The Proclaimers to sing at Alex Salmond memorial

Twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, both wearing glasses and smiling
Image caption,

Craig and Charlie Reid will sing their pro-independence anthem Cap In Hand during the ceremony

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The Proclaimers are to perform at the memorial service for former First Minister Alex Salmond.

Brothers Craig and Charlie Reid will sing their pro-independence anthem Cap In Hand during the ceremony at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, which will be streamed live from 11:00 on Saturday.

The service will be attended by family, friends and former political allies of Salmond, who died of a heart attack, aged 69, on 12 October.

The former SNP and Alba leader, who led the country between 2007 and 2014, had become ill while attending an international conference in North Macedonia.

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Alex Salmond died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack

A private family funeral was held near Salmond's home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, on 29 October.

The order of service for the memorial shows that, as well as The Proclaimers, singers Dougie MacLean and Sheena Wellington will also perform.

Tributes will be delivered by Kenny MacAskill - a longtime ally of Salmond who joined him in the Alba Party - as well as the former first minister's lawyer Duncan Hamilton KC and Salmond's niece Christina Hendry.

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing will read from The Wild Geese by Violet Jacob.

Conservative MP Sir David Davis, who shared a long friendship with Salmond despite a political divide, will read from John: 14.

A statement from Salmond's family earlier this month said: "The family are overwhelmed by the level of public interest in attending Alex's memorial service.

"Sadly, we cannot accommodate everyone who would like to attend but are pleased to say that the event will be live-streamed from St Giles' Cathedral, with the service scheduled to begin at 11am on Saturday November 30."