Alex Salmond, the former First Minister, has returned home to Aberdeen Airport for the last time. A lone piper played a lament as his coffin, draped in a St Andrew’s Cross, was carried off the private jet. This somber moment marked the end of Mr. Salmond’s journey from North Macedonia, where he passed away suddenly.
The airport, a bustling hub of Scotland’s north-east, welcomed back one of its own. The control tower, with the iconic NATS sign, watched over the proceedings. As the coffin was loaded into a hearse bound for Fraserburgh, the workers paused from dismantling the sign, a poignant metaphor for the dismantling of the party Mr. Salmond once led.
Aberdeen Airport’s PR chief, Lee McCann, reflected on Mr. Salmond’s legacy and his interactions with the local community. The airport workers, who had honored King Charles in the past, now paid their respects to the man who had fought against the royal family’s kingdom.
The cortege made its way through the airport, where Indy Bikers, supporters of Scottish independence, lined the road to pay their respects. The outpouring of affection and respect from ordinary Scots, from football fans at Hampden Park to postal workers on the roadside, demonstrated the impact Mr. Salmond had on the lives of many.
As the funeral procession continued towards Fraserburgh, Joanna Cherry, a close colleague of Mr. Salmond, expressed the profound loss felt by those who knew and loved him. The real people of Scotland, in their silent tributes and heartfelt gestures, honored Mr. Salmond’s memory in a way that spoke volumes about his legacy and impact on the nation.
