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Mourners gather for Alex Salmond memorial service Mourners say farewell to Alex Salmond at memorial
(about 2 hours later)
Alex Salmond was buried in a private funeral service near his home in Aberdeenshire Crowds lined the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for the memorial service
A memorial service is being held for the former First Minister Alex Salmond, who died suddenly last month. Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been hailed as a "political genius" at his memorial service in Edinburgh.
Family, friends and supporters are gathering at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral, with the service being streamed live from 11:00. 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 will include 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.
His family said the memorial service would allow people to say goodbye and reflect on his life. The memorial event was invitation only, with about 500 people attending.
The service will take place at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral First Minister John Swinney and other political leaders attended the service
The memorial event is invitation only, with about 500 people attending. 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.
First Minister John Swinney is going to the memorial, alongside representatives from the main political parties in Scotland and the UK government. 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, was not expected to 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. 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
Nicola Sturgeon is not going to her former political protege's memorial 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”.
The service is being led by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the former Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Alex Salmond's wife, centre, watched on as tributes were paid to her late husband at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh
There will be a Bible reading by Sir David Davis, the Conservative MP who was a close friend of Salmond's. First Minister John Swinney, right, and former prime minister Gordon Brown were at St Giles' Cathedral
Dougie MacLean will sing his song Caledonia. Salmond's niece Christine Hendry and his close friends and political allies Duncan Hamilton KC and Kenny MacAskill will share their memories. 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.”
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.
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”.
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."
Singer Dougie MacLean was among the guests at St Giles
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.
The former first minister was buried after a private funeral service in Strichen in October 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.
His niece spoke out on Friday about her family's pride in her uncle and said they are still trying to process his sudden death.
Christina Hendry said his family were "doing OK" and "doing what uncle Alex would tell us to do and just keeping going".
She said there had been a lot to plan between bringing his body home and arranging both the funeral and the memorial service.
"I'm not sure there's really been time to fully process things and fully grieve but as a family we're sticking together, keeping close and keeping going," she said.
"I think for anybody and for any family losing a loved one is really, really hard. It's been especially difficult because of where he died but also how high-profile he was and I think that's come with challenges.
"There's no escape. It's also in the media a lot and I'm not sure that's allowed time to actually process things ourselves as a family," she added.
You can watch the Memorial Service live from St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on the BBC News website and BBC iPlayer from 10:30 on Saturday 30 November.