A CLOUD of financial uncertainty hovering over the Veterans’ Day parade in Dundee today has turned into sunshine following a surprise cash boost from the Scottish Government.

The City of Dundee Combined Ex-Services Association has organised the event in the city centre for the past three years to honour local ex-servicemen and women for services to their country.

In its inaugural year the parade received substantial funding after the then Chancellor Gordon Brown announced plans for an annual national Veterans’ Day to ensure the contribution made by veterans was never forgotten.

The event—including entertainment, a march, songs, piping and a tea dance—was expected to be recreated on the same scale the following year, although less money was available.

President Victor Herd said, “We were expected to do the same but we had less cash, so this year we wrote to the Scottish Government for help.

“The Ministry of Defence gave us £7000 but this amount was given to every city that has a Veterans’ Day parade.

“It’s quite a big project and we’ve been meeting one to two times a week for months to try and get it organised.

“It costs £2000 for secur- ity alone and we have to pay for the acoustics and the pipers and feed the people who are taking part.

“It has been so much work and so much worry and bother,” Mr Herd added.

News of a four-figure cash boost from the government dropped through the letterbox on Thursday—just two days prior to the parade.

“This money means we’ll be able to pay everybody this year. Last year we were in debt,” Mr Herd said.

Veterans’ Day 2008 was launched on board HM Frigate Unicorn last night.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Grant, commanding officer of the Tayforth Universities Officers Training Corps, hosted a drinks reception and buffet for veterans.

The reception, which was also attended by the Depute Lord Provost Joe Morrow, celebrated the Scottish Veterans Association, The Pipers’ Trail and 100 years of the Territorial Army.

A pipe band performed the Beating Retreat ceremony on the docks outside the frigate.

Today’s event begins at 11am with entertainment from local singer Margaret Mathers and her youth group in the City Square.

The parade will leave Dundee High School at 1pm, marching to the City Square, where there will be hymns and a service conducted by the Rev Bob Wightman.

The piping will begin at 2pm and a tea dance will take place in the Marryat Hall in the evening.