Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Farewell, Jimmy Liddell
The hail and rain stopped briefly in Queensferry as hundreds of people gathered to pay their final respects to Jimmy Liddell, who died six days ago.
In place of the inclement weather, came the sun, and a lone piper at the head of the cortege. We all filed behind, in Queensferry tradition, and set off from the Bellstane, along the cobbled High Street, paying our respects to a man who gave so much to our community.
As the crowd of some 300 walked behind his coffin, workmen at the Burgh Hall stood to attention; and the Saltire blew proudly in the wind, fixed at half-mast in his honour.
And still the procession continued, to our right, the row of shops and terraced houses, to the left the Firth of Forth and our two bridges.
We walked Jimmy out of the Burgh, to the other side of the Sealscraig, before taking a short leave of him to pile into cars and minibuses bound for Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh.
By the time we got there, the rain was lashing again and the crowds snuggled together to take shelter under the pergola and inside the waiting room. For others, an umbrella or a tree had to suffice.
Then, Jimmy's magic worked again. In the distance, a large tube of light shone through the clouded sky to cast a golden shaft on Calton Hill. Forever associated with Scottish Nationalism and the drive for independence and freedom, Calton Hill was lit up as Jimmy was brought into the crematorium; and the piper played Flower of Scotland.
It was clear we would never get everyone in to the chapel. "Another sell out Liddell production!" said the preacher, in reference to the many shows Jimmy produced over the years, all to raise funds for organisations and events in Queensferry, like the Ferry Fair.
And so, we stood where we could, in the lobby, the corridor, the pergola, and listened to the words about our dear friend.
It was difficult to let him go; more than a thousand people, all with their own memories of the man who worked tirelessly for his family, his community and his country.
Tich Friel sang Caledonia. The words were never more as poignant as they were at this point in time. The music, those words, will forever take our thoughts to Jimmy Liddell.
He has his freedom now, freedom from a short illness, but sadly, never lived to see the freedom he campaigned for, passionately, for his country.
Caledonia, it's everything he's ever known.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
The hail and rain stopped briefly in Queensferry as hundreds of people gathered to pay their final respects to Jimmy Liddell, who died six days ago.
In place of the inclement weather, came the sun, and a lone piper at the head of the cortege. We all filed behind, in Queensferry tradition, and set off from the Bellstane, along the cobbled High Street, paying our respects to a man who gave so much to our community.
As the crowd of some 300 walked behind his coffin, workmen at the Burgh Hall stood to attention; and the Saltire blew proudly in the wind, fixed at half-mast in his honour.
And still the procession continued, to our right, the row of shops and terraced houses, to the left the Firth of Forth and our two bridges.
We walked Jimmy out of the Burgh, to the other side of the Sealscraig, before taking a short leave of him to pile into cars and minibuses bound for Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh.
By the time we got there, the rain was lashing again and the crowds snuggled together to take shelter under the pergola and inside the waiting room. For others, an umbrella or a tree had to suffice.
Then, Jimmy's magic worked again. In the distance, a large tube of light shone through the clouded sky to cast a golden shaft on Calton Hill. Forever associated with Scottish Nationalism and the drive for independence and freedom, Calton Hill was lit up as Jimmy was brought into the crematorium; and the piper played Flower of Scotland.
It was clear we would never get everyone in to the chapel. "Another sell out Liddell production!" said the preacher, in reference to the many shows Jimmy produced over the years, all to raise funds for organisations and events in Queensferry, like the Ferry Fair.
And so, we stood where we could, in the lobby, the corridor, the pergola, and listened to the words about our dear friend.
It was difficult to let him go; more than a thousand people, all with their own memories of the man who worked tirelessly for his family, his community and his country.
Tich Friel sang Caledonia. The words were never more as poignant as they were at this point in time. The music, those words, will forever take our thoughts to Jimmy Liddell.
He has his freedom now, freedom from a short illness, but sadly, never lived to see the freedom he campaigned for, passionately, for his country.
Caledonia, it's everything he's ever known.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
# posted by scotcast @ 4:27 pm 
