Four Highland war memorials have received national awards in Legion Scotland’s 2018 campaign.
Beauly has won best Memorial without Gardens while Kiltarlity has won best New Entry; Thurso has won best Large Community with Gardens and Halkirk, best Satellite Memorial without Gardens.
Other prizes went to Ballater for Small Community with Gardens, Carmyllie of Greystone (Carnoustie) for Satellite Memorial with Gardens and Champion of Champion honours went to Uddingston.
Just short of 100 memorials were entered into the campaign, with judges describing the standard as ‘exceptional.’
Beauly & District chairman Bob Coburn, who is also the National Standard Bearer for the Royal Navy, said his branch, which includes Kiltarlity and Kirkhill, was ‘pleased and proud’ of their honours.
He said: “We were always told Beauly would never win because of the awful walk up to it and no access for disabled, but the nearby quarry has put a road in and parking at the back so that people don’t have to climb up the hill.
“This is only our second year of entering. Last year we got 100 points out of 100, but didn’t win because we didn’t have planters with flowers in gold and blue, the Legion colours for which we would have got three extra points.
“This year, we made sure we did. We came first equal with Fort William, but we were chosen to go forward because we got more points for our memorial.”
Mr Coburn said his branch paid for the Beauly work, while the War Memorials Trust contributed to work on Kiltarlity. They hope to enter Kirkhill next year, he added.
Legion Scotland is handing out the awards today at its HQ in New Haig House, Edinburgh.
