Duke is laid to rest

Newsdesk Newsdesk - 1020 • Published 12 Sep 2007 15:09

HUNDREDS of Borderers paid tribute to the 9th Duke of Buccleuch on Tuesday.

Melrose Abbey was packed for the funeral ceremony, which honoured the life and times of a highly-respected politician, landowner conservationist and charity worker.

The 83-year-old duke died at Bowhill last week after a short illness.

His death has cast a shadow across the region and his standing within the community was reflected in the large number of mourners.

The Royal Family was represented by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

In accordance with the late duke"s wishes, the service was short and to the point.

The coffin processed from the Town Gate shortly before midday, passing a guard of honour and entering the abbey by the south door to a lone piper"s lament.

The service was conducted by the Right Reverend Brian Arthur Smith, Bishop of Edinburgh, and he was assisted by the Reverend Maurice Houston.

The eulogy was given by the late duke"s son, the Earl of Dalkeith, who becomes the 10th Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry.

He said: 'He had a sense of the individual chemistry of place and good people from all walks of life that enabled him, quite honestly, to say that he had no favourites.

'But consciously or not, the gravitational pull was always, ultimately, to the Borders.

'And when a week ago today, he died at Bowhill, having returned from the fine hospital that serves us all, he died, in every sense, at home.

'It"s to the slopes of the Eildons, which people love and where we were brought up, that his spirit will always be at home, for he was, at heart, a Borderer.'

The Duke said his family had been honoured and touched that so many friends has gathered in the abbey to pay tribute to 'a great and courageous man.'

Psalm 84 reflected the late duke"s sense of wonder at the natural world.

The Right Reverend Smith said: 'We are remembering today a man who has been esteemed greatly in a very long and varied life.

'If you want to see how the duke was esteemed by the people of Scotland, simply look around this congregation.

'Here are gathered people from almost every facet of Scottish life, so very appropriate as we remember a man whose life and interests touched almost every aspect of Scottish life.

'His 83 years of life are ones of incomparable fullness.'

The Roxburgh Singers and the Eildon Singers sang In Paradisium from Fauré"s Requiem and the committal was followed by twin pipers playing "The Blue Bonnets".

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 12 Sep 07

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