Summer Drive On Visit To Saint Drostan's Cemetery In Markinch Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland Summer travel video of a drive, with Scottish music, on visit to Saint Drostan's Cemetery in Markinch Fife. Graves include those of Thomas Hill Bell, Black Watch, Royal Highlanders, who died 04 January 1916, at 30 years of age; J Drummond, Seaforth Highlanders, who died 10 January 1918 at 18 years of age; James Jack, Royal Scots, who died on 16 May 1918 at 28 years of age; George Adamson, Royal Army Service Corps, who died on 4 October 1943; Robert Sibbald Turner, Royal Artillery, who died on 30 October 1944; David Wilson Combes, Scots Guards, who died on 25 March 1943 at 18 years of age; John Downie, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on 10 January 1945 at 20 years of age.

Saint Drostan was an Abbot and evangelist, who brought Christianity to the North East of Scotland. He may have been of royal descent but was entrusted to the care of Saint Columba, who some sources say was his uncle, who trained him for a monastic life. Drostan followed Columba when he came to Aberdour in Aberdeenshire. The Pictish ruler of Buchan gave them a site at Deer, some 14 miles inland, where they established a monastery some time between 563 and 597 AD. When Columba returned to Iona it was Drostan whom he left there as Abbot. It was here that the Book of Dier was written in the 9th Century, one of Scotland's most important manuscripts. No trace of this monastery remains, it having fallen into decay, to be replaced by a Cistercian abbey in 1213. This continued in use until the Reformation, when it, too, fell into disrepair. St. Drostan remains the patron saint of the village and the Episcopal Church is dedicated to him. Some time later, St. Drostan succeeded as the Abbot of the abbey at Holywood in Dumfries and Galloway. He later resigned this position to enjoy a life of greater seclusion as a hermit at Glen Esk. Here Drostan preached, attracting the pious, and is said to have performed several miracles, including restoring sight to a priest called Symon. After his death, Drostan's body was carried by his followers back over the mountains to Aberdour and his relics were preserved there.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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