1 during the afternoon, in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines. The 2-minute silence at 11.00 am on Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November, was marked at a number of locations WESTERN ISLES LIEUTENANCY including the Harris War Memorial, Garrabost War Memorial, Ross Mountain NEWSLETTER – NO 11 Battery Memorial at the Drill Hall, the AUGUST TO DECEMBER 2020 Merchant Navy Plaque in the Ferry Terminal and the Lewis War Memorial. LEST WE FORGET – REMEMBRANCE 2020 Pupils from The Nicolson Institute – “When you go home tell them of us and buglers and pipers - played the Last Post say, For your tomorrow, we gave our and Flowers of the Forest at all these today.” events and we are grateful to the pupils and their tutors, Gavin Woods, Anna Normal Remembrance and Armistice Murray and Ashley Macdonald for their events this November were unable to be attendance, support and encouragement held due to the COVID-19 restrictions on at these events. outdoor gatherings. Low-key events, by invitation only, were held in most The Lieutenancy was represented at communities throughout the Western Isles sixteen War Memorial events this year, during the Remembrance weekend of 7/8 two more than in previous years. For the November and Armistice Day on 11 first time, we were invited to attend the November. A Garden of Remembrance service at the Berneray War Memorial and was officially opened on Friday 6 at Callanish War Memorial. The November at the High Church of Scotland, photograph taken after the wreaths were Stornoway followed by wreath-laying laid at the Berneray Memorial shows Left services at Crossbost, North Tolsta, to Right, Bill Simpson (Ex Royal Navy), Peter Melbost/Branahuie and Ness on Saturday Macaskill (Ex-Army) and Rev Alen 7 November. Remembrance Sunday, McCulloch (ACF Chaplain and Parish which would normally be marked by Minister Church of Scotland, North Uist Church services; a parade of uniformed and Berneray). More photographs of the organisations and salute in Stornoway, and various events are included in the gallery the main wreath-laying ceremony at the section of the Newsletter. Lewis War Memorial, was this year marked by a short wreath-laying ceremony involving the Lieutenancy, the Council, the Legion and the 7th Scots. A short prayer was led by Rev William Heenan of St Columba’s Parish Church of Scotland, Stornoway. Musical contributions by pupils from The Nicolson Institute on the bugle (The Last Post) and pipes (Flowers of the Forest) signalled the start and end of the 2-minute silence. Community representatives and other organisations were given the opportunity to lay wreaths 2 WECOME TO KENNY MACLENNAN AS COVID restrictions university students DEPUTY LIEUTENANT were not able to join the exercise this year. We discussed the possibility of UHI/Lews Castle College being affiliated with the RN Officers Unit and Capt Smith will be taking the matter up with UHI representatives over the next few months. EXERCISE SPEAR The Clerk and I met with officers from the We extend a warm welcome to Kenneth J Ministry of Defence from London in July to Maclennan MBE from Callanish who was discuss a proposed civic resilience training appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in July. EX SPEAR which MOD had planned to take Kenny John fills the vacancy following the place in November. Having made the death of Simon Fraser DL in 2015. After necessary approvals and arrangements to serving with the Technical Services carry out exercises in Argyll, Skye, the Department of the Comhairle for 33 years, Western Isles and Orkney, the programme Kenny John retired from full time had to be cancelled a few days prior to the employment in 2011 and is now a part- start of the exercise due to the COVID time stamper with the Harris Tweed restrictions. Authority. He is also actively involved in his local community as Chairman of the VJ DAY AND KENNY NICOLSON Carloway Estate Trust, the Breasclete PRESENTATION Community Association and a Community Councillor on the Breasclete Community Council, among many other things! We wish Kenny John well in his new post. ROYAL NAVY PATROL VESSELS VISIT On VJ day on 15 August I was invited to present a Legion Scotland Commemoration Coin to Kenny Nicolson of Macaulay Road, Stornoway for his distinguished service during the Second World War. Kenny who is 95 years of age served with the Royal Signals Security Service stationed at Bletchley Park, where A visit in July by 3 Royal Navy P Class Patrol he is commemorated on the Code vessels gave some community Breakers’ Wall. His service also included representatives the opportunity to join the spells at Arkley, Forfar and Egypt. To crew of the vessels on manoeuvres in the commemorate his service towards the Minch on a calm summer’s day. Allied War Effort during the Second World War he was presented with the Legion’s These vessels are used for training officers Anniversary Coin at his home in Stornoway at UK universities but because of the as he was unable to travel to Edinburgh to 3 receive his award at a special presentation LORD-LIEUTENANT CADETS function. Unfortunately, because of the COVID – 19 guidelines the Army Cadets and the Air ROYAL GARDEN PARTY 2020 AND 2021 Force Cadets have not been meeting since This year’s Royal Garden Party was the beginning of April. This restriction, cancelled because of the COVID-19 together with the lack of public and restrictions on outdoor gatherings and ceremonial events, have resulted in the travel. It is hoped that Royal Garden two Lord-Lieutenant Cadets, Sgt Luke Parties will be held as normal in the Macleod of the Stornoway ATC and Sgt summer of 2021, (subject to COVID-19 Alexander MacCuish of the ACF Tarbert restrictions being lifted) and those guests Detachment not being able to undertake who were on the 2020 list will get the any Lord-Lieutenant Cadet duties so far. It opportunity to attend in 2021, should they is hoped that with some easing of the wish. The Clerk will be contacting DLs after guidelines and the availability of suitable the New Year, once the position is clarified. ceremonial events over the next several months they may be able to resume duties before the end of their terms in 2021. BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST - 2020 ZOOM MEETINGS AND SEMINARS We extend warmest congratulations to In common with all other organisations, Morag Munro, Borve, Harris on her award the Lieutenancy has had to come to terms of the MBE in the deferred Birthday with participating in meetings and Honours List announced in October. seminars on Zoom and Teams. The Morag’s long and distinguished service to scheduled meetings and Seminars in Harris Crossroads Care, Harris Council of London and Edinburgh had to be cancelled Social Service and numerous other and an alternative programme involving 3 community projects over the past three Seminars and 4 meetings have taken place decades, not to mention her service as since August. The Northern Meeting of the Councillor and Chairman of the Education HFRCA scheduled for Inverness in October Committee, has been justly recognised by was held via Zoom as was our own AGM in this award. It was also a pleasure to see October. While the technology is quite Angus “Gus” Maclean of Strond being user-friendly and on the whole runs quite awarded the BEM in the COVID-19 smoothly, the personal contact and the Honours List for his outstanding personal informal socialising are greatly missed. One service to his house-bound customers advantage however is the time and during the lockdown period earlier this expense saved in travelling to the mainland year. for meetings. 4 THANKS FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS – ALL SUBJECT TO As we all know 2020 was marked by the COVID GUIDELINES widespread COVID-19 pandemic and our Diamond Wedding Anniversary enforced restricted lifestyles as a result of Presentation - 28 December 2020 government guidelines which meant that Iolaire Wreath-laying Ceremony – 1 public events were cancelled or January 2021 postponed. This is reflected in the reduced Lord-Lieutenants’ Seminar on Honours number of Lieutenancy events undertaken system via ZOOM - 10 January 2021 in 2020 with only 27 events compared to UK Holocaust Memorial Day – 27 January 95 events in 2019. I am, as always, grateful 2021 to you all for your support, advice and Windsor Castle Consultation – March 2021 attendance at some of these events, on my In addition, two QAVS Presentations, a behalf. A special word of thanks to Maggie BEM presentation, 2 Lord-Lieutenant who as Clerk continues to provide Cadets Certificates and a Lord-Lieutenant’s invaluable support and advice to ensure Certificate have to be re-scheduled once that the administration side of the COVID restrictions have been lifted. Lieutenancy is carried out effectively and efficiently. Thanks also to Maggie’s staff at Anderson Macarthur who are always so PHOTO GALLERY helpful and welcoming in providing As there are a number of photographs accommodation and hospitality whenever from events that may be of interest, the the facilities at the Old Bank of Scotland gallery of photographs is included and Buildings are needed for meetings. shows that some events have been able to take place – all within the COVID-19 At the end of another year, my very best restrictions in place at the relevant time. wishes to you and your families for the coming Festive Season. I hope that 2021 will see a more normal year for all of us, after what has been a most challenging, difficult and uncertain twelve months. Leis gach beannachd agus a h-uile deagh dhùrachd dhuibh uile airson na Nollaig agus a’ Bhliadhn’ Ùire.