A bustling corner of Stornoway harbour fell to a silent halt as a ferry crew carried out a poignant act of respect for a fellow seafarer.
Murdo A Macleod -
He returned on a sad voyage home on the same vessel the 28-
After the hundreds of passengers disembarked and vehicles unloaded from the lunchtime arrival in Stornoway, the ship fell quiet for a brief spell before preparing for the return trip.
Caledonian Macbrayne crew members and ticket office staff formed a traditional Hebridean funeral procession with each male taking a lift of his coffin from the ship’s main deck to a waiting hearse on the quayside.
Female colleagues wiped away tears as the cortege of engineers, navigating officers and catering staff slowly walked the coffin up the linkspan ramp and onto Number 1 pier on Thursday.
Ferry crew pay respect to colleague
18 July 14
1 April 2015
Usually, a hearse drives down the ramp and the coffin would be transferred inside the vehicle on the car deck.
The funeral service takes place in Tarbert Church of Scotland at 12.30pm today (Sat) with the procession leaving the church for Luskentyre cemetery 30 minutes later.
Mr Macleod, known as Big Murdo, was from Meavaig in South Harris. He is survived by his parents and three sisters.