Lord Maclennan memorial service will be held in Sutherland
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A MEMORIAL service is to be held in Sutherland for Lord Maclennan of Rogart, the former far north Liberal Democrat MP who died last month aged 83.
The service will take place in the early summer, although a date has still to be confirmed.
Lord Maclennan's funeral will go ahead in London next week. It is being held on Tuesday, February 11, in St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, at 11am.
Robert Maclennan was 29 when he won the Caithness and Sutherland seat in the 1966 general election. He went on to serve as MP for 35 years, latterly for the enlarged constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
In 2001 he was elevated to the House of Lords.
Initially a Labour MP, he defected in 1981 to become a founder member of the Social Democratic Party and was the last SDP leader before it merged with the Liberal Party.
The present Lib Dem MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Jamie Stone, has described Lord Maclennan as "a true gentleman" and "an example to us all".
Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Mr Stone said: "Representing his old constituency, I want to put on record his fantastic 35 years of service to his constituents, regardless of their politics. He was dearly loved the length and breadth of his vast constituency.
"I’m sure that we would all wish to send our condolences to his widow Helen and his family."
When Lord Maclennan's death was announced in January the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, said: "Bob was the kind of politician we all strive to be – considerate, honest and hard-working with an uncanny ability to reach out across the political spectrum to find common ground.
"He was also a great servant, over many decades, to his Highland constituents. A passionate advocate of devolution, he campaigned tirelessly for the creation of the Scottish Parliament and wider constitutional reform."
- The narrow win that started it all for Lord Maclennan
- Tributes paid to Lord Maclennan of Rogart, a 'truly great man' who was far north MP for 35 years
