Alex Salmond has been remembered as not just the political leader who took Scotland “so close to his dream of independence”, but as a “dear friend”.

Tributes were paid to the former first minister of Scotland at his private funeral service at Strichen Parish Church in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday.

Mourners included Mr Salmond’s protégé, Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, and former speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.

MSP Fergus Ewing, who was asked to speak at the service, also attended alongside sister and fellow SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing.

Mr Salmond died from a heart attack earlier this month at the age of 69 during a conference trip to the lake resort of Ohrid in North Macedonia.

The late Alba Party leader had earlier delivered a speech before collapsing in a crowded room during lunch.

Speaking at the service, acting Alba Party leader, Kenny MacAskill, hailed his late friend as “a giant of a man, the leader of our country, the leader of our movement”, before describing him as “an inspiration, a political genius, an orator, debater and communicator without parallel”.

Mr Salmond served as first minister from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the SNP on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014.

He stepped down from both roles following the result of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and was replaced by one-time friend Nicola Sturgeon.

Mr Salmond went on to launch the Alba Party in 2021 in his continued campaign for independence.

Mr MacAskill, who was justice secretary in Mr Salmond’s government, said he was “the outstanding political figure in Scotland not just of his generation but for generations past and likely for generations to come”.

Mr MacAskill added: “The legacy he bequeathed is all around. From roads and bridges to rights such as free prescriptions and no tuition fees.”

Mr Salmond’s niece, Christina Hendry, told the service that in the period since his death, “we have felt the grief of a nation, and beyond”.

She added: “For everyone in this room we have felt the loss differently.

“Uncle Alex was an important person to many, but to us he was a husband, a brother, an uncle, a colleague and a dear friend.”

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Mr Salmond took the SNP from a party of opposition into government in Scotland with a narrow victory over Labor in the 2007 Holyrood election.

After his SNP won an unprecedented overall majority in the Scottish parliament in 2011, then prime minister David Cameron later agreed to its demands for an independence referendum.

While Scots voted to stay in the UK in the 2014 vote, Mr MacAskill remembered Mr Salmond as “a man who through his lifetime’s efforts restored pride in our nation and took us so close to his dream of independence”.

Speaking about Mr Salmond, who is survived by his wife Moira, he added: “Politics wasn’t a career for him even if he excelled in his arts. He was committed to Scotland and independence, spurning overtures to join other parties.”

“But he rejected them all.”

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Mr MacAskill said Mr Salmond “had a dream of what Scotland could be, and a strategy to achieve it”, as he recalled him “building a party which then took office, and which so nearly won the referendum”.

He went on to say that under Mr Salmond the SNP had enjoyed “unprecedented electoral success in 2011” with its Holyrood majority “something unlikely ever to be repeated”.

After the funeral, conducted by Reverend Ian McEwan, piper Fergus Mutch, who previously worked for Mr Salmond, led a procession to Strichen Cemetery for a private service.

A public memorial is expected to be held at a later date.

In the meantime, a book of condolence has been opened at the Scottish parliament for visitors to leave messages that will be sent to Mr Salmond’s family.

Tributes will also be paid to Mr Salmond at Holyrood on Wednesday, when a movement of condolence is expected to be held.