A true patriot is now home
Daily Record|October 19, 2024
Saltire draped over coffin ahead of flight | Family and Alba colleagues await on tarmac
ANDREW QUINN
A true patriot is now home

ALEX Salmond's body was brought home to Scotland yesterday from North Macedonia, his coffin draped in a Saltire.

The former first minister's family and friends waited on the tarmac under grey skies at Aberdeen Airport for his return.

Salmond died last Saturday from a heart attack while speaking at a conference in the North Macedonian city of Ohrid.

Scots billionaire Sir Tom Hunter paid for a private plane to bring him home.

Before he left North Macedonia, Salmond's coffin was carried to the aircraft by six members of the nation's military along a red carpet flanked by eight other soldiers standing to attention to the sound of a trumpet.

Former SNP MP and Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, dressed in black, then draped a Saltire over the casket.

She thanked the North Macedonian government and Hunter for its "kindness, generosity and respect".

In a post on X, AhmedSheikh said: "Scotland's son, hero and true patriot, Alex Salmond, is on his way home.

"I would like to express eternal gratitude to @MFA_ MKD and @SirTomHunter for their kindness, generosity and respect. The dream will never die." The soldiers, flight and ground crew observed a moment's silence before Salmond's body was loaded on to the aircraft.

The flight left Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport just after 10.20am UK time for the three-and-a-half hour flight to Aberdeen.

His family, including wife Moira, and acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill greeted the coffin after it arrived just before 2pm.

This story is from the October 19, 2024 edition of Daily Record.

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This story is from the October 19, 2024 edition of Daily Record.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.