TWO Remembrance Sunday services were held in Staffin at the weekend, despite the inclement weather.
At 2.30pm around a dozen folk attended a service at the Culnancoc War Memorial during a welcome gap in the heavy rain showers. Valtos woman Janet Lamont laid a wreath at the memorial on behalf of Staffin Community Council, as did Allan MacLeod, from Clachan, on behalf of the Staffin fire brigade.
Donald MacLeod of Culnanoc then read out the names of all the men who are listed on the memorial who died in the First World War. They were all pupils of the old Valtos School. The memorial was erected in 1921 and the cost was met by subscriptions from former pupils at home and abroad. A two-minute silence was held after the last name was read out. There was a reading from Angus Ross, Ellishahdder, and a prayer from Donlad MacDonald, Glasphein, who led the service.
Culnacnoc war memorial on a calmer day.
Following that, there was a service at the Staffin War Memorial, which was moved to the nearby Columba 1400, because of the weather conditions and there were about 25 people in attendance. Royal Navy veteran Norman Poole, of Tighean na Glebe, laid a wreath along with Angus Gullies, Digg, and Colin Wilson, for the community council and fire brigade, respectively. Lachie Gillies, Stenscholl, then read out the names of every man who perished and is listed on the memorial. Like Donald at Culnacoc, Lachie read out what they were known as locally in Gaelic and there was a two-minute silence. The wreaths were later laid at the war memorial. Tahnsk to Jackie Gillies for opening up Cilumba for the service.