For Times Radio reporting from St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, after a weekend at Balmoral Castle, on the final journey of Queen Elizabeth II, this is Calum Macdonald.
Calum. I do congratulate you on the both the written and spoken prose you have given us over the last week it has been illuminating and very moving uplifting but goosebumps. . Especially your evening contribution to John Pinaer's Drive programme. Please commit that piece to writing. Yrs Patrick of Battle EBC 566
Patrick - I quite agree with all your comment. It has been wonderful to have Calum there to guide us through a difficult time, with calmness, thoughtfulness and hope. It really did bring tears of joy when I first heard your voice from Balmoral, and you always know the right things to say, at the right time. Just perfect. LP, 365
I have to say I have really been impressed with Times Radio coverage - you have excelled at capturing the mood, and striking the right tone. This column is, I think, one of your best - if not the best. Eloquent, informative and so very beautifully constructed. A credit to your profession.
As previous comments have said, a beautifully written piece which is well observed. I am always impressed with your confidence and breadth of knowledge when you present on the radio. You also effectively put people at ease and get the most out of any discussion, which makes for great listening. A rare gift in one so young.
Calum - Having followed you from EBC to Times Breakfast and your role as occasional roving reporter, I am consistently impressed by the depth of your knowledge together with the lyricism and maturity of your spoken and written content - all of which belie your years. This is a caring, gentle and uplifting piece that sketches events sensitively and moves the heart. Thank you for it and all you do on Times Radio, which has become the Nation's finest talk radio station. Neil EBC 688
Calum. I've just read this beautiful article - a little late I know. I maybe a 75yr old but your prose, and the memories it raised, brought a tear or two to my eyes. Thank you. Mark
It may be that in some places local people getting together for family worship each evening after someone has died (with the coffin in the house) still survives - no idea about a vigil afterwards. I've certainly experienced it in the past 35 years, in Wester Ross, in a Free Presbyterian houshold, and I believe I've heard of it from people in that circle in more recent decades. I'm no longer in Scotland, and listening to Times Radio for perhaps the first time this morning, wondered where you were from, and on looking you up, was interested to see that you are a friend of someone I knew in Wester Ross since he was a baby.
Calum. I do congratulate you on the both the written and spoken prose you have given us over the last week it has been illuminating and very moving uplifting but goosebumps. . Especially your evening contribution to John Pinaer's Drive programme. Please commit that piece to writing. Yrs Patrick of Battle EBC 566
Patrick - I quite agree with all your comment. It has been wonderful to have Calum there to guide us through a difficult time, with calmness, thoughtfulness and hope. It really did bring tears of joy when I first heard your voice from Balmoral, and you always know the right things to say, at the right time. Just perfect. LP, 365
Thank you Calum, an excellent piece of reporting.
I have to say I have really been impressed with Times Radio coverage - you have excelled at capturing the mood, and striking the right tone. This column is, I think, one of your best - if not the best. Eloquent, informative and so very beautifully constructed. A credit to your profession.
As previous comments have said, a beautifully written piece which is well observed. I am always impressed with your confidence and breadth of knowledge when you present on the radio. You also effectively put people at ease and get the most out of any discussion, which makes for great listening. A rare gift in one so young.
So beautifully written Calum. Thank you for that.
Well done a fantastic and moving read. As usual you have excelled
Calum - Having followed you from EBC to Times Breakfast and your role as occasional roving reporter, I am consistently impressed by the depth of your knowledge together with the lyricism and maturity of your spoken and written content - all of which belie your years. This is a caring, gentle and uplifting piece that sketches events sensitively and moves the heart. Thank you for it and all you do on Times Radio, which has become the Nation's finest talk radio station. Neil EBC 688
A lovely article Calum, thank you.
Thank you for your insightful articles and commentary that describe the whole visual and underlying picture of events. Brilliant.
Calum. I've just read this beautiful article - a little late I know. I maybe a 75yr old but your prose, and the memories it raised, brought a tear or two to my eyes. Thank you. Mark
It may be that in some places local people getting together for family worship each evening after someone has died (with the coffin in the house) still survives - no idea about a vigil afterwards. I've certainly experienced it in the past 35 years, in Wester Ross, in a Free Presbyterian houshold, and I believe I've heard of it from people in that circle in more recent decades. I'm no longer in Scotland, and listening to Times Radio for perhaps the first time this morning, wondered where you were from, and on looking you up, was interested to see that you are a friend of someone I knew in Wester Ross since he was a baby.