Edinburgh's Christmas to pause as a mark of respect to legendary fundraiser Tom Gilzean when funeral procession passes

The Christmas market and rides will be paused between 1:40pm-2pm.

Edinburgh's Chrismtas celebrations will come to a halt as the funeral procession of war veteran and fundraising hero Tom Gilzean pass today.

Tom, 99, died earlier this month in veterans’ hospital Erskine House in the Capital following a series of small strokes.

He will be buried at Mount Vernon in Edinburgh beside his wife Anne who died 19 years ago today (Tuesday).

Making an announcement on Twitter, Edinburgh's Christmas wrote: "The funeral of local legendary fundraiser, Tom Gilzean, takes place today (Tues 19 Nov). His funeral procession will be passing Edinburgh’s Christmas. As a mark of respect to Tom, Edinburgh’s Christmas will pause while the procession passes between approximately 1:40pm-2pm."

His son, Douglas, told the Evening News that his father would “never have imagined” so much being done for him at his funeral, which will include a service at St Mary's Cathedral that all have been invited to at 12.45pm, followed by a procession around the city centre. The procession will arrive at Mount Vernon cemetary at around 2.15pm where Tom will be buried with his late wife, Anne.

The full route of the procession can be found here.

Staff at M&S to join mourners

Staff at the Princes Street M&S, the shop which Tom used to stand outside during his fundraising efforts, will also pay their respects by leaving their posts and joining mourners on the street.His coffin is expected to arrive outside the shop at around 1.50pm, where it will stop to allow people to show their respects.

Jenny McPartlin, Store Manager at M&S Princes Street, said: “Tom was an inspiration, not only to our store colleagues but to everyone in Edinburgh. He felt like another member of the team, with colleagues giving him birthday cake every year and hot drinks on cold days. We will miss seeing him outside the store every day, charming everyone that walked past.”

The Edinburgh Evening News is asking readers to SIGN A PETITION to name a prominent city street after the late war veteran and fundraising hero Tom Gilzean.