Andy Jones reports from the annual No Pasarán Memorial Committee North Lanarkshire commemoration …

The No Pasarán Memorial Committee North Lanarkshire held its annual memorial on Sunday 28 July in the Duchess of Hamilton Park Motherwell. A large crowd attended the event.

Committee members Frankie McGuinness Jim Baxter, John Milligan, Brian Molloy and Andy Jones.

Andy Jones of the committee explained that the memorial was primarily erected to remember the 11 brave individuals who left North Lanarkshire as part of the International Brigades to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War, some giving their lives in the ultimate sacrifice.

Each year, we also always remember all who fought with the International Brigades as well as those affected by fascism.

The main speaker was Mike Arnott of the IBMT, with music by Paul Sheridan. There was also a reading of the poem 'Graves of Spain' and the from the roll of honour. The service ended with a minute's silence and the laying of wreaths.

After the event in the park, a social was held in The Railway Tavern. 

Speaker Mike Arnott (in front of the banner), Paul Sheridan singing 'These Hands' and Andy Jones (right) of the committee.