Funeral service to be held for former First Minister Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond’s coffin has been carried into church ahead of his funeral service.

The former first minister of Scotland is being laid to rest after his sudden death from a heart attack aged 69 while at a conference in North Macedonia earlier this month.

His funeral service is being held at Strichen Parish Church in Aberdeenshire, near his home.

As well as Salmond’s family, several political figures were in attendance at his funeral service. Former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow was among the mourners.

Close friend Kenny MacAskill, who has become interim Alba Party leader following Salmond’s death, arrived at Strichen Parish Church, as did party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing also attended, along with his sister Annabelle Ewing, also an SNP MSP, and family members.

Reverend Ian McEwan will conduct the service before a private burial at Strichen cemetery.

He said it is an “incredibly difficult day for the family”.

Pall bearers drape a Saltire flag over the coffin as it arrives at the funeral service for former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, at Strichen Parish Church. PA Media

Speaking ahead of the funeral service, Rev Dr Ian McEwan said: “I am a longstanding friend of Alex’s siblings, they are a very tight-knit family and over the decades I got to know Alex at family gatherings like birthdays.

“I conducted his niece’s wedding and took his dad’s funeral.

“These are desperately sad circumstances and anyone who has been through grief will understand that this is an incredibly difficult day for the family.

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Minister conducting Alex Salmond’s funeral said it is ‘incredibly difficult day for family’

“There is palpable shock over Alex’s passing and folk can well imagine the distress and sorrow within the family.

“He was the life and soul of the party and played a leading role in his family, and the privacy of the funeral is to give them space to grieve and say farewell to a husband, a brother and an uncle whom they loved dearly.”

Eulogies will be given by acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill, SNP MP Fergus Ewing and Salmond’s niece Christina Hendry, who is the daughter of his sister Gail.

A public memorial service to celebrate Salmond’s life is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

The former SNP leader died in North Macedonia earlier this month after suffering a heart attack.

His body was repatriated – on a flight paid for by businessman Sir Tom Hunter – on October 18, landing in Aberdeen on a private plane.

Salmond, who was first minister between 2007 and 2014 and was responsible for securing the independence referendum, was seen off from North Macedonia by a guard of honour.

Arriving back in Scotland, the flight was met by his family and Kenny MacAskill, a long-term friend who stepped into the role of acting Alba leader following Salmond’s death.

His coffin was taken off the plane – draped in a Saltire – to the sound of a lone piper, before being loaded into a hearse and taken to a funeral home in Fraserburgh, led by a group of independence-supporting bikers.