Alva Academy Pupil Leads Tributes at the Menin Gate

The motion

That the Parliament congratulates Archie Baxter, an Alva Academy piper, who led tributes to the fallen at a war memorial in Belgium in June 2019; understands that Archie was one of around 40 students to benefit from what it considers life-changing experiences during an annual remembrance school trip to mainland Europe; notes that each year the trip takes in famous First World War battlefields as well as memorials and graveyards in Belgium and France, often with a family connection for the pupils, and that it helps to instil in the pupils the values of respect, service, determination and creativity; believes that the trip serves to help contextualise learning in not only history but in modern languages and music, which leaves a strong and lasting impression on the young people; notes that Archie played the pipes at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing and that he also joined three regular buglers who play The Last Post at 8pm each day, which is a ceremony that has carried on uninterrupted since 2 July 1928; further notes that he also played Flowers of the Forest at a Somme war memorial, which it believes was an incredible experience with a live piper instead of the usual recorded version, and commends Archie and all at Alva Academy for taking such a proactive and leading role in the importance of remembrance.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

Con 17 SNP 4

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S5M-18157 by reference.