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Tunisia beach attack: funeral held in Scotland for Jim and Anne McGuire | Tunisia beach attack: funeral held in Scotland for Jim and Anne McGuire |
(35 minutes later) | |
Family, friends and members of the local church community have gathered for the funeral of Jim and Ann McQuire, shot dead in the Tunisian beach massacre, who were described by their only son as a devoted couple who had lived to enjoy life. | |
The red brick parish church of Abronhill in Cumbernauld, north Lanarkshire, was filled to capacity with over 400 mourners, while more than a hundred more listened to the service relayed by loudspeakers to the precinct outside. | The red brick parish church of Abronhill in Cumbernauld, north Lanarkshire, was filled to capacity with over 400 mourners, while more than a hundred more listened to the service relayed by loudspeakers to the precinct outside. |
The McQuires were among 38 people, including 30 Britons, shot dead in a terrorist attack at the holiday resort of Sousse on 26 June. Both recently retired, the couple had been treating themselves to a foreign holiday, and only booked the trip a fortnight before leaving. | The McQuires were among 38 people, including 30 Britons, shot dead in a terrorist attack at the holiday resort of Sousse on 26 June. Both recently retired, the couple had been treating themselves to a foreign holiday, and only booked the trip a fortnight before leaving. |
The couple were active members of their local Church of Scotland church, with Ann McQuire, 63, singing and playing guitar for services and events. Her 67-year-old husband, a former shipyard worker, spent many years as captain of the 5th Cumbernauld Boys’ Brigade (BB) company. | |
The hymn singing outside the church, which included the great BB anthem Will Your Anchor Hold, was aided by the voices of scores of boys who had come to pay their respects wearing their company uniform. The atmosphere was otherwise sombre, the shocking circumstances of the couple’s deaths still apparent on many faces. | |
Charlie Flockhart, a childhood friend of Jim who went on to marry one of his five sisters, Mary, shared fond memories with the congregation. He spoke of Jim’s love of the Rolling Stones, Ann’s beautiful singing at McQuire family gatherings, their pride in their son Stuart’s academic achievements and joy at his recent marriage. | |
He described how the siblings and their spouses, all of a similar age, had looked forward to enjoying their retirements together. He mentioned that Jim had lately tried out golf, while Ann was planning to take up art and craftwork. “So long as we have the memories of our life as a family, Jim and Ann will always be there with us,” he said. | |
The service began with a poem read by the couple’s daughter-in-law, Nicola. Their son, Stuart, released a statement in which he said his parents would be sorely missed. He said: “They were a couple devoted to each other and who lived to enjoy life. They spent their lives contributing so much to the community. Through their many interests they made many friends and helped many causes within and outside the church.” | |
The service was led by Abronhill’s minister and family friend, the Rev Joyce Keyes, who told mourners: “For some of us, we feel still adrift, unable to comprehend what has happened and how we can move on from it. Life has certainly changed for all of us.” | |
Two coffins with matching wreaths of simple white flowers were then taken to Daldowie crematorium, where the couple were cremated in a private ceremony following the service. | |
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