,
Remembering those who fought before.

And those today who meet their fate,
Through evil deeds and minds of hate,
We cringe, we cry and crave affection,
And remember the brave ones,
Who gave ‘us’ protection.

Remember them, remember them,
This dark November day,
While brave men find eternal peace,
May man find faith, and all wars cease.

Margaret Coleman

Photos from previous years. 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002