"We gather not to remember a beatific saint but a human being," the words of the reverend Dr George J Whyte as he welcomed a crowd of 500-plus mourners to St Giles Cathedral.

 The man who was not a beatific saint but attracted swathes of followers? Former First Minister Alex Salmond. Hailed as a "titan of Scottish politics" by supporters, Mr Salmond was Scotland's First Minister from 2007 to 2014. He stepped down after the Yes campaign lost the Scottish independence referendum.

At his memorial service this weekend, those across the political divide as well as friends and family gathered together to remember the man synonymous with the Independence movement.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown and the First Minister were among the guests as well as celebrities such as Elaine C Smith. 

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes was at the service, as was Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone.

It was a time for both the political and personal side of Alex Salmond to be brought to the fore. 

His wife Moira attended, accompanied into the Cathedral by the minister, as well as other members of the family after they had a private funeral service for their loved one in Strichen last month. 

READ MORE: 

The service was also a very Scottish affair, taking place on St Andrew's Day. Kilts, tartan trousers, ties, sashes and skirts aplenty. One man even walked in dressed as if he was about to re-enact the Battle of Stirling Bridge. I think Robert Burns’s poetry was thrown into almost every speech made. 

We were told during the service that Mr Salmond loved music and was a talented singer with a soprano voice. It was therefore fitting when Dougie MacLean sang Caledonia and The Proclaimers performed their pro-independence song Cap In Hand. A nod to his love of music and his country. As they sang, one woman had to be told to stop waving a saltire in the Cathedral. 

Outside, Mr Salmond’s link to nationalism and Scottish pride was evident. Saltires dressed the Royal Mile and pictures of the man himself were held high. 

“He was a proud Scot,” one mourner wearing a tartan frock told me through tears. 

Inside the High Kirk, the personal side of Mr Salmond, known throughout  his political career for driving the SNP to popularity, was reflected in the words of his niece Christina Hendry.

“To the world, he was a political giant, a strong leader, a fearless campaigner. To us he was a dearly loved husband, brother and uncle,” Ms Hendry began as she recounted fond memories of her uncle’s love of football. 

“He continued to support football throughout his life,” Ms Hendry said, “And we were recently reminded of the story, where the night before his Higher History exam Uncle Alex travelled to Wolverhampton to watch Hearts in the second leg of the final of the 1971 Texaco cup. Hearts won the game but lost the final on aggregate. 

His niece added: “Uncle Alex studied on the bus, just making it back in time for his exam but still managed to get an A. Funnily enough I do not recall hearing this story until I was well past the exam stage of my life.”

Laughter followed. 

The political side ofMr Salmond was reflected in the words of his friends in Holyrood and the benches of Westminster - both on his side, politically-speaking, and not.

Tory MP David Davis, who entered the UK parliament the same time as Mr Salmond read John 14 (A.KA the ‘My Father’s house has many rooms’ reading) as a tribute to his friend on the opposite team. 

Political ally, friend and acting leader of the Alba Party Kenny MacAskill said the former FM’s supporters will “continue to seek justice for him” - a nod to his court case against the Scottish Government following allegations of sexual assault. 

Mr Salmond alleged that there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including Nicola Sturgeon, to imprison him. Ms Sturgeon has always rejected these claims.

In 2019, Mr Salmond was charged with sexually assaulting nine women.

The women who made the allegations against Mr Salmond included an SNP politician, a party worker, and current and former Scottish Government civil servants and officials. 

A jury found him not guilty of 12 of the charges, while another was found not proven.

“Lost the friends that I’ve needed losing, found others on the way," Dougie MacLean sang during the service. 

You could not help but think of Nicola Sturgeon’s absence and the bitter fallout the once-revered SNP politician had with her and his former party. Since leaving the SNP, Mr Salmond established the Alba Party. 

His niece Ms Hendry said her uncle had "great fun" with the pro-independence party and said it allowed his passion in politics and independence to be "rekindled". New friends after a bitter fallout with former allies.

Instead of attending the service for her former mentor, Ms Sturgeon was in Glasgow for the funeral of her friend, comedian Janey Godley. 

The current First Minister John Swinney, however, did show face but he was met with crowds booing and shouting “traitor” at him as he left the Cathedral. 

The message of peace in parting from Ae Fond Kiss, the tune performed during the service, did not appear to cover Mr Swinney for many of those who stood by the former First Minister during his spat with SNP figures. 

As the pipes played guests out, people comforted each other remembering the man they knew. To many, he was a person who made a significant mark in Scottish politics. To those who loved him, he was a family man with a soprano voice who loved football.