THE community in Alva came together at the weekend for Remembrance Sunday following a year's absence do to Covid-19.

A remembrance service went ahead at the Johnstone Park war memorial on Sunday morning.

The day started with services at both Alva Parish and Baptist churches, followed by a procession to the memorial.

Wreaths were laid by dignitaries, representatives and more with people out in numbers following last year's restrictions.

Following the ceremony, people were invited to the Cochrane Hall by Alva Development Trust for soup, stovies, a warm cuppa as well as for a chat and to reflect.

Mary Laing, chair of the trust, told the Advertiser: “We were absolutely gobsmacked about how many people came.

“We just wanted to provide somewhere warm, a safe place where people can socialise after last year, when it was so limited.

“This year people actually turned out to pay their respects, it was lovely, it was really nice; and then everybody was able to come in afterwards and just chat and reflect on how the day had gone.”

Some 80 people took advantage of the opportunity at the hall and Mary added: “We were just happy to be able to provide a safe space for people after the trauma of the last 18 months – to be able to sit and reflect because a lot of people have memories of being in the services or having family who had been in it.

“Everybody was lovely, it brought families back together, we had children who were seeing how their parents are paying their respects, which I think is really-really important.”

Indeed, the young people of the Hillfoots town have been playing their part this year and this was also the case at Alva Academy.

A week of remembrance events were held at the secondary school with pupils recording professional tannoys of narrations, poems and songs which were broadcast over poignant music.

Students in music, history, English, art and home economics took part in special remembrance lessons and the school also held a remembrance afternoon with performances.

The afternoon saw two trumpeters playing the Last Post live across the building before three pipers played Flowers of the Forest as the school laid its wreaths.

Music teacher David Clifford said: “It was a very moving week that again brought some normality back as well as providing some many youngsters with opportunities to showcase their talents in a dignified and respectful way.”