Each year, the Vale of Leven Remembrance Day Association (VOLRDA) organises a service to commemorate the failed Dunkirk invasion and the subsequent daring rescue which took place during the Second World War.

In previous years, the Skylark IX had a key role to play in the event but since October of last year, the vessel has been in the River Clyde Boatyard in nearby Clydebank.

The ship is currently being restored by clients of drugs charity Alternatives, as part of their own recovery from addiction issues.

Mary Burch, secretary of VOLRDA, says the goal is to still have Skylark as part of the event in some way. She told the Reporter: “What we are hoping to do is to have the Skylark song during the service, it will be quite a poignant moment with the lyrics of the song — we’re also planning on having a slideshow of the progress of the ship.

“This time last year, she still hadn’t been raised from the river, she was still in quite a sorry state. And in 2012, she was still under water.

“The college [City of Glasgow College] is now working on the engine, there are students from around the world delighted to be working on such an historic ship — in a year or two we’ll see her in good condition once again.” On the day itself, there will be the usual parade from Balloch to Jamestown Church where a service will be held and Dunkirk veteran Geoff Bryden will lay a wreath.

Members of the VOLDRA, Mr Bryden and a few others will then sail up the River Leven from Balloch and scatter poppies into the water.

Mary continued: “Although the numbers of veterans lessens over the years, the number of young people interested in Dunkirk is growing.

“It’s wonderful to see the interaction between the youngsters and the veterans, they’re now able to share their stories.

“The number of lives that the Skylark and the rest of the 600 ships has potentially touched is incredible — my uncle was rescued from Dunkirk he had a son, that son had two children and between them they have now had four children and that’s just one soldier that was rescued.”