By Liz Fowler

EASTER WAS celebrated in Glen Clova in regimental style yesterday with a spectacular re-enactment of the disbandment of the 1st Forfarshire Regiment 260 years ago.

Staged by the Crann Tara heritage group, the event saw Lord Ogilvy’s Forfarshire standard piped down the hill, heading a procession met at the Glen Clova Hotel by the Earl of Airlie.

The 1st Forfarshire Regiment took part in the ’45, and its actual disbandment took place alongside the Clova Kirk in April 1746.

In a repeat of events of that day, Lord Airlie replaced the standard in the Clova Kirk, where it will remain on show to the public.

The afternoon’s programme, organised by the Clova Kirk Trust to help raise funds, also included a place name quiz to keep children amused on the drive up the glen, duck races with quacking good prizes, a tombola and teas.

A church has stood at Clova for nearly 1000 years. In a charter granted at Forfar by King Malcolm II, about the year 1010, mention is made of the “Church of Cloveth”.

The present church was built in 1855. Regular services were held there until the latter part of the 20th century.

The Clova Kirk Trust was formed by a group of local residents in 2004, to secure the future of the kirk as a spiritual and physical centre for the community of the glen.