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Newsletter #59 - Special Edition

Winter 2016/2017



Ljubo Sirc (1920 - 2016)



On 1st December we lost our splendid founder Ljubo Sirc who died peacefully in Scotland. His funeral in Glasgow was held on 15th December attended by friends and colleagues from Glasgow University.

In late January, Susan and Nadia Sirc together with Rosemary, an English Sirc cousin, her husband John, and I flew to Slovenia for the interment of his ashes, and a memorial event.

On a very cold but sunny day in Ljubo's hometown of Kranj on 28thJanuary, over 300 mourners congregated at the cemetery, where they signed a book of condolence before shaking hands with Sue and Nadia Sirc, Darja Okorn and other relatives. The funeral rites were conducted by the parish priest, with the choir. Everyone processed across the cemetery to the grave where the casket was interred.

At the Graveside
At the Graveside - photo: Matej Zorko
Borut Pahor, the President of Slovenia, was represented by his Head of Protocol together with a Guard of Honour bearing a wreath of flowers in the colours of the Slovene flag. Also present were Janez Janša, former Prime Minister and Alois Peterle MEP.

Simona Bennett (whose late husband David studied with Susan Sirc at King’s College London) flew from England to represent the British-Slovene Society, and there was a representative from the Russian-Slovene Society.

The politician France Cukjati, former Speaker of the National Assembly of Slovenia (Zbor za Republiko), gave the eulogy at the graveside. He had met Ljubo and Sue Sirc in 2000 at a government reception in Scotland!
At the Graveside
Janez Jansa with Nadia and Sue Sirc. Photo by Matej Zorko


Afterwards, there was a Memorial Meeting at the City Hall hosted by Boštjan Trilar, Mayor of Kranj, Dr. Andreja Valic Zver, President Joze Pucnik Institute and Director, Centre for National Reconciliation and Janez Jansa, Leader of the SDS Party and representative of the National Assembly of Slovenia. Among many friends were Janez Fajfer, Mayor of Bled, Matej and Mojca Kovac and family, Dawn and Don Reindl with their two young daughters.
 
There were speeches from the Mayor of Kranj, Andreja Valic Zver, Janez Jansa, and Susan Sirc. The Gorenjski Oktet provided traditional music. Afterwards there was an excellent buffet supper for all – our hosts were Milan and Andreja Zver.                       


Lisl Biggs-Davison
 
 

TRIBUTE TO LJUBO SIRC BY ANDREJA VALIC


Full text of the speech can be found here.





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