DETAILS have been released of the planned commemoration events for the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie disaster.
Following discussions with the community, council and school, the programme for Thursday, December 21, will be generally low key.
However, there will be opportunities throughout the day for townsfolk to pay their respects and leave tributes to those who died in 1988.
Lockerbie Academy will host their annual remembrance assembly with rose laying and readings from pupils that morning. A small number of pupils will then take part in a rose laying ceremony at Dryfesdale Cemetery at 11.30 am. They will be accompanied by a Remembrance Scholar from Syracuse University who will be representing their 35 students who were among the 270 people killed when Pan Am 103 exploded.
Any members of the public wishing to lay a wreath or flowers can do so at any time but there will also be communal wreath layings at Tundergarth Church at 10 am; at Dryfesdale Cemetery at 11.45 am; Sherwood Crescent at 12.15 pm; then at Rosebank Crescent at 12.45 pm.
A “Blue Service” will be held at Tundergarth Church following the wreath laying at 10 am. It will be led by Jeff Brown and open to all.
At 7 pm that night a Mass will take place at Holy Trinity RC Church in Lockerbie town centre, and all are also welcome to attend.
Meanwhile, a virtual service will be held at Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University at 7 pm too and can be viewed online via http://cc.syr.edu/memorialservice2023.
Furthermore, Lockerbie Town Hall will be open from 10 am until 8 pm, with light refreshments available, for those wishing to come together in a warm and welcoming environment.
The Remembrance Room at Tundergarth Church and the Dryfesdale Lodge Visitors Centre will also both be open throughout the day.
