Yesterday we attended the funeral of a family friend, Alastair Cousins, in North Connell, Argyllshire. The service was held in Ardchattan Church on the shore of Loch Etive, Argyll.
Iain played for the 1 pm arrival of family and friends. After the church service, Alastair's sister's youngest son played his pipes for the procession from the church to the graveyard behind the church. Around 40 people moved in a line up the slope to where the burial took place. Iain then played again for everyone departing. (That is him above.)
While some people find bagpipes a bit hard going (usually because they are being played indoors) it is on occasions such as this that they have a special role and which people find quite moving. It comes about from a combination of things: the beautiful outdoor setting on the side of Loch Etive in the Scottish highlands (along with the lovely weather), the many colours of tartan in the kilts ... all taking place in a very old churchyard .... Combine this with the overall sad occasion ... and finally add the piper playing a lament .... stirring stuff.
1 comment:
I am sorry about the loss of your friend. Listening to bagpipes at this sad time must be very moving.
Congratulations on your blog anniversary. But I am a bit surprised – you said 4 years but you started your blog in 2007? You also mention a lady from Florida coming to your blog – I have not seen her comments, unless you mean me, I live near Atlanta, Georgia. It is a state near Florida.
We were in New Orleans for 5 days babysitting our oldest grandson, 5 years old, while his mama was attending a professional meeting. We had fun.
I don’t think I would like reading the book you mention by Eric Lomax if it is about torture. My father was tortured in France by the Gestapo during the war and my mother helped the Resistance – she had some close calls and some of her friends did not make it. So I don’t like to read about these things.
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