Closing remembrance events take place in Orkney

In a final act of remembrance here in Orkney today, at 6.55pm tonight, Sunday, Ola Thomson of the Salvation Army, standing in front of St Magnus Cathedral, joined 1000 individual buglers from across the UK and oversees territories in sounding the historic Last Post.

This was followed by the lighting of a beacon on the Kirk Green 7pm by the convener of Orkney Islands Council, Harvey Johnston, as part of the national Beacons of Light event, which saw beacons lit across the country, symbolising an end to the darkness of war and return to the light of peace.

Chris Gee, as town crier, read out a special A Cry for Peace proclamation, part of The Battle’s Over: A Nation’s tribute, joining Town Criers throughout the United Kingdom and other countries around the World.

Lord-Lieutenant of Orkney Bill Spence was also present for the ceremony.

St Magnus Cathedral remained the focus as, at 7.05pm, the bells rang alongside 1000 others across the nation and beyond.

Hundred of members of the public lined Broad Street for the event, many staying on to watch the short film specially commissioned by the Kirkwall Townscape Heritage Initiative for the centenary of the armistice, which was being projected on to the Cathedral — for the last time.