Medals to go on display at Town House

MEDALS awarded to an official who gathered the signatures of the UK Government’s Cabinet when it met in Inverness in 1921 are to go on permanent display in the city.

William Bain’s medals will be hung in the council chamber at the Town House in High Street after they were donated to Highland Council by Inverness man Bob Shanks, who specialises in military history.

The donations include British war medals and victory medals from World War I and a Royal Burgh of Inverness medal commemorating the 1937 Coronation celebrations.

Council officer Mr Bain was working at the Town House chamber on September 7, 1921, when the Cabinet met to discuss the political troubles in Ireland.

Mr Bain collected the signatures of the politicians, including then prime minister David Lloyd George.

The collection has become a lasting record of the only Westminster Cabinet meeting to be held in Scotland in 90 years.

The meeting was held in Inverness because Lloyd George was on holiday at Gairloch and King George V was shooting at Moy.

Provost Jimmy Gray said: “We are grateful to Mr Shanks for his generous donation and are delighted that his knowledge and awareness has meant that these artefacts of significant local social history interest will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”