Charles Kennedy represented his highland constituency for 32 years, and his constituency office was based in Dingwall. Next Monday evening, there will be a memorial service for Charles in the town:

We are hosting a public service in memory of Charles Kennedy on Aug 24th, 6pm at St Clement’s Church, Dingwall. A warm invitation to all.

— Highland Lib Dems (@HighlandLibDems) August 18, 2015

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will give a tribute to Charles and the service will feature music composed by Charles’ father, Ian Kennedy, who also died earlier this year.

Ross, Skye and Lochaber Liberal Democrats’ convener Duncan McKay told the Scotsman:

So many people all over the Highlands were proud to call Charles Kennedy a friend.

I know the family has been overwhelmed by the extraordinary number of kind messages and fond memories they have received in the weeks following his sudden and very sad passing.

Dingwall played a central part in Charles’ political life and many people have asked for a service locally to remember him.

I am enormously grateful to the congregation of St Clement’s for enabling the use of their church and to Father Roddy Macaulay for giving his time to lead the service.

I feel privileged to have known Charles ever since his selection to contest the Ross, Cromarty and Skye constituency for the Liberal/SDP Alliance in 1983.

He had an extraordinary talent, not only in communicating his own ideas but in listening and understanding the experiences of others.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social