A senior British Army officer, who spent years strengthening links between Perth and the royal family, has been granted the city’s top honour during a spectacular display of music and colour.
Brigadier Sir Melville Jameson, who recently retired as the region’s Lord Lieutenant, was given the Freedom of the City in recognition of his “remarkable contribution” and “unwavering support” over the last 13 years.
He received the award during a brief ceremony at the end of Sunday’s City of Perth Salute, a now-annual event that Sir Melville was instrumental in setting up.
The event began with a procession along Tay Street, led by the Royal British Legion Bikers and featuring acts from around the world.
Crowds lined the streets to cheer on the marchers, including hundreds of young musicians and dancers. This year’s parade featured, amongst others, the Beijing Wind Band, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra and the New Zealand Army Band.
The procession, which was blessed with bursts of sunshine, ended at North Inch where many of the acts performed for an hour-long Military Tattoo-style show.
Torrential downpours throughout most of the programme failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds, nor the artists.
At the end of the performances, Perth and Kinross Provost Dennis Melloy presented Sir Melville with the Freedom of the City of Perth scroll.
Sir Melville said: “It has been a great privilege for me, as the Queen’s representative, to represent my county and my city over the last 13 years.
“I am so deeply grateful for this wonderful and very special honour that has been bestowed on me today by the city of Perth. It will be greatly treasured.”
Former provost John Hulbert was among those who paid tribute. He said that Sir Melville was “central” to Perth’s successful campaign for city status in 2012.
Sir Melville, who served as chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for nearly a decade, now follows in the footsteps of previous Freedom of Perth recipients such as Sir Winston Churchill, writer John Buchan and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
