Fulsome tributes paid to Scots Guardsman who died tragically
THE bagpipes played a lament as the coffin of 19-year-old Scots Guardsman Andrew Gibson was carried into Cumbernauld Old Parish Church by six of his fellow soldiers.
Sixty military personnel joined more than 100 of the former Cumbernauld High School pupil's family and friends to pay their respects on Friday.
Andrew, from Carrickstone, tragically died last month after being struck on the head in an incident in a Darlington nightclub.
He and his fellow soldiers had been celebrating the end of their final training exercise in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.
The rest of his unit arrived in the war zone two weeks ago today.
Reverend Catriona Ogilvie led the service to "celebrate 19 wonderful years" of Andrew's life.
She said: "Goodbyes are never easy and one like this is unthink-ably difficult and harrowing.
''Many of Andrew's friends have commented that if you were in his company and you hurt yourself he would just say: 'Don't cry about it.'
"He wouldn't want our tears today and let's not forget that Freddy and Linda (Andrew's parents) want this to be a celebration of his life."
Padre Colin MacLeod of the Scots Guards read three poems written for Andrew by members of his family.
One from his cousin Ryan ended: "Sleep soundly with the angels mate, until we meet at heaven's gate."
Andrew's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Jopp, paid respect to a young soldier whom he believed had great potential.
He said: "I ask everyone in the battalion to be the best they can be and Andrew was certainly doing that - he was the youngest, brightest and best of his generation.
"He gained a reputation for being a great marksman - something that requires dedication, hard work and a great deal of skill. Andrew had all of those.
"So we honour him as one of our fallen comrades, just as if he was lost at the Somme, Lashkagar or Mount Tumbledown. Andrew is gone but he will not be forgotten.''
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Weather for Kilsyth
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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