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| Mourners say farewell to Alex Salmond at memorial | Mourners say farewell to Alex Salmond at memorial |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Alex Salmond remembered at St Giles' memorial | |
| Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been hailed as a "political genius" at his memorial service in Edinburgh. | Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been hailed as a "political genius" at his memorial service in Edinburgh. |
| High-profile figures including First Minister John Swinney and former prime minister Gordon Brown gathered at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral. | High-profile figures including First Minister John Swinney and former prime minister Gordon Brown gathered at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral. |
| Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia on 12 October. | Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia on 12 October. |
| The St Andrew's Day service included tributes from political allies and opponents as well as musical performances by Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers. | The St Andrew's Day service included tributes from political allies and opponents as well as musical performances by Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers. |
| Salmond was buried after a private funeral service on 29 October in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, where he had lived for many years with his wife, Moira. | Salmond was buried after a private funeral service on 29 October in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, where he had lived for many years with his wife, Moira. |
| The memorial event was invitation only, with about 500 people attending. | The memorial event was invitation only, with about 500 people attending. |
| Crowds lined the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for the memorial service | |
| Moira Salmond was accompanied into the service by Rev Dr George Whyte | |
| Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes went to the service, as did Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone. | Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes went to the service, as did Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone. |
| Actor Elaine C Smith, football pundit Michael Stewart and businessman Jim McColl were among the other guests. | Actor Elaine C Smith, football pundit Michael Stewart and businessman Jim McColl were among the other guests. |
| Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who had a public fallout with Salmond in the years after she succeeded her ex-mentor as SNP leader, did not attend. | Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who had a public fallout with Salmond in the years after she succeeded her ex-mentor as SNP leader, did not attend. |
| She was at the funeral of comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning, but said her thoughts were with Salmond’s family and friends | She was at the funeral of comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning, but said her thoughts were with Salmond’s family and friends |
| She described it as “a very sad day for them but one that I hope will allow them to remember Alec in the way they want to”. | She described it as “a very sad day for them but one that I hope will allow them to remember Alec in the way they want to”. |
| First Minister John Swinney and other political leaders attended the service | |
| Former prime minister Gordon Brown spoke with John Swinney at St Giles' Cathedral | |
| Salmond's service was led by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the former Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. | Salmond's service was led by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the former Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. |
| Mr Whyte said that the ex-first minister's life had “challenged the status quo”, adding: “He called people to a cause in which he believed and for which he would endure the slings and the arrows.” | Mr Whyte said that the ex-first minister's life had “challenged the status quo”, adding: “He called people to a cause in which he believed and for which he would endure the slings and the arrows.” |
| Salmond's niece Christine Hendry and his close friends and political allies Duncan Hamilton KC and Kenny MacAskill shared their memories of the former SNP leader. | Salmond's niece Christine Hendry and his close friends and political allies Duncan Hamilton KC and Kenny MacAskill shared their memories of the former SNP leader. |
| Ms Hendry described her uncle as a “political giant” and “dearly loved” family member. | Ms Hendry described her uncle as a “political giant” and “dearly loved” family member. |
| Alex Salmond was buried in a private funeral service near his home in Aberdeenshire | Alex Salmond was buried in a private funeral service near his home in Aberdeenshire |
| Kenny MacAskill called him a “political genius”, while Mr Hamilton recalled him as a "leader of courage, vision and intelligence”. | Kenny MacAskill called him a “political genius”, while Mr Hamilton recalled him as a "leader of courage, vision and intelligence”. |
| Sir David Davis, the Conservative MP who was a close friend of Salmond's, read a passage from John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. | Sir David Davis, the Conservative MP who was a close friend of Salmond's, read a passage from John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. |
| Dougie MacLean sang Caledonia, while The Proclaimers expressed their "eternal gratitude" to Salmond before performing Cap in Hand, with the lyrics: "I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand." | Dougie MacLean sang Caledonia, while The Proclaimers expressed their "eternal gratitude" to Salmond before performing Cap in Hand, with the lyrics: "I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand." |
| Singer Dougie MacLean was among the guests at St Giles | Singer Dougie MacLean was among the guests at St Giles |
| The Proclaimers were among the acts to perform at the memorial service | The Proclaimers were among the acts to perform at the memorial service |
| Salmond was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014. He stepped down after the Yes campaign lost the Scottish independence referendum. | Salmond was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014. He stepped down after the Yes campaign lost the Scottish independence referendum. |
| He resigned from the SNP amid allegations of sexual misconduct. | He resigned from the SNP amid allegations of sexual misconduct. |
| Those later formed the basis of a criminal trial at the end of which he was acquitted of all charges. | Those later formed the basis of a criminal trial at the end of which he was acquitted of all charges. |
| Salmond went on to set up the alternative independence-supporting party, Alba. He also hosted a talk show on the Russian-owned television channel RT. | Salmond went on to set up the alternative independence-supporting party, Alba. He also hosted a talk show on the Russian-owned television channel RT. |
| You can watch the Memorial Service on BBC iPlayer. |