How I knew Alex Salmond

The 26th of June 2024; there I first saw him. With a clear yet deep authentic voice he spoke, full of fiery passion and standing firm despite what his detractors said of him. I was enchanted by him, by his vision and by his character. A man who had worked all of his life for a dream, a country and a people he so loved. Alex Salmond was his name.

Alex Salmond was First Minister when I wasn’t even a year old, and I was only eight when he departed, so you could argue that I grew up with him. There’s no need to talk about Alex’s entire life or even just simply his political career, everyone and their dad’s already done that. I just want to share my anecdotal experiences with him and what I think his legacy will be in the long-term. Let me tell you just a small part about a truly larger than life character.

I first met Alex at the Alba Party’s 2024 General Election manifesto launch in the Caird Hall. I was the ‘right hand’ of Ghazi Khan, candidate for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry so I was able to be in the early special front seats. There I met many of the other amazing candidates and Alba figures, namely former Cabinet Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Alan Ross, Josh Robertson, Tony Osy, Lynne Lyon, Christopher McEleny, Catherine McKernan and later Alba Chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh among many others.

When everyone had arrived and the event began, we waited in anticipation until there he was walking on stage – Alex Salmond in the flesh. I remember his desire on the podium, that day, to mobilise the independence vote and bring about a revitalised Scottish movement in Westminster. He spoke with great energy, strength and a fiery passion that had an effect on me which I can’t describe.

Seeing him that day and reading through the manifesto made me decide that Alba was the way to go, and I joined that very day just minutes after he had spoken. Knowing I had become a member, Josh Robertson helped me join the Alba Youth Team and he led me to introduce me to the boss himself.

The adrenaline shot through me at that moment as we walked to where Alex was, knowing what was about to happen. He was sitting down speaking to people and he got up to greet me. I remember I tried speaking Gaelic to him, but my nerves failed me and I forgot it halfway through and stumbled. Nevertheless, he was absolutely great and we got a photo together.

Later on, Alex went back on the stage to take some photos with people and I was fortunate to get yet another few photos with him, and he signed my copy of the Alba manifesto in which he wrote:

“To Lewis

Scotland For Ever

Alba gu Bràth

Alex Salmond”

I’ll remember those words forever.

Once the event had finished, Ghazi, his brother Fasil, Alan, Alex, Tasmina, the rest of Alex’s team and I went along in the City Centre up Reform Street and to Dundee Barbers, a Turkish-style shop, so Alex could get a haircut. So, there I was with some of the most prominent members and candidates of Alba and there was the former First Minister of Scotland in a seat getting a haircut. That remains one of the most surreal moments in my life.

I remember he jokingly regretted not getting a haircut before the manifesto launch. Most of all, though, I’ll cherish and treasure the parting advice he told me before leaving, he encouraged me to keep my “right hand strong”, and I think he meant it for when shaking hands and embracing others. I make sure now to apply that advice.

I next met him at the Hope Over Fear rally in George Square for the 10th year anniversary of the Independence Referendum, which he led himself. He seized the atmosphere and was undoubtedly the finest speaker with his commanding voice. He clearly set out the necessity for an unrelenting and determined majority of independence supporters in the Scottish Parliament and in the streets to fight against the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, to protect pensioners from fuel poverty and to fight to bring about another mandate for self-determination.

I’ll never forget the energy he had at that event, it was electrifying.

Afterwards, Alex and his team began to talk with people as was his clear touch with the ordinary people. His lovely sister and niece respectively, Gail and Christina Hendry, brought me to him. It was a very brief meeting this time around, but he remembered me from the manifesto in June and exchanged a friendly conversation.

I wasn’t expecting to meet his wife Moira at that event too but I did regardless. Once again Christina introduced us, and we had a brief greeting. She was a lovely wee woman and what I expected her to be like; a soft-spoken but gentle woman. I truly do pray for her, especially, during this time.

My third and, unfortunately, final meeting with Alex was during the council by-election campaign on the Day of Action in Perth for Robert Reid; Alba’s Policy Development Officer. I knew that, when I saw that Alex, Tasmina and Kenny would attend, I had to be there to see them again.

I arrived at the Perth rail station and Robert picked me up to take to the Tulloch Institute. There were other volunteers there, including Robert’s family, and we were soon joined by Kenny, Tasmina and Christina.

Alex arrived a bit later after running late (which was apparently a recurring issue at times) and we all talked before splitting off into groups for the campaign. Me, Kenny and another member of the Alba Youth Team Jozef Mackie went to go leafleting while everyone else went to go canvassing.

Kenny was zipping around with us and we finished up pretty quickly. He dropped us back off at the Tulloch Institute so me and Jozef could join the rest. I remember Alex was often with Robert while Tasmina was with Christina among others. Jozef and I used this time to do some canvassing with them, though we were still pretty inexperienced in comparison.

Knowing this, Alex actually went and helped us on the doors, giving us advice on what to say – mentioning Rob would cut the grass and take the bins out, if elected. The guy clearly always had the charm, as everyone he spoke to loved hearing him speak even on their doorstep. This was further proven when he was given a literal bottle of whisky as a gift.

Afterwards, Alex, Tasmina, Jozef and I walked along Tulloch Terrace after knocking on several doors before stopping for a brief rest. Alex made some jokes and conversed to get our minds out of the politics and lighten the moods, getting to know us and me, in particular, as a new Alba member. Jozef did most of the talking while I stood and listened, taking in all that Alex was saying. I regret deeply now, though, that I didn’t ask him more questions. I could’ve learnt so much more from him.

When the rest of the group caught up to us, Alex gave the whisky to Rob’s dad, being his truly generous self, who then decided he’d give it to me (thankfully my 18th was in July). So I left that day with a bottle of whisky given by Robert’s dad which was subsequently given by Alex Salmond and which originated from one of the voters. I still have it to this day, with plenty of whisky still in it.

As a way of treating ourselves after a day’s hard work, we went to the Letham4All community centre and we spent the rest of the time together there to relax and socialise after a hard day’s work of campaigning. Tasmina encouraged us to eat and enjoy ourselves, so we did. Just before we left that place, I spoke with Alex for the last time. He asked me how I’d been, we chatted and got a final photo together before we all parted ways at the end of the day.

Then, of course, the 12th of October dashed any hopes or plans of seeing him again in action.

Remembering those anecdotes and knowing everything else about the man’s service to Scotland, I can tell you what I believe the fruits of his labour left behind.

He worked all his career to give life to the Scottish Nationalist movement and to the idea of a free Scottish republic. His was absolutely critical in forging the road to power and transforming the landscape of Scotland’s modern political history forever. He planted the seeds of Scottish Nationalism in the psyche of millions of Scots, including me.

So with all that said, who can think that he’s truly gone? Even after he has left this world, he continues to reinvigorate us with his many speeches, debates and rallies. Now we have no other choice but to use all the tools he left us to run the final lap. Thanks to him, the Scottish Independence movement is in the place it’s in to fight for it’s destiny with all the keys of power. The new generation will be ready. All of this has affirmed, in my mind, that Alex Salmond was the greatest politician Scotland had ever birthed. Like the wonderful dream he championed throughout his life, his legacy shall never die.

By Lewis Atkinson