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Apr 21Liked by Kenny Farquharson

I can’t believe it’s 30 years since his passing. I’ve visited his grave on two occasions and both times found it a very emotional experience. Truly a giant among men.

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I like the habit of placing a small stone on his gravestone. A modern equivalent of a votive offering. Perhaps the Presbyterian in Smith would not approve..!

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Apr 21Liked by Kenny Farquharson

It’s the simplicity of everything. I guess by design. Certainly in keeping with his delight at being ‘plain’ John Smith.

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Apr 21Liked by Kenny Farquharson

Thank you for this. I still remember the shuddering shock of his death. Of course, inevitably we moved on quite quickly to Blair's victory but something was lost to the quality of political life which seems, in some ways, even more apparent now.

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I think something of Smith was present in the Blair years in the form of Brown.

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Apr 22Liked by Kenny Farquharson

What a lovely and moving article. I always remember Donald Dewar's lovely quote: "He could start a party in an empty room and he often did." If only we had a politician of his calibre today.

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Smith and Dewar both very much missed, each in their own way.

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