Photo Gallery - Lanark The Homecoming - 11th September 2005 all photographs copyright © Walk For Wallace except where indicated
The day started with the collection of the coffin from the private chapel in Lee Castle, where it had lain overnight. A small private service was held, officiated by Celtic Bishop David Stalker. The coffin was then carried the mile from South Lodge to the Cartland Bridge Hotel, where the rest of the march was waiting - pipe band, the Society of William Wallace, a contingent of Sikhs and various others. The coffin was placed on a horse-drawn cortege and followed the parade up the hill into Lanark, when the coffin was placed in a tent erected on the site of Marion Braidfute's dwelling. A new plaque was unveiled, and then a visitor's book was made available to those who wished to sign it or leave a tribute.
At 6:30 in the evening, the coffin was placed back on the cortege and taken down to the park for a battlefield blessing, conducted by Ken Shirra of the Knights Templar. Ronnie Browne sang "Flower of Scotland", and a saltire cloud appeared in the sky. Ted Christopher sang "I'm Coming Home", and the coffin was then carried back to the cortege for the final journey.
Back up the hill, through Lanark and out toward old St Kentigern's kirk the procession wound, as the light faded. On arrival at St Kentigern's, David made a speech and the coffin was lifted from the cortege and placed on trestles. "Marion Braidfute", "John Blair", and some monks appeared from within the kirkyard grounds, and gathered round the coffin. As a lone piper played, the coffin was lifted and carried into the mists, while the kirkyard was illuminated by a crimson glow. The monks reappeared with Marion and John, and the brazier was lit. This was then used to light the 700 torches issued for a torchlit procession back down to the park, where Ronnie Browne and others entertained the crowds following a spectacular firework display. Sir William Wallace's Spirit had come home.
![The Spirit of Wallace in Lee Castle Chapel](graphics/lee12.jpg) The Spirit of Wallace in Lee Castle Chapel
![The bits the public didn't see...](graphics/l22.jpg) The bits the public didn't see...
![The walk to Cartland Bridge commences](graphics/l24.jpg) The walk to Cartland Bridge commences
![The coffin is carried over the Cartland Bridge](graphics/lanark19.jpg) The coffin is carried over the Cartland Bridge
![Helping Dougal the horse up the hill](graphics/l29.jpg) Helping Dougal the horse up the hill
![The front of the march arrives in Lanark](graphics/lanark22.jpg) The front of the march arrives in Lanark
![The pipe band](graphics/lanark25.jpg) The pipe band
![The march continues](graphics/l34.jpg) The march continues
![The march continues](graphics/l39.jpg) The march continues
![The cortege arrives](graphics/lanark27.jpg) The cortege arrives
![The cortege arrives](graphics/l41.jpg) The cortege arrives
![The coffin is carried into the tent](graphics/l44.jpg) The coffin is carried into the tent
![The coffin lies in the tent](graphics/lanark41.jpg) The coffin lies in the tent
![Some of the commemoration crew](graphics/l77.jpg) Some of the commemoration crew
![Visitors queue to sign the book](graphics/lanark42.jpg) Visitors queue to sign the book
![The new plaque](graphics/lanark38.jpg) The new plaque
![Leaving for the battlefield blessing](graphics/l79.jpg) Leaving for the battlefield blessing
![Leaving for the battlefield blessing](graphics/lanark56.jpg) Leaving for the battlefield blessing
![Leaving for the battlefield blessing](graphics/l85.jpg) Leaving for the battlefield blessing
![The crowd following the cortege](graphics/lanark64.jpg) The crowd following the cortege
![The crowd following the cortege](graphics/l91.jpg) The crowd following the cortege
![The crowd following the cortege](graphics/l94.jpg) The crowd following the cortege
![Heading downhill to the park](graphics/l96.jpg) Heading downhill to the park
![Arriving at the park](graphics/ll02.jpg) Arriving at the park
![Preparing for the blessing](graphics/ll07.jpg) Preparing for the blessing
![Waiting for the blessing](graphics/ll09.jpg) Waiting for the blessing
![Waiting for the blessing](graphics/lanark72.jpg) Waiting for the blessing
![David gives a speech](graphics/lanark76.jpg) David gives a speech
![Ted Christopher sings](graphics/ll21.jpg) Ted Christopher sings
![The Blessing](graphics/lanark79.jpg) The Blessing
![Ronnie Browne sings](graphics/lanark92.jpg) Ronnie Browne sings
![Ronnie Browne sings](graphics/ll32.jpg) Ronnie Browne sings
![and a Saltire duly appears](graphics/lanark93.jpg) and a Saltire duly appears
![David talks to the Sikh guards](graphics/ll49.jpg) David talks to the Sikh guards
![Leaving in procession](graphics/lanark100.jpg) Leaving in procession
![The cortege heads back uphill](graphics/lanark106.jpg) The cortege heads back uphill
![The Templars lead the march](graphics/lanark114.jpg) The Templars lead the march
![The cortege arrives at St Kentigern's](graphics/ll64.jpg) The cortege arrives at St Kentigern's
![The cortege arrives at St Kentigern's](graphics/lanark117.jpg) The cortege arrives at St Kentigern's
![St Kentigern's](graphics/lanark147.jpg) St Kentigern's
![Marion and the monks](graphics/lanark128.jpg) Marion and the monks
![John Blair leads Marion away from the coffin](graphics/lanark130.jpg) John Blair leads Marion away from the coffin
![The funeral party disappears into the kirk](graphics/lanark133.jpg) The funeral party disappears into the kirk
![The lone piper](graphics/lanark134.jpg) The lone piper
![St Kentigern's illuminates](graphics/ll85.jpg) St Kentigern's illuminates
![St Kentigern's illuminates](graphics/lanark138.jpg) St Kentigern's illuminates
![Behind the scenes at St Kentigern's](graphics/ll88.jpg) Behind the scenes at St Kentigern's
![Marion lights the brazier](graphics/lanark140.jpg) Marion lights the brazier
![Seven swords for seven centuries](graphics/lanark142.jpg) Seven swords for seven centuries
![Marion and the monks](graphics/lanark145.jpg) Marion and the monks
![The torchlit procession begins](graphics/ll1907.jpg) The torchlit procession begins
![The torchlit procession begins](graphics/ll910.jpg) The torchlit procession begins
![The procession](graphics/lanark148.jpg) The procession
![The fireworks begin!](graphics/ll915.jpg) The fireworks begin!
![Ronnie Browne sings](graphics/ll918.jpg) Ronnie Browne sings again
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