IT WAS a privilege and poignant to again attend a Remembrance service. Their absence has been missed by many and individual wreath-laying, whilst correct in the circumstances, lacked the dignity that should befit the occasion.

It was also heartening to again see young and old, and both those who served and those who didn’t, come together to pay tribute. If there’s a sadder tune than the ‘Floo’ers o’ the Forest’ I’ve yet to hear it. Everyone has their own individual thoughts and memories triggered, whether by the tune or the service, and my own return to my father who served throughout the Second World War and my grandfather in the First World War. It’s important that we don’t forget the service given by so many and thanks go to those who organise these events; keeping the memory alive is vital.

In politics, it’s not been war but another man-made disaster that has dominated. Climate change threatens as much, if not more, now than war. You wonder what those who “gave their today, so we could have our tomorrow” would make of what’s been done since their sacrifice. It was for a better world that they fought and shamefully we’ve let them down.

COP26 was therefore a huge opportunity missed. My limited involvement was to go on the demonstration in Glasgow the Saturday before last. It was a huge turnout that I’ve not witnessed since the marches against the Iraq War or Make Poverty History that I also went on. The train through was full of young, as well as the not so young, from many lands, not just Scotland.

There was a spirit of optimism and determination. Sadly, that wasn’t delivered by delegates. It was a chance missed. History will record its failure, as it does opportunities to oppose past wars that we rightly still recall. Whilst ‘1.5 per cent’ has been kept alive, it will be inadequate for many who will now pay the price; and in lands least able to cope with the modern carnage. Continuing to demand the needed action on climate change remains the issue of our time.