Final plans for Lanark’s Rememberance Sunday commemoration revealed

Since the end of World War One, Lanark – like every other Clydesdale town, village and hamlet – has paid due homage to its fallen on the annual Remembrance Sunday.

However, this year marking the centenary of the outbreak of that conflict in which 234 Lanarkians died gives the Sunday, November 9, 2014 observance a special significance.

It also comes on the back of the long controversy which surrounded last year’s Remembrance Sunday service, the first held since the traditional venue, the Memorial Hall, was re-opened after a lengthy refurbishment.

This year the remembrance service will be held in St Nicholas Church with a later observance at the Memorial Hall. It starts in the kirk at 10.30am, led by the Reverend Alison Meikle; a two minute silence will be observed there at 11am exactly.

The service will conclude at around 11.30am and those members of the congregation who wish to will then assemble outside in the Castlegate to be led by a pipe band to the Memorial Hall.

A short service will be held in St Leonard Street outside the hall but there is the option to move inside if the weather is unkind.

The service outside the hall will open with a welcome from Frank Gunning, chairman of Lanark Community Council, to be followed by a formal opening of the service by Mrs Meikle; a prayer by Rev Susan Durham of Lanark EU Church will then be followed by a prayer by the Rev Bryan Kerr of Greyfriars Church.

There will then be another period of silent tribute after which a Lament will be played by a piper as the laying of the wreaths takes place.