ON Sunday I had the honour of being part of the Remembrance Sunday events in Greenock and also on Armistice Day itself last Friday where I attended a service at the Erskine Home, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

The feeling of attending this day as a public servant and representative of the parliament, having grown up in this part of the world, is one I will never forget.

It was with immense pride that I not only played my part in honouring our fallen but also those who continue to fight for the safety of our country in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.

In politics there are maybe a handful of events where parties of all colours can truly come together, Last weekend was of course one of those occasions.

Together with my colleagues from Holyrood and Westminster we stood in unity to remember the dead.

Later on Sunday I had the great privilege of laying a wreath at the Free French Memorial on Lyle Hill, a few hundred metres from where I once lived as a child. As we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War we got to witness our own veterans presented with the Legion of Honour for their service fighting alongside the Free French Forces.

This weekend from start to finish was extremely moving. Talking to the veterans in Erskine Home on Friday who put their lives on the line to ensure Scotland and the UK had a future really helped to focus your mind on what is important. One had tears in his eyes as he told me that the biggest lesson in life is to always look after each other.

This was my first occasion since being elected as an MSP to take part in such commemorations.

I’m glad that that on this day, despite the driving rain and wind, I could stand alongside my fellow parliamentarians and honour the fallen.