Haddington-Cranstons – 2014 Memorial & Reunion Scotland – Day 3

The recently renovated John Gray Centre in the heart of Haddington, the location chosen to permanently display the Cranston memorial plaque.	Lt. Gen. Sir Robert Richardson (ret.) was honoured to unveil the plaque, together with the eldest Cranston descendant present. Sadly this wonderful and generous gentleman passed away in November 2014 at 85 years of age.
General Richardson and James Cranston (at 81 years of age, the eldest Cranston descendant present) jointly unveil the plaque.	The crowds move in to get a closer view of the plaque.
The magnificent plaque itself, made in Kiev, Ukraine. The General was so impressed with its beauty and poignancy, he asked the Provost (Mayor) to nominate it for Scottish artistic award, such as the Saltire Award.	Descendants of the Cranston family loaned artefacts and memorabilia handed down from the original family to the John Gray Museum to mount an exhibition. After the unveiling the descendants were invited for a special viewing of the impressive exhibition.
The Haddington Pipe Band lead off a march through the centre of town to honour the Cranston family.	Town officials marched, so did the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, as well as the British Royal Legion flag bearers. But the pride of place was given over to the 80+ Cranston descendants who came from all over the world to commemorate the original family of Haddington 100 years before. In all about 300 people were in the march and perhaps as many as a 1,000 townfolk looked on.
Seven serving soldiers from the current regiments that the original Cranston lads joined 100 years previously marched to the War memorial each holding a wreath from the seven regiments.	Flag and standard bearers from the Royal British Legion surround the War memorial and lower their flags in silent respect as the Last Post is played.
Quite a moving scene as soldiers, Ministers of Religion, official dignitaries and honoured guests pay their respects at the War memorial.	Ewan MacDonald (13) from England and Elizabeth Gillies (13) from Canada – both g.g.grandchildren of Alex and Lizzie Cranston lay the memorial wreath on behalf of all Cranston descendants.
Wreaths on the War memorial	Special commemorative church service for the Cranston family, held in St. Mary’s Church. In this image you see the Lord Lieutenant (representing Her Majesty the Queen) and the Minister of the Church process down the aisle to the pulpit.
The church is packed with children and adults to pay their respects to the Cranston family. Hymns were sung and prayers were spoken and Bob Mitchell gave a moving tribute to the family.	The service is over and the Lord Lieutenant and Minister recess from the church led by an ancient leather bound copy of the one of the original bibles dictated by John Knox, Founder of the Church of Scotland in the late 1500s.
More ceremony (which the British do so very well) as the parade leaves the church.	It has been a long day, so the local authorities put on a plentiful afternoon tea for us all to replenish our batteries.
The final event of the day and Cranston weekend – a musical event put on by the Duke of Hamilton at his estate called Lennoxlove on the outskirts of Haddington. The castle is over 1,000 years old and has been bombed, assaulted, besieged and partially destroyed by several invading armies over that time. But it has been faithfully restored and is only open to the public by invitation. The Cranston family were very, very privileged to be invited.	Well-known Scottish singer Coreen Scott and her entourage entertained the Cranston guests with some old and new Scottish favourites. She had us all singing along, clapping, crying and holding hands throughout the night.
Sheila Sapkota also played some beautiful Scottish tunes on the actual fiddle that belonged to Alexander Cranston 120 years ago.	When Alexander died of cancer in 1911 the fiddle was handed to William who etched his father’s date of death in the back of the violin (as seen in the above photograph). Many decades later, the then neglected violin passed into the hands of a music teacher, Sheila, who lovingly restored it to its former glory. She has since learned that the fiddle itself was handmade by one of Scotland’s greatest violin makers and also discovered the story of the date scratched on the bag of the fiddle. She has created a musical tribute to the Cranston family which toured Scotland thanks to a Scottish Government grant in 2014.
The Cranston descendants gather in the main reception room of Lenoxlove prior to being ushered into the Great Hall to hear the evening’s concert.	The Great Hall of Lennoxlove, where Lords and Ladies have dined for centuries. Even Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in the late 16th century. What an unbelievable atmosphere and what a fabulous way to close the unforgettable Cranston 3-day weekend