LD 206 Funeral in the time of COVID

Our constituency Convener, John MacMIllan, died very suddenly ten days ago and it has been a considerable shock for everyone  and is a big loss to our activities in Argyll & Bute.

Today was his funeral and it is the first restricted funeral I have been at, though I have received several communications about them in my role as a local MSP.

It was organised very well by the undertakers , with great sympathy but also with a strict adherence to the regulations.   That included social distancing within the crematorium chapel ( with only 18 of us in a space that I remember being crowded  out when I was last there) and the wearing of face coverings at all times.

John"s mother, who is 83, spoke in tribute to her son and it was a remarkable,  brave and immensely moving contribution .   John's widow Anne had put a great deal of thought into the service with music that meant a lot to him and  a printed order that had some fine photographs of him.    She had also made sure his coffin was covered in a new saltire , and there were many references to his strong nationalist convictions.

Just before the service I asked Riona MacCormick if I could take this, not just to celebrate her choice of face covering , which John would have liked, but also because I remember her husband's funeral just after the referendum in 2014.   Iain had been the Argyll MP in the 1970s and had lived just long enough to cast his vote for independence. 

A funeral of an activist always brings to my mind all those who have worked so hard for the party and the cause but have not seen Scotland's ultimate success.    But yesterday's poll , which put support for  independence at 58% ( a record high) must surely indicate that it's comin' yet.....