It was a beautiful sunny morning only adding to the poignancy of remembering those who died in wars like the First World War which ended a hundred years ago to more recent conflicts.

Members of the Armed Forces gathered alongside the Scott Monument where there are now around 30 wreaths laid on one side and the Remembrance Garden where you can ‘plant’ your own memorial is on the other.

Standard bearers at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Standard Bearer at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Standard Bearer at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Frank Ross
The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Frank Ross flanked by two of his High Constables at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
A standard bearer at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
A standard bearer at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Instrumentalist from the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland
A member of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at the A standard bearer at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Wreath layers at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
Wreath layers at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
The Lord Provost Frank Ross at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018
The Lord Provost Frank Ross delivered the reading from Revelation Chapter 21 Verses 1-7
Frank Ross Lord Provost of Edinburgh
The Rt Hon Lord Provost of Edinburgh Frank Ross at the Garden of Remembrance opening ceremony 2018

The Lord Provost Frank Ross agreed it was a poignant day. He said : “This special day is really important because everybody lives busy active lives, running at a hundred miles an hour. Days like today, and today especially, allow people just to slow down and think and focus, especially about remembrance.

At last week’s council meeting Gordon Michie and Gordon Pelling joined councillors to remind them they would be trying to break through the Ā£3 million fundraising target they set themselves.

The Lord Provost continued : “The ongoing requirement of support for those who have fallen, families of those who have fallen continues. It is a campaign that Edinburgh as a city supports absolutely fully. We invited Poppyscotland into the city chambers to give them that publicity for the launch of their campaign. Of course here in the iconic Princes Street Gardens where the council support the Garden of Remembrance and the fundraising campaign it goes to show that we recognise we are still a garrison city and that we owe a lot to those who are here and those who have fallen.”

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.