Remembrance: Grangemouth event cancelled by ASA (Scotland)

The festival used to be held in Falkirk Town Hall on the eve of Remembrance Sunday with people coming from all over central Scotland to attend.

Following a selection of entertainment, there would be a period of reflection followed by the symbolic fall of poppy leaves in the auditorium.

However, this year it was due to go ahead in Grangemouth Town Hall following the closure and demolition of Falkirk’s town hall in West Bridge Street.

Last year’s event was organised by the the Ancre Somme Association (Scotland) and the charity planned to again host a free event entitled A Night to Remember Them.

Guests of honour were due to be His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant Alan Simpson and the Provost of Falkirk Council Robert Bissett, with a variety of entertainment.

On Monday the Ancre Somme Association announced the event had been cancelled “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

After criticism of not informing those lined up to perform, the charity issued a more in depth statement revealing that there had not been enough people applying for the free tickets.

They stated: “Last year, 400 people received free tickets and we filled the Falkirk Town Hall. That venue closed, so this year we booked Grangemouth Town Hall.

"All councillors were asked to confirm attendance and were asked to encourage their families and constituents.

"We did not want to cancel the remembrance event but due to a lack of uptake of free tickets for admission, we had to.

“We are a voluntary charity, we tried to arrange a community remembrance event, sadly the support was poor hence the reason to cancel.”