Last night, Alan Beith unveiled a new portrait of Charles Kennedy at the National Liberal Club in London.

Love the portrait of the late Charles Kennedy, unveiled by Lord Beith at the National Liberal Club in London tonight pic.twitter.com/100V1R2ont

— Lindsay Jane Watling (@LJWatling) May 18, 2016

From the Herald:

The painting by Keith Breeden was unveiled by the former Liberal Democrat leader’s colleague Lord Beith, who is the club’s president. Among those present were former party leaders Nick Clegg, David Steel, Ming Campbell and Bob Maclennan.

It is a club tradition that the party leaders have their portraits painted. Mr Kennedy’s was commissioned after his death last year. A party spokesman said it would take “pride of place” in the Liberal Club.

Mr Breeden, 60, who lives in mid-Wales is an award-winning portraitist and graphic designer. He is a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Among his previous sitters is the Scottish peer Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, who succeeded Mr Kennedy as Lib Dem leader in 2006.

We’re coming up to the first anniversary of his death on 1st June. It still feels quite shocking to write that. On that day, a stained glass window in his memory will be unveiled during a service in the Church in Caol he attended all his life.

Many local people wanted a permanent memorial to the man who lived in Lochyside and considered himself a Highlander, first and foremost.

And it was decided that a stained glass window should be placed in his memory in St John’s Roman Catholic Church in Caol, where Mr Kennedy and the rest of his family worshipped.

“The window will cost £7,500 and we have had a lot of donations with money still coming in,” said parish priest Fr Roddy McAuley.

“It is in the process of being made at the moment and will be put in place in the church about a week before the anniversary of Charles’ death.

“But it won’t be unveiled until the actual date, June 1, when we will have a service of blessing and dedication.”

Fr Roddy said the window will also be in memory of Charles’ parents, Ian and Mary.

“They were both very musical and played the organ in the church, so we thought it was appropriate that they should be remembered too.

“The service at St John’s is open to everyone and all are welcome to come along,” he added.

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