Former First Minister Alex Salmond will be laid to rest in the last week of October following a private funeral ceremony.
After his repatriation on Scottish soil on Friday, an intimate funeral and burial service will take place in the north-east of Scotland the week beginning October 28 to allow Mr Salmond’s closest family members and friends to bid their final goodbyes in private.
Last night, acting leader of the Alba party Kenny MacAskill said it had been important that Mr Salmond’s body was brought back to the North-East on Friday, for the final time.
He said: ‘He embraced the North-East just as the North-East embraced him. It was his home.
‘He and I might have grown up in Linlithgow – he was always proud of his West Lothian roots – but he became a North-East “loon”. They took him to his heart and he took them to his.’
Kenny MacAskill stands with Mr Salmond’s family and friends as his body arrives back at Aberdeen Airport
Alex Salmond lived in the north east village of Strichen
Mr MacAskill added that the family, including Mrs Salmond, 87, had been extraordinarily touched by the outpouring of love shown to them as the cortege made its way from Fraserburgh from Aberdeen airport on Friday, following Mr Salmond’s repatriation on Scottish soil.
The hearse was led by a group of independence supporters from the Yes Bikers group and passed the places so familiar to Mr Salmond who had travelled the route countless times over his political career.
His supporters and other mourners lined that same route, clapped, cheered and waved their flags as the cavalcade of cars and bikers drove through.
Mr MacAskill said: ‘The family was heartened by the strength of feeling shown by the community as Alex’s body was taken to Fraserburgh.
‘The turnout at every town and village, every lay-by, every car park, people coming out of their homes, was so touching to the family, and they were deeply heartened by the affection and warmth shown by the people of Aberdeenshire and beyond.’
The former North-East MP and MSP Mr Salmond died a week ago after speaking at a panel event at the Ohrid Cultural Diplomacy Forum in North Macedonia.
The Mail on Sunday told how a touching memorial service was held in the Balkan country with the former president of North Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, delivering a eulogy.
However, family and friends were keen to get his body back to Scotland. His family are now planning to hold a private funeral the week beginning October 28.
For Mr Salmond, who once said that there was no better place to die than somewhere you loved, he may never have imagined he would pass away so many thousands of miles from the country he dedicated his life to.
Yet his family, and particularly Mrs Salmond, will likely take great comfort by the fact they will be able to say goodbye to him in a private ceremony in Scotland.
