A SHOPPING centre in a town which was blitzed during the Second World War failed to observe a two- minute silence on Remembrance Day last Friday.

Veterans and shoppers reacted furiously after Clydebank Shopping Centre played pop music while the rest of the country fell silent in tribute to Britain's fallen heroes.

The gaffe was blamed on a technical glitch at a radio station called Centre FM which pipes music into shopping malls around the country.

One shopper contacted the Evening Times to complain about the slip up.

They said: "My daughter and myself were in the centre on Friday, when it was announced that there would be a two-minute silence.

"At 11.06 we were still waiting, but the centre just kept playing pop music. There was an ex-soldier next to us who was nearly in tears. This was a disgrace. They have no respect for anyone.

"As Clydebank was bombed during the war, you think they would have known better. Shame on you Clydebank Shopping Centre."

Another shopper said: "When there was no silence I approached a security guard along with an old man who was an ex-soldier to enquire why.

"He told me, whilst sniggering and laughing, that he knew nothing about it.

"This was so disrespectful to the men and women who fought and died for our country and who are still fighting today.

"It seems to me the shopping centre has no time for our brave men and women.

"I find this highly embarrassing, especially with the great tragedy that was the Clydebank Blitz."

John Stewart, secretary of the Royal British Legion in Glasgow, said: "We have members from Clydebank and I think they would be upset.

"It's insensitive, I think, and the silence should have been observed."

Shopping centre manager Andrew Forrester said: "Everyone at the centre is extremely upset that the Remembrance silence failed to happen as planned.

"As someone who served in the armed forces for 14 years I can appreciate the upset caused by this.

"Unfortunately a technical issue with the centre's radio service caused the problem and the company that provides that service has already written to me apologising for the error.

"As shoppers at Clydebank know well, we take remembrance very seriously and on the 70th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz the centre fell silent to remember those who died during those terrible nights on the March 13 and 14, 1941."

Centre Radio has offered to give a "substantial donation" to the British Legion to make up for their mistake, which they blamed on a computer error.

jasper.hamill@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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