FAMILY and friends including high profile political figures marked a remarkable career at a special service for the longest-serving woman parish minister in Scotland.
The Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, had Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson as a guest player in the band performing in a special the “Songs of Praise” service for Dr Hood’s 37 years as minister in Renfrew North Parish Church.
At the request of Dr Hood, Ms Davidson went into the loft of her parents’ home to dust down the clarinet she played as a teenager in a church band.
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Also joining the congregation were family friends Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance in the Scottish Government and Jeane Freeman, Minister for Social Security.
Dr Hood developed friendships across the political spectrum and in other areas of public life during her year as Moderator, May 2013-14.
Last year Dr Hood’s service was recognised by the UK government when she was invited to 10 Downing Street to receive a Points of Light award.
In 2013 BBC Woman’s Hour programme classified her as one of the UK’s 100 most influential women.
After retirement on October 1 as the longest-serving woman parish minister in the Church Dr Hood will continue to be an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen.
She will also continue in her role as chair of the Scottish board of Remembering Srebrenica, a charity which raises awareness of the genocide in 1995 of over 8,000 mainly Muslim men and boys, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War Two.
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Kezia Dugdale, leader of Scottish Labour, said: “Lorna makes an impact just by walking in to a room with a smile on her face. So her list of achievements and lives she's touched is unquantifiable.”
Ruth Davidson said: "Lorna is a wonderful, warm, accomplished and committed woman and I wish her a very happy retirement.”
Very Rev John Chalmers, Principal Clerk of the Church said: “Not many people spend the whole of their parish ministry in the one place, but Lorna has done this with distinction."
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