Neil Armstrong's sons pay tribute to The Queen during visit to Langholm
The sons of the first man to walk on the moon are in the town to celebrate 50 years since their father's visit
Last updated 13th Sep 2022
Among those paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II in Dumfries and Galloway were Mark and Rick Armstrong - sons of the first man to walk on the moon.
Neil Armstrong's two children were in Langholm yesterday to mark 50 years since their fathers visit, where they also signed the book of condolence in Langholm’s library.
In March of 1972, Neil Armstrong arrived in Dumfries and Galloway, three years after he took a the historic “small step" on the lunar surface.
The pair said their father had fond memories of the late monarch after he met Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace in 1969, three months after the Apollo 11 mission.
Loved around the world
Mark said: “She was very interested in learning about the mission, and she really wanted the details of what they experienced and how they accomplished it, and he said they had a really nice time together having that discussion.
“The Queen was well-loved around the world and it’s an honour to be here when the country is mourning her and celebrating her amazing life.
“We feel that we have the opportunity to be here in our ancestral homeland at a very important time in the history of the country, so it’s been a true honour.”
His brother, Rick, added: “It’s very appropriate, and it’s maybe the best place we could’ve been to sign the condolence book.
“Both my mum and dad talked about meeting her as one of the highlights of their world tour and they talked about how pleasant and how down to earth she was.”
'I consider this now my hometown'
It has been 50 years since Neil Armstrong’s visit to the Muckle Toon, where he stated that he regarded Langholm as his home after tracing his ancestral heritage to the southern Scotland area and becoming the town’s first freeman and Burgess of the burgh.
In a special ceremony at the parish church, he stated: “The most difficult place to be recognised is in one’s hometown. And I consider this now my hometown.”
His two sons are now on an “ancestral pilgrimage” to connect with their rich history in the Dumfries and Galloway town of Langholm – the high street is decorated with plaques and information boards about the "moon man's" momentous visit.
The pair and their families visited their ancestral home Gilnockie Tower, which was inhabited by the powerful and wealthy Johnnie Armstrong in the 16th century, and had guided tours around the towns and local business.
Lunar tartan
Mark said: “We spent time going out to the burial place of Johnnie Armstrong, we stopped briefly at a number of places on the Reiver Trail, and we also went to Drove Weavers, where they make the lunar tartan.”
They showed off their newly acquired lunar tartan blankets, which were designed in the mill town in honour of their father half a century ago – it features a blend of greys and browns to represent the surface of the moon, with red running through as a nod to the flames of the rocket.
Haggis, haggis, and more haggis
They also chuckled, stating that they’d the full Scottish experience, having had haggis “for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Mark added: “Our parents came here and received an incredibly warm welcome, and we’ve had a chance to experience that same thing.
“It’s a lovely town, the people have been fantastic, and we really feel like we’re part of the family.”
Rick added: “We’ve known about this history for a long time but it’s different when you’re here, you learn a whole lot more and you make connections from experiencing the locations, the people and the stories that you wouldn’t get from a distance.”
The brothers lost their father Neil Armstrong on August 25, 2012, and say the journey helps keep his memory alive.