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Islanders turned out in force on Sunday to remember those who had fallen in battle, not only in the two world wars but also more recently.
With British servicemen and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan this year’s services struck a chord with both young and old.
Rev Angus Adamson, who lead services at the Brodick and Corrie war memorials told The Arran Banner: ‘I mentioned in my services that as late as the previous night a serviceman was killed in Afghanistan.
‘The Remembrance services are always well attended on Arran, it’s important to the island, but the current conflicts have focused our minds on why we need to remember.
‘There is hope for peace.
‘That was my message and I was talking about the battles between Scotland and England. If old enemies can settle their differences and live as one nation, there is hope for peace in other places.’
Services were also held at Pirnmill and Shiskine villages with the main island service held at Arran War Memorial Hospital and conducted by Rev Liz Watson.
At the hospital a small gathering, made up mostly of cadets and Royal British Legion Scotland Arran branch members, laid a wreath.
In Corrie the task of laying a wreath was given to Anne Pringle, whose father died in a prisoner of war camp in the Far East.
The Royal British Legion Scotland Arran branch had been hard at work leading up to Sunday.
The branch’s public relations officer Alan Milligan attended the Brodick and Lamlash services. He said: ‘The service at Brodick was well attended and I got the feeling this year that people were taking note there have been 16,000 servicemen and women killed since the end of World War II and they feel Remembrance Sunday is a more up to date thing.
‘They are taking note of the people dying for their country now and it can be a bit of a shock to them.
‘Young and old seem to have more interest in Remembrance Day because it’s not 90 or 50 years ago, it’s today and it’s ongoing.’
Mr Milligan praised Rev Angus Adamson for his Brodick service.
During the service Stewart Lambie read a poem about three Brodick Primary School pupils who grew up together and went to war at the same time but never came back.
Mr Milligan added: ‘It was different but it was excellent.
‘Three youngsters from Brodick Primary School read out the full name and rank of all those who died in WWI and WW2.
‘I think that’s the first time it has been done because, for whatever reason, the plaque for the WW2 victims has no Christian names.
‘This year, a lot of research had to be done to find them.’
