A poignant ceremony was held at a Perthshire church in memory of a man who holds a special place in the hearts of a group of people who were evacuated to the area during the Second World War.
Mrs Jessie Nagel, who is a former mayor of Weymouth and Portland, had travelled up to Scotland from her home in Dorset to plant a tree at St Kessog’s Church, Auchterarder, in memory of Canon Henry Reid.
Canon Reid is buried in the graveyard and his father, Bishop Reid, was responsible for the building of St Kessog’s Church.
Mrs Nagel was evacuated to Balendoch Hostel, between Meigle and Alyth, as a four-year-old in 1939 along with her sister Joan.
Canon Reid was, at the time, at St Ninian’s Church in Alyth and as one of the few men not away on war service he had a wooden leg he was often called out to help at Balendoch, which was home to more than 40 children who were evacuees, orphans, abandoned children and refugees.
“I called him Uncle Henry; I loved him to bits,” Mrs Nagel, 78, told The Courier. “He gave my sister and me his 2oz ration of sweets a week.”
Mrs Nagel says that Canon Reid, and the three ladies who ran Balendoch, were responsible for giving her a good start in life and providing a loving environment during the war.
She has memories of arriving from Glasgow on the train with a ticket around her neck and a small bundle of clothes under her arm, ready to go to her new home for the duration of the war.
During the war they helped local farmers harvest raspberries and potatoes, with their wages saved towards Christmas treats. Balendoch was run by three Guiders who taught the children social skills, how to sing and dance and to knit and sew.
“It was so wonderfully organised; these people should have received medals for what they did,” said Mrs Nagel.
Mrs Nagel has regularly visited the grave of Canon Reid while on trips to see family over the years and when she saw that there was an appeal to replace trees blown down, she thought it would be apt to fund one in memory of Uncle Henry.
“He taught us wonderful things about life,” said Mrs Nagel.