Remembrance Sunday: Aberdeen remembers
08 November 2020
The City of Aberdeen’s Service of Remembrance has taken place in the Remembrance Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery today (Sunday 8 November 2020).
Attendance at the Service of Remembrance was restricted to invited guests only in line with COVID-19 guidance, which meant the public were respectfully asked not to attend.
The service was led by Reverend Ian Murray of the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting and those in attendance included the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council Co-Leaders and Group Leaders and representatives from the Armed Forces past and present.
The 20-minute service allowed the small congregation to observe the two-minute silence at 11am before the Lord Provost, on behalf of the people of Aberdeen, laid a wreath at the service. Due to COVID-19 restrictions all other wreaths will be laid in advance.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett said: “The Remembrance Service was all the more poignant because so few of us were permitted to attend due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are living in very challenging times right now and it was important that we had an opportunity to reflect.
“Aberdeen has a proud history of support for our Armed Forces and the Act of Remembrance allowed us to mark the sacrifices made by so many during times of conflict and to remember those who have been injured physically and mentally by conflict.”
The below individuals, regiments, associations and organisations submitted wreaths to be laid on their behalf ahead of the service.
ABERDEEN GIRLS BRIGADE; AIRBORNE ASSOCIATION; ANIMALS OF WAR; BOYS BRIGADE; BRAESIDE AND MANNOFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL; BRIGADE OF THE GURKHAS; BRITISH RED CROSS; BURMA STAR; COMMUNITY COUNCIL FORUM; GEORGE STREET COMMUNITY COUNCIL; GIRLGUIDING ABERDEEN AND SHETLAND; GMB UNION; HMS DIAMOND, HOUSE OF COMMONS; KIRSTY BLACKMAN MP (ABERDEEN NORTH); LEWIS MACDONALD MSP (LABOUR NORTH EAST SCOTLAND); MERCHANT NAVY ASSOCIATION; OFFICERS MEN AND WOMEN OF G12 SQUADRON; OLD ABERDEEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL; POLICE SCOTLAND; RASC RCT RLC ASSOCIATION ABERDEEN BRANCH, RNA; RNLI; ROSEMOUNT AND MILE-END COMMUNITY COUNCIL; ROYAL MARINES SCOTLAND; ROYAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE SCOTLAND; SALVATION ARMY; SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE; SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE; SCOTS GUARDS; 7 SCOTS; SEA CADETS; THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS; THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS ASSOCIATION ; THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SCOTLAND; THE ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION; TOM MASON MSP (NORTH EAST SCOTLAND REGION); WRNS.
The wreaths will remain in the Remembrance Hall for several weeks in order that they can be viewed by the public. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, anyone wishing to visit the Remembrance Hall is advised to check Aberdeen Art Gallery’s opening times and any Covid-19 restrictions and protocols that may be in place at the venue.
Photographs show The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Barney Crockett, layng wreaths at the Remembrance Hall and Memorials at Allenvale and Trinity cemeteries.