IAN Bell, the award-winning journalist and columnist for The Herald and Sunday Herald was remembered in poetry, words and song as more than 200 people paid their last respects at his funeral.
Familiar faces including former Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, broadcaster and author Andrew Marr and actor David Hayman joined family, friends, colleagues and former colleagues at the Main Chapel of Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh.
One of the most respected political commentators of his generation, Mr Bell died at the age of 59 on December 10 after taking ill at his home in the Borders. He is survived by his wife Mandy and son Sean.
In the wake of his death, political leaders including the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and journalists from throughout the UK paid tribute to his writing.
Before the funeral, there was applause as the hearse drove past Holyrood, the home of the Scottish Parliament. One reader held up a message saying: "RIP Ian Bell. An independent Scot".
The farewell featured the music of Ennio Morricone, Elvis Costello, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Jim Malcolm and Ry Cooder. The funeral order of service contained one of Mr Bell's own poems from 2002, Pic du Canigou.
Leading the welcome and the committal was Richard Holloway, the Scottish writer and broadcaster who was formerly bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal church.
Speeches were made by his son Sean, Herald deputy editor Barclay McBain and former Herald Scottish political correspondent, columnist and leader writer Robbie Dinwoodie.
Mr McBain told the gathering: "I am honoured to have been asked by Mandy and Sean to speak about the Ian I knew as a colleague and friend."
He added: "Ian was a brilliant journalist. He was the columnist I admired most on The Herald. This is not to be disrespectful to the other columnists on the title. It is just that they were in exalted company.
"Two weeks ago, he wrote in The Herald of his great friend Willie McIlvanney: 'His sentences will stand.' Ian's will, too."
The Herald and Sunday Herald writer was twice named Journalist of the Year and won the Orwell Prize for political journalism.
Ms Sturgeon had described him as "one of Scotland's finest writers and a man of deep intellect and principle".
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