PICTURES: Respects are paid to Alexander at Millbank memorial match
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A dour, rainy afternoon on Saturday failed to prevent a charity memorial rugby match welcoming one of the biggest crowds at Millbank for many years.
The game between veteran squads from Caithness and Orkney was the centrepiece of an occasion to pay belated respects to Alexander Mill.
The former player was 45 when he died suddenly on his farm at Achscrabster, near Westfield, in April last year.
The match involving two squads of over-35s marked the inaugural staging of the Come Ashore Cup.
Up for grabs was a trophy in the form of a traditional Orkney bridal cog on an engraved Caithness stone base.
The players lined up on the centre line as piper Martin MacDonald, a friend and near neighbour of the Mill family, played Flower of Scotland.
Caithness Evergreens captain Will Mill, a cousin of Alexander, and Orkney Vikings skipper Glen McLellan exchanged shirts with the name Mill on the back.
The game, played in three 20-minute thirds, was as fiercely competitive as any between the far north rivals but played in very good spirit. It ended 20-5 in favour of the Evergreens.
Two marquees, four portable toilets and a catering van took up temporary residence at the event, which had a focus on mental health.
After the match, Caithness RFC vice-president and Alexander's cousin Russell Mill spoke movingly around the theme of the club's recently launched "It's OK to not be OK" campaign.
He then called on Alexander's widow Norma Mill to hand over the trophy to his brother Will.
The presentation was followed by a few minutes of silent reflection after which Martin played Highland Cathedral.
Many spectators remained for a series of charity fundraisers, with a grand auction alone netting £12,500.
Organisations benefiting are the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the John O'Groats Development Trust.
The trust is putting its share towards its drive to create a new playpark in memory of Julie McGee.
